Subaru Introduces New Plug-in Electric Concept At Hokkaido G8

Subaru introduced a new electric concept vehicle at the G8 Summit in Hokkaido. The vehicle is being called the Plug-In Stella Concept and is based on the R1e that the company has been testing for nearly a year. The four-seat Plug-In Stella offers a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of 80 km on a single charge, and is powered by a 40 kW electric motor.

The Plug-in Stella features the quick-charge Li-ion batteries that were developed for the R1e, and enables the batteries to be charged to 80% capacity in about 15 minutes. The batteries do not develop a memory and will not be damaged by receiving a less-than-full charge. Drivers can plug the vehicle in for about eight hours to receive a full charge, and the car's charging system ties into regular household current.

Last Fall, Subaru introduced a zero-emission electric concept at the Tokyo Motor Show that featured a 65mW electric motor and a range of about 200 km. That concept, the G4e, also featured the quick-charge Li-ion batteries borrowed from Subaru's R1e development platform. The G4e, which seats 5, eliminated side-view mirrors in favor of rear-view cameras to reduce drag on the vehicle and increase the vehicle's range.

Source: Motor Authority
Photo: Subaru