RIMAC: The Croatian Tesla

As new ideas emerge to choke off the giant funnel of fossil fuel that feeds it, start-up companies are spawning with Internet-like rapidity.

Frankfurt Motor Show 2011

This also includes the motor sector, where concepts for electric cars are crawling out of the woodwork, including those from relatively unknown entities.

The latest example comes from Croatia where, Rimac Automobilli, is expected to unveil a stunner at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week.

The specs of its Concept One would rival the Tesla Roadster – the gold standard of sporty EVs.

The Concept One accelerates 0-to-100 km/h (basically, 0-to-60 mph) in a blinding 2.8 seconds, boasts a top speed of 305 km/h (189 mph), and has a range of 366 miles which if true would match the range of many a gasoline engine.

Rimac Automobili Facebook Page

How will they achieve those numbers: a high capacity 92 kWh battery drives 4 separate electric motors that propel a lightweight car of 1650 kilograms (3638 pounds)) made with an aluminum frame and carbon fiber body. It will also generate: 1088 bhp, and a 3800 Nm torque.

In keeping with the upstart dotcom-like flavour of it all, Rimac is run by a youngster. The boss is a 23-year-old automobile designer with a friendly sounding first name, Mate Rimac.

As can be seen from this teaser Youtube video, the Concept One appears to be made in high-tech facilities.

Rimac Automobili? Not exactly a household name but then, neither are Lightning Car Co. or Evilio, just two examples of obscure little companies that have thrown their hat into the EV ring recently.

Rimac is emblematic of the entrepreneurial zeal that will help drive along new ideas that could unseat fossil fuels.

Of course, Rimac et al have to compete with the EV initiatives of the more established automobile companies, where the list of vendors these days is almost as long as the list of all big car brands such as VW with its one-seater, GM, Nissan, BMW, Ford, Mercedes and the staggering Audi.

Nissan Leaf video - Electric car production

Nissan Leaf video

The Nissan Leaf Electric car goes on tour in the US

LOS ANGELES — The Leaf, an electric vehicle that Nissan plans to start selling globally next year, will be introduced here on Friday, which marks the start of a 22-city tour.

The Nissan Leaf Zero Emission Tour will make stops in 11 states and will end in New York on Feb. 14.

The Leaf display will spend four days in Los Angeles, being shuttled to various locations to build up awareness of Nissan’s commitment to being the first to market with a mass-produced electric vehicle. The Leaf prototype that crowds will be checking out is close to what the production will look like. But the car on display doesn’t run.


However, a Nissan Versa outfitted with the Leaf’s powertrain will be available for special drives for the news media, politicians and V.I.P.’s. No public drives will be offered.

Carlos Ghosn, Nissan’s chairman and chief executive, will speak at a news media event on Friday morning in downtown Los Angeles.

The Leaf, an all-electric five-door hatchback, will have a 100-mile range, Nissan said.

Mr. Ghosn said last month, in introducing the Leaf at the Tokyo Motor Show, that the vehicle would be priced “competitively” compared with other cars its size. This has been estimated at $25,000 to $33,000. But the price won’t include the lithium-ion battery packs; those will be available for lease separately. The spent battery packs will be recycled by Nissan and reused.

The powertrain consists of an electric motor, with an equivalent of 110 horsepower, driven by a 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Top speed is estimated to be 87 miles an hour. The battery can be quick-charged in about 30 minutes to 80 percent capacity, with a special high-voltage unit. It can also be charged from a conventional 110- or 220-volt outlet.

A network of 2,500 charging stations especially for the Leaf is being built in Tennessee, Oregon, San Diego, Seattle and Phoenix, where sales will initially be focused.