Subaru Unveils Electric Micro Concept

Subaru parent Fuji Heavy Industries has unveiled an electric-car concept model based on the R1 mini, which could be on sale by 2010.

The two-seater, called the R1e, uses high-performance lithium-ion batteries jointly developed with NEC and will go into pre-production testing later this year.

The car is capable of traveling 150,000km without a battery change. The lithium-ion batteries take five minutes to be charged to 90%.

Fuji Heavy Industries president Kyoji Takenaka said the company also planned to address the issue of hybrid technology. Subaru is believed to be planning to launch a hybrid car by 2007 that will offer 30% better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle.