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Motor Show 2008 – short electric car round-up, and not a green one in sight

Motorshow2008

Went to the Motor Show 2008 a couple of months back and grabbed some shots of some electric cars on the stands. Here’s a quick round up for you to look at.

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The Quiet Car Company promises to deliver a full 4 seater electric car with 60 mile range, 35mph top speed for £9,995.00 on the road. The thing looks great in the brochure, but in reality it’s just a boring looking converted Chinese model based around a Lotus chassis and Mitsubishi Lithium battery pack and four electric motors in the wheels. Due out next year Q1.

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The Tesla Motors sports model was on show. I didn’t realise they’re made in the UK and shipped over to the USA for final fitting. Weird. Up close it doesn’t look half as impressive as in the videos and brochures, more like a kit car. But hey, 244 miles per charge is not to be sneezed at, even at that $109000+ price point.

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The Think City is a whopping €16,000 on the road but compared to the nasty tin cans masquerading as electric vehicles it’s a stand-out, both in terms of build quality and style. It’s a real car, solid and not a quadracycle thing, and 100% recyclable. Due out in the UK in Summer 2009.

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The Fiat e500 Electric Vehicle is a conversion that actually works. Lithium batteries, range 75 miles, max speed a reasonable 60 mph, four seater. Due to be on sale any time now, at a secret hush hush price (but the girl on the stand indicated it might be offered via a lease only deal of about £750.00 a month.

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The Lightning AT is altogether another beast. £120,000, AlterNano fast charge batteries, motors in the wheels, 0–60 in less than 4 seconds, 130 mph and a range of 180 miles. Designed by a young 26 year old designer called Daniel Durrant. Available for pre-order right now, so hurry along.

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So there you have it. Not exactly mind-blowing, and goodness knows how many of these companies will still be left standing once the credit tsunami hits, but interesting to see some moves towards a different future.

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