Tokyo Auto Show: Subaru G4e Concept Car
TOKYO ??” Subaru will display its latest battery technology in a concept called G4e. The four-door hatchback uses a new type of lithium-ion battery that is said to provide a range of up to 125 miles on a single charge.
The G4e is a follow-up to Subaru's earlier R1e, which has been jointly developed with Tokyo Electric Power, the giant Japanese utility company.
The heart of the car is a new battery that employs vanadium to enable twice the energy density of manganese-based lithium-ion batteries. Subaru says the battery can be fully charged in 8 hours on standard household current. It can also be "quick charged" to 80 percent capacity in only 15 minutes at a mobile charging station.
The G4e has a zippy-looking compact body with a slippery drag coefficient of 0.276 and a spacious interior.
What this means to you: Previous-generation EVs looked like freaks of nature. The latest crop is moving much closer to the mainstream, at least stylistically.
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