FHI Introduces Subaru Plug-in Stella EV Concept

Fuji Heavy Industries, maker of Subaru automobiles, has developed the Subaru plug-in Stella Concept (above), a prototype electric vehicle.

FHI will provide five Stella EVs for use at the G-8 Summit, to be held in Japan on July 7-9, FHI said in a statement. Four of the five cars will be used to transport government officials, while one will be available for media demonstrations.

FHI will also provide one car to the Japan Post group for mail collection and delivery around Toyako during the summit.

The Stella EV combines the electric drive system employed in the R1e with the Subaru Stella minicar platform. It seats four, has a maximum speed of 62 mph and a range of 50 miles per charge.

A 9.2 kilowatt-hour, 346-volt lithium-ion battery pack drives an electric motor with 40 kilowatt-hour output and that develops 110 pound-feet of torque.

The battery pack employs fast-charge lithium-ion battery technology that eliminates the typical lithium-ion battery issue of charge memory loss, allowing partial charges and quick charges that do not decrease battery life, FHI said.

The pack uses lithium manganese oxide spinel as the cathode active material. The crystalline spinel structure reportedly makes the battery resistant to overcharging and provides high thermal stability. FHI claims the pack can recharge to 80 percent capacity in 15 minutes.

FHI said it plans to use the concept as the basis of next-generation EVs in Japan "in the near future." It jointly developed the car with Tokyo Electric Power Co.

Forty of the R1e, equipped with lithium-ion batteries, have been used by the utility as part of its corporate fleet and by the Kanagawa prefectural government. Data collected under such real-world conditions have helped with development of the Stella concept.

Scott Doggett, Contributor

Posted by

Scott Doggett June 30, 2008, 8:04 AM

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Batteries, Emissions, Fuel Economy, Plug-ins and Electric, Subaru

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