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The Subaru R1e Electric Car

Quietly, Subaru has been working on some electric vehicle concepts. Without the hoopla of GM or the immediate green cred of chief rival Toyota, Subaru has been carefully working out the details and bugs for its newest line of electric cars.

The R1e has been seen around New York City and Tokyo this past year as it goes through some test runs and limited fielding. It’s a 2-seater electric in Subaru’s style that looks like it’s an electric (meaning it looks lame). Most people, however, think that this is a red herring test platform for Subaru’s real street model, the G4e.

Inside the Subaru R1e

While the R1e undergoes public trials and testing, Subaru has been quietly hiding the much more stylish (though admittedly still small) G4e, which leads many to believe that the while the R1e might see limited sales as a vehicles for corporations and public utilities, it’s not meant for consumer sales. That’s probably the intended domain of the G4e, which is still under wraps. This is a rare tactic, but American car companies have employed similar maneuvers in the past, most notably when Ford added the high-tonnage diesel pickups to its line in the ’90s.

Regardless, the R1e has impressive statistics that could give a hint as to the G4e’s intended capabilities. Subaru has been working closely with NEC on the battery technology, utilizing a fast-charging lithium-ion battery that can be topped off or only partially charged without affecting the battery’s life or charge memory loss. These impressive battery banks can recharge to 80% in only 15 minutes! An optional special charging station can cut that number in half.

The Subaru G4e Electric Car

The car uses a 40kW motor and can see speeds up to 65mph with a 50 mile range. The G4e hatchback is expected to have a longer range, however, due to an increase in battery bank size. The R1e seats two while the G4e will seat five.

Inside the Subaru G4e

The price tag for this? No one’s sure yet, but the car (which one is speculative) is expected to see limited sales in Japan next year at around $15,000USD, with the price dropping as production increases over the next couple of years after that. A North American release date is not given, but since the R1e is seeing testing here, it’s obviously fit to pass highway standards.

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