Related Sections: Future Tech Galleries Green Tech Vehicles
Electric Porsche 911 tries to show Tesla Roadster who's boss
It had to happen. Now there's an electric Porsche, made by German Porsche modifier/carmaker RUF Automobile GmbH. The company dropped a 204hp electric motor into a Porsche 911 chassis, powered it with 96 lithium ion batteries from California battery maker Calmotors, and the result? An electric Porsche 911 that sprints from 0 to 60mph in less than 7 seconds with a top speed of 160. Whoa.
Don't expect to carry much luggage along, because the back and front trunks are filled with batteries. Its 180-mile range is not quite up to that of the Tesla Roadster, either, nor is its acceleration. But just look at it! We are filled with auto-lust over this gorgeous machine, hoping it will find its way out of the prototype stage and onto an assembly line, pronto.
 |  |
|
Via Autoblog
By CoolProducts at 5:20 PM ON 10/10/08
Definitely is an attractive car! I wonder if the weight of all the batteries contributes to the slower acceleration.
By eman2022 at 9:28 PM ON 10/10/08
nice another electric car that actually looks good nice range two i could live with that.
By Traveler at 1:18 PM ON 10/11/08
Porsche rules, even with an electric motor.
By nemeis at 11:52 PM ON 10/12/08
Lower the rear battery array for a better centre of gravity and then drop in a 350+hp electric and you may have something more noteworthy.
By Epicurus at 1:03 AM ON 10/13/08
Yes!
By Time Tracker at 10:24 AM ON 10/13/08
Well, we know it all had to happen sooner or later...leave it to the Germans to engineer it best. Kudos Porsche.
By Steve at 1:04 PM ON 10/13/08
That is crazy that there is a battery-powered porsche... Targa Trophy is featuring a few cars including a porsche and Lamborghini in their road race taking place this month, but I doubt any of them are racing with batteries. It would be interesting to see how this car would hold up compared to the porsche with a regular engine. I posted the website above if anyone is interested.
By USA at 5:55 PM ON 12/06/08
Not made by Porsche. RUF just modifies existing Porsche vehicles. If Porsche were interested in this technology, they would have it done right the first time and it WOULD whip the Tesla car's arse.
By Stu at 7:43 PM ON 03/03/09
History lesson: Porsche's first race cars were pure electric, battery-powered, front-wheel drive (pancake motor in each hub)that beat the early gas cars of the day regularly. Then he built an all-wheel drive car, all of this before 1900! In 1907-09 the Lohner-Porsche gasoline-electric HYBRID raced and won the Austrian National Hillclimb. This RUF is a return to the roots. Besides, an electric car can theoretically outrun any gas job due to torque and traction controls that are basic to electric and difficult for gas. BTW the diesel-electric locomotive is also attributed to Ferdinand.
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Stu:
History lesson: Porsche's first race cars were pure electric, battery-powered, front-wheel drive (pancake motor in ...More »