The Netherlands has quite a bit to contribute in the area of green transportation. Since 2001, for example, the Delft University of Technology has been designing solar powered race cars known as the Nuna, the first of which won the 2001 World Solar Challenge race in Australia. Another heavy hitter for green transportation, Netherlands based Electric Cars Europe, has just recently announced their latest electric conversion.
Called the E-C1, this form of green transportation is the result of Electric Cars Europe’s conversion of the popular Citroen C1. Prior to the electric conversion, the Citroen C1 has long been seen as one of the more reliable and fuel efficient choices when it comes to purchasing an affordable car on a light budget. Now that ECE has torn out the fossil fuel systems, however, it is even more efficient. With the electric conversion, ECE says that the E-C1 has a maximum range of seventy files miles and a top speed of approximately seventy two miles per hour. While the top end speed is rather attractive for an electric car, the maximum range is a bit lower from what we might expect over here where ranges go up to 100 miles and beyond. However, since the E-C1 is likely designed for use in urban settings or as a local family car, the range given is perfectly acceptable. ECE has also detailed that to match the range of an ideal urban car is the ability to charge the E-C1 via a wall outlet in under seven hours. This means by the time you are ready for work in the morning, the E-C1 will be ready to get you there.
Though the E-C1 is the latest of ECE’s green transportation conversions, it is most certainly not their first. ECE has done a full electric conversion of the stylish Lotus Elise. An interested buyer can order the Lotus electric conversion for around $142,000 and expect to receive the electric sports car all fitted out. The Lotus conversion has a range of approximately 125 miles and a top speed of around 133 miles per hour. While the price tag for the conversion is significantly higher than that of an actual Lotus Elise, and the high speed and acceleration are a bit lower, it is all a trade off for the ability to drive a sports car with zero carbon emissions.
One other conversion ECE brings to the table for green transportation is the electric conversion of Volkswagen Golf. Coming in at $98,000, the ECE boasts that they are finally delivering a no carbon emissions, all electric version of one of the best selling cars in history. After the conversion, the Golf has the same range as the Lotus Elise (taking it into consideration that both cars are driving for maximum range) and a top speed of around ninety miles per hour. Like the Lotus Elise conversion, the Golf also uses lithium batteries as the primary source of energy for the car.
Overall, the new E-C1 is certainly the most affordable of ECE’s green transportation conversions with the final price tag of approximately $26,000 dollars. Over in the Netherlands, they have already gained some popularity after the City of Amsterdam purchased several of them for city use. The E-C1 also fits the proper criteria to be exempt from several of Europe’s taxes against fossil fuel cars. Hopefully, with ECE continuing to develop conversions like this one, and the price becoming more affordable, more companies will be able to catch on that we don’t always need the slickest and most futuristic designs for our new electric vehicles. Perhaps all it really takes is to use the designs everyone is already familiar with and convert them to electric.
Article by Richard Cooke, appearing courtesy Justmeans.
