Pininfarina will show electric car in Paris
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The Italian contract manufacturer plans to launch the four-seat small car under its own brand name in Europe, US and Japan starting in late 2010.
Pininfarina is developing the car with French battery specialist Bollore. By 2013 or 2014, Pininfarina and Bollore aim to sell 15,000 electric cars a year.
The car has a 200km range on a full charge that takes about eight hours to load from a standard home electrical outlet. It can also run for 25km on a five-minute charge.
Pininfarina and Bollore plan to invest 150 million euros in a 50-50 joint venture that will market, distribute and sell the electric car. A production version will debut at the Geneva auto show in March 2009.
The two companies expect to build 2,000 electric cars in 2010, 8,000 in 2011 and 11,000 in 2012.
The car will feature Lithium Metal Polymer batteries. These batteries differ from lithium ion batteries because each battery cell is electronically protected by passive and active systems that constantly monitor operating efficiency, voltage and temperature of each element. The cells are encased in a steel container to prevent damage.
You can reach Luca Ciferri at lciferri@crain.com.
