TechSmart 121, October 2013 TechSmart 132, September 2014 | Page 31

CARS

2014 Nissan Leaf
In the local electric car landscape, the Nissan Leaf carries the unique
advantage of being the first vehicle to get its foot - or is that battery - in
the door, and therefore sets the benchmark for how all other competitors
will be measured. For the most part it has performed well locally, with the
majority of its appeal linked to the value for money proposition it presents.

> QUICK SPECS:
Engine: QU-Kai 80 kW electric AC motor 0-100 km/h: 11.5 seconds
Top Speed: 144 km/h Driving Range: 195 km
Battery Charge Time: Seven hours Cost: R446 000

R446 000 is quite the initial investment, but the return cannot be argued
with, as the Leaf will only cost drivers R1 500 to maintain (excluding
electricity costs) over a six year span. The petrol equivalent however will
cost almost R400 000 to fill up on fossil fuels alone during the same period,
according to Nissan.
Billed more as a jack of all trades within the current range of Electric Car
offerings, the Nissan Leaf will be most appealing to those with young
families who primarily use their car for shuttling between school, work and
home. To that end the Nissan Leaf’s modest 80 kW battery powered engine
yields a driving range of 195 kilometres from a full charge. Charging itself
takes roughly seven hours, not to mention its 5-star NCAP safety rating and
zero emission advantage.

> QUICK SPECS:
Engine: BMW eDrive 125 kW electric motor 0-100 km/h: 7.2 seconds
Top Speed: 150 km/h Driving Range: 190 kilometres
Battery Charge Time: Eight hours Cost: R475 000

BMW i3
Set for a local release in September, the BMW i3 is the next electric
car to make our list and certainly looks the most intriguing. From the
black band that runs from bonnet to boot, to the strips of lightning
blue scattered across its body, there are plenty of design intricacies
to fix onlookers’ gaze.
Although a compact four-seater, the BMW i3’s interior feels quite
spacious, with the Bavarian manufacturer taking full advantage of the
additional space afforded by placing the engine in the floor. Adding
to BMW’s sustainable initiative, is the use of recycled products and
natural materials for the trim and seating of the i3.
In terms of performance, BMW has designed a unique zero emission
eDrive system which is married with a lithium-ion high voltage battery
to produce 125 kW of power. Although a modest figure, BMW has
tuned the engine to produce 250 Nm of torque which helps the i3
register a 0-100 km.h time of 7.2 seconds. If the Germans’ take on
the electric car looks appealing, you can expect to pay in the region
of R475 000 for the i3.

Renovo Coupe
Just because electric cars produce zero emissions, does not mean
they can’t produce a little wheelspin smoke, and the recently unveiled
Renovo Coupe is testament to that. Founded in 2010, Renovo is a small
manufacturer aiming to make a thrilling electric supercar a reality. To
that end, the Renovo Coupe carries with it a blistering 0-100 km/h time
of 3.4 seconds and top speed of 194 km/h, thanks to a twin sequential
axial motor that generates 372 kW. That rapid acceleration is down to a
uniquely designed engine system that delivers 100% of available power in
37 milliseconds.

> QUICK SPECS:
Engine: 372 kW Twin sequential axial motor 0-100 km/h: 3.4 seconds
Top Speed: 190 km/h Driving Range: 160 kilometres
Battery Charge Time: 5 hours Cost: POA

Although quick in a straight line, the Renovo Coupe does not have fantastic
range, with a listed output of roughly 160 kilometres from a full charge. With
long distance travelling out of the question, at least the Renovo Coupe
will look good sitting in your garage, with a design that bares a striking
resemblance to Ford’s iconic Shelby GT. The reason for that is no accident,
as Shelby in fact provided the body for the Renovo Coupe.
If you’re interested in a retro-styled electric car that goes like the clappers,
Renovo are currently taking orders with pricing available on application for
delivery during late 2015. [RLC]

September 2014 | TechSmart

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