Mitsubishi Lancer goes electric

One Brisbane company plans to begin selling the converted new cars next year from $48,990.  Deep Green Research (DGR) director Michael Gutteridge says the cars will be more affordable than a Prius hybrid luxury model with cheaper running costs and better performance.

They will come with a reversing camera, parking sensors, GPS, Bluetooth capability, five-star crash rating, five-year warranty and a swappable battery that snaps in and out and costs about the same as a "swap-and-go" gas bottle.

Gutteridge even hopes to compete in the Bathurst 12-hour race with a high-performance production model based on a Lancer Evo and costing $115,990.  "We'll have our own financial and insurance packages," he says. "We want to make it as easy as possible to own an electric car."

Gutteridge, a former senior scientist in the Queensland resources and mines department, is raising up to $1.5m in capital to begin manufacturing motors and battery boxes, and converting the Lancers in the middle of next year.  He expects to make about 100 in the first full year, doubling every following year and returning pre-tax profit of $40m after five years with a staff of about 30.

"Our market survey shows we will have a line-up for cars," he says.  Gutteridge is not yet releasing the name for the new electric vehicles.

The small but blossoming Brisbane electric conversion industry began on the back of the University of Queensland's 10-year solar car program.  "Those UQ electrical engineering students formed local businesses such as Tritium and Ultramotive," he says.

Tritium developed the controller used in many solar cars around world and updated it for a Honda Civic which DGR is using as a test car.  Ultramotive designed and built the car's motor originally for a solar car, but has upgraded it for the test vehicle.

The DGR Civic competed in the 2009 Global Green Challenge last year and consumed power at 85watt-hour/km.  "That's like getting a Commodore to do 1.3 litres per 100km or 217mpg in the old language," Gutteridge says.

The base model electric Lancers will be powered by a lithium-ion phosphate battery with range of about 100-140km and the premium models will use a lithium polymer battery with range of 210-315km.

Base models will have 124kW of power and 250Nm compared with the petrol Lancer's 113kW/198Nm.  The electric "Evo" model will have 245kW and 500Nm with a top speed of 250-300km/h.

Conversion requires the removal and sale of the petrol engine with Evo engines fetching about $7500.  It is replaced with an electric motor, controller and a reduction gear, but the transmission and differential are retained.

Although the Civic test car has an automatic transmission, the electric Lancers will have a five-speed manual gearbox that will also operate in second or third around town "like an automatic". There is a simulated clutch and the vehicle will not stall when stopped in gear.

Conversion requires only "slight changes" to the suspension and brakes, but DGR adds an electric brake vacuum pump, electric power steering pump and electric airconditioning motor and condenser.

The car also gets a DC converter that drops the current from the 450V battery pack to 12V to operate the car's electrical system for airconditioning, lights, audio etc.  There is a charger on board that can charge from a 10amp, 15amp or three-phase power outlet.

A full charge from flat will take seven hours on 10amp, but the car will be able to be plugged into two outlets halving the charging time.  Rapid charging can be completed in two hours through three-phase power or one hour if there are two three-phase outlets.

"We can even organise an electrician to install the outlets in the garage as part of our package," Gutteridge says.  DGR will have a three-month run-flat assistance program and Gutteride is negotiating to have auto clubs offer a similar service after their program expires.

They will also offer to install solar panels on the roof of a customer's garage at $2500 after government rebate.  "The car will pay off installation in the first year of operation in savings on running costs," he says.

Gutteridge will follow the new electric cars with second-hand electric Lancers starting from $39,990.  "There will be no electric cars available at that price and spec level," he says.

"Our research shows that 75 per cent of potential electric car buyers would be happy with a second-hand chassis, however government fleets will only buy new cars."

Gutteridge also plans to produce an electric SUV based on the front-wheel-drive Mitsubishi ASX, a high-powered 4WD electric model to compete against the Porsche Cayenne and a small "Joey" utility similar to a Mini Moke for about $25,000-$30,000.

He says there is already interest for the Joey from governments and the Defence Force.  Gutteridge says the Australian Design Rules (ADR) are being re-written to accommodate electric cars, but his vehicles will be available before the rules are completed.

"The new ADRs will basically comply with the European standards for electric cars," he says.  "Our intention is to exceed any public ADR standards."

DGR also plans to crash test the vehicles and hopes for a five-star rating.  Gutteridge says they will handle servicing in Queensland and sub-contract the task interstate.  "Servicing costs should be about half those of a petrol car," he says.

DGR electric cars

New prices: $48,990 (base), $54,990 (intermediate with longer-range battery), $67,990 (premium), $115,990 (Evo-based high-performance model) Used prices: from $39,990
Motor: Ultramotive AC motor
Battery: lithium-ion phosphate (base), lithium polymer (premium)
Range: 100-140km (base), 210-315km (premium)
Power: 124kW (base), 245kw ("Evo")
Torque: 250Nm (base), 500Nm ("Evo")