ˆ Porsche on the waiting list for Tesla Roadster

tags : electric car , electric porsche , electric porsche 911 , electric ruf , electric ruf 911 , electriccar , electricporsche , electricporsche911 , electricruf , electricruf911 , eruf , eruf concept model a , eruf model a , erufconceptmodela , erufmodela , tesla , tesla motors , tesla porsche , tesla roadster , teslamotors , teslaporsche , teslaroadster

Electric vehicles... they're so hot right now. And none are hotter at the moment than the Tesla Roadster, which looks positively sublime in Very Orange paint. Even Porsche, the longtime purveyor of some of the world's best sporting hardware, is interested in the little electron powered machine. In fact, rumor has it that the German automaker is much more impressed with Silicon Valley's first ever sports car than it is with the lithium ion-powered E-Ruf electric 911. Is it too slow; too heavy; too expensive? Nobody knows for sure outside of Stuttgart's engineering offices, but we do know that the German automaker has placed an order for a Tesla Roadster of their very own for closer scrutiny. We'd imagine that the EV's dissection could offer some enlightening revelations to Porsche, rumored to be hard at work on an electric sportscar of its very own. Considering Porsche's recent history with other automaker's wares, this could get very interesting.

posted : 11/28/2008 @5:07:29 PM

ˆ Road and Track tests battery-powered E-Ruf 911

tags : e-ruf , electric 911 , electric porsche , electric porsche 911 , electric911 , electricporsche , electricporsche911 , eruf , ruf

We only heard about the latest modified Porsche from Ruf about a week and a half ago when the tuner unveiled its new E-Ruf via press release. Apparently we weren't the first to learn of the all-electric 911, as Road & Track has already driven it and just published its first impressions, including details about the car's inner workings that were previously unknown. Unlike most Ruf Porsches, the E-Ruf hasn't had its internal combustion engine boosted to within an inch of its life. It doesn't even have an ICE. Instead, the staff in Germany have ripped out the boxer 6-cylinder, back seat and fuel tank. The back seat area and front trunk have been stuffed full of lithium-ion batteries and an electric motor's been bolted to the stock 6-speed gearbox. Turns out that the E-Ruf is very different from other high-profile EVs like the Tesla Roadster in some interesting ways, but you'll have to click through to Road and Track to find out exactly why and what it means for the future of EVs.

posted : 10/22/2008 @10:40:41 PM

ˆ RUF's electric Porsche breaks cover

tags : electric porsche , electric porsche 911 , electric ruf , electricporsche , electricporsche911 , electricruf , eruf model a , erufmodela , ruf

Rumors of RUF's impending electric Porsche were true, except that the actual vehicle is based on a Porsche 911, not the Cayman as previously reported. Powered by a three-phase electric motor that offers about 200 horsepower along with an impressive 480 lb.-ft. of torque, the eRUF Model A can reportedly hit 60 miles per hour in under seven seconds and can reach a top speed of 160. Power comes from a lithium iron phosphate battery pack, which produces 317-volts and 480-amps and is made up from 96 individual cells. A full charge takes a rather long 10-hours, and regenerative braking is included in the package allowing for a range of up to 180 miles. From the outside, you'd never really know that something was different about this 997, except that it doesn't produce that soul-stirring flat-six sound. This is still just a concept and its specifications are subject to change. We can be sure, though, that this isn't the last electrically-powered sportscar set to hit the market.

posted : 10/15/2008 @7:45:56 PM

ˆ Ruf developing all-electric Porsche Cayman

tags : electric cayman , electric porsche , electric porsche cayman , electriccayman , electricporsche , electricporschecayman , ruf , ruf electric , ruf ev , ruf porsche , rufelectric , rufev , rufporsche

Despite the fact that Lotus seems to have the inside line on electric sportscars, longtime Porsche tuning firm Ruf has chosen the Cayman for its new electric supercar. Comparisons to the Tesla Roadster are sure to come up, and we're happy to oblige. Compared to the latest Tesla drivetrain, the Ruf is expected to debut with a bit less overall power (150kW compared to 185kW) but will have considerably more twisting force (650Nm versus 375Nm). In other words, if the Ruf were a hatchet, the Tesla may be a scalpal, so to speak. A lithium-ion battery pack of unknown output will provide power to the motor. We don't yet know if the Ruf will sport multiple gears, but it seems distinctly possible in order to attain its planned top speed of around 125 miles per hour. We'd bet that any comparisons between the two electric sportscars will end at price, as the Ruf is sure to command an even heftier sum than the $100k Tesla Roadster. We'll find out next month what that price is and if it's worth it. Uh never mind... of course it'll be worth it.

posted : 10/3/2008 @6:48:52 PM

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