Valeo prototype (Image: Valeo)
The French automotive supplier Valeo has a two-seated electric car presented as a prototype that does not work with a high-voltage system like the cars of the competition, but with 48 volts. It would cost about 7,500 euros.
The 48-volt electric car, which was built entirely on the battery with a drive from Valeo, could be offered at a hugely affordable price of 7,500 euros, says the builder, who wants to demonstrate but only his abilities.
The French automotive supplier has presented the vehicle at the CES 2018, which, however, can not achieve a particularly high performance. More than 100 km / h are not possible and the acceleration from 0 to 50 km / h should not provide enthusiasm – it takes 15 seconds. In an electric motor with 15 kW / 20 hp no wonder. The range of 100 km predestines the vehicle for city traffic.
The waiver of a high-voltage solution, however, also brings advantages. So the drive should work about 20 percent more economical than a high-voltage variant. The two-seater, which was developed in collaboration with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University, is based on the Chinese City car Zhidou,
Jacques Aschenbroich, head of Valeo, said: “There is already a large market for slow-moving vehicles in China, where more than a million such vehicles are on the road, and these vehicles are enjoying growing popularity in Europe, which is a global market could explode. “
Despite the elaborate concept development, Valeo does not intend to become an automaker, but wants to show what technology the company could sell to automakers.