Now here's an EV that I could get behind

[peasant]

Those who know me from "the other side" will know that I used to drive VW T3 vans for years (among them a 4x4 Syncro) and that I have recently re -discovered my love for small cars (in the form af a Suzuki Ignis)

Well ..this is kind of what would happen if you crossed the two:

Ladys and Gentlemen ..the XBUS



But hang on ...there's a catch (other than it only being a prototype)

This is a "light vehicle" ...same category as the Renault Twizzy or Citroen Ami, so not a proper car. While it has permanent four wheel drive (an electric motor at each wheel), with 15 KW of permanent power and 56 kw peak it will not set the world alight...no Tesla here. Top speed is 100 km/h.
Also no airbags, driver assist systems and probably very light crash test requirements

On the other hand, it only weighs 600 kg and with its modular build you can have anything from a pickup, MPV, panel van or even a camper.(and you're even supposed to be able to switch between them by changing modules yourself)

You can play with the configurator here:
https://electricbrands.de/en/

I have to say, I like the idea. This looks useful, practical and sustainable.

But, like so many EV startups, there's a lot of talk and "vision" and very little hard fact available up to now.
I will keep an eye on this and if I ever get a chance for a test drive, I' will certainly think about it more seriously. If a light vehicle ever could fulfill my daily driving needs ...this might be it

[CelticRambler]

Hmm. Think I'd stick with the Ami. I toyed with the idea getting a Twizzy for a while, but the Ami is way ahead of it and you can get one new for the price of a secondhand Twizzy.

But for the moment, there's no EV that can cope with my driving habits, so I'll be burning dinojuice for a the foreseeable future.

[PogMoThoin]

It's fugly

[Eoin_B]

Why make it look like a face?
Cant be taken seriously!

[CelticRambler]

It's fugly

It's gross looking.

Ah now: it's cuter than that monstrosity Tesla truck.

[peasant]

Something that has disappointed me about the current crop of EVS is that despite the new possibilities that come with the new technology and the new platforms they still are just a continuation of what was before. No really new ideas ...just one electric SUV/crossover after another.

Something that has really annoyed me is the ongoing trend of Teslafication. I get it...Tesla were first and they had to offer something unique so the went with fast, ludicrous even. But ( with a few laudable exception) most EV makers go for the same thing now...German Autobahn speeds with a range of 500+ km. The result are EV's that are far less economical than they should be because they are over-sized, over-powered and over-weight.

That's what I like about the underlying principle of the XBUS. Even though it is from Germany, it doesn't aim for Autobahn speed, it goes against the grain.

I hope it works out for them

[CelticRambler]

No really new ideas ...just one electric SUV/crossover after another.

Sure isn't that more or less the only style/shape that any manufacturer ever bothers to introduce now, regardless of the motorisation?

I'm not at all into cars, but I think we're all the poorer that there aren't more imaginative/unique/quirky designs on the roads. 'Twas better in the olden days!

That said, I'd be wondering what (apart from the quad-bike licence and the modularity) is the difference between this and the many electric "utility" vans we see doing town council duty here in France.

[peasant]

...I'd be wondering what (apart from the quad-bike licence and the modularity) is the difference between this and the many electric "utility" vans we see doing town council duty here in France.

A motor at every wheel (to get the most out of the restrictive quadricycle requirements) and up 800 W of solar panels on the roof?
That difference enough?

I don't know what the small utility vans in France look like ...so the above is a real question, not rhetoric

[CelticRambler]

I'll pay more attention the next time I see one! Could be a while, as I tend to avoid places that need to have council workers traipsing around often enough for me to see them!

[peasant]

Apparently four dealerships in Ireland have registered with them already.
(don't know if that involves much more than just filling in a contact page ...but interesting nevertheless)

Capture xbus.JPG (21.96 KiB) Viewed 3313 times

[peasant]

Their second prototype is out ...this time the commercial version with the big box





and their dealer network has grown as well (not just here)

Capture xbus 2.JPG (26.5 KiB) Viewed 3236 times

This might just become reality ...

[peasant]

[CelticRambler]

I don't think I could ever trust the engineering of someone who makes vertical videos ...

[peasant]

[CelticRambler]

@peasant: Is that your own pic?

[peasant]

I wish it were ...it's from electric brands' facebook page.

I'm just itching to get a test drive in one of these (end of next year perhaps?)..because if it drives anywhere near enough a "normal" car like I have now ...the bus version will be my next one and only vehicle

[quodec]

... whereas I was thinking of something like this......

[peasant]

... whereas I was thinking of something like this......

Yeah ..well ...the hound wouldn't fit into that one

[peasant]

The exchangeable batteries also make it interesting ...buy some extra (1600 € for 5 kW/h), charge them on your own solar panels at home while you're gone, use them as a additional house battery and do swaps with the empty ones from your car ...you could be driving without ever plugging in