Hybrid speedster: A concept version of the 918 Spyder was shown at the Geneva Motor Show last March.
Porsche
The 918 Spyder will be the world's fastest plug-in hybrid.
For years, as Toyota and Honda toiled away at hybrid-electric vehicles, German manufacturers largely ignored electric-drive technology. But times have changed, and last week, Porsche committed to making a production version of what will likely be the world's fastest plug-in hybrid: a rip-roaring two-seat supercar with a top speed of 198 miles per hour and a zero-to-62-mph acceleration of 3.2 seconds.
The Porsche 918 Spyder was first shown as a concept car at the Geneva Motor Show last March to demonstrate Porsche's research into battery-powered hybrid powertrains. Its racy styling was combined with the greenest of features: a zero-emissions "E-Drive" mode that gives it up to 16 miles of electric-only range. With some European cities expected to institute emissions-based entrance fees or congestion charges, the 918 Spyder will offer a few rich buyers both supercar performance and environmental peace of mind.
A 3.6-liter V-8 gasoline engine puts out 500 horsepower--with a remarkable maximum 9,000-rpm redline--to drive the rear wheels via a seven-speed direct-shift gearbox. An electric motor between the engine and transmission contributes extra torque as needed. Up front, a pair of electric motors--one per front wheel--provide all-wheel drive. Taken together, the three electric motors add 218 horsepower to the gas engine's 500. The motors are powered by a 5.1-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack.
As in most performance cars, the driver can select from various driving modes, with different settings for the software that operates the engine-control, power distribution, and stability-control systems. A "Race Hybrid" mode lets the driver add electric boost as needed to accelerate more quickly out of corners or when overtaking--handy on the fabled Nürburgring circuit, where Porsche's simulations suggest that the 918 will be a bit quicker than its last supercar, the Carrera GT.
Promising battery technologies often get bogged down in long experiments--a new test could set them loose.
The company will share parts and production lines between hybrids and conventional vehicles.
A123 Systems has built a powerful, lightweight lithium-ion battery pack that could lower the price of hybrid vehicles.
The production i-MIEV doesn't have in-wheel motors; my previous statement to that effect was wrong. The prototypes had such a system.
Californians will love this thing
Fast, sleek and has the Porsche moniker - now all they'll need is to build up equity in their homes so they can take out another HELOC and buy one. Best of all - it gives the drivers/owners access to the Car Pool Lanes!!!
The article says "per", not in.Regardless, sounds fast!!!!!!!
I was responding to this statement: "Omotoso notes that the Spyder will be the first production vehicle to feature in-wheel electric motors."
This car gives us hope that those who like sports cars will have something to sink their teeth into in the future. Let's just hope that the next models will have less heart-attack inducing price tags.
Or I could just buy a scale model...
Give me a break! It has a 500 HP internal combustion (gasoline-burning) engine. Oh yeah: it also has electric motors with a range of 16 miles. Whoop-di-doo. As if anybody driving this $600K sports car is going to switch off the engine and putt-putt around using just the electric motors! It is an absolute sham that a lone driver of this vehicle would be allowed to use the carpool lane.
This is a must have for the garage if you're rich (which unfortunately I'm not but hopefully that will change). I haven't considered a car "awesome" since the 1970's, and adding green technology is the frosting on the cake. Kudos to Porsche.
Manufacturing in the United States is in trouble. That's bad news not just for the country's economy but for the future of innovation.
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Oldvic
8 Comments
Motor in wheel
I think there are two inaccuracies in Mr. Omotoso's statement. The Porsche 918 has two motors at the front, one per wheel, but they're not in the wheels themselves; instead, they're located at the center of the axle, and drive the wheels using normal half-shafts with universal joints.
This is probably due to the fact that putting the motors in the wheels increases the unsprung weight, a big no-no for sports cars.
Also, the Porsche, even if it had the motors in the wheels, wouldn't be the first production car using the system, as Mitsubishi is already selling such a car, at least in Japan (the i-MIEV).
Reply
erbium
331 Comments
Re: Motor in wheel
Sounds like they made the right choice.
Motors in the wheels are hit by alot harder vibrations, more dirt and dust, road oil, water, salt... which seems like would significantly shorten motor life and increase maintenance costs.
(Sorry but electric only cars are not mysti-magically maitenance free)
Reply
willknight
37 Comments
Re: Motor in wheel
You are correct: The 918 will have one electric motor per wheel, in line with the axle. The article has been corrected.
Reply
davidseabury
1 Comment
Re: Motor in wheel
I think there is another problem. The article states that the battery is 5.1 kwh. That's not very much energy. I highly doubt that it could drive the car 16 miles let alone provide enough current to power over 200 hp of electric motors. By comparision my electric bicycle has a .750 kwh battery.
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