DeLorean Motor Co., Inc. has unveiled the DeLorean EV, an electric car that marries the legendary Back to the Future DeLorean automobile of the 1980s with a lithium-ion-based, DC-powered, electric drivetrain of today.
"It turns out the DeLorean is a perfect platform for electrification," noted Chris Anthony, CEO of Flux Power, Inc. and Epic Electric Vehicles, both of which worked with DeLorean Motors to develop the powertrain for the new vehicle. "It's well designed, it's lightweight, it never rusts, and it has a design aesthetic that's meant to blow you away."
DeLorean's "new" EV maintains the look of the legendary vehicle from the movie, Back to the Future. (Photo courtesy of the DeLorean Motor Co.)
Surprisingly, the new DeLorean EV is not a publicity stunt. DeLorean Motors, which has serviced, restored and sold DeLoreans since 1995, plans to begin selling the converted EVs in 2013. Interested parties are already said to be lining up to reserve vehicles, which are expected to cost between $90,000 to $100,000.
"We've been surprised by the reaction," said James Espey, vice president of DeLorean Motor Co., in an interview with Design News. "It's killed our web site twice and the phones have been ringing non-stop."
DeLorean has been working on the idea for about four years. Because the company has a 40,000-square-foot warehouse stocked with more than a million parts, its executives fixed on the idea of using the parts in a new, electrically-powered version of the car. Plans are to build between 350 and 400 electric DeLoreans, based on the company's current inventory of parts.
"Our primary business has been parts, service, and restoration," Espey told us. "We've literally got millions of nuts, bolts, and washers. We've got seats, wheels, brakes, and transmissions. It's all here in the building. And the best way to make money off those parts is to assemble them into cars again."
Seems a bit gimmicky to me. Do they even sell DeLorean vehicle any more and did they ever really sell any in the first place? Then again, a fair percentage of the people buying electric vehicles are doing so to be pioneers and to stand out--maybe this is just the vehicle they're waiting for.
DeLoreans really didn't get a chance to sale. I had always heard that the drug trafficking charges were a setup brought about by the big three. Who knows, but they have done plenty of other similiar nasty things in the past.
I think DeLoreans going electric is a great thing. Maybe someone will do something totally different.
The present DeLorean Motor Company in the article is not the same DeLorean Motor Company that produced the original DMC-12 seen in Back to the Future. The original DeLorean Motor Company folded in 1982. In the mid 90's, someone bought all of the parts and logo of the original DMC and named the new company DeLorean Motor Company. They specialize in spare parts and rebuilds of the existing DMC-12 vehicles on the road. At one time, I think that you could actually buy a new gas powered car from them, but I am not sure if they still offer this now that they are looking to go all electric.
As a note, a friend of mine has an original DMC-12 (without flux capacitor). It is fun to ride in, but you will hit your head on the gull doors every time you get out.
I was listening to an episode of "Top Gear" last night on the BBCA. They had a Delorean on there. It is assembled from several car manufacturers. The front axel from one, the rear from another; and the interior is ghastly (Halloween left over). Plastic pieces everywhere and poorly fitted. The gentleman discussing this owned one, because he was from Ireland, where it is manufactured.
1.21 Gigawatts!!! Stainless steel is great for corosion resistance but horrible for accident repair. I aggree its gimmicky... but maybe this is what it needed all along.
It is interesting that DeLorean has introduced what to most Americans is actually a coal-fired steam car. (The boiler and engine live at the coal-fired power plant.) Iwould be lucky if 0.01% of the public could afford it and of those, perhaps 1% would buy it instead of their macho gas-hogs.
What we really need is a cheap light electric, even with limited range and speed, AND solar charging stations. 2-car families or city dwellers could use the electric to commute and for local trips, neither of which requires grand prix performance. The electric might be designed with the same market philosophy as the Ford T, or the VW beetle, economical, simple, and reliable. An electric need not, and should not, try to mimic a gas car. It's a different species.
One advantage of solar charging is that the panels produce DC which can charge the battery even with no power converters. (There is a tradeoff between the slight gain in efficiency with peak power tracking and the simplicity of direct connection.)
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