Designed and built by a team at the Keio University and led by Professor Hiroshi Shimizu, the Lithium-Ion battery powered 8 wheel car has been built in two version. One with rapid acceleration (0-62 MPH) in 4 seconds, and the other for top speed, having already set a speed of 230 MPH at Italy's Nardo test track. The acceleration model is street registered and combines a 120 MPH top speed with a 200 mile range.
The very unusual looking Eliica weighs a hefty 2,400 kg (5,300 lb) and seats the driver and three passengers. The body was extensively tested in a wind tunnel.Other features include unusual door operation with the front doors opening forward and the rear doors upward like wings!
The car's platform contains 4 tracks of 80 batteries, which make up one third of the vehicle's cost. They can be recharged in about 10 hours at 100 volts from empty to full charge, and can be easily charged off a residential power grid.
The car has eight wheels enabling it to be closer to the ground for better traction. Each of the wheels has a 60 kW (80 hp) electric motor, giving a 480 kW (640 hp) in total and eight wheel drive which can tackle all kinds of road surfaces. The four front wheels steer. The electric motors mean that the Eliica can deliver seamlessly smooth acceleration without the need to change gear. Each wheel contains a disc brake and employs a regenerative braking system to recover energy, which is normally lost to heat.
The estimated cost of development was in excess of US$320,000. Once the team receives corporate sponsorship, they plan to produce at least 200 units. As of early 2007, the projected price was ¥30,000,000 JPY (about US$255,000).
On December 19, 2005, then-Prime Minister of Japan Junichiro Koizumi tested this vehicle in a 10-minute ride to the Japanese Parliament. In 2006, the car was tested by Shintaro Ishihara, the governor of Tokyo, as well as by Naruhito, Crown Prince of Japan.
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