Pininfarina to Display Pure EV Hybrid Using Exide Batteries at NAIAS
13 January 2000
Pininfarina to Display Pure EV Hybrid Using Exide Batteries at Detroit Auto Show READING, Pa., Jan. 12 -- Pininfarina, the renown Italian auto
design studio, will be displaying its brand new pure Electric Vehicle hybrid
car, the METROCUBO, which runs on Exide batteries, in the Michelin booth at
the North American International Auto Show in Detroit starting January 15.
(photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000112/NYW023 )
This is not the first time Pininfarina has come up with an idea for an EV
hybrid car. In 1994, the company proposed Ethos 3, a small compact that could
seat six people in an area just 3.20 meters long and 1.7 meters wide.
Then, in 1996, a Multi Purpose Vehicle just 3 meters long came along and
its adaptability to an in-town and out-of-town use thanks to its hybrid dual
power propulsion system.
Now Pininfarina has designed the METROCUBO, which was intended to get over
the concept of traditional car. Rather than settle for the traditional
concept car, they focused on a neutral geometrically-simple shape - almost a
mobile urban decoration.
The METROCUBO has come together thanks to many technical partners who
wanted to be a part of this brand new concept. METROCUBO was inspired by the
revolutionary Pax System by Michelin, a breakthrough in tire technology that
allowed the architecture of the vehicle to be completely redesigned.
Lombardini Motori supplied the auxiliary power unit, which is a single pack
including an internal combustion engine and alternator. The electric drive
system is from Siemans, and it consists of a liquid cooled induction traction
motor. Exide Corporation has given the METROCUBO its Tudor Drysafe Multicraft
battery, while the lighting system comes from Valeo, which has had a
partnership with Pininfarina since 1998. The wheels on the METROCUBO are
supplied by BBS-Riva. With their distinctive design feature the differently
sized wheels help to show which way the vehicle is turning.
Webasto, the leading supplier in the sunroof sector has designed and
produced the first sunroof adopting the Lamella-deflector technology. Vickers
Electrics designed and supplied the brushless rare earth magnets generator for
the motor. The entire cabin of the car is completely glazed and the
polycarbonate is supplied by Isoclima Aerospace. The seats inside are padded
with a gel provided by TechnoGel, which makes them comfortable to sit it in.
The Tudor Drysafe Multicraft battery from Exide Corporation was first
introduced to the market some ten years ago. In the years that followed its
launch the model confirmed its quality, performance, and established itself
for the special needs for electric vehicles.
The high performance of the battery can be attributed to several features,
such as zero maintenance, which allows Tudor Drysafe to eliminate the need
for topping up with water. With its tight seal, the battery also stops any
external corrosion damaging terminals and connections, or any other part of
the vehicle. Standard dimension, rather than the usual oversize EV size,
makes the makes the battery easy to transport and allows the vehicle to save
weight. Exide Tudor Drysafe batteries are manufactured in the Caselnuovo
Plant in Naples.
Exide Corporation, with annual revenues of more than $2.4 billion and
operations in 19 countries, is a world leader in the manufacture of automotive
and industrial lead acid batteries. Further information about Exide's
business and products is available at http://www.exideworld.com. Information on
where to buy Exide products is available by dialing toll free 1-800-START-IT.
