Aussie EV Under development

South Australian automotive start-up Red Automotive Technologies has started construction of a prototype version of an electric vehicle it hopes to eventually bring into production.

The prototype, which is shown here in an artist's sketch supplied by Red, is based on the restyled bodyshell of an existing pick-up but uses bespoke running gear.

It is expected to be completed within 12-18 months.

The timeframe is loosely defined because it is dependent on the amount and continuity of funding, the project's chief Paul van de Loo told motoring.com.au. The funding situation has also meant the scope of the prototype's performance has been scaled back.

"We will still have a complete electric vehicle prototype," said van de Loo, an Adelaide engineer who has spun Red out of engineering design consultancy Applidyne. "It is a little bit less ambitious. It won't be out-accelerating Supercars, which is what would have happened with what we were going to do originally.

"We have had to scale that back a little bit because the development budget was too big for the dollars we have been able to raise. But it will still be impressive. There will still be plenty of wow factor."

The initial vision, as reported by motoring.com.au last November, was for a 250km/h SUV based on a clean-sheet 'skateboard' architecture, using four in-wheel motors, a patented two-speed transmission that would enable ultra-low and ultra-high speeds, innovative suspension design including semi-active roll and articulation control and vehicle-to-home interactions such as energy generation and supply.

Key specifications Red had targeted include a 200km-plus electric-only range, a 1200km-plus range with a range extender petrol or diesel engine, 0-100km/h in under four seconds and a top speed of 250km/h, ride height adjustable suspension with 375mm of off-road ground clearance and a 3500kg braked towing capacity.

"Top speed has come down but the range is non-negotiable," van de Loo aid. "It's not quite as adventurous as it was going to be."

Van de Loo said the development team had put some aspects of the program, such as the expensive two-speed transmission, to one side, while focusing on other key elements such as the vehicle-to-home interaction.

"What's out there at the moment is you bring your electric vehicle home and recharge it from the household power supply and that is just sucking power out of the grid," he explained.

"There are developments around the world where if you get caught without power at home or its too expensive you can suck power back out of your car to run your home temporarily. So I suppose what we are doing is we are taking that to the next level.

"Because we have a range extender engine it opens up more opportunities to interact with the home and ultimately allow houses to get off the power grid."

As reported by motoring.com.au in February, an international investor with a primary focus on motorsport applications had been in negotiations with Red, but van de Loo confirmed that potential deal had gone quiet.

"Their emphasis is very much on racing and competition and we are trying to build a road-going vehicle. There were some differences in what they wanted and what we are doing," van de Loo said.

One of the purposes of the prototype will be to showcase Red's engineering ideas to other potential investors.

"Then we can raise some money to really get into a production version," van de Loo said.