Vaporware and failed EV companies

[Toshi]

Mission One. Current status: Dead. Mission Motors itself still lives in a limited role, trying to source EV components to OEMs instead of building complete machines.

[Toshi]

Ford Transit Connect EV. Current status: Dead, although an unknown number of vehicles were built prior to the battery maker, Azure Dynamics, going bankrupt in 2012. InsideEVs.com provides additional confirmation.

[Toshi]

VW Up! EV. Current status: Vaporware.

[Toshi]

Raytheon BluWave Hy-DRA. Offroad, hub-motored, A123-batteried BEV. Current status: NOT vaporware, but only available for your use if you're in the US military special forces.

On a very similar note:



CERV Quantum Clandestine Extended Range Vehicle, an AWD diesel-electric hybrid. Current status: Similarly only available for killing brown people under the flag of the US military.

[Toshi]

Saab Aero X, which was to run on 100% ethanol. Current status: Dead, as is Saab itself after prolonged death throes.

[Toshi]

VentureOne, later renamed Persu Hybrid. Current status: Dead, as is the company that made the rolling/tilting chassis, Carver.

[Toshi]

Arcimoto Pulse EV. Current status: Vaporware, as are all of their listed (Chinese catalog-sourced?) products from the standpoint of US consumers.

[Toshi]

Audi A1 E-Tron. Current status: Vaporware, although an R8 E-Tron, plaything for the rich, is still reportedly undergoing testing and development.

[Toshi]

Edison2 Very Light Car. Current status: Vaporware despite its victory at the Automotive X-Prize.

[Toshi]

Brammo Empulse. Current status: Still vaporware, although Brammo at least has shipped a few Enertias to show that they're for real.

[Toshi]

Epic EV Torq. Current status: Vaporware, not such a surprise for this one.

[Toshi]

Mini and Smart Electric Scooters, with Mini used in the sense of BMW, not as an adjective. Current status: Vaporware for both mini-companies' lineups.

[Toshi]

BMW C1-E. Current status: Vaporware, although it looks like at least one running prototype exists.

[Toshi]

Peraves E-Tracer, based on the BMW K-bike-based Monotracer. Current status: Vaporware, despite winning its class at the Automotive X-Prize.

[Toshi]

Piaggio NT3 city car, with 300cc hybrid powertrain option. Current status: Vaporware, and not destined for the US even if it materialized magically.

[Toshi]

Jaguar C-X75, supposedly a REEV with turbines (!) as the range extender. Current status: Need I even say it? Vaporware, of course.

[Toshi]

GM EN-V, basically a monstrous Segway. Current status: Vaporware, although a few prototypes do exist and were test "driven" by journalists including Tim Stevens from Engadget.

[Toshi]

Toyota RAV4 EV. Current status: Vaporware, although its vapors (and the associated Toyota money) are seemingly all that's keeping Tesla afloat these days.

[Toshi]

Infiniti LE. Current status: Vaporware, although Carlos Ghosn has reportedly green-lighted it for 2014. I'm still skeptical, but since Nissan actually is shipping Leafs in non-negligible numbers this one might have a chance of seeing the light of day yet.

[Toshi]

And that's all, folks. I'm caught up to the present date, having started back in 2008. A closing thought, of a BEV moon-bike that never saw the moon's surface:

[pwbset]

Awesome, if sad, thread. Thanks for all your research.

I'd love to see a similar thread of actual available EVs in the US. Wasn't Subaru going to release one sometime soon?! I love the idea of the Nissan Leaf, but for less than half the cost I could build an electric car myself with equal or better range. *sigh*

[oatnet]

Brammo Empulse. Current status: Still vaporware, although Brammo at least has shipped a few Enertias to show that they're for real.

A recent email from brammo (I preordered the empulse):

We are proud to announce that we will be revealing the production version of the much anticipated Brammo Empulse on May 8th, 2012. The launch event will take place in Los Angeles and will be webcast live to all pre-order customers. Since the Empulse concept was first revealed, a vast amount of development and testing has taken place and we are confident that you will be delighted with the ground-breaking electric motorcycle we are about to reveal. On April 18th we will announce full specifications of this exciting milestone in the evolution of motorcycling, giving you every opportunity to become familiar with the Empulse before seeing it for the first time on May 8th.

Electric motorcycle racing is an integral part of our lives here at Brammo and our experience and championship record on the track has played a critical role in the evolution of the Empulse from concept to production. Professional racers have had a hand in the development of the Empulse and they will be sharing their Empulse riding experiences and impressions with you at the reveal on May 8th.

Follow this link and learn more about the Empulse and its roots in Brammo's racing heritage.

If you have questions about the Brammo Empulse simply email empulse@brammo.com for an answer.


The Brammo Team

[oatnet]

Vectrix. Current status: Bankrupt in 2009 after booking more expenses per unit sold than revenues, then reborn in 2010 under new ownership? Or is it stillborn? Their press page has nothing since 2011...

Vectrix is actively selling their new lithium model, and a new smaller model I think is on the streets.

[oatnet]

iShoes. Current status: Out of business, apparently, with a dead domain name.

I own a pair of these, $250 if anyone wants them!

[bigmoose]

Thanks Toshi! This thread speaks volumes... now what is it trying to tell us?