The world's most efficient electric car

Acclaimed formula one racing car designer and creator of the iconic McLaren F1 supercar, has gone from fast to frugal with his latest design, the ultra compact T.27 city vehicle, claimed by its maker to be the world’s most efficient electric car.

Murray’s company Gordon Murray Design (GMD) says the project went from a clean sheet of paper to running prototype in 17 months, including the design and build of a completely new electric powertrain.

GMD says the T.27 is built for the urban city environment, “setting new standards in weight, footprint, small car dynamics, safety, packaging and efficiency whilst addressing full lifecycle CO2 emissions, congestion, parking and low cost motoring.”

In launching the car, Murray said, “Lightweight is the most powerful tool we have in our armoury in the fight against emissions and fuel consumption. This is true of all cars and especially so with electric vehicles. A lightweight car means a lightweight battery increasing the levels of safety and reducing the retail price dramatically.”

Measuring just 2.5metres long and 1.3 metres wide the tiny three-seater weighs in at 680kg including its Lithium-Ion battery pack. Power is rated at 25kW for a top speed of 105km/h and “less than 15sec” for the 0-100km/h sprint. Range in low-power mode is 210km and 160km in performance mode.

According to GMD, in comparison to other electric cars the T.27 has lower energy consumption per km, for example using 36percent less energy per km than the Mitsubishi iMiEV.

GMD says it’s currently talking to three possible manufacturers for T.27, and the car will make its public road debut at the RAC Future Car Challenge (running from Brighton to London) on 5th November, 2011.