SIM Drive to start mass production of wheel motor powered EVs in Malaysia [VIDEO]

SIM-Drive have announced their SIM-CEL electric supercar and revealed that they will bring Alka Corporation of Malaysia into the project to expand operations for the mass-production of EVs.

The SIM-CEL is a sports type EV capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds. Company president Hiroshi Shimizu says acceleration is comparable to 0.7 G that the eight-wheeled ELiica EV developed at Keio University.

The two seaters four 66 Kw (90 hp) Outer Rotor BLDC PM in-Wheel Motors have increased torque from 700 Nm to 850 Nm. It also makes extensive use of synthetic materials such as carbon fiber in the exterior body panels, resulting in a weight reduction of 79 kg compared to using steel panels. Cruising range is rated at 324 km (JC08 Mode) from the 29.6-kWh battery achieve an energy efficiency of 91.2Wh/km. (Nissan Leaf 114 Wh/km JC08)

The SIM-CEL was developed as a prototype electric vehicle projected for mass-production in 2015, funded by 26 organizations considering entering the electric vehicle business.

SIM Drive revealed Alka Corporation will be joining the SIM-Drive project, and mass-production of EVs will begin within the next three years.

Which models that are to be mass-produced will be discussed later on.

SIM-Drive President and Keio University professor Hiroshi Shimizu said, "While we were only able to announce Alka Corporation at this time, we are actually attracting a lot of interest from around the world [from companies other than Alka Corporation]. I think the time for our technologies to go out into the world has come at last."