Nice one for the planet

AMONG the green machines making their mark at this week’s British International Motor show is the Nice Car Company’s Ze-O electric car.

On the eve of the motor show representatives from the niche British manufacturer vowed to bring the Ze-O to market in Europe and the UK later this year for £14,000 ($A28,600) – and took a swipe at manufacturers of less practical electric sportscars, such as Tesla Motors and Fisker Automotive.

“All-electric sports car prototypes are eye-catching and interesting,” said Nice co-founder and former Rolls-Royce engineer Julian Wilford.

“However, we all know customers want practical electric cars and they want them sooner rather than later. The Ze-O is a genuinely spacious and affordable car – it’s coming to the UK this Autumn (Australian Spring) and to the rest of Europe during 2009.” The zero-emissions Ze-O was designed in Europe and will be built in China. It has a range of around 100km and a maximum speed of about 90km/h. Optional longer-range lithium-ion battery options will be available “soon” after its launch.

The Nice Car Company is described as a “venture dedicated to bringing the best in environmentally clean vehicles to market”. The other company founder is former commercial head of Lotus Engineering Evert Geurtsen.

Meanwhile, over at the Californian-based Fisker Automotive, the company headed by former Aston Martin and BMW designer Henrik Fisker announced last week that Finnish contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive – which currently builds the Boxster and Cayman for Porsche AG – would produce the forthcoming Fisker Karma plug-in electric hybrid sports sedan.

Proclaimed by Fisker as “the world’s first true luxury plug-in hybrid sportscar”, the Karma (left) is due to begin rolling off the Valmet assembly line in the fourth quarter of 2009.

It will offer an 80km electric range, around 600km in total range, a 200km/h top speed and 0-100km/h acceleration of about six seconds.

“Valmet offers us the quality and speed necessary to meet our production goals, and given that more than half of Fisker Automotive’s sales are expected to be outside of North America, Valmet represents an ideal international foothold,” said Henrik Fisker last week, adding that the company also had a strategic plan to utilise an American manufacturing site for future models.

Fisker Automotive’s annual production for Karma is projected to reach 15,000 cars, although it has not specified a timeframe.

This latest move could also mark the beginning of a number of green models emanating from Valmet, including forthcoming hybrids from Porsche.

“The strategic partnership with Fisker Automotive will open a new window for Valmet,” said Valmet Automotive president Ilpo Korhonen.

“Our production process can be easily adapted to the production of electric and hybrid cars and new body designs. In line with our renewed strategy, engineering will have a strong role in the co-operation.”