News

Prodrive and CCC to Build Electric Commuter Vehicles

December 14, 2004 by Jeff Shepard

Prodrive (UK) and Commuter Cars Corp. (CCC, Spokane, WA) have announced a deal that will see Prodrive managing the construction of up to 100 new electric commuter vehicles a year. Prodrive has worked with CCC to take its Tango vehicle design from the prototype form and engineer it for low-volume production. It will manage the production of the Tango from its site in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

At 39 in wide and 102 in feet long, the Tango is as tall as a conventional car, but takes up only half the road width. The 1,100 lb battery pack in the vehicle's floor keeps its center of gravity low, allowing the Tango to achieve sports car levels of stability, despite its narrow track. Two electric motors driving the rear wheels can produce a combined torque level of over 1,000 ft-lbs to deliver levels of acceleration more commonly associated with supercars than eco-friendly transport.

Several customers have already placed $10,000 deposits on the initial Tango 600s. The first customer vehicle will be delivered before Christmas 2004. The vehicles built by Prodrive will cost $85,000, although the target price for a mass-produced version of the Tango is set at less than $20,000.