Opel RAK e concept – could be headed to production

By George on September 21st, 2011

At the Frankfurt International Motor Show Opel is showing a new concept called RAK e, that weighs(380 kg) one third of a small car and requires ten times less energy than modern small cars.

The bodywork is made of fully recyclable synthetic material. The front seat, steering column and armrests automatically tip forward to enable easy-entry; remote control via smart phone enhances the optical effect of this action. The pedals and the steering wheel adjust to the size of the driver.

The projected top speed is 120 km/h and zero to 100 km/h acceleration takes less than 13 seconds. Peak power output is 36.5 kW/49 hp; 10.5 kW/14 hp is continuously available. The useable battery capacity of 5 kWh enables a range of 100 km, which corresponds to fuel consumption of just 0.6 liters of gasoline. Over an annual 10,000 km the RAK e’s energy consumption would therefore be a modest 525 kWh. This could be supplied by a five square-meter, 500-Watt solar panel mounted on the roof of the garage.

A wide range of options in a variety of colors, materials and shapes would enable a customer to personalize the RAK e to his or her own tastes. Eye-catching paint, contrasting starkly with the roof, and futuristic LED lights, are aimed squarely at young buyers, “a customer-group for whom we have more new ideas than ever before”, says Mark Adams. Subject to local laws, even 16-year-olds could begin their driving careers in the RAK e, by limiting the top speed to 45 km/h.