Germany's Mileworks joins electric car race with new E-Rod roadster

It seems these days that a new electric sports car concept is announced almost every month but it's not often that we get to see the actual concept in the metal, so to speak, or in the case of the new E-Rod, in the carbon-fiber composite. The E-Rod electric roadster is the latest creation of German design firm Mileworks and it's a preview of the upcoming production version due next year.

Set to go on sale in the spring of 2010, the new E-Rod combines an advanced electric powertrain with a retro-styled roadster body and ends up as something very unique. Like the recently revealed Lampo from Swiss design firm Protoscar, the E-Rod features a twin motor design with each powerplant churning out more than 115hp and a monstrous 1,050Nm of torque. That's a combined output of 230hp and 2,100Nm of torque. The twin motor design allows one motor to power each axle, which provides four-wheel-drive capability. A 32kWh battery gives the vehicle a claimed range of over 120mi (200km) and using a typical 240V and a 10-16amp European household power outlet, charge times should take no longer than 12 hours.

This may be a little too long for practical use but the E-Rod also features an intelligent charging system that lets the user select the key criteria for performance: shortest charging time, maximum charge yield, and the desired total level of charge to be attained in a given time period. In this way, the batteries can be charged very quickly but the driving range will be shortened significantly.

Designed to seat two, the E-Rod will accelerate from 0-100km/h in five seconds flat and reach a top speed of 200km/h. It relies on lithium-ion batteries to draw its power, and under its carbon-fiber composite bodywork is a full tubular steel chassis that helps the car weigh in at just 1,000 pounds. While full production details are yet to be confirmed, Mileworks hopes to build up to 1,500 examples of the E-Rod next year and price it below $84,000.