eRuf Porsche 911 prototype

eRuf Porsche 911 prototype

In the same week that Porsche unveiled its own in-house developed electric Boxster E, one of the automaker’s longtime tuners, Ruf, announced plans for its own trials of a small fleet of electric Porsche 911 prototypes.

Ruf is probably most widely recognized for its wild modified Porsches such as this previous V-8 powered 911 and the legendary line of CTR supercars, however, in the recent past the company has been developing a string of electric prototypes grouped under its eRuf heading. Recent examples include the eRuf Greenster and Stormster lines.  

Working closely with Siemens and the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, Ruf has been developing a new fleet of electric 911 prototypes for the purpose of running field tests of electric cars in real life situations, similar to what Porsche intends to do with its own Boxster E.

The first ten eRuf 911s will be presented in the first half of 2011, all of which will be fitted with on-board data logging systems and are based on the current-generation 997 Porsche 911.

RUF eRUF Greenster

RUF eRUF Greenster

Three different types of electric drivetrains will be tested. The first is a single motor drivetrain featuring a 241 horsepower electric motor and a 29 kWh lithium-ion battery. It has a driving range of 93 miles, a top speed of 138 mph and should accelerate from 0-62 mph in around 7 seconds.

Of more interest is a twin motor drivetrain featuring a two-speed gearbox and a combined output of 335 horsepower. Ruf has installed a bigger 36.6 kWh lithium-ion battery and claims the prototype is good for a 124 mile driving range, a top speed of 138 mph and 0-62 mph acceleration in 5 seconds flat.

The third, and most exciting eRuf drivetrain, features the same two motor setup mentioned, but gets a torque vectoring system. It relies on two separate angular bevel gearboxes for independent rear-wheel drive.

Public trials of the new eRuf electric Porsche 911 fleet will start later this year in Germany.