Subaru G4e Concept

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What is it?
Subaru G4e Concept

What's special about it?
G4e is shorthand for "green for the earth," and to that end, Subaru's all-electric concept car exploits the packaging possibilities of lithium-ion batteries.

Measuring 157 inches from nose to tail and 67 inches from shoulder to shoulder, Subaru's G4e four-door hatchback is about the size of a Honda Fit, albeit with a significantly longer 104-inch wheelbase. Similar to the gasoline-powered Fit, which locates its fuel tank under the front passenger seat, the G4e carries its 346-volt lithium-ion battery pack underneath the passenger compartment. This necessitates a tall-cabin approach to design, but Subaru's concept manages to avoid looking ungainly and maintains a relatively slippery 0.28 coefficient of drag. Moreover, it's apparently capable of accommodating four adults in comfort, according to Subaru.

For motivation, the G4e has a front-mounted 65-kilowatt electric motor. Although Subaru offers no hints about performance, the company says the car should have a cruising range of 125 miles after a full eight-hour charge via household current. A 15-minute session at a high-power mobile recharging station would restore 80 percent of battery life. For comparison, GM's EV1 had a 140-mile range on a full charge, while Tesla has promised a 245-mile range for its Lotus Elise-based Roadster. Subaru notes that the G4e's batteries incorporate vanadium (in their cathode material), which is said to improve battery performance and lifespan.

What's Edmunds' Take?
It's still shy on driving range, but the G4e's packaging is more practical and realistic than the EV1's. Or the Tesla Roadster, for that matter. — Erin Riches, Senior Content Editor