XBUS Modular Electric Vehicle | Hacker News Reader

XBUS Modular Electric Vehicle

electricbrands.de

42 pointsgmac25 comments

"Range per kWh approx. 20 km" sounds like a horribly overoptimistic figure unless we're talking never going above 60km/hr, and even that seems unlikely.

My fairly aerodynamic Chevy Volt with low rolling resistance tires etc gets about 80km-90km total electric range, in the summer time, with an effective battery size of 14kWh (actually 18kwh but padded to prevent overcharging/over depletion). So that's basically about ~6.5 km per kWh in fairly ideal conditions.

How on earth can they possibly advertise "200km range" with their 10kWh battery pack option? I struggle to think of how you can move an un-aerodynamic box like that down the road for that distance with that little energy, even at low speeds.

Most aerodynamic EVs are coming in around 0.15kWh/km in ideal conditions -- so that would be at least 3kWh to get to their purported 20km and at least 30kWh to get to 200km but a box like this is probably more like 0.20kWh/km and would probably need at least 40kWh to hit 200km and that would be in ideal conditions without heat or AC and crawling around at 50, 60kmh with no load.

No way. I'll assume vapourware/scam until I see some explanations under what conditions that could be possible.

They are optimistic claiming 12 miles/KWh, though not that outrageously given that it is a European small car, smaller/lighter than my Prius. Prius and as i heard Tesla can do 6 miles/KWh at 20-25 miles/hour (when air resistance is very low). Probably your Volt would do it too, we just don't usually drive that slow. My understanding that in Europe even 25-30 km/h is a speed limit one can frequently see.

They claim the same range for the "Box" which has a giant unaerodynamic, well, box on the back.

My VW e-Up is not much heavier than this, is a lot more aerodynamic, and averages 5-6 miles/kWh. And this cargo van is basically promising DOUBLE that? It's nonsense.

With a battery at the perfect temperature, the weather at the perfect temperature and air density with no wind, on a very flat and dry road, driving extremely slow without AC, without passengers, it may be possible. But not with these tires.

150Wh/km is not that good if you drive slow. I do 120Wh/km without trying too hard with my first gen i3 in good conditions with a warm battery. But my average speed is low.

It probably is on the optimistic side. Yet, there are a few key differences with your chevy:

- 10 kwh of battery. That's a lot less weight than your car has to carry around. That extra eight kwh would be quite a bit of mass and it doesn't even use all of it.

- The batteries are probably a bit more modern and efficient. So, less dead margin like your Chevy and perhaps a bit better energy density. The Chevy was a first generation vehicle that is no longer in production. Even GM thinks they can do better now.

- Lightweight construction for the rest of the vehicle. This looks like they are using some composite materials and it's a quite small vehicle that is a lot lighter than your vehicle.

The rest is just speculation. But they do market this as an urban vehicle, which indeed suggests speeds of <50km/h. It also means the aerodynamics are less relevant. Those make a big difference at highway speeds but much less at lower speeds. Also, boxy is not necessarily bad for aerodynamics and this box shape has some curves to it still.

So, I could see how carrying less weight and better efficiencies might help get this vehicle better range. Probably 200km is a bit optimistic indeed. They do suggest the 30kwh option extends the range by 3x. That seems very unlikely. Adding that much extra weight has got to have an impact; it can't be nothing.

But seems like a cheap affordable vehicle for companies to use in cities. I'm sure there's a market for it.

Well sure it’s vaporware, like most EVs that are just “too good to be true”.

However, they list a continuous power rating of just 15 kW (~20 hp). That’s basically nothing compared to even small ICE cars.

20hp is in the same power class as a walk behind tractor.

Nah, they say max 15 kw continuous, but peak 60-something. At highway cruising on flats my Volt averages around 10-15kw. It's only during acceleration that it goes significantly above that (and the Volt can push 300lb/ft of torque, so)

Ok, I changed the comment to refer to 20 hp instead of "It" (the vehicle). I just wanted to point out that something is off.

It's absolutely nonsense.

I have a brand new Volkswagen e-Up, with a 32kWh battery, and that can do 250km when driven carefully. It's not much heavier than this, at 1200kg.

I also have a Volvo XC60 T8, with an 11.6kWh battery, and the maximum range there is about 30-40km(yes, it's a much heavier car at 2.2 tonnes, I get it, but still).

The 200km range is absolute fantasy for a 10kWh battery. Especially for a vehicle advertised as having a load capacity of 1500kg - what range will you get then? 30km?

Frankly that's misleading advertising bordering on scam.

One of the most efficient EVs is the 2016 Hyundai Ioniq. It averages 11kWh/100km @ 110km/hour. But yeah, 1kWh/20km is 5kWh/100km which seems really optimistic

Agreed, the range is bs.

There is a reason we dont make mini busses like that anymore outside of kei trucks in Japan. Aerodynamics of a brick and You are the crumple zone.

Adventure, Offroad, ridiculously unattainable price point, its got all of the memes!

Honestly... Ok, the price is cheap respect of all other e.v. and in some context a glorified golf cart is ok(-ish) [1] autonomy in those setup might not be a so big issue... But for the price and for what it's depicted to be is absurdly expensive.

I mean, it's something that can be use in a rural area where people live nearby some countryside shop and have to casually move stuff around or in a city for similar use-case, mostly for elderly who want a cheap and easy to drive/park vehicle that still have more than a char with wheels... In that case perhaps a chair with wheels ATV (quad)-alike + a detachable trailer might be a better option at the same price tag. In autonomy terms it's an ATV with a cabin, the optional trailer add load capacity when needed. Doing so means at least for the same price giving something funny enough to drive...

10kWh battery is around 5000 euros these days (p.v. Li-ion batteries mean prices), the frame+motors might be another 6-7k, and another 5k for finishing, the cabin etc. So for what it is it's expensive, at least it should also be fun IMVHO...

[1] https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3vny5/glorified-electric-go...

For an amusing sidenote, this vehicle was formerly called the eBussy[1].

[1] https://www.motortrend.com/news/xbus-modular-electric-van-sy...

When I think of a modular vehicle platform I think that even the cab itself should be a module - something we saw with the SURUS concept from GM:

https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1113145_surus-gms-modula...

From the gallery:

https://images.hgmsites.net/hug/general-motors-silent-utilit...

Looks like a Kei truck/bus/step van

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kei_truck

Nice exterior, I don't particularly like the ladderframe and the weight distribution, but definitely an innovative concept and for local deliveries it could be a hit.

Hmm that drivers cabin does not look very aerodynamic and/or survivable for a pedestrian in the event of a crash.

Getting warmer. Somewhere between this and Bollinger B1 and you’ve got my money.

Site won't allow you to see anything unless you consent to Google storing your data, which is considered "essential", apparently. Doesn't seem like they understood the point of GDPR.

Turn off CSS, JavaScript and cookies and you can see the site fine.

Yes, I noticed that. Google Tag Manager is not an "essential" cookie under the GPDR.[1]

[1] https://gdpr.eu/cookies

Tangential, but can active noise cancellation help silence a cabin with poor insulation?

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