Behold The Mazda Electric2
Mazda is the latest manufacturer to build an electric version of an existing gasoline car. The company will develop a prototype EV based on the MAZDA2, which will debut in spring 2012. MAZDA2 is a newer model in the United States and Canada. But over in its home base of Japan, 2 has been a variant available to customers for years. The Japanese auto maker is offering up its first all-electric MAZDA2, dubbed Electric2.
The car just entered a production phase overseas, and its likability will be tested in the form of a leasing program available to residents of the country. Electric2 is just the beginning of a huge electric car fleet Mazda hopes to bring to us by 2014.
Electric2 is expected to have a max range of 124 miles per charge, and will first be leased in limited numbers to government entities and fleet buyers.
Mazda will use the program to develop its electric vehicle technologies. The company still claims its allegiance to the internal-combustion engine – they’ve made it clear it will continue to focus on developing fuel-saving technologies for its engines. For now, trials are limited to the Japanese market, serving mostly as a research project. Expect more information as the spring of 2012 launch date approaches.
Source: Mazda Electric2
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