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Gordon Murray T27 unveiled

World's most efficient electric car could be under £10,000 and produced by 2013.

Gordon Murray T27 unveiled

By Luke Madden

30th June 2011

These are the first official pictures of the world’s most efficient electric car. It’s called the Gordon Murray Design T27 – and it’s based on the petrol powered T25. 

The ultra-compact model weighs 680kgs and – at 2.5 metres long – it’s shorter than a Smart Fortwo. Despite that, there’s room for three adults and with the rear seats folded there’s up to 720 litres of boot space. 

Power comes from a 33bhp electric motor that’s good for a 0-62mph time of under 15 seconds. The low kerbweight allows for a small battery to be used which can be charged to full in around five hours. The range stands at 100 miles. 

Gordon Murray Design is hoping to have the T27 in production by around 2013 and is currently in talks with three companies who can make the investment – one is based in the UK. 

The investing company won’t just be backing the T27 but they’ll also be backing Murray’s revolutionary iStream production process which allows for smaller, greener and cheaper factories. Bosses told us the manufacturing process could be easily adapted to produce “anything from from dour-door saloons to buses”. 

The firm’s aim is not to produce a range of models but to sell their production process and technology to manufacturer’s who can then create their own electric models.

The company has set a target price of £13,000 for the T27, but that doesn’t include the £5,000 government grant that electric cars can benefit from. The battery is also included in the price so buyers will not have to lease it on a monthly basis like Renault’s electric offerings. 

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6 Comments

At least the price is right

Shame it's not quite there in the looks department. Perhaps it is better in real life than it is in photos.

By aje21 on 30 June, 2011, 12:13pm

YES! It is actually happening!

130miles range in urban driving! And it is really cheap! Most people drive about 20 miles a day, and you only need a 3 pin socket to plug it in to, and it only takes 5 hours. Because it is really small, you could put in in a tiny garage, and don't have to worry about opening the door as it opens upwards, and the car is tiny!

It has a surprising amount of space inside, and is even smaller than a smart car! And because it would only cost about £1 max to charge, it would be about 1p or less per mile! And if you have solar energy, they it is carbon-neutral.

This is much better than the leaf, because people would not want to spend £26,000 on a car that only goes 100 miles as it is just a city car. As this would only cost about £10,000 it is much more affordable, and the batteries would probably would hold their charge to 80% in 10 years.

3 manufactures are interested. This car will be even more revolutionary than the McLaren F1!

2 more years, can't wait, I will get one first! :D

By tom123 on 30 June, 2011, 1:46pm

I really should like it....but I'm just not sure!

An ideal car, I suppose, if you can get over the looks. Even the terribly fashionable blue colour can't disguise the fact that it's utterly plug ugly. Presumably that's the trade-off for saving the planet. The price seems fine, though, if the projected price of £13k can be met. Shame that by 2013, the government grant of £5000 off the purchase price will be long gone, if reports are to be believed. I'll hang fire until I see one for sale before I make my mind up. Presumably by the time they're on the market the price of petrol or diesel will make them an even better proposition and by then the looks might have grown on me.

By n50pap on 30 June, 2011, 4:54pm

Let The Manufacturers Design It

The Renault Twizy looks funkier and maybe they will sell it with the batteries as well as lease them, then it might be a similar price. These vehicles and others like them make a lot of sense as a second car and I will want one too, one day.

By LANMAN on 30 June, 2011, 9:34pm

(0.0)

Ummmm. Okay, for arguments sake lets imagine the first word I've written is how Gordon Murray's baby will sound when it's actually running rather than a slightly concerned utterance on the car (?) itself, which brings me to my first question:

"Is this a car?"

Well, it does have four wheels but then again, so does a skateboard.

"Will the T27 fulfill the same function as an existing ultra-economical super-mini?"

Er, nope. You can home at least four 6ft adults in even the lowliest car in this class plus a bit of luggage.

"Will it get me from Birmingham to Great Yarmouth for a day out at the seaside?"

Sure, as long as you're not in any hurry and can find somewhere to plug it in when you slowly grind to a halt after one hundred miles.

Are we detecting a slightly cynical attitude here? I'm all for green motoring but I want a green car that can do what my current diesel people carrier can do, and I'm sorry Gordon but that's the bottom line.

By sgtgrash on 14 August, 2011, 3:15am

p.s.

Let's hope the production process is a little more successful...

By sgtgrash on 14 August, 2011, 3:18am

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