Tango T600
Sponsored links:
-
FUEL ECONOMY:
n/a MPG n/a L/100km
-
BODY TYPE:
Luxury
-
TECHNOLOGY:
Electric
-
BASE MSRP:
$108,000
Given the world’s environmental and energy problems, there’s little doubt that we need to rethink the fundamental concept of the daily commuter vehicle. The Tango T600 electric car, from Commuter Cars in Spokane, Wash., may be just the ticket—but putting this vehicle on your shopping list will take several leaps of faith. First, you’ll need to throw away all the expected conventions about the appropriate size of your daily car. The Tango is 102 inches long (8½ feet for the dimensionally challenged) and only 39 inches wide. In other words, it’s as tall as most conventional cars, not quite as long, but only half the size from side to side. That means driver in front and passenger in back—like a tandem bicycle.
The next leap is in driving range. The Tango’s battery packs provide race car levels of performance: zero to 60 in four seconds. But even when fully charged, the vehicle’s range of 40-100 miles (depending on type of battery) will limit your driving to a fairly modest two-way commute.
The biggest leap of faith is with Commuter Cars’ business model, which could put you on a waiting list for years. Instead of raising money ahead of time and starting production, the company is focusing exclusively on building one vehicle at a time, and using the profits to create research and production capacity for the next vehicles. They are currently filling the first 10 orders—seven of them for the $150,000 model, which uses lithium batteries (from A123 Systems), and three for the $108,000 model using lead acid batteries. All future cars are “depending on funding” and pre-orders are fully refundable. By the way, the purchase price is for a “mostly assembled” kit, rather than a finished vehicle.
I appreciate the news on these pure EV options. I'm on the list for all of those you've talked about (to great detriment to my wallet) but wish they were closer to reality and affordability. The technology is there but, unfortunately, the business barriers are immense.
It's too bad the car companies chose to destroy this technology instead of embracing it.
If you ever have to suddenly veer won't you TIP OVER?!?!?!?
I tend to agree with TSBinLV. any sudden moves in traffic will result in a tip over. Second this kind of design is why EV's never appealed to the masses. I also have to question the business model. I wish them luck, but I don't think I can put this one on my wish list.
Yep - butt ugly.
However, there are some other way-out-cool vehicles out there that are much less expensive and worth a look. See www.flytheroad.com
From what I've seen so far, the makers of EVs insist on making their cars expensive and U G L Y!!! Then they wonder why few people want their product. If that is the only choices then I'll gladly stick with my Prius which is fuel efficient and attractive.
This is just another econobox where it's great that it doesn't use any gas but where are you going to put your kids? On the roof?
What will really sell is for a car to get better mileage, be bigger, be faster, and more reliable than a conventional one or a last generational model. That's exactly what the Prius is accomplishing compared to a Yaris.
By the way, other car companies are doing that with a Cadillac Escalade and a Porsche Cayenne hybrids.
for 60+ years some car makers do research in car safety. And here we see a side impact with 0 stars. Most likely the thing will tild and the low placed lead batteries will spill all over you. congrats.....
Why do people criticize the car companies for not producing this kind of car, but don't criticize the laughable crashworthiness and handling of it? If a large (deep-pocketed) company made this car, the American public would sue it out of existence.
I sure hope that car makes it to the vehicle market including the stock market as well, because we all need electric cars including the hydrogen car and the water fuel cell reinvented by Daniel Dingel. We need a diversity of environmentally friendly cars running from different fuel sources that don’t produce smog emmisions except steam emissions only, or no emissions at all.
1. this car pass race safety standards but not federal because they don't want to waste cars crashing them into walls.
2. the size allows you to drive down the middle of other cars like a motorcycle.
"laughable handling" "tip over" ?
The car weighs three and a half thousand pounds, most of that at axle level. It's harder to tip over than most sportscars. Take a look at the vids.
It has more steel in the construction than a Lincoln Navigator. Racing crash/roll cage.
And what's with the "it doesn't hold as many kids as an SUV" ? Do you take your kids to work? That's why they call it "CommuterCars". It's for the 98% or so of traffic that has only one occupant.
Why does everyone expect the first electric car to suit all equally? It's a compelling car for what it's designed for. If you mass produced it in the volumes of the cars you are comparing the prices to, it would have a good price also.
bah
"laughable handling" "tip over" ?
The car weighs three and a half thousand pounds, most of that at axle level. It's harder to tip over than most sportscars. Take a look at the vids.
It has more steel in the construction than a Lincoln Navigator. Racing crash/roll cage.
And what's with the "it doesn't hold as many kids as an SUV" ? Do you take your kids to work? That's why they call it "CommuterCars". It's for the 98% or so of traffic that has only one occupant.
Why does everyone expect the first electric car to suit all equally? It's a compelling car for what it's designed for. If you mass produced it in the volumes of the cars you are comparing the prices to, it would have a good price also.
http://www.commutercars.com
bah
I appreciate the effort, but it is UGLY. If you look at it as a scooter then it's OK, but who's gonna pay $100,000+ for a scooter that has A/C and a radio? Plus, you have to do some assembling (or pay someone to do it) at the end.
Hey texas i think it is preety!
i would pay $ 100,000 +++++ for it !!! Pt07 :)
Thank you Einstein for your post. People just don't understand this is a safe and smart car. I get tired of people wanting all their cars to be a full family car that can fit all their kids and their kids friends. How many times I drive to work and see one person driving their Escalade to work on the highway?! It sits 8-10 people and this person is the only one in it. Insane! What a waste.
I only wish their T100 was available so I could afford one. I used to build electric cars and they are a lot of fun to drive.
Why does this electric car have to do 0-60 in 4 seconds? My gas-powered car does it in about 6 or 7 and I'm plenty happy with that power level.
Why are electric cars direct drive? Gearing down a gas engine compensates for poor low-end torque and also improves efficiency when there is an overdrive.
Maybe the range on electrics could be extended if they were less power hungry and took advantage of overdrives.
Just an idea.
Jay -
Electric cars have the ideal torque curve. Transmissions in gas cars are used to ensure the engine can get the car moving quickly. The torque curve created by a gas car's transmission simulates the natural torque curve for the electric car. Even some low end electric cars optimized to save energy are very fast off the line.
hey (its-----NOT UGLY) why would you pay lots of money for it? it is ugly and stupid looking if i had that car i would die of embarresment
Some day we will all be driving crap like that, get used to it.
Well, I believe it only makes sense to buy a "commuter car" if you don't have a family. I agree with those who have kids though. I can understand them wanting to have family-oriented cars because you have to have room for the kids when driving them to and from school (no, you don't take them to work but not all kids ride the school bus and what about off days?).
I do not have children but I, personally, would not waste my money on this car. Yes, it is ugly but it also doesn't seem to be very economically sound (in spite of the insane price for so little car). I don't know anyone who only drives from point A to point B and then back again. IMHO, you would be better off just sticking with a regular car at nearly $4.00/gallon.
Nice idea but needs more work.
I think it is good, but it needs to be bigger. I have a family of 10 and i need a car that could fit all of them.
its goofy looking but it would be SO EASY TO PARKKKKKK!!!
What happend to the rest of the car? Missing the rear end, hehehe!
I have been disappointed with this company. I have watched it for a while now and they don't seem to be making any headway or taking advantage of the current energy climate to push their product. I don't see it taking off with its current leadership. Too many other options that are really making headway in the market.
they also have a $18,000 model
Post a new comment