Subaru to Sell Electric R1e in 2009

Subaru’s push to move into new technologies and away from the traditional boxer/AWD set-up may come sooner than expected. Green Car Congress is reporting that the all-electric R1e micro-car will be available to Japanese consumers in 2009, a year ahead of schedule.

(Click through for more on the electric R1e)

Based off the standard gasoline-powered R1, the R1e scraps the 658-cc four-cylinder engine in favor of an electric motor and a set of lithium-ion batteries. The car can only reach 62 mph and a maximum range of 50 miles, but it can be recharged to 80% capacity in eight minutes - making it an ideal commuter car for Japan’s densely-populated urban cities.

Presently, somewhere around 40 R1e units are used throughout Japan on a test-lease basis, not unlike what GM arranged for its EV1. Starting in 2009, however, customers will be able to purchase the mini-electric outright. Subaru won’t disclose the actual pricing, but releases from the company call for plans to have pricing down to around $17,500 a piece by 2012; further developments in battery technology, if successful, could drop prices to below $13,000.

At those prices, Subaru’s anticipating annual R1e sales at only 100 units. Perhaps further price cuts, coupled with a possible four-door model, could boost the volume of Subaru’s EV sales.

+ Green Car Congress: Subaru R1e to launch in 2009