The first Croatian car, the XD, will soon be launched by Zagreb based Dok-ing, one of the international leaders in designing and manufacturing of multi-purpose robotic vehicles.
A prototype of the car that will have an electric motor and lithium-iron-phosphate batteries will be finished by the end of the year, says Dok-ing chief engineer and owner Vjekoslav Majetic.
Majetic said all car parts would be made in Croatia except the batteries, the most-expensive part of an electric car. The car designer is Igor Juric.
Company Tema from Pula has constructed the electric motor (45 kW, 600 Nm), which will be built to the front wheels of the car that will develop the maximum speed of 120 km/h. Eko-Medjimurje will construct the chassis while additional production will be done by the Institute for energy and equipment TPK.
"What we have projected until now has been extremely successful. If everything goes according to plan, we will launch the car in 2010. It will be a comfortable car aimed at cheaper and faster driving in the city. The car will be able to travel 250 kilometres before the battery needs to be recharged," added Majetic.
Serial production of electric cars will cost around EUR 100 million and Majetic is looking for investors interested in project co-financing. He believes the state should support the project because it features a truly-ecological car that runs on electricity.
The 2.6-metre-long, two-seat city car will cost around EUR 10,000.