Miles Electric Vehicles
Who will be first to deliver a full-sized, affordable all electric car to consumers? One company quietly emerging as a strong contender for this distinction is Miles Electric Vehicles, based in Santa Monica, California.
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| The full-sized, freeway capable XS500, Available late 2009 from Miles Electric Vehicles. (Photo: Miles EV) |
Through 2007 this company, founded in 2004, has delivered over 500 low speed (25 MPH, range up to 50 miles), full size vehicles and trucks to fleets, primarily for use on campuses and bases.
Customers include the University of California, the US Navy, the City of Chicago, Cal Poly, the US Air Force, and others. Their production, based in China, has expanded this year, and they are on track to deliver another 2,000 low speed vehicles by the end of 2008. But what’s coming will be available to consumers, and you’ll be able to drive it on the freeway.
The Miles XS500, which they expect to be offering for sale to consumers by late 2009, is a full sized, four door, highway speed sedan. It is designed to travel 80+ MPH for 120+ miles on a single charge. The all electric car uses lithium ion iron phosphate batteries manufactured by their partner Lishen Battery Co. located in Tianjin, China, and Miles expects to sell these vehicles for under $40,000.
The battery packs for the XS500 are designed to deliver 125,000 to 150,000 miles before requiring replacement. They are expected to require 4-6 hours to charge at home using 220 volt current, and store up to 25 kilowatt-hours.
When I asked Miles spokesperson Kara Saltness earlier today if Miles had a prototype of the XS500, she not only said yes, but told me she had been a passenger in the car during full speed testing on the Santa Monica Freeway. She stated there were two additional prototypes they would be testing within the next few months.
Miles Rubin, a wealthy and successful entrepreneur who has a long-standing concern for energy independence, funded this company himself until earlier this year, when the Angeleno Group put in a $15M equity investment. Miles Electric Vehicles hasn’t been in the spotlight much, but they appear to be as likely to deliver the first affordable full-sized, freeway capable all-electric car as anyone.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Miles Electric Vehicles seems to be the electric vehicle for the people for the near future…
April 27th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Way to go Rubin! Thanks for your effort. The world needs more responsible rich men like you.
April 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
MILES - low speed neighborhood vehicles are the best in the business real cars that provide good value and are viable community transportation. We all should be looking at them as an alternative to high gas prices. - WAY TO GO MILES
May 1st, 2008 at 9:59 am
I was at Springfest in Fayetteville, Arkansas and there was a Miles vehicle parked in the street. When I reached inside the car for a brochure, people surrounded me. They thought that I was the salesman for the MILES and asked me a bunch of questions. To the delight of my family, I started answering a few questions and more people started to show up. It was hilarious! The point being, there is a lot of interest in an all-electric plug-in type of vehicle! If you ever need a salesman…
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 am
Is there any way to make them in the USA?