Electric Daihatsu Mira travels 1000km on one charge

Powered by 8320 Sanyo No. 18650 lithium-ion batteries, the Mira almost doubled its previous record of 555.6km set last November, finally rolling to a stop after 1003.18km.

It took 17 drivers 27 hours to complete the record over the weekend with the car cruising around a racing track in Shimotsuma, Japan, at a steady 40km/h.

Sanyo Electric Co is the world’s largest rechargeable battery manufacturer, and while this power solution is far from viable for mass production, the company is working with another Japanese small car maker on a much more practical project.

Two weeks ago Sanyo announced a partnership with Suzuki to supply batteries for its upcoming Suzuki Swift plug-in hybrid.

Revealed at the last year’s Tokyo Motor Show, the electric Swift has a 15km electric range and is recharged by a 660cc engine.

Sixty plug-in Swifts are set to commence testing in the second half of this year, with Suzuki yet to confirm a production date for the baby EV.

(with The China Post, Bloomberg)