Once a upon a time, hybrids were seen as slow, boring vehicles. For much of the population, that time is still here. We think of a Toyota Prius first — a rather slow but fuel efficient and sort of techy car. Unless you’re a car fanatic, you probably don’t think about the fact that the quickest production car in history is a hybrid — the Porsche 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid. The 2nd quickest car, of course, is the Tesla Model S P100D with Ludicrous mode turned on. Several other cars on the top 10 list also have electric motors and can plug in.
Aston Martin — long an example of superb styling/design + compelling performance — isn’t playing games much longer, indicating that it is now ready to quickly move into the electric space. As the title indicates, it plans to go 100% hybrid by the middle of the 2020s. Hybrid, of course, is a jumping pad to a fully electric future. The goal is to be fully electric by the end of the 2020s.
“Aston Martin looks to create the electric powertrains in house instead of getting technology Daimler to create the units,” an article from the UK’s Express notes.
“Currently Daimler supply the company their V8 engines and some of the electronics for their vehicles but Aston is opting to create their own drivetrains for the new electric fleet.”
“You need to keep core technology inside the company,” said Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. “We believe that EVs are a core technology, and therefore we want to do them ourselves.”
As part of that, Aston Martin plans to build the battery packs and also the motors. The battery cells will be bought from a foreign producer.
Aston Martin’s first electric vehicle is still expected to be the RapidE, which has been teased for years. For more on that and another electric Aston Martin concept, see:
Aston Martin Scaling Back RapidE Electric Vehicle Plans, Following Backer LeEco Pulling Out
Next Aston Martin Rapide Will Be Electric
100% Electric Aston Martin Rapide Coming Within 2 Years
Aston Martin DBX To Directly Bring ~750 Jobs To Wales
All-Electric Aston Martin DBX Targeted To New Breed Of
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