A young company takes a strong stand against the widespread practice in the electric vehicle industry: planned obsolescence

The start-up e.Volution is currently working on two car concepts, namely a van and a type of vehicle combining the characteristics of an SUV and a minivan named Space . Although it has not yet launched a car on the market, the company expects the Space model to have a lifespan of 50 years thanks to a system of recycling its components, including the battery.

Two versions of the model will be offered, a short version that can accommodate up to five people and a long version that can accommodate up to eight people. Both versions will be equipped with two electric motors and a range extender in the form of a combustion engine running on gasoline and LPG.

750 kilometers of autonomy

Five-door version and 4.09 meters long, barely 2 cm longer than a Volkswagen Polo.

The automotive field is currently undergoing a major transformation phase, attracting many players seeking to seize the opportunities offered. Chinese companies in particular have recently landed in Europe and will soon be followed by others.

In parallel, new brands are emerging such as Faraday Future , Rivian , Sono Motors , Lightyear and LIUX . Although some of them didn't have a chance to succeed, like Sono Motors which abandoned its automotive business without a proven track record, we haven't seen so many new builders in decades.

E.Volution , a German brand like Sono Motors, launched its first project called Meta , a "corporate shuttle" that seats eight passengers, equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell. Although the vehicle is not yet on the road, the brand continues its activities and presented its second model, Space.

Version with seven doors and up to eight seats. It is 4.92 meters long, about 2 cm less than an Audi A6.

This is a vehicle that combines the functionality of an SUV and a minivan using a modular platform. It is available in two lengths, measuring 4.09 meters and 4.92 meters respectively. The first version has five seats and five doors, while the second can accommodate eight passengers with its seven doors. Vehicle dimensions are the same for both versions, measuring 1.92 meters wide and 1.94 meters high.

Both versions of the vehicle share the same configuration of electric motors, i.e. two identical motors with a power of 190 hp each, one for each axle. The axes of the motors are very small, which allows a larger turning radius than normal. In addition, the two axes are steering, which increases the maneuverability of the vehicle.

The vehicle is equipped with a lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 40 kWh which powers the electric motors. The Space can travel up to 150 kilometers between each charge. However, the charging power was not disclosed.

Although intended for family models, the autonomy offered by e.Volution is rather limited. However, the brand has found a solution to overcome this problem by integrating a combustion engine running on gasoline or LPG in the form of a range extender. Thus, we are talking about a REX electric car , like the new Mazda MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV .

When the battery is fully charged and the LPG and petrol tanks are full, the Space's range reaches 750 kilometres . This solution was chosen because it recovers 600 kilometers of range in just five minutes when filling the fuel tanks.

In addition, in order to obtain a range of 750 kilometers without resorting to a huge battery which would considerably increase the weight of the vehicle, the 40 kWh battery fitted to the Espace is recycled. As part of the e.Volution project, this battery will be replaced every five years and reused to store solar energy in homes, extending its lifespan by another 20 years.

Every five years, the Espace will also be sent to a "reassembly" plant where the battery will be replaced along with other interior items, such as screens and upholstery, using recycled materials. The goal of this circular economy process is to allow Space to be used for decades.

In addition, it is possible that the standard sunroof will be replaced by photovoltaic panels, and that the rear part of the bodywork will be removed to increase the load capacity of the vehicle, which is currently 650 kg. The Space can also tow up to 3.5 tons, but its maximum speed is limited to 160 km/h.

It remains to be seen if the Space will be more successful than the solar Sono Sion and if it will ever be marketed. Although there are already large-scale units, we don't know if they are working models or just prototypes.