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Automotive

Silex Power announces 1,000 km-range Chreos high-performance EV

By James Holloway
February 27, 2013
Silex Power announces 1,000 km-range Chreos high-performance EV
Silex Power's newly-announced Chreos EV
Silex Power's newly-announced Chreos EV
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Silex Power's newly-announced Chreos EV
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Silex Power's newly-announced Chreos EV
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
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With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
The Chreos's snazzy brake light
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The Chreos's snazzy brake light
Chreos will boast color-change wheels, apparently
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Chreos will boast color-change wheels, apparently
Chreos will boast color-change wheels, apparently
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Chreos will boast color-change wheels, apparently
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
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With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
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Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
Perhaps most remarkable is Silex's so-called "Hypercharge technology" which it claims will fully charge an empty battery in 10 minutes
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Perhaps most remarkable is Silex's so-called "Hypercharge technology" which it claims will fully charge an empty battery in 10 minutes
In economy mode, the Chreos effectively becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle
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In economy mode, the Chreos effectively becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
10/15
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
11/15
Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
Perhaps most remarkable is Silex's so-called "Hypercharge technology" which it claims will fully charge an empty battery in 10 minutes
12/15
Perhaps most remarkable is Silex's so-called "Hypercharge technology" which it claims will fully charge an empty battery in 10 minutes
In economy mode, the Chreos effectively becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle
13/15
In economy mode, the Chreos effectively becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
14/15
With its high-performance Chreos EV, alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top
Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
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Silex is shooting for a remarkable range of 1,000 km (621 miles)
View gallery - 15 images

Alternative energy company Silex Power has announced its intention to enter the electric car market at the very top. The company intends to make a limited run of 300 units of its luxury Chreos EV by 2015, and, judging from the press release, the car boasts luxury, if perhaps aspirational, statistics to match – particularly with respect to range and charge times.

The car, which Silex Power describes as an upmarket electric fastback sedan, will apparently be 5.42 m long, 2.16 m wide and 1.49 m high (17.78 x 7.09 x 4.89 ft) of carbon fiber.

Silex says that the car will be driven by four electric motors (yes, one in each wheel) delivering 640 bhp (477 kW) and 4,400 Nm (3,245 foot pounds) of torque. The company reckons that this will see the Chreos from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 2.9 seconds. The Chreos will be limited to a comfortable top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).

Clearly Silex is aiming for luxury performance, and this extends to mileage. Though a specific battery spec is not stated, performance criteria are. Silex is shooting for a remarkable range: 1,000 km (621 miles), and that's cruising at 125 km/h (77 mph). Silex indicates that the Chreos's range will be extended with a number of performance modes that can selected automatically by the vehicle. In economy mode, the Chreos effectively becomes a rear-wheel drive vehicle.

Perhaps most remarkable is Silex's so-called "Hypercharge technology" which it claims will fully charge an empty battery in 10 minutes, thank to some sort of modified cathode. This appears to be a proprietary system requiring a 10,000–15,000 V source. Though the Chreos will also be chargeable using a domestic supply, charge times aren't given.

Clearly, renderings and numbers do not an EV make, and it's hard to tell to what extent we're looking at smoke and mirrors. Silex has pledged to reveal more information, including interior shots and technological specifics in April.

Silex indicates that other non-luxury EVs may follow.

A promo reel is below.

Source: Silex Power, via plugincars

Chreos Luxury Electric Car HD - Silex Power

View gallery - 15 images

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AutomotiveLuxuryElectric VehiclesSilex Power
14 comments
James Holloway
James writes about science and technology from his home in rural East Anglia. Whether it's the internet, nature, video games or AI, he pays particular heed to the flash points with culture, society and the planet.

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14 comments
Nairda
"640 bhp (477 kW) and 4,400 Nm" ~very achievable.
"0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 2.9 seconds. The Chreos will be limited to a comfortable top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph)." ~with above torque, and low drag also achievable. But sustained for how long?
"Silex is shooting for a remarkable range: 1,000 km (621 miles), and that's cruising at 125 km/h (77 mph)." This is the part I would question. ~Achievable, but would make the vehicle very heavy. Possibly very poor handling.
" charge an empty battery in 10 minutes, thank to some sort of modified cathode. This appears to be a proprietary system requiring a 10,000–15,000 V source. " ~Sounds extremely dangerous to end users unless charging remotely activated. Conceivable that the low current would substantially reduce heat during charging through some kind of modified battery bank. Would need to see this in action.
In summary, can see this vehicle being Lambo price if built.

Riaanh
I don't really like the look, but I suppose it is difficult to make a large vehicle look sexy. The Tesla S looks beter though.
ron_
Over three thousand pound-feet of torque?
Mark Hover
go out and hire a new designer. clearly this one isn't working out. sounds like it'd be a good car though
Joseph Boe
Never.... Going... To... Happen.
Vince Pack
Hmm, if the specs are even remotely achievable, the technology will certainly start being applied to more consumer obtainable cars. That part is exciting.
That said, while the design isn't completely horrendous, it does look like a genetic mutation - combination of Porsche Panamera, BMW 550GT, and an Alfa sedan.
Also, if those are really LED lit wheels, please, just no...
Graham HomeMaintenance
I guess if you have the money anything is possible
Guillaume Levesque
The Nissan Leaf claims 0.212 kWh/km. Let's say that at worst, the Chreos is half as efficient, that means a 0.42kWh/km. For a range of 1,000 km you'd need a minimum capacity of 420kWh of on board storage.
Some of the best Lithium Ion power density is at around 245 Wh/kg. This would give the battery a maximum weight of 1714kg.
So if the Chreos has similar efficiency as the Nissan Leaf (unlikely), the battery pack weight is at a minimum 857kg.
Just how heavy will the Chreos be? It might exceed axle load limitations on some road or bridges!!
Mirmillion
Whatever...another business plan that will have to catch up to the reality of the Tesla and other already out of the gate products (none of which have managed to make a profit).
I see their design strategy though: move the wheels out to the corners and use a long, wide wheelbase to provide space for the battery pack(s) to breathe (and be surrounded by liquid cooling). With sufficient torque the Bentley-like weight will only be an issue if proper energy recapture is not utilized. Also, it may be that they have stumbled onto something that other designs have missed re: with enough gears weight may become an advantage in energy recapture.
Scott Miller
and these high speed charge centers are going to be located where ? I don't see local gas stations buying into this tech for high speed charging of such a low number of cars.thats the problem electric vehicles face right now great for short trips but not very good for a long trip( top gear did an episode showing this and how hard it was to charge your vehicle on a long trip away from home)
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