Terminal box on wheels

The French automotive supplier Heuliez has conjured a flexibly equipped electric car out the proverbial hat. This vehicle is due to go on sale as early as next year. Bearing the name 'Friendly', it does look very amiable indeed, but there is a strong suspicion that the design was inspired by an electrical terminal box. The four wheels are the only convincing evidence that what we are looking at is some sort of vehicle. Car hire firms are said to be showing interest in incorporating it into their fleets before it goes on wider sale to the public in 2012.

The Heuliez Friendly has room for three persons, the driver being positioned centrally with the two passengers taking their seats behind. The rear-mounted electric motor generates 14bhp. It takes seven seconds for the Friendly to reaches the legal limit for city driving of 50kph and the top speed is reckoned to be around 110kph. The range for one charge cycle is estimated to be at least 100km. There is no indication as yet of the target price.