Madrid Green Car Show 2010: Subaru

At a stand that could easily have gone unnoticed, the Japanese brand was presenting two green novelties at the Madrid Green Car Show. Both are already on sale in the Spanish market, yet they use two completely different types of energy, although both fitted the theme of the fair perfectly.

The first is a new variant of the Outback converted so that it can run on petrol or LPG interchangeably. It is based on the 2.5i engine, and the conversion, which costs 2,000 euros, was carried out by the Cantabrian company Ferrosite, S.L., which represents the Italian firm BRC Gas Equipment. The benefits of using this alternative fuel are several: filling the tank with LPG costs about 20 euros less than filling it with petrol, it reduces NOx emissions by 60%, it allows a reduction in registration tax, and it grants access to city centres with pollution restrictions.

The other model is the Plug-in Stella, the fully electric version of the city car, which has already been on the Japanese market for a year. Its electric motor delivers 47 kW (around 64 CV of power) and is powered by lithium-ion batteries which, when fully charged, give it a range of 90 kilometres.

To recharge them, in addition to the regenerative braking system, this Stella can be plugged into household sockets of both 100 and 220 volts. It takes about eight hours with the former and five with the latter. However, if it is connected to a fast-charging point, it reaches 80% in a quarter of an hour.

Because the batteries are located under the floor of the car and integrated into its structure, they do not reduce cabin space and are fully protected. Subaru has not yet announced prices for the Plug-in Stella, but it is included in the Spanish government’s MOVELE Plan. Here are the photos:

Photos | HighMotor