Geneva 2009: Ruf Greenster evolves the electric Porsche concept
by Sam Abuelsamid on Mar 4th 2009 at 4:58PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Ruf Greenster
Last fall, Porsche high performance tuning specialist Ruf announced it had built a prototype electric sports car called the eRuf, which was essentially a lithium ion battery-powered 911. That was just the beginning of the story, as the company has brought the Greenster here to the Geneva Motor Show. The Greenster is a targa top 911 in the old style with a chopped speedster-type windshield. In the back sits a 270kW Siemens electric motor with 695 lb-ft of torque. The battery pack system has been improved and is now 30% smaller in volume, restoring the front trunk space that was lost on the original. The battery pack also has greater power capacity allowing it to release and absorb power faster, enabling more regenerative braking capacity. The battery can apparently be charged in only one hour from a 400V outlet. The next iteration will switch to a twin motor setup and the company is planning a small series production run in 2010. Gallery: Geneva 2009: Ruf Greenster
Photos Copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
davido 5:06PM (3/04/2009)
Every time read the astounding torque figures associated with electric vehicles and think about the inherent long term reliability of electric motors, the more I become convinced that vehicles driven by electric motors are the future whether in pure electric or hybrid form.
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Visnick 5:42PM (3/04/2009)
The motor may be reliable but the batteries are very expensive and only good for a finite amount of cycles
BosGav 6:30PM (3/04/2009)
Agree!
Massive torque, being able to control placement of mass in the chassis, and recent reports that battery life is super good are very encouraging.
Now add on some killer-realistic audio and force feedback... you could be driving the meanest, baddest synthetic V8. It would sound better than real, and have more torque. And yet not disturb the neighbors or smoke out the back.
It seems easier for new car companies to start if based on electric, so there will be more competition for our dollars-- excellent.
I actually think the automotive golden years are ahead of us.
JD 5:17PM (3/04/2009)
It looks better than the Tesla roadster if you ask me.
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K4Lic0 5:30PM (3/04/2009)
True, it looks a lot better. But, we all know the performance of these RUF Porsches can't stack up to the Tesla.
Visnick 5:43PM (3/04/2009)
I like that old targa look
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JZeke 5:46PM (3/04/2009)
Whoda thought the old-school targa hoop could be cool again?
Maybe Porsche outta take note: As nice as the sunroof-targa is, maybe its time to bring back a CS or Speedster targa. Then again, I guess I could go to Ruf for that.
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cdwrx 5:56PM (3/04/2009)
And they painted it green. How clever.
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Craig 6:06PM (3/04/2009)
I don't think it's a chopped 911 windshield. Looks to me more like a rebodied boxster.
The windshield, dash, and area behind the seats all look to be based on the boxster not the 911.
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BosGav 6:24PM (3/04/2009)
Range? What's the range?
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Geeky1 6:52PM (3/04/2009)
That's one way to ruin a perfectly good Porsche.
Ick.
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Carl 10:27AM (3/05/2009)
They probably got it as an unnumbered 'body in white' directly from Porsche and as such didn't destroy a finished, assembly line 997.
fixitfixitstop 7:11PM (3/04/2009)
It's smiling at me. I feel uncomfortable.
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DasBoese 9:56PM (3/04/2009)
It shall henceforth be called the Ruf "Laubfrosch".
Rribbit.
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Noah 10:27PM (3/04/2009)
362hp, almost 700tq...definitely the porsche of choice.
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macdoc 4:49AM (3/05/2009)
Has everyone gone insane?
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carsteve 8:22AM (3/05/2009)
This is what Porsche's targa should look like.
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menky 12:26AM (3/08/2009)
the transmssion is going to melt quicky
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