Top 10 Most Obscure Electric Cars You've Never Heard Of

Each month, a random automaker seemingly pops up out of nowhere and shows off a new electric vehicle.

One reason this is happening is that developing an electric vehicle might be a good deal cheaper and easier than developing a conventional car. This means making an EV has a lower barrier to entry and as a result, small, relatively unknown companies can get into the game much easier. Most recently, Faraday Future unveiled a new EV called the FF 91, claiming that it’s the fastest accelerating car in the world, but people are very skeptical.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Supercars the Faraday Future FF 91 Claims to be Quicker Than

Traveling worldwide to all the major auto shows, AutoGuide.com runs into plenty of obscure electric cars from all around the world. Take the electric/hybrid concept from Techrules that debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, for example. Techrules said it had two different models, the AT96 that uses an “Aviation Turbine” that runs on a liquid fuel like aviation kerosene, diesel and gasoline. Then there’s the GT96 that is designed to run on gaseous fuels. Either way, Techrules claims its supercar concepts can produce around 1,030 horsepower and 6,372 pound-feet of torque while having a range of 1,243 miles, but we’ll believe it when we see it.

Here are some other obscure electric cars you probably didn’t know about from all corners of the world.

The Varsovia electric car concept from the Varsovia Motor Company based in Warsaw, Poland, was revealed late last year. The company confirmed it will head to production in limited numbers and functions like a Chevrolet Volt with a range-extender engine. Varsovia says it can travel up to 217 miles on a full charge and with the range extender, it gets an additional 311 miles. Built from lightweight materials, the sedan tips the scales at 4,409 pounds and the automaker claims a zero-to-62-mph time of under five seconds while maximum speed comes in at 124 mph. A full-size prototype is expected to make its debut in the near future before it enters production after 2018.

From nanoFlowcell AG is the Quant Fe, the second evolutionary stage of the nanoFlowcell drive. The company says the “F” stands for Flow and the “E” represents the continual evolution of this completely new kind of electric vehicle concept. What makes the Quant FE so unique is that it runs on liquid ionic fluid, a non-toxic, non-flammable liquid that is inexpensive to manufacture, the company says. It acts as an electrolyte membrane in fuel cells with the fluid circulating around the barrier separating the two cells, producing an electrical current that powers the motor. It packs more than 1,075 hp and 2,139 lb-ft of torque while achieving a range of nearly 500 miles.

The GLM G4 might look a bit familiar if you stay pinned to the daily automotive news world. It’s actually the Savage Rivale that was originally designed to be powered by a V8 engine sourced from an American automaker. Now, Japan-based GLM has adapted the design to be an electric vehicle with two motors in the front and rear, driving the axles through a multi-speed transmission at each end. As a result, the supercar is expected to travel up to 261 miles on a single charge while having a zero-to-62 time of under 3.6 seconds. In total, it provides 536 hp and 737 lb-ft of torque and GLM intends to produce the supercar for sale in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and even possibly the U.S.

From Finland comes the Toroidion 1MW, an electric car packing 1,341 hp. But what makes the Toroidion different than the rest is that the company set out to create a fully electric powertrain capable of competing at the grueling 24 Hours of Le Mans race. The automaker designed a rapid-swap high-capacity battery that is “as easily replaced in the pit-lane as it is in the home garage.” It’s still a concept car as of last year, so expect some changes to happen before it heads to production. Toroidion claims it will be ready by next year.

Debuting at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show was the E-Tense Concept from French automaker DS Automobiles. The company competes in the Formula E World Championship, so it’s no big surprise it’s investing into production electric vehicles. As for the E-Tense Concept, it boasts an all-electric range of 193 miles with mixed driving or 224 miles in city driving, while offering 402 hp and 381 lb-ft of torque. It’s also quite stylish, unlike many current electric vehicles you can purchase. Rumor has it that parent company Citroen has plans of bringing DS Automobiles to the U.S., and if the E-Tense does head to production, there’s a possibility it could be seen on American soil.

And now something from the U.S.: the Dubuc Motors Tomahawk. The company says its electric vehicle boasts an “American look,” but it’s the technology that makes it interesting. The 2+2 all-electric Tomahawk claims to go zero-to-60 in three seconds while having a range of 370 miles. Other specifications include a top speed of 160 mph, a panoramic roof, all-wheel drive and scissor doors. The company is allowing reservations for the Tomahawk and it’s expected to roll off the assembly line this year.

Rimac calls the Concept One the supercar of the future and we’re inclined to agree. Along with its sleek styling and surprisingly good looks, the Concept One has a zero-to-62 time of 2.6 seconds, thanks to 1,088 hp and 1,180 lb-ft of torque. It also has Rimac All Wheel Torque Vectoring, a unique system that utilizes the advantages of independent wheel drive of the Concept One’s four-motor powertrain system. It also rides on a space frame with aluminum and carbon fiber, although it does weigh 4,078 lbs.

Seemingly coming out of nowhere last year was the NextEV NIO EP9. The gorgeous supercar first appeared on the internet in a video that showed it lapping the Nurburgring. Shortly after, the Chinese automaker announced it set a record for the fastest ever EV lap with a time of 7:05.120. Officially introduced at a special event in London, the company revealed the NIO EP9 delivers the equivalent of 1,341 hp while weighing 3,825 lbs. Zero-to-62 is over in 2.7 seconds, while top speed is set at 195 mph. Even more surprising is that it has a range of 265 miles, making it one of the most compelling electric cars ever created.

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