NATIONAL PINGTUNG UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, TAIWAN. Three electric vehicle models developed at a Taiwanese university show promise.

In response to rising fuel prices, a university in southern Taiwan unveiled three newly invented electric vehicles Thursday, one of which is being considered by a European dealer for mass production

Taiwan’s National Pingtung University of Science and Technology unveiled three new electric vehicles (EV) which include a multifunctional EV, a hybrid EV powered by zinc-air fuel and lithium batteries, and a small racing car.

All three are safe, environmentally friendly and are very likely to become the mainstream transportation in an era of high fuel prices, according to Mike Y. K. Guu, president of National Pingtung University of Science and Technology.

The school has been in discussions with a Dutch dealer to mass produce the multifunctional model at an estimated selling price of 10,000 euros (US$13,072), he said.

The university research team has developed a battery pack which is the combination of zinc-air fuel battery and high power lithium battery and has high energy density and meets the safety requirements.

The EVs are expected to achieve speeds of up to 80kmph and the battery pack can power an electric car for 200km.