Tokyo-based chemicals company Toray has pulled out a surprise by going out of the box and unveil its very own electric sports car. The two-seater Teewave AR1, short for "Toray Eco Efficient Advanced Roadstar 1," is being bragged for its low weight at 846 kilograms (including the battery)--an achievement in the heavyweight line of electric cars. The car's lightness is contributed from its carbon fiber-reinforced plastic in the floor, frame, and other parts of the vehicle.

The company invested a total of US$3.8 million and cooperated with UK-based car design company Gordon Murray to develop this electric vehicle. The prototype can run at top speed of 147kph and offers a travel range of 185km in a single battery charge. It consumes less energy compared to other electric cars at 11.6km/kWh, according to the company. Toray plans to commercialize car parts using carbon fiber reinforced plastic by 2015.

Source: Sankei News, via TechCrunch