It'll allegedly even go off-roading.
Range anxiety is the number one concern for most consumers when confronted with electric vehicle ownership. In recent years, EVs have been introduced with travel ranges rivaling combustion-engined cars. The Lucid Air, for example, can travel up to 520 miles on a single charge.
While impressive, a newcomer from Norway is promising an eight-seater capable of traveling 625 miles on a single charge. Called the Fresco XL, the tech company describes the battery-powered car as an “all-electric vehicle with no internal combustion engine, allowing the driver to experience unadulterated power without the disruptive noise of a traditional car.”
Norway's tough, snow-heavy winters have prompted Fresco Motors to equip the XL with an electric motor on each axle, proving better grip and traction on icy roads. What's more, the company is promising it will be a capable off-roader, too. Styling-wise, the XL currently looks like no other car on the road – and that was the point. “It's like a fresh breath of air,” said CEO Espen Kvalvik.
No details of the battery size and performance have been revealed, but the company has said it will use technology from external parties. COO Adrian Kristofer Locklindh says the Fresco XL will be equipped with an extra-large battery pack.
“As it will be double stacked, it will ensure approx. 1,000 km (625 miles) of driving range per charge. In addition to a battery pack that solves the range anxiety problem, we are delighted to unveil that Fresco XL will come with aerodynamic rims, which will ensure high energy efficiency.”
Interestingly, the company never refers to the XL as a car, choosing to describe it as a “pod”. Like the Ford F-150 Lightning, the Fresco eight-seater can be used as a backup storage supply in the event of a power failure. Locklindh notes the XL can be easily hooked up to your house. “Due to its rather large battery pack, it would essentially work as a backup unit.”
The company is clearly aiming on offering consumers a proper all-rounder. Aside from the incredible range and seating capacity, Fresco notes its XL can also be used for camping and road trips. Due to the large size, the COO notes, “all you need to do is pull down the seats to create a flat surface, put in your bedding, and use it as a camper.” Details are vague at the moment, but if the Norwegian company can pull this off, it may have the makings of an impressive vehicle.
Perusing the Fresco website, we noted orders are open – that doesn't mean much, though. Tesla, for example, had Cybertruck orders open for a long time and we're still yet to see a production-ready version, although Musk's company is aiming for 2023. As time goes by, hopefully, we'll be able to source more information about this intriguing eight-seater from Norway.
Keyword: Strange New EV Promises 625-Mile Range And Eight Seats