Meet e.Volution Space, an electric car meant to stay at your side for 50 years

A German car startup named e.Volution has unveiled the Space Concept, an all-electric crossover van allegedly designed to remain operational for half a century – although only as long as you overhaul it every five years.

In order for an EV to serve you as long as that, it needs to undergo extensive maintenance and get numerous parts replaced, which necessitates sending it back to the OEM. There are no financial details available yet, but the startup assures us it makes perfect economic sense. Rather than selling the Space outright, the company plans to lease it on a monthly subscription of €1,000 or so.

The SUV-like minivan can be either a five-door, five-seat car 4.1 meters (160 inches) long or an seven-door, eight-seat one spanning 4.9 meters (191.4 inches) head-to-tail. The body panels are plastic.

Powering the ride are dual electric motors rated at 190 PS (187 hp / 140 kW) each. A 40-kWh traction battery supplies enough juice for 150 km (93 miles) of range. The company proposes expanding the range with an on-board electrochemical generator, solar panels and/or an internal combustion engine producing electricity by burning natural gas. In the latter scenario, you will be able to cover up to 750 km (466 miles) on a full CNG tank.

Inside, a giant display dominates the dashboard and the trim all around is said to be eco-friendly. The company claims that, once the service life is finally over, you can recycle the car almost completely. For example, the battery can be taken out and turned into a stationary power source operational for two more decades.

The production is scheduled to begin in 2025.