This time, the startup is Atieva, an electric vehicle company from Silicon Valley that boasts a number of former Tesla employees among its ranks. The video Atieva released is the first footage we've seen of their prototype vehicle, a modified Mercedes-Benz Vito van named "Edna." Based on what we know from previous information, the unassuming van hides a 900-horsepower, all-wheel-drive powertrain.
With power like that, it's no wonder Atieva wanted to show off Edna's abilities in the manner that is becoming the standard for establishing EV supremacy. Edna's challengers are a Tesla Model S and a Ferrari California. We're not sure what trim either vehicle is, but regardless neither would be a slouch. We don't know how long the course is either, but it's clear the van crosses the line first, and the video claims a 0-100 time of just over 3 seconds.
Atieva intends to put this powertrain into a sedan to go on sale in 2018. We don't know what the final car will look like, and it's hard to say for sure if Atieva will hit their target. Seeing a functional prototype is encouraging though, and we will be interested to see what else the company has in store.
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