This “rafik” was born earlier than the usual RAF-2203 minibuses. But model 2204 was one meter shorter: its length is 4.2 m. In addition, it is front-wheel drive and … electric.
The entrance to the salon is at the rear, through a double door. The seats are made of plastic: the weight of the car has been reduced as much as possible. The weight of the alkaline battery is almost 800 kg, the capacity is 160 Ah. Torque was transferred to the front wheels via a reduction gear and thru-axles with universal joints.
The actual power reserve of the car with a total weight of 2700 kg was about 40 km. Charging the battery took about 14 hours.
The shortened RAF-2204 was equipped with a 22 kW DC electric motor, which allowed it to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h.
There was no question of a series yet: the electric bus was a typical concept from that time.
Mikhail Kolodochkin has been collecting unusual facts from the history of technology for many years. For example, did you know what the “legs” on the headlights of the Zhiguli of the fifth and seventh model were for?
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- The history of the domestic electric vehicle industry is here.
- “Behind the wheel” can also be read in Yandex.Zen.