Dendrobium, an orchid-inspired car made by Vanda Electrics in Singapore, is ready to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show on 7 March.
According to the company in its press statement, the car was developed by Vanda Electrics with a partnership with the Williams Advanced Engineering team. It will be Singapore’s first home-grown fully electric super car.
Vanda Electrics chief executive officer Larissa Tan said, “Dendrobium is the first Singaporean hyper car and the culmination of Vanda Electrics’ expertise in design and technology.”
“We are delighted to be working with Williams Advanced Engineering, world-leaders in aerodynamics, composites and electric power trains and Bridge of Weir Leather Company, makers of the finest, lowest-carbon leather in the world,” Ms Tan said.
“Everyone’s looking at electric cars now. We’re on the cusp of change,” Ms Tan said.
It was reported in March last year that the car has 1,500 horsepower and 4,000 newton-meters of torque. The car could hit 100kmh from zero in under 2.6 seconds, and run a top speed of 250 mph.
With current technology the super car will be able to do 249 miles before it needs charging.
The Dendrobium will incorporate four YASA motors and Formula E lithium batteries from British motoring group
Vanda Electrics said the car’s exterior design is to feature a roof and doors, which will open up in a ‘synchronised theatrical manner, resembling a fully-opened dendrobium flower, a genus of orchids native to Singapore’.
“The Dendrobium is inspired by nature and rooted in technology, a marriage of design and engineering – I can’t wait to reveal the car to the world in March,” said Ms Tan.
It will be interesting to see how the Ministry of Transport would look at the vehicle given the saga of how LTA assessed the carbon emission of a Telsa electric vehicle last year. LTA charged $15,000 tax surcharge for the electric vehicle because it had calculated the carbon emission based on what the power plant would have to emit for the electric power it consumes.
