Croatian Company Seeks Investors for High-Range Electric Car

Dok-Ing, a Croatian company, seeks awareness in the electric car market with an interesting prototype called XD. Zagreb-based Dok-Ing has already received global recognition with its innovative high-tech products, among which the best known is the de-mining robot used by the U.S. army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Right now, Dok-Ing wants to capitalize on that recognition with the production of a mini electric vehicle.

Showcased at the latest Geneva Auto Show, where it attracted a lot of attention, the XD concept was born seven months ago. The company is now refining its design and is looking for investors who are willing to fund the car's mass production, preferably in Croatia.

The XD can seat three people and its state-of-the-art batteries, which are spread along the chassis, provide enough power for a drive during several days without recharging. Project manager Tomislav Bosko said for the Automotive News that recharging at home takes six to eight hours, but the company will soon offer fast chargers which can do it in only an hour.

These qualities make the small Croatian car a strong competitor for other electric car makers. The XD costs now around $40,460, largely due to the lithium-iron-phosphate batteries made in China. However, when the car goes into mass production, it will retail for less than $26,600.

In an interview with Reuters, Dok-Ing's owner Vjekoslav Majetic said that making a profit was not the motivation behind the designing of this car. He said he wanted to prove that he can actually do it and that it was more like a game. A very stimulating game, we might add.