Tokyo, Japan – Subaru has launched a plug-in electric vehicle, the Stella, in Japan. The model will be sold directly through the automaker’s parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI), with delivery starting in July.

The company plans to deliver about 170 vehicles by the end of March 2010. After-sales service will be provided through some Subaru dealerships designated by FHI.

The Plug-in Stella is based on the Stella mini car and uses a high-performance lithium battery that achieves a 90-km range in city driving. The vehicle can be charged up to 80 per cent of its capacity in 15 minutes with a quick-charging system, and is fully rechargeable in eight hours with Japan’s standard 100-volt household power, or five hours with 200-volt.

The electric motor, mounted in the engine compartment, generates 47 kW of maximum power output. It recovers inertia energy in deceleration through a regeneration system, further enhancing the energy efficiency.