Suzuki Unveils an EV With Light-Bulb-Level Efficiency: New e Sky Debuts

Suzuki has unveiled the new e Sky, an electric car that may not impress with its specifications but delivers efficiency on par with some of today’s most economical EVs.

The new Suzuki e Sky belongs to Japan’s kei-car class, meaning it is an ultra-compact vehicle designed to carry four people. The model measures 133.7 inches long, 58.1 inches wide and 64.0 inches tall, with a 96.9-inch wheelbase. Thanks to its boxy shape, however, passengers in both rows should have a reasonable amount of room.

The e Sky is powered by a 26-kWh battery. That relatively small capacity might raise concerns about range, but kei cars are designed primarily for urban driving. As a result, buyers in this segment tend to place less emphasis on range than on other vehicle characteristics.

The new Suzuki weighs just over 2,200 pounds. Its average energy consumption is rated at 9.7 kWh per 62 miles. That figure is comparable to the efficiency of some of the most economical EVs, including the Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6. Put another way, the e Sky uses about as much energy to travel 0.62 miles as a 100-watt light bulb consumes in one hour. With such low energy consumption, it is not surprising that the small battery provides a claimed range of up to 193 miles.

The e Sky also comes with a heat pump to reduce energy use in cold weather, bidirectional charging and a one-pedal driving system. Charging the battery to 80% takes about 25 minutes. Using a standard household outlet takes roughly eight hours.

Suzuki emphasizes that the e Sky was not developed from the gasoline-powered kei car that shares its name. Instead, the EV was designed from the ground up. Interestingly, Suzuki has not equipped the new model with all-wheel drive, a feature offered by some of its direct competitors.

Like many other kei cars, the e Sky has a relatively basic interior. Most surfaces are finished in plastic, while the seats are upholstered in cloth. Such materials help keep costs down, which is particularly important in the budget-oriented kei-car segment.

Inside, the Suzuki e Sky features a 10.1-inch touchscreen, an electronic parking brake and a heated steering wheel. There are also several storage compartments throughout the cabin. Even the top of the dashboard has small cubbies that are just large enough to hold cups.

The Suzuki e Sky made its debut as a concept. However, the automaker is expected to bring a vehicle in this form to the Japanese market. Suzuki has not yet announced official pricing for the e Sky.