The Russian company Kalashnikov does not only make weapons, such as the admired/feared AK-47 assault rifle, but also manufactures electric motor bikes and vehicles (such as the ‘Ovum’ that was used during the football world championship this year).

CV-1

Recently, during an event in the vicinity of Moscow, the company presented its answer to the electric vehicles from Tesla. The bright-blue prototype of the CV-1 is, design wise, based on the IZh 2125 Kombi, which has been manufactured in the former Soviet Union since the seventies.

The company explained during the presentation the the new ‘supercar’ uses complex and revolutionary technology that should bring the company to the same level as other manufacturers of electric cars, such as Tesla.

Operating range

The CV-1 looks rather dated
(photo: Kalashnikov).

Once the CV-1 has been completely developed, it should have an operating range of 350 kilometres on a single battery charge. Furthermore the vehicle will reach a speed of 100 km/h from standstill in 6 seconds. That is a little less than the Tesla Model 3 (with a long-range battery this reaches nearly 500 km and an acceleration to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds).

Little Igor

Around the same time Kalashnikov showed the Igorek (‘little Igor’), a four metre high and 4.5 ton weighing manned robot, intended for construction operations but also for military applications. In a time when robots are forever becoming smaller, lighter and smarter, the company invited some ridicule with this old-fashioned, awkwardly massive design that could have run away from the movie ‘Aliens’. In 2020 Kalashnikov hopes to present a better version of the little Igor.


Video: Ruptly