DOKING XD-FIRST CROATIAN ELECTRIC CAR

The DOK-ING XD is a small three-seat electric city concept car1 created by DOK-ING. The
name XD comes from oddly shaped rear lights ("X" shaped) and "D" beginning letter of the
company's name. XD can travel over 250 km on a single charge with lithium iron phosphate
batteries2. Other features include 360 degree airbags3, butterfly doors, an integrated safety
system for electric stability, ABS brakes and power steering. Currently, the only planned nonCroatian part will be the 32 kWh battery which can go for 200-250 kilometers with a charge
time of between three and eight hours. Some of the design features include butterfly doors, a
Mclaren F1-style seating position and 'x' shaped tail lights. Doking XD is the first car
completely designed and created in Croatia. It is Croatia's first concept electric vehicle (EV)
which raises eyebrows with its innovative design and impressive characteristics and is simply
called XD. The 'XD' combines the most attractive features of a city car in an attractive
package, the small lenght (2.8 meters), comfortable interior (width 1.7 meters, height 1.6
meters), and performance of a compact sports vehicle (0-100 km/hr in 7,7 seconds). Let's not
forget that all this comes with zero CO2 emissions. Lithium-iron-phosphate battery is
expected to last up to 250 kilometers until you need to charge it again and makes it a true
green car.The 'XD' is a concept vehicle that seats three adults and has a powerful electric
engine that is capable of achieving 0-100 km/hr in 7.7 seconds. Such performance is typically
only found in compact sport cars with 200 HP.The 'XD' has a number of impressive safety
features on the vehicle and electrical system. These technologies were developped by
Company DOK-ING, known for building vehicles that protect human life and use hybrid and
electric engines. This same philosophy was employed in building the XD.The interesting part
is that it was designed completely on a PC at home of one designer named Igor Jurki. He
designed XD all by himself on his personal computer, but didn't want to disclose information
about which software he used. He is experienced car designer who worked on several Opel
car models (Astra, Corsa and Zafira), Porsche Cayene and Mercedes ML class. He combined
his experience with several softwares and created a car without huge development team,
making it really cheap for investors.The problem is that there is no assembly plant in Croatia,
and huge money is needed to build it, so they need investors. The price will be around 10000
EUR and since it is entirely ecologically friendly, part of the price is expected to be paid by
the Government. DOK-ING hopes to find a foreign investor(s) for production to take place,
however DOK-ING chairman, Vjekoslav Majeti, confirmed that at least 5 bids have been
made for collaboration at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Foreign Investment is expected to
pay for employment of 200-300 Croatian workers and upgrading of production facilities for
mass production. If DOK-ING cannot find a European investor(s), it will look for a Chinese
investor, and production will be moved to China. If a Chinese investor is not found either,
DOK-ING will build the cars on order.
Taken and adapted from the Internet,May 2010
s1A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new
styling and new technology They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction
to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.Concept
cars never go into production directly; in modern times all would have to undergo many
changes before the design is finalized for the sake of practicality, safety and cost. A
production-intent vehicle, as opposed to a concept vehicle, serves this purpose.

The lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, also called LFP battery, is a type of
rechargeable battery, specifically a lithium ion battery, which uses LiFePO 4 as a cathode
material.
3

360 airbags-As well as protecting the pedestrian from being squished like a bug on a windscreen,
airbags are found down the side of the car, both front and back, protecting passengers from injury in
the event of a nasty shunt from every which way in the car.The two cushions on the hood are
supposed to protect the pedestrian's head and waist. The system also includes an inbuilt radar and
camera for pedestrian detecting.
VOCABULARY:

n.a system that uses power from the engine to help the driver change direction ____________
n. the back (end) part of something __________
to go or move at a particular speed, in a particular direction, or a particular distance ________
(a phrase)to show that you disaprove of or are surprised by something ______________
n. the production or sending out of light, heat, gas, etc.: ____________________
to have enough seats for a particular number of people ________________
n.a grown-up ___________
adj.having the ability or qualities necessary for doing something ________________
.n.Something that is the product of mixing two or more, mixture _____________________
to give somebody information about sth, reveal _________________
adj extremely large in size or amount, vast, enormous ____________________
n.factory _________________
n.offer,tender ___________________
adj.not hostile __________________
n. the person in charge of a meeting, company, comittee etc. ______________________

QUESTIONS
Who created XD? How do we explain its name? How far can XD travel? What do other
features include?What do design features include?
Where was XD produced ? What makes it a city car? What makes it a true green car? What
perfomance does it make a compact sports vehicle?

How was it designed and by who? Why did its designing turn out to be cheap?
What problems are we facing in connection with its production?
Who is expected to be subsidizing this project and why?