The
Lightning GT is an electric powered sports car from the Lightning
Car Company based in the UK. The Lightning GT mixes British
sports car styling with racing car technology and state of
the art NanoSafe™ battery power and Hi-Pa Drive™
electric motors. The stylish body is crafted from carbon
fiber/Kevlar.
One of the advantages of electric vehicles is their ability
to offer maximum available power to the wheels at any speed,
unlike a petrol engine where maximum power is only obtained
high up in the rev range. To help effectivley deliver this
power to the road the Lightning GT uses electronically controlled
traction control which negates wheel spin and unbalance in
the power being applied.
Because there is no engine, the Lightning GT has a maintenance-free
motor with just a few moving parts. Together
with the control electronics and special batteries, the Lightning
GT will not need anywhere near the servicing of other sports
cars.
Much of the technology housed in the Lightning GT was developed
by companies other than the Lightning Car Company. US company
Altaimano Inc. developed the NanoSafe batteries which have
many improvements over conventional batteries. Nanosafe batteries
have a life expectancy of 12+ years, versus the 3-5 year usable
life of other batteries. NanoSafe batteries also retain up
to 85% charge capacity after 15,000 charges. Recharges are
much faster, approximately 10 minutes. NanoSafe batteries
are also safer using nano titanate materials instead of graphite
which makes them far more thermally stable - there are no
toxics or heavy metals used in NanoSafe batteries.
The compact, energy-efficient, Hi-Pa Drive™ electric
wheel motors were devloped by PML Flightlink Ltd. These produce
unrivalled levels of torque with internal heavy-duty tapered
roller bearings that can withstand heavy radial loads for
robust use. Yet they achieve the power to weight ratio important
for the performance sports car capability of the Lightning.
The Lighting Car Company hope to start delivering the first
Lightning GT's in 2009.
Related external links:
Lightning
Car Company
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