There is a little known small car company which will soon be looking to compete with the mighty US Tesla, which has for some time been the super electric car that everyone is talking about. This is about to change with the introduction of the Lightning GT from the Lightning Car Company (LCC) this car which is in the development stages is set to put the Great back into British made sports cars. Like the days when there were so many sports car companies around.
Lightning GT – Standard Features
Anti lock braking system
Traction control
Regenerative braking
Electronic door entry
Programmable external engine sound generator
Central door locking
Alarm and immobilizer
Electric windows
Acoustic information and entertainment system
Part leather/alcantara sports seats
Forged alloy wheels
Tinted windows
Home based charging system (EVCS) with integral safety features
Hella focused beam halogen headlamps
LED taillights, front, rear and side-mounted lights
Colours
Available in Electric Lightning Blue, black and silver as standard (as shown)
Options & accessories
Air conditioning
Tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system
Satellite navigation system
Non standard colour / metallic paint
Full leather trim
Mobile charging system
Car cover
Drive Motor:
Hi-Pa Drive™ technology – four 120kw power Permanent Magnet brushless motors
Full traction control and regenerative braking on all four wheels independently
Battery:
State of the art NanoSafe™ battery packs. 36kw power
Chassis Type:
Multi-tubular spaceframe backbone chassis
Bodywork Type:
Two-door
Material: Lightweight carbon fibre/Kevlar composite technology
Suspension:
Fully independent suspension
Front and rear double wishbones, coils-over shock
Steering:
Rack and pinion
Electrically power-assisted with driver select mode
Adjustable for both rake and reach
Braking:
Regenerative braking on all four wheels
Independent mechanical handbrake system locking rear wheel motors
Wheels & Tyres:
Front & rear – 20″/20’’ x 7.5J wheels lightweight cast aluminium alloy (Lightweight magnesium/carbon fibre as option)
COOPERTIRES Cooper Zeon 2XS 245/40R20
Dimensions:
Length: 175″ / 4445 mm
Width excl. mirrors: 76.3″ / 1940 mm
Height: 47.2″ / 1200 mm
Wheelbase: 102″ / 2590 mm
Front track: 65.7″ / 1669 mm
Rear track: 65.7″ / 1669 mm
Ground clearance: 5.51″ / 140 mm
Boot space: large boot TBC
Turning circle: 28 ft
Anticipated weight dist. (F/R-full): 48/52
Unfortunately there is no mention of the price, although people interested can put down a fifteen thousand pound deposit to reserve one.
Source [Auto Blog]
I’m still not sure whether electricity is the way to go for future automobile power. It seems that it’s still too close to burning more fossil fuels. What about those clever hydrogen fuel cells? Britain still produces some fantastic cars – we have Morgan, Ariel and Mclaren to name a few.
The problem is this: Where we will get the energy? Electric vehicles use power stored in batteries. Hydrogen fuel cells use power stored in Hydrogen, which is released when reacted with Oxygen. To make hydrogen, you need electricity to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen gas. Hydrogen is just another way of storing power for later use. The nice thing about electric and hydrogen fuel cell cars is that the electricity is produced at a central location (solar, wind, hydro or gas/coal) and then dispersed to cars through hydrogen fuel or electric power lines. This is much more efficient and clean then having a tiny gas power plant in each vehicle.
Hi Jim,
I think the question that you pose is the eternal one – that of ‘where will we get the energy’?
Unless a genuinely renewable fuel source can be found, then we’re going to be having massive problems. Electric cars still need power and most of it comes (still) from the burning of fossil fuels. Nuclear power causes a lot of issues with where we get rid of material with a 1,000 year half life. Wind power doesn’t generate enough. Who knows what the answer is here…