When I first heard of this project, several months ago, I was struck with the thought of Q in his lab, releasing another gadget for James Bond.
This 700hp, 0-60 in 4 seconds, beauty, however, will be on the streets next year.
The Lightning Car Company are now taking orders for 2009.
If you require 'made to measure' interior, looking to modify the bodywork or want to add some individual touches to the styling, you can discuss that with their engineers.
This car is the ultimate in form and function, providing a ‘sound mode’ that you can purr along with the sound of a V6 or have the rumble of a V12 for the sound of a huge power plant, that could satisfy the speed demon, but would not be the ’feel’ for the purist. But when it comes to green, this car produces zero emissions.

Technical Specifications.

• State of the art NanoSafe™ battery packs. 36kw power

• Multi-tubular spaceframe backbone chassis

• Two-door
• Material: Lightweight carbon fibre/Kevlar composite technology

• Fully independent suspension
• Front and rear double wishbones, coils-over shock

• Rack and pinion
• Electrically power-assisted with driver select mode
• Adjustable for both rake and reach

• Regenerative braking on all four wheels
• Independent mechanical handbrake system locking rear wheel motors

• Front & rear - 20”/20’’ x 7.5J wheels lightweight cast aluminium alloy
(lightweight magnesium/carbon fibre as option)
• COOPERTIRES Cooper Zeon 2XS 245/40R20

• 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

Features

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/Alcan Tara sports seats
Forged alloy wheels
Tinted windows
Home based charging system (EVCS) with integral safety features

Charging System

The Lightning has a built in battery charging and control system. Simply plug the car's lead into your home's electric power point and you'll soon be charged and ready for the next journey. The lead is 12 feet long (optional 20 foot extension cable available). The electronics take care of various power sources that it can receive power from. It's that simple!
There are a number of different sources that can be utilised with this cable and charging times can vary depending on the condition of the batteries and also the source of power chosen.
This advanced motor technology now has incredible torque and power capability which is integrated within the wheel assembly. There are no gearboxes, differential, axle, drive shafts or prop shafts to contend with. All the power is generated at the wheel, the point at which it's required, which eliminates mechanical complexity and power losses experienced in standard sports cars.

Regenerative Braking

Electric vehicle’s use the electric motor to create torque to drive the wheels. When an electric vehicle is approaching a stop, it doesn't create friction and useless heat is not created in order to slow down. Instead, it reverses the electric motor, and in doing so, turn’s it into an electric generator, creating electricity that is fed back into the battery and stored for use. In fact any time an electric vehicle decelerates it causes the system to use the vehicle’s inertia to generate electricity.

Lightning’s Safety

The electric Lightning can demonstrate that occupant safety is a priority.
Through development work with Amber Composites and Technical Resin Bonders the bodywork will incorporate aluminium honeycomb crushable impact cells, the same technology that is used in Formula 1 motor racing to protect the driver. This material will be used in the front, rear and sides of the car as well as around the battery area.
The Lightning has no large fuel tank. Instead it incorporates a state of the art NanoSafe™ battery system. NanoSafe™ batteries use 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 NanoSafe™ batteries are designed to be used in vehicles and hostile environments and will work in temperatures between 75°C and minus 30°C. Unlike standard Lithium-Ion batteries in electric vehicles these don’t need to be kept cool when charged/used or heated to get them to perform in sub zero temperatures.
Each NanoSafe™ battery unit is about the size of a large car battery and only thirty such units make up a complete battery pack. These are situated in the car to give the desired ultra low “centre of gravity” and optimum weight distribution both front and rear.
As there's no fuel tank, the Lightning GT offers plenty of boot space with golf clubs no problem! The batteries are only 9” high ensuring additional bonnet space is also available. Locating the batteries in the optimum position allows the Lightning to have ‘designed-in’ weight distribution and low roll centres. This, combined with the high technology chassis, will achieve excellent road holding performance dynamics.

How will the Lightning be charged away from home?

Standard single phase home type power source can be used to charge overnight and is available just about anywhere by using the onboard charger. For a fast charge a 3 phase power supply is required and with the interest in electric powered vehicles increasing significantly, more high power charging stations will be installed. Most garage forecourt and industrial areas already have this level of high power source available and therefore can be fitted with a universal charging station.

United States Availability.

As with many markets around the world they have had tremendous interest from potential customers in the United States – and are looking into the necessary Federal certification requirements to enable them to retail the car in the US.

The firm is aiming to produce three models, the line up being, the regular ‘GT’; the lighter ‘GTS’ version that should do 0-60mph in under 4 seconds, and the longer range ‘GTSE’ said to do over 250 miles. Recharging the Lightning takes just 10 minutes.

July 2008 More news