Digital Crosstalk

UK company to unveil electric sports car

Posted by Brian | Filed under blogging

As we become more aware of environmental issues, many people are constantly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Those who aren’t too bothered by this current social issue are still being affected by it, however, as green vigilantes have been targeting high emission cars with graffiti in an effort to shame the drivers into a greener mode of transport.

But it’s not just individuals who are trying to clean up the roads. Last year the UK government announced a showroom tax for gas-guzzling cars, as well as a rebate for customers who bought electric cars. 

Recently in America, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s state of California announced that at the start of 2009 all new cars will come with ratings out of ten for smog-forming and global warming pollution the car produces; ten being the score for the cleanest cars. 

However, the traditional problem with environmentally friendly cars has always been that they are perceived to perform at a lower standard and have less of a kick than their heavier pollutant counterparts. That, however, may be set to change.

 

A Peterborough based car manufacturer is set to unveil its prototype sports car later this month – the Electric Lightning GT. The Lightning GT is a £120,000 green supercar which is able to reach speeds of 130mph and go from 0-60 in four seconds – faster than any Jaguar and around the same as a Ferrari Spider!

The car runs on 30 onboard batteries – rechargeable overnight from a mains socket – and can travel 200 miles before needing to be charged again. The hope is that in the future supermarkets and petrol stations will offer high power charging stations that would enable the car to be at full energy in a matter of minutes. With no fuel tank, the batteries do not eat into storage space and it is claimed that there is plenty of boot space.

All of the power is created where it is needed – at the wheel, meaning there will be no power losses as the car makes full use of all that it generates. Other power saving devices, such as the electric motors working as dynamos when the brakes are applied are also evident.

The Lightning GT is currently available to pre-order with a deposit of £15,000. The company says it has so far received almost 1,000 orders including from some unnamed celebrities.

Tags: digital