http://www.gearlog.com/2008/07/lightningan_aptly_named_electr.php#more Tuesday July 22, 2008
Lightning--An Aptly Named Electric Car
Low slung and sleek, the
http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/home.php">Lightning reminds me of a
http://www.jaguar.com/global/default.htm">Jaguar. It very well might be the perfect platform to snap photos of a Jaguar... out the back window as you pull away! The Lightning does 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds, a full second faster than a Jag and 7 seconds (aka--a lifetime) faster than a
http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/">Prius! But what makes the Lightning special is it's an electric automobile.
Joining the ranks of all-electrics, like
http://www.teslamotors.com/">Tesla Motors Roadster, the Lightning has further innovated by banking on a lithium-titanate battery, Don't feel bad, I hadn't heard of lithium-titanate either. Forget overnight charging. If you've got three-phase power available, this car can be fully charged in 10 minutes for 200 miles of driving. The batteries themselves have a life expectancy of 12+ years, versus the 3-5 year usable life of other batteries.
To help the power last longer the Lightning takes advantage of regenerative braking. That means the 30% of engine output typically lost to braking is now put back in the battery. Not exactly cutting edge,
http://www.mta.info/nyct/facts/ffenvironment.htm">New York City's subways slow down the same way.
Lift the hood of your car and I'll find the engine, but the Lightning has no engine. That reduces maintenance greatly. Instead, there's an electric motor on each wheel, all electronically controlled. What electrics have that an internal combustion engine does not is high torque at all speeds. That means rabbit quick starts and peppy acceleration from nearly any speed.
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