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Lightning GT Prototype Due Later this Year

Posted August 22, 2007 5:37 PM

From The Uber-Review:

While electric vehicles still have a long way to go before they are what could be considered mainstream, they are starting to become a little bit more common and both ends of the price spectrum. This little beauty from the Lightning Car Company in the United Kingdom is sure to be at the upper end of that spectrum. The Lightning GT packs 700 bhp, has a top speed of over 130 mph and will take you from 0-60 in less than four seconds (if you are driving the GTS model). Charge times are low, really low, 10 minutes is all that is required to charge up the GTSE for over 250 miles of driving. The NanoSafe battery system that they are using will presumably last for over twelve years. The bodywork is constructed of carbon fiber and Kevlar, and is designed to crumple on impact to protect the driver: "The Lightning bodywork will incorporate aluminium honeycomb crushable impact cells. This composite monocoque structure uses 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."

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Active Contributor

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Callifornia coast
Posts: 16
Good Answers: 1
#1

Re: Lightning GT Prototype Due Later this Year

08/22/2007 10:32 PM

Lets just hope the traditional auto manufactures do not manage to buy into to it, because I can only hope the best for independent auto manufactures. If they can manage to stay independent, then price fixing isn't so likely. It's only my opinion, and I could be wrong, but not likely.
So if any of you guys reading this are from Lightning, please heed my advice for your own good, no matter what they may say. I can only hope Lightning can keep their shares off wall street and stay private, if that is what they are. I'm going to do a little Googling and find out more.

Toyota is thinking twice about lithium ion batteries. I'm sure they realize what happens when they catch fire. They burn like flairs. I wonder about this new NanoSafe battery. Who owns the patent on it. It would be another thing to keep out of the hands of the traditional auto manufactures. If so, so many other car manufactures could spring up.

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Lightning GT Prototype Due Later this Year

08/22/2007 10:52 PM

I ran into a dead end but from the Lightning site:

In 2000, US company Altaimano Inc. established a research programme to create an ultra safe, high power battery using cutting-edge Nanotechnology. The result of their hard work is the NanoSafe™ battery.

SAFER - 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.
LONGER-LASTING - NanoSafe™ batteries have a life expectancy of 12+ years, versus the 3-5 year life of other batteries. NanoSafe™ can retain up to 85% charge capacity after 15,000 charges.

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Join Date: Aug 2007
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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Lightning GT Prototype Due Later this Year

08/26/2007 1:06 AM

Boy, when I read that one today, it sounded a little paranoid, schizophrenic.

Hell, do what you want with that stuff. I'm more interested in a diesel engine converted to natural gas.

I've always liked into 327s'

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