By combining classic, British sports car design with racing car technology and state of the art battery power & electric motor innovation, the Lightning has been designed and developed in the UK with exhilarating performance front of mind.

Whilst its head-turning looks will appeal to the most discerning of drivers, unlike other sports cars the Lightning is also easy on the conscience. With virtually no polluting emissions, this energy-efficient car will use clean technology for the ultimate green rating. Following production of several Lightning petrol prototypes, the electric Lightning GT, Sports and Extended Range versions are now available to pre-order.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHTNING – TOP 10 FEATURES

v Ultra smooth 100% electric power (700+bhp) immediately from zero rpm
v 10 minute charge time for over 250 miles of motoring (GTSE model)
v Uncompromising performance with 0-60mph in less than 4 seconds (GTS model)
v State of the art NanoSafe™ battery system and Hi-Pa Drive™ electric motor technology
v Full regenerative braking so the battery receives charge every time you slow down, travel downhill or simply coast
v Commanding presence of carbon fibre/Kevlar hand-crafted bodywork
v Clean technology means no congestion charge or road tax and the ultimate A grade green rating
v Phenomenal economy up to 10 x cheaper to run than petrol
v Safer with no large fuel tank, thermally stable batteries and a bodywork structure similar to that used in F1 to protect the driver
v Luxury spec. interior – incorporating sat nav, ipod interface and virtual engine sound

MORE ABOUT ELECTRIC LIGHTNING TECHNOLOGY

NanoSafe™ from Altairnano Inc.
Until now, battery technology has hindered electric vehicle innovation. In 2000, US company Altairnano 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.

FASTER CHARGE – NanoSafe™ batteries can be recharged in approximately 10 minutes, rather than the hours required by many other rechargeable batteries.

MORE POWERFUL – With instantaneous power even at extreme temperatures, NanoSafe™ batteries deliver power per unit weight and unit volume several times that of conventional Lithium-Ion batteries.

Hi-Pa Drive™ from PML Flightlink Ltd
Hi-Pa Drive™ is a real revolution in motor technology and it’s a British innovation to boot! With its integrated motor and drive electronics in one single unit it produces an ultra high power density – up to 20 times more than conventional systems.

The compact, energy-efficient, electric wheel motors produce unrivalled levels of torque with internal heavy-duty tapered roller bearings that can withstand heavy radial loads for robust use. Yet they achieve the power to weight ratio important for the performance sports car capability of the Lightning
Other features include total weather proofing, total energy transfer and several levels of redundancy, so any single failure will not prevent the vehicle from operating safely.

Carbon fibre/Kevlar® composite technology in association with Amber Composites and Technical Resin Bonders
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 s well as around the battery area

Regenerative braking
Upon braking, the car’s kinetic energy is converted to heat through friction – throwing away the energy that was previously used to accelerate. In city driving, about 30 percent of a typical car’s engine output is lost to braking.

When an electric vehicle is decelerating, it does not create friction and useless heat in order to slow down. Instead it reverses its electric motor turning it into an electric generator, creating electricity which is fed back into the battery and stored for future use. In fact any time an electric vehicle decelerates it causes the system to use the vehicle’s momentum to generate electricity.