Jalopnik
Hardigree and I drove our respective red supercars at roughly the same time yesterday. While he went for the flashy Audi R8 V12 LeMans TDI Prototype and was escorted through traffic like a Russian Oil Baron by a phalanx of Audi Q7s, I hopped into the Hybrid Technologies Lithium Powered Super Car with the guy who built it. There was no top, so I enjoyed the welcome good weather—at last!—in NYC. OK, maybe the name needs a little work, but the car itself was a hoot to drive.
Hardigree and I drove our respective red supercars at roughly the same time yesterday. While he went for the flashy "Yeah, go slow over this cable tray cause the nose is so low, but in the tunnel why don't you punch it and see what it can do"—those were the orders of the cars' keeper gave. Though styling is not necessarily the car's strong point, its simplicity and performance are respectable. The car starts with a tubular space frame and adds a 78 kW direct drive, a three-phase brushless A/C motor powered by 10 maintenance-free lithium ion battery packs. Those batteries will charge by way of 120V power in 8-10 hours and run for 100 miles on a charge. All of that is shrouded under a completely carbon-fiber body, which encases leather-clad seating. The whole shebang weighs in at 2300 lbs. and considering electric motors make max torque at zero RPM, this thing scoots pretty well. 0-60 will pass in about 5 seconds, and the car has a top speed around 120 mph.
Now that the formalities are out of the way, we're ready to go out on a limb and say this is a better concept car than Die-Hardigree-with-a-Vengence's obnoxious Audi. Lets look at it objectively. The Audi's glorious V12 turbo diesel has been neutered and runs at a mere 250 HP; the electric car runs wide open with full power off the line. The Audi is constructed of soft, malleable aluminum; the electric car is fabricated of a race-car style tube frame and delicious crunchy carbon fiber. The seats are firm but nonadjustable, a clever strategy to simplify operation and cut a substantial amount of waeight compared to the leather ensconced, powered Audi helms. Whereas weight like that forces the audi to add baloney like power steering and power brakes, the little pop top is all direct connect. the steering is heavy as are the brakes, but that just makes you feel like Juan Fangio in his '57 win at Monaco. Sure it's simple and unrefined, but that means it's also simple and unrefined. The utter lack of pretension and the delightfully direct nature of the car was refreshing. Topping it off, we folded in behind the mob squad surrounding the Audi while in traffic, and we were the ones who got the natives asking about it. Clearly, the electric emerges triumphant. [Hybrid Technologies]
Comments
I have a 5 mile commute to work...
I want one! It looks like a matchbox car!
Hahahaha it looks like a cartoon of a Ferrari + gokart love child.
where's the burnout?
Before the lithium power, the car would tear up the autocross circuit for a couple days, then spend a week or two on jack stands unable to start. Definitely a good step.
@dolo54:
Burnout, circa last year! (well sorta, but tirespin is there)
[www.popularmechanics.com]
whats with the 80's dirtbike fork boots connecting the sideview mirrors?
In profile, it most closely resembles the Barbie Dream Hooker Stiletto Heel.
We need more cars like this, performance oriented electrics that will shift the public's perception. Most folks still think of electrics as being slow, like a forklift. They forget the EV1, barely heard of the Impact, and have no idea about White Zombie. The electric drivetrain is like a gigantic rubber band; pull the trigger and off you go - stick your foot in it and you'd better hope your mechanicals are up to the task.
I read an EV book several years ago that described an interchange between an EV newbie and an EV builder. They were putting an EV drivetrain into a VW Beetle.
"...and electric cars weren't going anywhere until somebody said, 'you know, you can run these motors at higher voltages. They can go faster.' Okay, open 'er up, see what she'll do."
*bink*
"What was that?"
"Axle. Don't worry, I've got spares."
Blam. Another preconceived notion bites the dust.
POW-POW-Power wheels!
is that an electric chopper in the background? hmmm
How cute, it looks like a Barbie car.
That's the old Mullen Motors body. Mullen was formerly from Vegas and now in L.A.
@KingRoyale: thanks. that was a cool video. nice little powerslide there.
him driving it down the empty street fast with no noise really gives you the sense of how dangerous the silence is. I could just picture somebody walking right out in front from between parked cars.
Are you sure there's not a Fiero under there somewhere?
@dolo54:
True indeed, but a problem no more with....THIS:
[www.engadget.com]
Lithium powered? Add some Prozac and Wellbutrin and you'll be in for some very happy motoring. Hahahahaha!!!
A "hoot"? You really think you should be using the word "hoot" in New York? Just saying...
Syling brought to you by the world renowned auto design firm that brought you the famed "Barbie Corvette" and the Dukes of Hazzard Big Wheel".
Unbelievably fugly...looks like a gummi bear that has been sucked on for too long
Unbelievably fugly...looks like a gummi bear that has been sucked on for too long...
I'm not diggin the non-aero non-functional hoodscoop.
Looks like a toy car, sounds like a toy car. In other words: perfect.
Nice golfcart, Ben.
But seriously, I can't love this think enough. Sure it crude, it's heavy for its size/safety/amenities and with iffy styling, to say the least. What the hell, its a start.
But putting all that tasty electric power to the wheels with 0-60 in 5? Yes, please.
did it get slower and lose range?
the same car from Popular Mechanics last year did 0-60 in 3 and had a 200 mile range.
[www.popularmechanics.com]
This car is so much more interesting than anything the big 3 can come up with.
@iamjames: Don't get all het up. Everyone knows every word ever written about electric cars is just Science Fiction. Global warming, too.
but does it float?
by CharlzR at 10:09 AM Reply
Lithium powered? Add some Prozac and Wellbutrin and you'll be in for some very happy motoring. Hahahahaha!!!
yeah if you get depressed at your inability to pick up the ladies in this thing, just pop the hood and lick the terminals
OKAY! WHO MELTED MY DIABLO??!?
@iamjames: yeah, but popular mechanics does this thing where they 'lie' about 'everything' in their magazine, because big numbers or impressive results sell magazines, and it isn't like anyone will remember by the time whatever tech they're takling about actually comes out.
Interesting but inquiring minds want to know: what's the price?
If Fisher Price made a supercar.
@iamjames:
@Tyson:
This press release from Jan 2007 (before the Popular Mechanics article on april 2007) shows the L1X-75 probably NEVER had those stats. The range quoted was 100 miles in this article too.
[www.autobloggreen.com]
I think there might have been some conflict between the marketing department in the company and the final product. Seems like their original target was 0-60 3 secs and 600hp. In reality the peak power turned out to be 105hp and 0-60 in 5.9 seconds.
If you go to their site [www.hybridtechnologies.com]
you can see two conflicting claims still on it. General discription says this: "Dream Dynamics. Looks amazing, while performing an amazing service for our planet. It's the sports car of anyone's dreams, including environmentalists. The LiV™ RUSH launches lithium into the exotic market while stealing your breath. (Wow…600 horsepower and 0-60 in-just-seconds acceleration. Don't blink, you might miss it.)
"
Data on bottom says this:
"Powertrain
Electric Motor: 3 phase, brushless A/C motor - 78 kW peak (105hp)"
So which is it? 600hp or 105hp? Seems the reality is that it is 105.
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