<![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV - Jalopnik Comments]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> You should check out the company Altairnano, they have used carbon nanotubes to strengthen the casing of the Lithium ion battery pack so that it can charge at a higher voltage (640V) without failing. normally batteries can't take the heat and expand and contract too much leading to the failure of the battery. This is not the only car that will use the battery from altairnano. Pheonix motors plans to do the same.

pappanino

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> Recharging a 350 mile range 640HP battery pack in 10 minutes at home would require a monstrous current, I'm guessing many thousands of amps.

I assume it's a two seater SUV and they just put 20,493 lithium batteries in it (3 x the Tesla Roadster's pack).

skierpage

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> I wonder if this is another application of Ultracapacitor Batteries. They have a 10-minute recharge time, and can pack quite a charge.

imacpr0n

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> What's the advantage of in-hub motors again? Obviously you lose the weight of the driveshaft and whatever u-joints etc, but anything else?

I understand the disadvantge of the extra unsprung weight.

lascauxcaveman

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> 10 minute recharge my ass! Still, with regenerative braking, solar panels, outlets to plug into in parking lots, and improved battery technology electric cars will be practical as daily drivers and even road trip cars. Well once they find an alternate to the hub motor. This is the next thing, not hydrogen, bio-whatever, or otherwise, IMHO.

piththeelder

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> Wonder what repercussions VW's controlling purchase of Proton (who owns Lotus) will have on niche products like this? I'd expect VW would want the technology migrated to one of their less expensive product platforms.

The 10 minute recharge sounds odd to me too... Maybe they're saying it's drivable after a 10 minute charge, knowing that regenerative systems will keep things going when it's on the road.

Especially since there are barely 10-15 minute rechargeable AA/AAA NiMH batteries out there. I'm sure this beastie will be equipped with Lithium Ion or Lithium Polymer, since some of those new breakthrough battery technologies haven't had much chance to get beyond theory or prototype.

Nice that it's a more practical design than the Tesla, being a well proportioned tall-box crossover utility wagon. But if the chassis engineering, manufacturing processes and technology are anything remotely approaching the Tesla's, buyers will have to mint a pretty penny to have one of these parked in their garage. Maybe one of those lease-only deals instead of an outright purchase like the EV1 and RAV4-EV?

Tony C

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> Will it use the in-wheel motors made by PML Flightlink?
http://www.pmlflightlink.com/archive/news_mini.html

That would make sense.

MR42HH

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> ZAP and Lotus, even cooler than ZAPP & Roger! I could make sweet "computer love" in the back seat of that thang.

Turboner

]]> <![CDATA[Zap, Lotus Team Up on Electric Crossover SUV]]> I know this is sacriledge to ask, but do we really need a 644hp equivalent electric car? More importantly, do we really need a KW war before there is even a real infrastructure to support it?

I'm also skeptical of the 10 minute charge time. If it's true, this will be a revolutionary car, otherwise, yet another let down in the electric car arena.

Another point, the in wheel motors will make the ride on this beasty extremely rough. Lotus has their work cut out for them with all of that unsprung weight hanging out in the wheel - unless they've got some magic up their sleeves, dynamic response over rough pavement will be horrific.

wohho

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