Electric car as fast as Ferrari..

[AtifSajid]

Wales


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Welsh car team pioneer electric dream Jun 1 2005




icWales


Imagine an electric car that produces hardly any noise, no air pollution, and is as fast as a Ferrari.

It might become a reality in the near future, thanks to a revolutionary new motor designed by an enterprising team in Wales.

If the IMP motor meets expectations, it could usher in a new age of rapid, clean, electric transport.

As well as high performance vehicles, there are plans for a battery-powered family car with a range of hundreds of miles.

Electric cars to date have been more reminiscent of milk floats than Formula One.

It is hard not to laugh when recalling Sir Clive Sinclair's C5 electric three-wheeler, which was supposed to be the ideal urban runabout, but proved a catastrophic flop.

However the new motor being developed by IMP Ltd, a Welsh engineering company based in Neath, really could put electric vehicles in the fast lane.

The motor is revolutionary in that it contains no bulky permanent magnets.

Instead it relies on transmitting electric pulses across up to seven rotors, arranged in different phases. These are "fired up" in turn, much like the pistons of an internal combustion engine.

There are no gears - the motor provides enough torque at one revolution per minute to put a vehicle into motion - and it spins at up to 2,500rpm.

"Size for size, we can provide 400% more torque than any type of motor currently available," says managing director John Bryant.

He is now hoping to team up with a sports car manufacturer, such as Lotus or TVR.

Theoretically an electric racing car driven by four of the motors - one for each wheel - could hold its own in Formula One.

"Electric vehicles still carry the stigma of the Sinclair," says Mr Bryant. "Forget it. This will outstrip a Ferrari."

At present, providing enough battery life is a problem. But battery technology is improving all the time, and Mr Bryant does not see it as a major obstacle.

If he finds the right automotive partner, a prototype electric car that would put a smile on Michael Schumacher's face could be ready within two years.

[civic95]

Now if they could just make one that recharges itself, and not require you to leave it plugged up charging for hours and hours.

[mocha latte cupcake]

sweet.... NO PAYING FOR GAS YAY! but then again you're electric bill would super JDM SUCK!

[civic95]

sweet.... NO PAYING FOR GAS YAY! but then again you're electric bill would super JDM SUCK!

Yeah, and you better believe it will require a special charging station installed by the electric company that will charge you at a different rate. We could of already been driving electric cars, but they are still trying to figure out how exactly to charge us. It will not be cheaper for us than gas is when we make the switch.

[5thgcelica]

^^ exactly. it wont be cheaper, if not more money. its just an asnwer to the oil crisis in the next 25 or so years...

[Spyder]

^^ exactly. it wont be cheaper, if not more money. its just an asnwer to the oil crisis in the next 25 or so years...

you do realize how they make electricity right? here on the east coast we are for the most part limited in how we can produce energy... I wish they would concentrate more on making safe and reliable nuclear power because it is everywhere and will never run out.


btw there are several highend car manufactures that have been looking at building cars like this.. the problem as was stated is battery life... given time i think they will overcome that.

[5thgcelica]

yeah, i am aware of how they produce most of our electicity. just did a paper on it for my economics class. and i agree. nuclear power would be better. hell they have it on aircraft carriers..what are they waiting for?

[RandomGuy]

y not hydro power haha... or is it not in enough supply for the US.

[5thgcelica]

not enough for the entire US

hoover damn takes car\e of a chunk out west. but thats about it. and im sure buford damn takes care of a little out here. but, not enough water flowing through it.


we should harness electricy from the US sid eof niagra. im sure they do some, but ALL of it. lol. or they should develop something that the mississippi can just flow through constantly. that'd produce a chunk of power as well.

[Spyder]

yeah, i am aware of how they produce most of our electicity. just did a paper on it for my economics class. and i agree. nuclear power would be better. hell they have it on aircraft carriers..what are they waiting for?

they also have just short of a self contained eco system on the nuclear powered submarines. they can stay underwater for months upon months at a time.

you are the one that wrote a paper about it , im sure you read somewhere about the reasons they dont use it more commonly.. for the most part people are just afraid of what it can create when it goes boom... massive dead people. and although other forms of producing energy do so in less likely to kill people way, we will run out of natural energy sources in time. granted it wont likely be in either of our lifetimes...

[5thgcelica]

yeah. i did the paper on the part on the power companies increasing costs because of oil prices and all that...crap.>

yeah, and the reactors can go boom, but i mean. it'd suck but. you know, find a way to make it safer, it seems like one of the best forms of getting energy. or just build one big ass solar panel for the entire us, just..put it over canada or somehting. lol.

[Spyder]

just build one big ass solar panel for the entire us, just..put it over canada or somehting. lol.

Bahahhahahah!

[mocha latte cupcake]

yeah the canadians like the cold anyways, a mini ice age is just what they're looking for!

[Kevykev]

hahaaa