14 DAY TRIAL // Set to run against 80 other competing low-energy pioneering cars, the Lightning GT will all-electric supercar is to join this year’s RAC Future Car Challenge (FCC).
The event is scheduled to take place on November 5th, 2011, on the 60 mile route from Madeira Drive in Brighton to London’s Regent Street.
The challenge is to drive from Brighton to London using the least energy possible within the 2hrs 45min minimum and 3hrs 30min maximum time permitted.
Under the hood we find two electric motors that provide 300kW (approximately 400 horsepower) and a 2,433Nm (1,794 lb.ft.) torque to the rear wheels.
In standard spec, the zero-emission Lightning GT boast a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) and is able to sprint from naught to sixty in under 5 seconds.
The Lithium Titanate batteries give the Lightning GT enough juice to run for over 150 miles (241 km). However, with the addition of a range extender pack, this improves to in excess of 225 miles (362 km).
‘Superfast’ charging can be completed in as little as 10 minutes with the help of an off-board charger, 2.5 hours with the on-board charger and 15 hours using an adaptor from a domestic charger.
The Challenge is open to road-legal, concept, development, pre-production and production cars and LCVs (light commercial vehicles) that feature new/alternative low-energy in the following five categories: Pure Electric (EV), Extended-Range/Plug-In Hybrid (E-REV, PHEV), Hybrid (HV, HEV), Hydrogen (HFEV), Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) - up to 110g/km CO2 emission.
Last year’s entry list included one-off prototypes and future production vehicles from manufacturers such as Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Vauxhall, Skoda and Volkswagen, as well as current production cars offering the highest levels of efficiency regardless of their powertrain.