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Lifecar: Performance - Pollution
March 31, 2008 |
More often than not the average green car buyer, or environmentally concious car buyer comes from the middle of the market. That is to say a compact, family or saloon buyer who is interested in practicality and eco-friendliness / pure economy more than any other factors in selecting a new car. Until now the more well heeled, performance minded drivers (who also harbours a green-conscience) have been largely neglected, until now.
This is the new hydrogen Lifecar, based on the Aero-8 roadster from Morgan as many of you will recognise in its distinctive lines. No, the performance isn’t groundbreaking (0-60mph in 7 seconds and 100mph estimated top speed)… until you take into account that the worst thing this car produces is water vapour! The car is super-lightweight and uses fuel cell technology to give it a very respectable 250 mile range from each tank of Hydrogen, according to the
The car has been custom designed over 3 years in conjunction with a UK Government brief to build a sustainable and ‘fun’ car which will attract more than just the average green buyer. To achieve this, the car was designed from scratch around its lightweight and compact fuel cells - giving it much greater efficiency and potential than a retro-fitted sports car with a ‘green’ power unit slotted in.
It is intended that the Lifecar gets its cruising power from its Hydrogen units and then ‘boosts’ from its built-in ultra-capacitators when it is called on to climb a hill or accelerate quickly. The aerodynamics and light weight of the shell will combine with these additional power units (charged from regenerative braking) to provide a level of performance which has never been seen in tandem with this cars green credentials before.
This is no ordinary sports or luxury sports car - it has been stripped of almost all creature comforts that the average TVR, Porsche or Ferrari buyer may require such as stereos, leather, gears(!) and not forgetting engine noise. In an effort to minimise baggage and achieve a kerb-weight of only 700kg, the designers have even avoided a conventional interior and settled on super-lightweight wooden seats.
The Lifecar is extreme in almost every way, yes - but this is meant to be a demonstration in what is possible and these companies are very keen to make the point that performance needn’t mean pollution.
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[…] Motor Sport Magazine wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt More often than not the average green car buyer, or environmentally concious car buyer comes from the middle of the market. That is to say a compact, family or saloon buyer who is interested in practicality and eco-friendliness / pure economy more than any other factors in selecting a new car. Until now the more well heeled, performance minded drivers (who also harbours a green-conscience) have been largely neglected, until now. This is the new hydrogen Lifecar, based on the Aero-8 roadster […]