The size of GM’s fuel cell is now comparable with an average four cylinder engine whilst still maintaining the same 93 kW (125 BHP) power output as previous designs. The test-bed Chevy Equinox fuel cell vehicle has a maximum range of 150 miles and a top speed of 100mph, if they had used a smaller model then I expect these figures would have been better.

Production costs have been cut by halving the amount of platinum used in the fuel cell, with further reductions expected in the future. With production planned for 2012 the only concern is the costly drive train which will need refining in order to make the cost of the car viable.

Whilst there is still a carbon cost associated with producing hydrogen it is still by far the cleanest of current alternative fuel designs.  My main concern is that a hugely expensive infrastructure will be rolled out to accommodate the recharging of popularised Lithium-Ion cars.  Nobody is going to want to repeat the process for Hydrogen refilling stations.

Further reading:

• GM – Fuel Cell Car
• Chevy Fuel Solutions

In the show on Sunday night the Top Gear team revealed the stig as none other than Michael Schumacher!  Now far be it from me to cry hoax, but it seems very convenient that Top Gear revealed Schumacher as the stig at the same time as they had a £1.3 million Ferrari FXX on the track, black just like the one gifted to Schumacher by Ferrari back in 2006.

I would suggest that Schumacher was simply Stig-for-the-day, he drives his own car round the track whilst also providing the Top Gear production with a sensational ‘joke’ aimed firlmy at the press and bloggers who are constanly trying to name the Stig.  And I think they’re right to do it, its a nice two fingers to all the know-it-all keyboard warriors out there desperate for a bit of fame at the expense of our enjoyment.

Knowing the identity of the Stig spoils all the fun, I don’t care if its Damon Hill, Lewis Hamilton or the Top Gear Dog!  Not knowing is what the Stig is all about, its also handy if their usual driver has the sniffles or is half way round the Nürburgring and we’re none the wiser.

Of course, if it has been Schumacher all along it won’t bother me, his (or her) identity is apparently an open secret within the motorsport community anyway.  The press will hopefully now move on to discovering the identities of Big Stig, Rig Stig and the Stig’s African cousin.

It seems to me that the eight teams are bluffing, even though they may hold all the cards.  If the eight were to leave it would have wide ranging repercussions for the Formula One brand, it may be one of the most popular sports in the world but if the big teams were to leave it would be akin to watching 3rd division Irish football teams playing in the English Premiership.  Sponsorship would dry up, fans would leave in droves and F1 would soon be relegated to late nigh slots on Motors TV.

The eight breakaway teams strength lies in the group, for it to work they would all have to hold strong.  As a group in a new championship they would retain a lot of the prestige of F1, the familiar teams would also make it easier for fans to migrate.  The remaining Formula One championship would be limp, the FIA claim there are a host of smaller teams (most of whom have already had the entries rejected) that would be willing to step in.  However,  without the prospective draw of the bigger teams there would be less revenue from sponsorship, TV rights and ticket sales; these smaller outfits would struggle.

I may sound like I’m all for a new championship but I’m not… I’d rather watch Formula One in its existing format.  What I suspect is happening is an attempt by the eight teams to force a change in the FIA management, which may or may not work.  I suspect we’ll all find out shortly.

The Chevrolet Volt is one of the first full electric drive vehicles intended to go mass market with a range of 40 miles on battery but also including a 1.0 litre flex fuel engine intended to recharge the cells on the move.  There is still the unfortunate reliance on oil however.  Having said that, zero emission electric drive vehicles still have an impact on the environment.  The electricity stored in their cells has to come from somewhere and this is most likely to be from coal or nuclear powered plants, both of which have a devastating impact on our environment.

The likes of Chevrolet’s Volt may be a step in the right direction, but there are some small companies out there producing working electric vehicles now.  Companies like Tesla based in Silicon Valley with their Roadster and the UK based Lightning Car Company with its self named Lightning GT (Lightning have also already produced an electric motorcycle concept based on a Yamaha R1).  Then there is the relative newcomer to the field, RUF, with their E-Ruf concept.

Not only are these companies developing electric vehicles, but they’re doing it in style by producing electric sports cars! Lets start with the old guard: Tesla.

Tesla Roadster

Electric Sports Cars: Tesla Roadster

Tesla Motors, incorporated in 2003 by engineers Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning have designed and are currently producing the Tesla Roadster with the first deliveries expected in 2009.

The Roadster is the Tesla’s first production vehicle, doing 0 to 60mph in less than 4 seconds with an artificially limited top speed of 125mph.  Priced at $100,000 the Roadster has a range of 221 miles (certified by the EPA in the US) and is estimated to cost just $0.02 per mile.  I expect that price does not include the cost of servicing, general wear and tear or replacement batteries which only have a lifespan of 5 years or 100,000 miles.

Driven by a 375 volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor and a single speed fixed gear drive train, the Roadster produces a peak power output of 248bhp (185kW) and 276 ft/lbs of torque (375nm) delivered through the rear wheels.  In contrast to an internal combustion engine the torque from the electric motor is delivered uniformly and available immediately from 0rpm all the way to the redline at 14,000rpm!

Tesla claim the microprocessor-controlled lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in 3.5 hours using their special high-power connector.

Lightning GT

Electric Sports Cars: Lightning GT

The eponymous Lightning GT will be available in 2009 and differs from the Tesla Roadster slightly in that it employs four separate 120 kW wheel-motors which will provide an electric all wheel drive system with regenerative breaking.  The benefits of mounting a motor at each wheel are a reduced mechanical complexity with no need for any differentials, axels or drive-shafts. The GT will go from 0-60mph in under 4 seconds and have a limited top speed of 130mph.  Lightning claim the electric motors will produce over 700bhp and have an expected range of 188 miles on a full charge.

The 36 kWh NanoSafe Lithium-titanate battery pack can be fully charged in a couple of hours from a regular 3-phase power supply or just 10 minutes using a special quick charge system.  However, no details are provided on this quick charge system or what the power requirements are.  The NanoSafe batteries are claimed to have a life expectancy of 15 years and still retain 80% of its capacity after 15,000 charges.

The Lightning GT is expected to cost £120,000 and the Lightning Car Company are taking deposits now.

RUF E-Ruf Concept Model A

Electric Sports Cars: E-RUF

The E-Ruf is an electric sports car concept currently being developed by RUF in Germany and is based on the Porsche 997.  As the E-Ruf no longer needs to cool a petrol engine RUF have filled and smoothed all the air scoops on the 997 to improve the aerodynamics.  Similar to the Tesla Roadster the E-Ruf uses a single electric motor which is located in place of the original flat-6 boxer engine.  The rear seats have also been removed to allow RUF to pack in the batteries that power the motor.

The 300 volt motor peaks at 5000rpm and generates 200bhp (150 kW) and 479 ft/lbs of torque.  RUF expect the car to do 0-60 in less then 7 seconds and have a top speed of 160mph.  Being a prototype the electric motor is currently mated to the original 997 six speed gearbox and clutch, the car however is still drivable with roadandtrack.com already having had a sneak preview.

The on-board battery pack will currently lasts between 155 and 200 miles with regenerative breaking and depending on driving conditions and a full charge takes 10 hours with a life expectancy of 3000 charges.

Whilst not quite in the same final stages of development as the Tesla and Lightning I’ve highlighted above, it is obvious that its not just the companies with multi-million dollar backing such as Tesla that are breaking into electric vehicle development.

Conclusion

Whilst none of these can claim to be the first electrically driven cars on the market (the REVA G-Wiz, NICE MEGA City and Elettrica are just a few of the city cars available to buy now), the fact that these companies have designed cars with the motoring enthusiast in mind and have overcome a lot of the problems plaguing other manufacturers is inspiring.  Sure, the likes of Ford or GM could never dream of turning around a fully functional mass market electric car in the same timeframe as Tesla.  They’re aiming at a different market, your average customer may not have the facilities to charge an electric car at their home, and without a nation-wide refuelling infrastructure it would be pretty pointless for them to release one.  As well as the market, the price is also a factor.  The Tesla Roadster markets at $100,000 in the US, the price would likely be £100,000 in the UK as well.  Tesla, Lightning and RUF are pricing there cars up there with the likes of the Lamborghini Gallardo, and as such are targeting the same customers.

Still, at this level of progression I think the future looks good.  We may mourn the loss of the old internal combustion engine, whether it be inline four, boxer, straight six, V8 or more.  At some point we’ll have to move on and reduce our dependency on oil.

Further Information

2008 E-Ruf Concept Model A via roadandtrack.com
Lightning Car Company
Tesla Motors