EVX Immortus solar car revealed
Melbourne-based start-up shows off solar car concept with infinite range -- when the sun shinesAn Australian-based car-maker is working on an all-new ground-breaking solar-powered car that can hit 100km/h in seven seconds, top out at 150km/h and cruise at 60km/h all day, without recharges.
Borrowing its familiar shape -- and technology -- from Australia’s Aurora Solar Car Team, the new road car concept is claimed to have an infinite range during daylight hours while the sun shines if speed is kept down to around 60km/h thanks to the energy generated from seven square metres of solar panels embedded on the roof and bonnet.
Even at speeds above 85km/h the new solar-powered concept can still cover 550km between charging.
Created by a team of engineering students, academics, lecturers and automotive engineers from Swinburne University of Technology, the car was also inspired by post-apocalyptic movies.
Powered by two hub-mounted electric motors that generate 40kW and are fed by tiny 10kWh batteries (a Tesla Model S runs on 85kWh), the car's kerb weight is kept down to just 550kg.
Instead of a carbon-fibre monocoque chassis, EVX will construct the Immortus using a tubular chassis space-frame -- but instead of steel or aluminium, the firm has developed a technique that uses ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre tubing. Some of the parts used will also come from 3D printing.
The two-seater Immortus is also said to boast an advanced aero package that cuts drag and boosts the range. EVX also claims the Immortus will handle like a well-balanced sports car.
This November EVX will exhibit a scale model of the Immortus at the 2015 SEMA show in Las Vegas before work begins on constructing a full-size working prototype that will be ready and road legal by the end of 2016, says the company.
As well as the Immortus, EVX is also working on a retrofit hybrid concept for cars and trucks, lightweight air-cooled battery technology and shock absorbers that recharge the batteries as the car rides over bumps in the road.
In a recent interview with Gizmag, CEO Barry Nguyen said EVX doesn’t have plans to push the Immortus into mass production. Instead, his firm plans to sell less than 100 cars and market it as a high-end, high-tech sports car with a hefty price tag of $500,000.
For it to push ahead with its plans EVX needs to raise $2m to get the Immortus production ready.
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