The price of fuel is something all drivers worry about, and for years now, people have believed that at some point the traditional internal combustion engine would be replaced with something that runs on materials that are greener, and perhaps more crucially for the consumer, cheaper.
Hybrid and electric vehicles have gone some way to proving this to be true, but they are still not as popular as might have been hoped. However, one new innovation seems to have made the prophecy come true, and the good news is that it’s been approved for EU roads.
Sports cars may not be well known for their efficiency when it comes to fuel consumption, but this is something a little different. The 920-horsepower QUANT e-Sportlimousine was first revealed at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, and eyebrows were raised when it was announced that it ran not on fuel, but on saltwater.
And now it has been approved for use on EU roads, which could mean we’re that little step closer to a reality where cars can run on water alone.
The vehicle uses something known as an electrolyte flow cell power system to power four electric motors within the car, with the technology working in a similar way to the hydrogen fuel cell that has often been thought of as the future of car engines. However, the key difference here is that the liquid used to power the engine is saltwater.
Water passes between the membrane in two tanks, creating an electric charge. This is then stored, and distributed to super capacitors. The car is powered by two 200 litre water tanks, and once filled, it will be able to travel 373 miles before needing filled again.
Perhaps the best news, however, is that while the car does focus on efficiency, it does not mean the manufacturers have had to scrimp on performance, with the car packing some of the most impressive specifications that we’ll likely see anywhere this year.
QUANT says the car can go from 0-60mph in just 2.8 seconds, which makes it as quick off the mark as the McLaren P1. In addition to this, it can reach the rather impressive top speed of 217.5mph. Amazingly, this makes it faster than the likes of the Bugatti EB110 GT and the Jaguar XJ220, which clock in at 209mph and 212mph respectively.
Of course, such high performance and an incredibly efficient engine won’t come cheap. And although it has yet to be announced what any prospective owners may be asked to pay for the vehicle, experts are already suggesting that it may come in at more than £1 million.
“We’ve got major plans, and not just within the automobile industry,” says NanoFlowcell AG chairman of the board Professor Jens-Peter Ellermann.
“The potential of the NanoFlowcell is much greater, especially in terms of domestic energy supplies as well as in maritime, rail and aviation technology.”
Images Courtesy of: www.nanoflowcell.com
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