The Solar Powered Car That Never Stops Driving
Electric cars? They’re so 2010.
But a solar powered luxury vehicle? Well, that’s something we’ve never seen before.
An ambitious Australian company is attempting to create such a vehicle. And it may be on our roads sooner than you think.
In collaboration with researchers from the Electric Vehicle R & D Group at Swinburne University, electric vehicle start up EVX has begun showing off their solar powered concept car to the world.
The car was partly inspired by the world depicted in post-apocalyptic movies. But the appropriately named Immortus is designed to exhibit a quality that even the most rugged Mad Max battle car could never have: unlimited endurance.
With that being said, Immortus isn’t just a far-flung dystopian dream machine. It’s ready for the now.
While electric car companies, including Elon Musk’s Tesla, have already started challenging the traditional approach to car design, EVX’s Immortus is radically unique and in a class of its own.
It’s an electric car built to generate its own power through some 7 square metres of solar PV panelling on its roof.
Borrowing its familiar shape - and technology - from Australia’s Aurora Solar Car Team, Immortus is claimed to have an infinite range during daylight hours if speed is kept down to around 60km per hour.
Even at speeds above 85km per hour, the solar powered concept car can still cover 550km between charging.
Far from a slouch in the speed stakes, a fully charged Immortus goes from 0 to 100km per hour in less than 7 seconds and has a top speed of over 150km per hour.
On top of its ability to harness the sun’s unlimited power while it drives, developers have left no stone unturned in ensuring every nut and bolt used in building Immortus has been optimised for driving efficiency.
Powered by two hub-mounted electric motors that generate 40kW fed by tiny 10kWh batteries (a Tesla Model S runs on 85kWh), the car's kerb weight is kept down to just 550kg.
Plus, Immortus will be constructed with ultra-light materials like carbon fibre (instead of heavier steel and aluminium), and an advanced aero package will significantly reduce drag.
Unfortunately, EVX’s CEO has said the company won’t be pushing 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.
While Immortus might not be within everyone’s budget, at Solargain we’re always thrilled to see exciting new technology that takes advantage of clean, green, renewable energy made fresh by the sun each and every day.
What revolutionary solar powered innovation will be next?
We can’t wait to find out.