14 March 2010

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Quiet Car 2 – electric cars

Chinese technology combines with Italian style on the British Quiet Car 2, a five-seat hatchback that could break down boundaries in the electric car sector. Thanks to its lithium-ion batteries it takes electric vehicle technology to a new level.

Quick links:

History of the Quiet Car 2
Environmental credentials of the Quiet Car 2
Quiet Car 2 statistics
Future of the Quiet Car 2

History of the Quiet Car 2

Whispers about the Quiet Car Company have been heard in the world of electric vehicles for quite some time – the distributor is linked to the Quiet Bike Company, which produces several electric bikes.

The concept behind the Quiet cars was to produce vehicles that don’t have noisy internal combustion engines and can instead travel along almost unnoticed. With electric motors and battery packs in place they produce zero emissions meaning they answer the increasing demand for environmentally conscious vehicles.

The Quiet Car 2 is also seen an answer to the on-going fuel crisis. With oil prices hitting record levels and the price at the pump escalating an increasing number of motorists are searching for alternatives. If you live and travel in large cities where top speeds are relatively unimportant, the Quiet Car 2 provides a practical solution and went on display at the British International Motor Show in 2008.

The vehicle is a battery-electric conversion of the Chinese Hafei Lobo five-door hatchback, designed by Italian styling house Pininfarina. It features two multi-pole permanent magnet hub motors, each with nominal power of 7.5kW up to a maximum total power of 30kW. It can be charged on a standard 13kW amp socket with a 3kW battery charger.

Environmental credentials of the Quiet Car 2

Above all, the attraction of the Quiet Car 2 is that it produces zero emissions and has low running costs.

Electric cars do not produce any carbon dioxide (CO2). However, much CO2 is produced in the generation of electricity from non-renewable sources such as coal. As such there are increasing calls for more renewable energy sources to be used in the production of electricity such as solar power, wind power, hydro power and biomass. The Government has recognised these concerns by heightening the percentage of energy that must be produced from renewable sources to 15 per cent. Therefore, electric cars should only become environmentally friendly over time.

Running costs are extremely low. The Quiet Car Company estimates that 100 miles of driving equate to just £1 being added to your electricity bill; and in addition the car is exempt from both the London Congestion Charge and vehicle excise duty.

Quiet Car 2 statistics

Here are some crucial statistics about the Quiet Car 2:

Charge time: Six hours.
CO2 emissions: None.
Engine: 72v lithium.
Range: 60 miles.
Top speed: 80km/hr.
Transmission: Automatic.

Future of the Quiet Car 2

There are no immediate plans for another version of the Quiet Car 2, but stay tuned to TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk for all the latest information on this and other green cars.