Morgan pushing forward with LifeCar design, now a serial hybrid with ultracapacitors
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Morgan LifeCar
One of last year's most interesting vehicles that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show was the Morgan LifeCar concept. Using a hydrogen fuel cell that sent a constant flow of electrons to a set of electric motors, this machine represented a radical departure for Morgan, a company that's generally most comfortable refining tried-and-true production methods. Although the LifeCar concept didn't make it to this year's show in Switzerland, evo reports that the British automaker is still working on the project, and it's seen plenty of changes over the last year.
Morgan reportedly plans to launch a production machine using the lightweight aluminum architecture pioneered on the LifeCar within the next few years. In place of the hydrogen fuel cell, the new model will use a small internal combustion engine to power a set of ultracapacitors that send power to an electric motor at each wheel. Instead of relying on electricity from the grid, this serial hybrid would sport an engine specifically optimized for efficiency over a narrow range of operation, minimizing fuel usage. If and when a hydrogen infrastructure ever exists, the platform can be adapted back in that direction.
Gallery: Geneva 2008: Morgan LifeCar
[Source: evo]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
diffrunt 9:06AM (3/06/2009)
Based on the KISS principle,I believe this driveline is the true future of electric cars.
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Mike 9:59AM (3/06/2009)
Inferiority complex, anyone?
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paulwesterberg 11:27AM (3/06/2009)
Love the flat aero hubcaps, but despite the tech this will not be an eco car.
They don't say anything about engine size, but I bet it will be an overpowered v-6.
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gorr 2:21PM (3/06/2009)
Im interrested to buy. Since the fifties big beautiful shaped cars have been scarse. This car is as much fuel efficient as an honda insight and have a form. They hesitated to build it before because it was powered by a hydrogen fuelcell and they jumped and accepted the problems of ' others' instead of following their first idea and now they builded a combustion ice electrical generator and they still hesitate between gasoline and diesel or hydrogen gas. When this silly compagny will stop listening the confusing crowd and adopt an idea then if they put it on sale near where i live then i will surrelly go see it at the showroom and i will try to buy it because it really is a piece of something. If i were rich which is not but many many many peoples have billions to spare i will order 5 000-10 000 cars like that and build a town with 50 000 peoples with some trees, music bars and hot summer night in a high society.
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Mike!!ekiM 6:38PM (3/06/2009)
Nice to see someone try the Ultra-Cap idea.
Lets see some running prototypes!
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