Part of High Gear Media

News

Indy 500 Carb Day Practice To Franchitti; Dixon... Motorsports
May 25, 2012

Scott Dixon's crew won the IZOD Pit Stop contest - Photo courtesy IZOD IndyCar Series/LAT

Volkswagen Golf R Cabrio Patent Photos Revealed Leaked
May 25, 2012

2013 Cadillac XTS Configurator Launched Luxury
May 25, 2012

SEE ALL NEWS

Topics

Reviews

Videos

2013 Mercedes-Benz G63 AMG: First Drive

SEE MORE VIDEOS

Spy Shots

2014 Audi S3 Hatchback Spy Shots

2013 Porsche 911 GT3 Spy Shots

2013 Aston Martin DBS Replacement Spy Shots

Car Tech

Volvo Explains Its Pedestrian Airbag System

The founders of Google and one of their autonomous Toyota Prius hybrids

California On Track To Be Next State For Autonomous Car Trials

Audi Offering 4-Year SiriusXM Traffic Subscription On Select 2013 Models

Home

News

Concept Cars

Lightning Hybrids unveils hydraulic-hybrid sports car at Denver Auto Show

Lightning Hybrids unveils hydraulic-hybrid sports car at Denver Auto Show

James Martinez

Author

LATEST ARTICLE
First Ferrari Hybrid Likely To Be A V-12
Governments around the world are bowing to public pressure to reduce levels of greenhouse gases... Read More

N/ALEADERBOARD RANK
893ARTICLES CONTRIBUTED
100COMMENTS POSTED

3,560 views Apr 2, 2009

lightning hybrids hydraulic hybrid sports car 008

The LH4 runs a 90hp (67kW) biodiesel engine mated to a 150hp (112kW) hydraulic system

Enlarge Photo

A company born out of Colorado is planning to launch an advanced hybrid sports saloon that will eventually compete in the multi-million dollar Automotive X-Prize competition to successfully build and market a 100mpg vehicle. The first prototypes are currently in development but a concept version of the vehicle was unveiled today at the Denver Auto Show.

The company behind the new hybrid concept is Lightning Hybrids, which plans to use a relatively unique hydraulic hybrid system to power its car. Dubbed the LH4, the sporty saloon concept features a 240hp (179kW) powertrain composed of a 90hp (67kW) twin-stroke biodiesel engine mated to a 150hp (112kW) hydraulic system.

Lightning Hybrids claims the LH4 will have a fuel economy of 100mpg yet still be able to accelerate from 0-60mph in less than six seconds. Part of its prowess in efficiency comes from a super-slippery profile measuring in at just 0.20Cd. Other key elements of its design include cylinder deactivation technology, no transmission, and 100% brake energy regeneration.

The vehicle body features a lifting canopy, although there are plans for a conventional three-door hatchback version, and it will be able to seat four adults. Also in the works is a smaller three-wheel version using the same hydraulic hybrid powertrain. Eventually, Lightning Hybrids hopes to license its system to other manufacturers and is currently developing a modular version called the Hybrid Retrofit System (HRS) that it plans to launch in 2010.

Hydraulic hybrid systems are nothing new. They essentially use a fluid to store energy, usually when braking, and then release this energy during high- load situations to boost performance. Click here to read about a design from automotive parts supplier Eaton that we reported on earlier.

2009 Lightning Hybrids LH4 concept

HI-RES GALLERY: lightning hybrids hydraulic hybrid sports car 008