NanoFlowcell
Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | |
Founded | Liechtenstein (2013 | )
Founder | Nunzio La Vecchia[citation needed] |
Headquarters | Vaduz , Liechtenstein |
Key people |
|
Products | |
Services | Electric Automobile |
Website | nanoflowcell |
NanoFlowcell is an electric car manufacturer registered in Liechtenstein,[1][2] founded in 2013.[3]
The company claims their cars run on two kind of electrolyte fluids in two large tanks, 159 liter and more, which provide upwards of 1,000 kilometer range on a single tank, and have been driven for 14 hours nonstop without refuelling.
NanoFlowcell's first car Quant has three variants - Quant E,[4] Quant F[5] and Quantino.[6] The German Heise Autos magazine called the car's physics into question, noting that the 2000 ampere advertised by the manufacturer to drive the Quantino would need problematically thick cables and that the 30 kW (40 hp) battery would be insufficient to satisfy the power requirements of the Quant E's four 120 kW (160 hp) motors except for very short durations. This technology now gets better performance and permits the use of high quantities of energy .[7]
Koenigsegg Quant
The Koenigsegg Quant was a planned four-seat, solar-electric sports car.[8] The vehicle was slated to use an unusual layout with two large gullwing doors providing access to both front and rear seats. Power was said to be provided by a "solar electric" system developed with the help of NLV Solar using a new type of lightweight battery technology called "Flow Accumulator Energy Storage" as well as a photovoltaic coating, used to capture solar energy. Range was said to be over 500 km (310 mi) on a single charge. Koenigsegg claimed the output will be 512 bhp and 715 Nm (527 lb/ft) of torque which will propel the vehicle to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 275 km/h (170 mph). The vehicle would have been considerably heavier than Koenigsegg's other offerings, with a weight of 1780 kg.[9]
The vehicle was unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show.[10][11][12][13] The basic design and technology of this car, with a notable exception of the solar power supply, were somewhat reincarnated in concept cars Quant E (revealed in 2014) and Quant F (2015). Beside their technical concept all three Quant showcars are being linked to the same self proclaimed inventor Nunzio La Vecchia, who obviously fell short on his promises of solar revolution of the defunct NLV Solar and now claims to be pursuing a revolution in energy storage with the NanoFlowcell company.[14]
QUANT Prototypes
Under the name QUANT (derived from quantum mechanics), nanoFlowcell Holdings is developing applications for its nanoFlowcell flow cell technology, mainly electric vehicles such as the QUANT E, QUANT FE and Quantino. The Quantino is the latest electric prototype vehicle produced by nanoFlowcell engineers for their battery testing purposes. The road-legal version of the Quantino was first introduced at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2016, together with its more powerful sibling QUANT FE.[15][16]
The Quantino and QUANT FE prototype vehicles have been used for technology presentations towards the automobile industry in 2016 to further demonstrate the use and advantages of flow cell technology in electric cars. Several journalists who drove Quantino and QUANT FE in public testings confirmed functionality of the nanoFlowcell's flow cell technology.[17][18][19] The Quantino allegedly has been using 12 kWh per 100 km in a mixed test.[20]
Quantino
Quantino | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | NanoFlowcell |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Electric car |
The Quantino is an electric concept car built by NanoFlowcell and launched in 2015 at Geneva Motor Show at the same time as its much bigger and more powerful sibling Quant F.[21]
Overview
The Quantino is claimed to be a fully functional concept car fitted with nanoflowcell battery technology holding 350 liters of ionic liquid stored in two separate tank of 175 liters capacity each. One tank holds positive charge and other hold negative charge ionic liquid.[22] Quantino is a four seater four wheel drive coupe measuring 3.9 meters in length powered by four 25 kW electric motors delivering 136 bhp .[23] Quantino top speed is 200 kmph with driving range of 1000 km.[24]
Testings
The Quantino concept car is said to be undergoing road tests for production in 2015.[25]
Quant E
Quant E | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | NanoFlowcell |
Also called | Quant e-Sportlimousine |
Production | 2014–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Electric sports car |
Body style | 2-door coupe |
Layout | Mid-engine, all-wheel-drive |
Doors | Gullwing doors |
Related | Quant F |
Dimensions | |
Length | 5.25 m |
Width | 2.2 m |
Height | 1.35 m |
Curb weight | 2300 kg |
The Quant E, also known as Quant e-Sportlimousine is an electric sports car manufactured by NanoFlowcell.[26]
The Quant E production car was launched in March 2014 Geneva Motor Show.[27] The production version of Quant E was launched in mid 2014[28] which runs on salt water battery technology.[29] Quant E is powered by four electric motors delivering 920 horsepower with a all electric range of 372 miles. Quant E performs 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds with a top speed of 217 mph.[30] The car power system using the Flow cell technology under which Liquid electrolytes are kept in two tanks and connected through the cells.[31] A membrane separates the two electrolytic solutions when electrical charge passes between the cells, it produces power to the drive-train. Flow cell technology provided high charge and performance density with lesser weight. It is environment friendly as it contains no harmful substances and energy efficient.[32]
Quant E is a successor of the Koenigsegg Quant concept revealed in 2009 and lost in long history of technically or commercially unviable show cars.[14] It is a two-door, four-seater, four-wheel-drive, 5.25 meters long, 2.2 meters wide and 1.35 meters high with a curb weight of 2300 kg. The car is fitted with 22 inch wheels and has gullwing doors. Quant E is priced above $1.7 million.[33]
Quant F
Quant F | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | NanoFlowcell |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Electric supercar |
Body style | 2-door coupé |
Layout | Mid-engine, all-wheel-drive |
Doors | Gullwing doors |
Related | Quant E |
Powertrain | |
Electric motor | 4 electrical motors |
Transmission | 2-speed automatic |
Electric range | 800 km (500 mi) |
Quant F was launched in 2015 at the Geneva Motor Show.[5]
The Quant F four seater car runs on four electric motors which can deliver output up to 1075 bhp and a maximum rated voltage of 735V.[34] It is fitted with inhouse built two speed automatic gear box and have a top speed of 300 km/h.[35] The driving range of Quant F is 800 km.[36][37]
The Quant F is obviously not only an evolution of the Quant E but in core an update of the Koenigsegg Quant concept presented at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show of which little has been seen or heard since then. The common denominator of the two cars, beside their general design concept and energy storage principle, is "Nunzio La Vecchia", apparently self-proclaimed inventor and innovator of the solar and energy storing technologies.[14][38]
Controversy
There is a lack of scientific understanding or patents describing how salt water can be used to produce electric energy with the efficiency and energy density that the company claims, and no independent third party measurements confirming the claims are available.[39] The claimed performance contradicts research that has been done on flow batteries.[40] It has been said that "there is no solid proof just yet that the QUANT e actually works and performs as advertised".[41]
The Quantino allegedly has been using 12 kWh pr 100 km in a mixed test. [42] This is much less than every other mainstream electric car, including smaller and lighter cars. NanoFlowcell does not comment on this.
The person claiming to have invented the fuel cell, Nunzio La Veccia, has been accused of fraud in connection with a revolutionary photovoltaic cell that was supposed to have an extremely much higher efficiency that competing cells. In a court case he explained that the prototypes had been destroyed from "security reasons" in 1999 or 2000. As of 2015, no competitor comes close to the claimed efficiency. Similar accusations were made in connection with a car that was supposed to run on photovoltaic cells with an efficiency that could not be explained by science. The car was never sold to customers.
Nunzio La Veccia, who is also a musician and song writer, does not have any formal education in engineering or similar, and has bought a PhD title.[43]
See also
References
- ^ "Liechtenstein-Based Carmaker Quant Brings Two Long-Range EVs to Geneva". Motor Trend. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Company Registration". Liechtensteinische Landesverwaltung, Amt für Justiz, Handelsregister. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Company Information". Nanoflowcell. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "The sports car that runs on SALTWATER: Vehicle goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.8 seconds - and has just been approved for EU roads". Daily Mail. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ a b "This is a 1075bhp, 186mph electric car". Top Gear. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "nanoFlowcell Quantino Electric Sportscar". Gt spirit. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ Clemens Gleich (2015-03-11). "Fantastische Literatur aus Genf: der Quant-Supersportler". Heise Autos. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
- ^ Geneva Auto Salon Press Release The NLV Quant – By Koenigsegg
- ^ Koenigsegg Press Release
- ^ Abuelsamid, Sam. "Geneva 2009: NLV Quant by Koenigsegg".
- ^ "2010 Geneva Motor Show Preview: NLV Quant Electric Supercar".
- ^ "Another Four-Door Supercar? Koenigsegg Quant Rumored to Debut in Geneva". 20 February 2009.
- ^ "Autoblog Sitemap".
- ^ a b c Clemens Gleich (2015-03-11). "Fantastische Literatur aus Genf: der Quant-Supersportler". Heise Autos. Retrieved 2015-03-17.
- ^ "Geneva 2016: Nanoflowcell Quantino". gtspirit.com. GTspirit Limited. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Quantino and Quant FE as near-production models". plugin-magazine.com. AM Ljubljana. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
- ^ "Revolutionary Flowcell EV could make production". autocar.co.uk. Haymarket Media Group. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
topgear
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Emissionsfreie Reichweite zum Nachtanken". auto-motor-und-sport.de. auto motor und sport. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
- ^ "1,167-Kilometre test drive in the Quantino". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "nanoFlowcell's Groundbreaking 'Quantino' Debuts in Geneva". Carscoops. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "NanoFlowcell Quantino unveiled at Geneva motor show". Auto Car. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Geneva 2015: nanoFlowcell Quantino Electric Sportscar". GT Spirit. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Meet the nanoFlowcell QUANTiNO , world's first QUANT low-voltage vehicle". Motoroids. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "nanoFLOWCELL Brings Quant F Prototype And New Quantino Concept To Geneva:". Motor Authority. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Ten Things We Learned This Week". Top Gear. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Quant Limousine Concept Pioneers Flow Cell Power Unit At Geneva". Green Car Reports. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "NanoFlowCell Quant e-Sportlimousine on the Road!". GT Spirit. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "QUANT e-Sportlimousine concept approved for public roads". Auto Express. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Quant e-Sportlimousine Heading to Production". GT Spirit. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Quant e-Sportlimousine Concept Powered By nanoFLOWCELL Tech Makes Debut". Motor Authority. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "nanoFLOWCELL-Powered Quant e-Limo Approved For German Road Trials". Motor Authority. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "The sports car that runs on SALTWATER: Vehicle goes from 0 to 60mph in 2.8 seconds - and has just been approved for EU roads". Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Quant F Electric Sportscar". GT Spirit. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Quant F all-electric concept set for Geneva motor show". Autocar. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "NanoFlowcell Quant F Brought All of Its 1,090 PS to Geneva". Carscoops. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "The Quant F is an electric supercar powered by quixotic ambition". TheVerge. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
- ^ "Esoterischer Schabernack" (in German). die Wochenzeitung, Zürich. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "e-Sportslimousine is a scam". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "The Supercar That Runs Using 'Saltwater' Is Likely Bullshit". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "Flow Cell Batteries: A Substitute For Lithium-Ion?". Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- ^ "1,167-Kilometre test drive in the Quantino". Retrieved 31 October 2016.
- ^ "Der falsche Physiker und sein Solar-Wunderauto" (in German). Retrieved 19 October 2016.