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Designing the Lightyear One – Suspension and Chassis

Wouter Jansen — Vehicle Dynamics Architect

Being a Vehicle Dynamics Architect at Lightyear means I focus on the mechanical parts of the car. I work on the chassis, the structure of the car, the wheel suspension, the wheels themselves, the braking system and the steering system. The interactions and interfaces between these systems are crucial. The challenge is finding the very best connections in order to optimize the performance of the Lightyear One. I would like to tell you something more about these systems and interactions.

What makes designing the Lightyear One special?
The Lightyear One is fundamentally different from your typical car in many ways. This means we have to find to non-conventional solutions, or look to use conventional solutions for new problems. One of the striking features that really sets the Lightyear One apart from the bunch is the air suspension system. Using this system the Lightyear One can vary its ride height. When set to a greater ride height ..

CHASING THE NEW GHOSTS OF MOBILITY, DETROIT FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

By Peter M. DeLorenzo Detroit. We’re living in the midst of strange days here. The once-vaunted Motor City, which has been up and down again and again, is now on one of its upward trajectories. And this time it looks like it’s going to stick around for a while.  All is sweetness and light of late,… Continue reading CHASING THE NEW GHOSTS OF MOBILITY, DETROIT FACES AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE.

UPS is buying a fleet of 1,000 electric vans from Workhorse

Parcel delivery companies are all starting to look at electric vehicles to reduce their operating costs and their impact on air pollution. UPS is arguably leading the way on that front as it orders a fleet of 1,000 electric vans from Workhorse as it latest electrification effort. Home Solar Power I say latest electrification effort… Continue reading UPS is buying a fleet of 1,000 electric vans from Workhorse

UPS Places Order for 950 Workhorse Electric Delivery Trucks

Shipping giant UPS said it will buy 950 electric delivery trucks from Workhorse Group in what looks to be a key order for the electric vehicle startup. This tops an earlier UPS order for 50 of the trucks that was part of a test program. Workhorse describes the vehicles as Class 5 N-Gen electric vans.… Continue reading UPS Places Order for 950 Workhorse Electric Delivery Trucks

Lex Hoefsloot at TNW2018 – “If you can’t solve the problem, make it bigger”

Lex Hoefsloot — CEO & Co-Founder

Last week, I gave a presentation at The Next Web conference 2018. What inspired us to start Lightyear? As a child growing up in Africa I learned everything was possible with technology. Upon first hearing about climate change, the problem seemed simple. Digging into the system deeper however revealed complications. An electric car is not sustainable by default as its electricity comes from fossil fuels. This is why we need to renew the whole system, and put the infrastructure inside the car. The idea of the solar car is born. We want to take this idea and prepare for the jump to the mass market. Watch the entire presentation here:

Lex’ keynote at TNW conference 2018

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The post Lex Hoefsloot at TNW2018 – “If you can’t solve the problem, make it bigger” appeared first on Lightyear.

Apollo Automobil partners with HWA AG for the final dynamic development of the Apollo IE

Apollo Automobil establishes technical partnership with legendary motorsport and development specialist, HWA AG, for the final dynamic development of IE. Partnership gives Apollo access to HWA’s globally renowned engineering expertise, technologies and world-class facilities.   HWA’s 20+ years of experience and FIA GT1 era history with the race and road car development will make certain… Continue reading Apollo Automobil partners with HWA AG for the final dynamic development of the Apollo IE

Designing the Lightyear One: In-wheel motors

Wiebe Janssen — Powertrain Engineer

In the process of designing a car, choosing the right motor is very important. I would like to give a look into this process by explaining what we look for in motors and how we approach this search for the best possible match for the Lightyear One.

Why using motors within the wheels rather than elsewhere
A very important reason to use in-wheel motors, is to optimize the Lightyear One for efficiency to make it a success as a commercial solar car. To do so we looked at existing innovations, as well as what direction we wanted to take the Lightyear One. In-wheel motors offer a solution. By elimination of the transmission we minimize needless energy loss. Moreover, the car becomes lighter, and a lighter car requires less energy.

We want to make owning a Lightyear One a true pleasure to use, also on the long run. One component of doing so is reducing the cost of ownership for the Lightyear One. By reducing the amount of maintenance needed, ..

RIVERSIMPLE ACCELERATES IN DUBAI

Riversimple has just returned from a two-month accelerator project in Dubai – an initiative that has seen the Rasa and our philosophy embraced by a completely different culture living in a much harsher environment.  The timing wasn’t great, with 20 Beta test cars to get built in Wales, but when the Dubai Future Foundation, headed… Continue reading RIVERSIMPLE ACCELERATES IN DUBAI

Workhorse Group Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

CINCINNATI, May 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Workhorse Group Inc. (NASDAQ: WKHS), an American technology company focused on providing sustainable and cost-effective electric mobility solutions to the transportation sector, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. First Quarter Operational Highlights Announced an expanded partnership with UPS for up to 1000 N-GEN… Continue reading Workhorse Group Reports First Quarter 2018 Results