Geneva 2009: NLV Quant by Koenigsegg
by Sam Abuelsamid on Mar 4th 2009 at 10:39AM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the NLV Quant by Koenigsegg
The cars created by Christian von Koenigsegg are not renowned for being environmentally friendly. The car unveiled by Koenigsegg today at the Geneva Motor Show is in many ways diametrically opposed to the CCX supercar and its many variants. Rather than burning fuel to produce prodigious quantities of horsepower, the Quant is designed to run silently on electrons. What was revealed on the show floor today is a styling buck of a four-passenger, gull-winged coupe with an electric motor driving each rear wheel. The combined output of the powertrain is expected to be 512 hp and 527 lb-ft of twist.
Koenigsegg has partnered with NLV Solar AG for the energy storage system of this electric coupe. As the name implies, NLV's main line of business is solar panels and those have been incorporated into the hood and roof of the Quant. Talking with Christian von Koenigsegg and Nunzio La Vecchia of NLV, they acknowledged that the solar cells will only provide enough power for accessories such as the radio or ventilation and won't be able to do any significant battery charging. That battery system is the big unknown for the Quant. Learn more about that after the jump.
Gallery: Geneva 2009: NLV Quant by Koenigsegg
Gallery: NLV Quant by Koenigsegg
Live Photos Copyright ©2009 Chris Paukert/Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
La Vecchia explained that so-called Flow Accumulator Energy Storage (FAES) invented by NLV is a combination of an electro-chemical battery and a redox cell. Koenigsegg claims the accumulator can be fully charged in 15-20 minutes for a range of over 300 miles.
There have been other battery systems that can take a fast charge and we'll withhold judgement on whether the FAES can actually achieve this and do it reliably over time. The big issue with such fast charge systems is the source of electricity. Putting that much electricity into any kind of battery/capacitor/whatever takes a lot more voltage and amperage than the typical household can provide. Without a network of special high power charging stations, the reality is that people won't be able to do fast charging anyway.
The makers hope to have a working prototype within a year and start series production in about three years. Koenigsegg wouldn't speculate on price other than to say it will be much less expensive than the CCX variants and be produced in much higher volume.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sektor 10:47AM (3/04/2009)
What are the odds of this going in production?
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Phil 11:09AM (3/04/2009)
DS . . . nuff said
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RITmusic2k 11:13AM (3/04/2009)
Those doors better open in a ridiculous fashion.
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thomas 6:46PM (3/04/2009)
"...was revealed on the show floor today is a styling buck of a four-passenger, gull-winged coupe with an electric motor..."
did you even read the article???
RITmusic2k 7:12PM (3/04/2009)
I did read the article. My brain must've suppressed that part of the sentence because those doors should open in a ridiculous fashion.
jharlan 11:18AM (3/04/2009)
Looks good, but talk is cheap. but it just might be that all their electric sports car competitors (Tesla, Fiskar, etc) may have already gone the way of the DeLorean before this actually comes to production.
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catchmyshadow 12:56PM (3/04/2009)
the new pamamera suddenly is a real pleasure to the eyes compared to the hideous AM lagonda and this crap.
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Lucas521 1:35PM (3/04/2009)
Why would an electric vehicle need huge side scoops like that?
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Taglane 2:23PM (3/04/2009)
Quant? Sounds like Jacques Clouseau from the Pink Panther.
Vwhat do you Quant?
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aj121489 3:01PM (3/04/2009)
WHYYYYYYYYYYY? No Koenigsegg, you don't need to do this. Go back to what you were doing. NO HYBRIDS/ELECTRIC/GREEN CRAP. This is just awful.
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jperk482000 4:48AM (3/08/2009)
You have missed the point, my friend...What makes this a breakthrough is not only the range, or the performance...but the fact that it is NOT a Hybrid. Straight, simple next generation ELECTRIC only. Compare this to the GM Volt, with its nearly useless 65-70 km range, and one starts to better understand that no amoint of "stimulus" may be enough to save American Carmakers!