At long last, we received our two diesel engines from the UK. We had to search high and low to find the right engines for our prototypes because of the unique features of our hybrid.
It was incredibly important for us to find the perfect engines for testing target weight, performance, size, etc. We finally found them in Germany and purchased them from Volkswagen.
What with international delivery and language barriers, the delivery process was longer than expected. So we are quite pleased at their long anticipated arrival.
As for further updates; the chassis is roughly eighty five percent completed, and we hope to have it finished by Friday. Pictures to come!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Do You Ever Wonder What Those Odd Things Are When You See Them Rolling Down the Highway?
Well, now you know - it is a router. As mentioned before it will allow us to cut our own vehicle body molds and parts.
We are excited that our router arrived today! It is brand spanking new and comes from DMS, a Colorado Springs-based manufacturer.
It only took dismantling the door, several hours of unloading, maneuvering and situating to get it into place.
It only took dismantling the door, several hours of unloading, maneuvering and situating to get it into place.
Thankfully the shop is now clean and looking good enough to sport such a great piece of equipment!
(Don't worry we're still planning to have a carbon-fiber vehicle body. We just HAD to try out our new toy, er tool with some random scraps of wood we had.)One delivery down... we're still waiting on our European VW engines...
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Green Tech Slide Show
Tim Reeser, our Chief Sales and Marketing Officer recently presented this slide show to the Colorado Green Tech January meeting. Check it out -- lots of great images and the Lightning Hybrids business plan in a nutshell.
Return to Lightning Hybrids main site.
Return to Lightning Hybrids main site.
Friday, January 16, 2009
New Toy, er Tool
After a great deal of discussion and negotiation, we are excited to announce that we have ordered a large 5-axis CNC router that will allow us to cut our own body molds and parts. Our machine is coming brand new from DMS, a Colorado Springs-based manufacturer, and will be delivered on the 24th.
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Unlike nearly all the other up and coming Green Tech automotive companies, we will make all our own prototype tooling, molds, and parts, as well as our own production molds. The investment in these tools and skillsets will give us much faster time to market and ultimate control of timing and urgent schedules.
The frame build on the first 4-wheel prototype has begun. We expect to have pictures of it for the blog by the 26th.
The frame build on the first 4-wheel prototype has begun. We expect to have pictures of it for the blog by the 26th.
' Return to Lightning Hybrids main site.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Denver Auto Show
You will be able to take a look at our vehicle prototypes at the Denver International Auto Show taking place in early April of this year. We are excited to be rolling out the cars for their first public appearances.
We heard yesterday that the Denver International Auto Show will be headlining our car on all their marketing materials!
The marketing folks behind the show were so impressed with our cars' look and body lines, that they asked us if they could use our pictures as a lead throughout their marketing!
So mark your calendars to come see the cars (and meet us!) at the Denver International Auto Show running from April 1 to 5, 2009, at the Colorado Convention Center. Can't wait to see you there!
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Return to Lightning Hybrids main site.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Set Up Shop
We have completed 3 weeks of extensive shop setup, running 3-phase electricity, compressed air, and setting up benches, tools, welders, CNC equipment, and material handling systems.
We have twelve thousand square feet in our new garage and office space. (Pictures coming.) The building is a nearly 100-year-old structure in downtown Loveland that has most recently been used as an automotive shop, so we had hoped that at least the basic infrastructure for the Lightning Hybrids space would be in place, but unfortunately that was not the case.
Nevertheless, we are excited about the functionality, location, and usefulness of the space. We have also completed the full-scale tear-apart of a gorgeous Mazda Miata that is serving as our chassis donor car. It has been hard to disassemble such a beautiful running car that did not have a scratch on it. Anyone need a 2006 Miata engine, transmission or body parts?
The initial Pro/E designs of the 3 and 4-wheel cars are both nearing completion.
We have twelve thousand square feet in our new garage and office space. (Pictures coming.) The building is a nearly 100-year-old structure in downtown Loveland that has most recently been used as an automotive shop, so we had hoped that at least the basic infrastructure for the Lightning Hybrids space would be in place, but unfortunately that was not the case.
Nevertheless, we are excited about the functionality, location, and usefulness of the space. We have also completed the full-scale tear-apart of a gorgeous Mazda Miata that is serving as our chassis donor car. It has been hard to disassemble such a beautiful running car that did not have a scratch on it. Anyone need a 2006 Miata engine, transmission or body parts?
The initial Pro/E designs of the 3 and 4-wheel cars are both nearing completion.Return to Lightning Hybrids main site.
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