NLV Solar AG is a pioneer in photovoltaics and accumulator technology and forces to create the Quant. The brainchild of this marriage of power and energy is a four-seater solar car – a breakthrough the market has been eagerly anticipating for years. A full-scale model is unveiled at the 2009 Geneva Salon, with the two companies currently working on running prototypes to scale up for series production.
The Quant has a unique propulsion system which makes optimum use of NLV Solar's groundbreaking, proprietary technology in the fields of photovoltaics and accumulators. The high-efficiency Pyradian solar cell is applied as an invisible thin-film coating to the entire body of the vehicle, including the glazing.
FAES is an electrochemical energy storage system. The gravimetric energy density is over 170 Wh/kg, the volumetric energy density at least 600 Wh/l. A particular feature is the voltage per individual cell of 4 V; the cells are connected in series. The FAES technology allows high-voltage charging to full capacity in 15–20 minutes and gives the vehicle a range of 500 km. The additional power input from the invisible, thin-film photovoltaic coating that covers the body of the car further increases the range potential. The FAES has no memory effect.
The ingenious design blends supercar looks with the space of a luxury sedan. The car carries four adults in comfort and also features a spacious rear boot. The gull-wing doors set the NLV Quant apart from any other four-seater on the market. As well as being a stylish feature, they make entry to the car more ergonomic, providing easy access to both the front and rear passenger seats. The unique split side-lite allows separate opening of front and rear side windows, despite there being only one door per side.
