Hybrid and EV powertrains have been tested, developed, and deployed in great numbers in the world's passenger cars over the last couple decades. High performance and luxury nameplates have also gotten on the bandwagon attempting to bring not only efficiency but the benefits of instant torque to supercar and hypercar class vehicles. Lamborghini has also come around to the benefits of EV technology albeit belatedly developing new technologies and test vehicles for eventual adoption in future offerings. The Sian FKP 37 is a curious combination of rolling testbed and high tech incubator designed to revolutionize future hybrid and EV supercar offerings.
Lamborghini Sian FKP 37
First off, the Sian has no chance of making it to the streets and you will not see a model run of a hybrid or EV Lamborghini anytime soon. The Sian FKP 37 is designed to test future hybrid Lamborghini powertrain options due to the current state of battery tech and Lamborghini's unflinching commitment not to diminish their unique driving experience. This leaves the Sian as not just a concept but for design and technology, but as the first chapter in future supercar hybrid and EV engine development. They aim quite clearly to disrupt the EV market with a revolutionary system of automotive technologies.
Revolutionary Technology
The main stumbling block to hybrid and EV integration in a Lamborghini roadgoing car is the weight of the batteries and running gear while retaining the marauding bull's driving dynamics. So rather than integrate existing EV and hybrid tech, Lamborghini equipped the hybrid Sian with a supercapacitor augmenting a traditional ICE engine.
The Sian delivers a combined 808 horsepower from its 6.5-liter V-12 and 48-Volt electric motor. That rather diminutive electric motor gets its power from a 34 hp supercapacitor weighing in at 75 lbs, and even though it's not a lot it charges three times faster than a standard chemistry battery and weighs considerably less. Here, however, is where a major problem comes into play. Given the limited state of supercapacitor technology it is not ready to be fully deployed as it's too small and without the requisite power that Lamborghini owners have come to expect.
Don't Expect It Anytime Soon
No, it won't be appearing anytime soon but the lessons Lamborghini has learned from the development of the supercapacitor and its attendant hybrid systems, is already bearing fruit for the next generation of supercapacitor technology. Lamborghini, in conjunction with MIT, are working the problem, but the technology is presently not ripe for full deployment with a timeline of at best 3 years away for production. Stay tuned and buckle up.
Source: Top Speed