A kids’ car manufacturer is launching its first all-British all-EV vehicle, aiming to make driving safer for the next generation.
Young Driver Motor Cars’ (YDMC) Firefly Sport is set to make its debut at this week’s British Motor Show. The event, which opens on August 18th, will showcase the company’s educational endeavour, in the hope that it fuels children’s interest in cars and driving, while teaching them about road safety and the environmental force for good future motor vehicles can become.
The scaled-down car will allow four- to 10-year-olds to get a real experience of driving behind the wheel. Ian Mulingani, YDMC’s managing director said the vehicle is designed and composed to “fundamentally mirror the way a road car behaves, but at fully manageable speeds”.
“Being electric and looking like a junior supercar, it also aligns with the type of vehicle that children see themselves driving when they pass their test. And it’s precisely this kind of engagement we need at our Young Driver training centres to start them on a journey towards improved road safety – and ultimately, preventing unnecessary road deaths,” he added.
The new 2.1-metre-long car is built on a state-of-the-art aluminium chassis with all-round independent suspension and rack and pinion steering, offering young drivers an authentic taste of how a road car looks, handles and performs.
It uses two packaged and recyclable 12-volt batteries, powering locally manufactured twin 24-volt electric motors.
The maximum speeds of the Firefly Sport will range from 25mph, down to 7mph for the youngest drivers. But it also has a remote cut-off facility with a 200-metre range, as well as an automatic cut-off if it senses obstacles in its path, making it ultra-safe for first-time drivers, however young they are.
Inside the open-topped two-seater, drivers are presented with a digital instrument pack that can be personalised on start-up with the user’s name and photograph. There are three instruments – a speedometer, clock and range indicator – as well as a reversing camera and pilot lights.
“We are proud that Firefly Sport will be this country’s first all-British electric vehicle, when you take into account not only where it’s manufactured, and the team responsible for its creation, but also that its components are sourced from here, too. The body comes from Huddersfield, the chassis is from Coventry, and the motors and batteries are from suppliers in Bournemouth and Bromsgrove,” Ian added.
The car, which can also be driven by adults, can be specified in a range of colours, and can be re-charged using solar power. Its battery’s cells are bolted in, making them easy to remove and recycle.
While the car will be available for youngsters, families with sufficient and child-safe private land space can purchase it at 45 of YDMC’s training centres across the UK.
Production will initially be focused on the young drivers’ model, but YDMC plans to develop the range to include variants suitable for adult use, in a range of different applications.
YDMC will hold a press conference at this week’s British Motor Show for the launch, at 13.30 on Thursday 18th August in Hall 2, BMS’s main EV area. For more information about BMS, visit: https://thebritishmotorshow.live/press/
Young drivers wishing to book an early test in Firefly Sport should go to: http://www.youngdriver.com/
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