Sumitomo Electric Develops Superconducting Motor Vehicle

Tokyo, June 12, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd. <5802> Thursday unveiled a prototype electric vehicle with a motor that uses superconducting wires.

Superconducting wires, cooled by liquid nitrogen of about minus 200 degrees centigrade, can reduce electrical resistance to almost zero.

The model can run about 13 pct longer than a conventional electric vehicle using a copper wire motor, the company said.

The company hopes to put the vehicle to practical use in 10 years.

JCN.