Hybrid car - 80mpg - 0-60- in 4 seconds
Created September 14, 2006, at 3:12 pm by Anonymous
seems that these guys have found a way to make hybrid cars appeal the adrenalin junkies as well as the tree huggers!!
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5 years ago
Sorry guys - heres the link
http://www.hybridcar.com/news/in-the-news/hybrid-vehicle-gives-super-car-performance-with-awesome-fuel-economy-qed.html
5 years ago
Straight up awesome!!! So when can we get one in the USA?
Many media outlets are now reporting that President Bush, sometimes characterized by opponents at the "Toxic Texan" has reversed his alleged anti environment, pro big oil stance to embrace renewable energy and fuel efficiency.
Even if this is a singular political move and perhaps not sincere, this post especially shows the requisite technology is in place.
Presumably, in a larger, 5 passenger package, economy may drop to 40 MPG but even at that, way better than existing hybrids when the other performance virtues are considered.
Bravo.
5 years ago
good point about the 5seater package. I am wondering when these hybrid manufacturers begin incorporating lightweight materials in the car itself..it never seems to be mentioned as a "selling point" that the car is using lightweight components...strange...AND it would help these type of vehicles to provide 80mpg in a "5seater package"....what you think?
5 years ago
Mike, you knew about the aluminum body and frame of the Insight, didn't you? They even made a cast magnesium oil pan to save weight - see http://www.insightcentral.net/encyclopedia/enengineweight.html.
5 years ago
Thomas Friedman sometimes documentary interviewer and sometimes columnist at the NYT did a TV show that included a segment with Amory Lovins, conservationist/environmentalist. In the show, Friedman is invited to attempt to smash a carbon fiber composite. (he could not hurt it with a sledgehammer)
Then he picks up an entire auto body section reputed to be stronger than steel and obviously less heavy than metal.
Why is it so difficult to start a new auto manufacturing facility? Is this like the story of the Tucker all over again?
5 years ago
Hi Paul....greeat site and great info...i'll use it for research..thanks. Yes i do know these guys are using aluminum and other such materials however Audi used similar materials for a car almost 10 years ago (or maybe earlier even) ...what i'm lookin for proof of is the new stuff like what MAK mentions in his post , composites, and maybe even NASA inspired materials :-) ...after all thats where we got Teflon from:-)))
thanks again guys
5 years ago
Here are the composites Amory Lovins uses.
http://www.fiberforge.com
Fiberforge is a Colorado company. Amory thinks their product is good for cars.
There are other comments at his web site:
http://www.rmi.org
Hope this helps Mike_4
5 years ago
Mak ...thats super!! the RMI link is a real good one!
I've been researchin battery technology etc and it has some great info on there!
Thanks again.
5 years ago
Actually mike Dupont developed deflon during WWII.
fancy new technologies often aren't quite as fancy or as new as expected, merely not yet implemented on the proper scale to make use of it.
all of that being said, a practical family car with 50+ mpg and strong performance will get big time sales. (I still think 50/200 is the magic ratio for the family car market, but if this design can be rolled out with better capabiltiies then keeping up with demand maybe be the biggest worry)
5 years ago
So I read a little more...
this solution is very intriguing. Since not only does it add highly fuel efficient yet very sporty power, but the design is also AWD by default.
if it is possible to build arrodable vehicles with this drivetrain, there are a lot of market segments which are just premade for this kind of solution. (Subaru Impreza and other subcompact sports cars, the entire SUV market, and possibly elements of military or law enforcement)
5 years ago
The hub motor concept always comes up whenever smart people start thinking about adding electric motors to a vehicle. Unfortunately, the wheel hubs are subject to all the impacts from the road with no shock protection as is afforded an engine above the suspension. See:
http://www.teslamotors.com/blog1/?cat=21 for a very good discussion of this and other trades that Tesla made in their EV roadster that will clearly beat the converted Mini.
5 years ago
He wrote about unsprung weight wich is very different from shock protection. The electric motor is very easy to shock proof so that's not a problem.
Anyway, the unsprung weight replaced on the Mini in question is 49,6 lbs and the replacement weight is 52,9 lbs. It´s most likely not noticed when driving unless it's the worst road you've driven on and you drive like a rally driver on speed. With these motors unsprung weight isn't a problem and will be an advantage the bigger the wheels and brakes are that are replaced.
Knappen
4 years ago
I think one reason the increase in unsprung weight isn't larger is because the mechanical braking system was eliminated. I didn't see whether or not the mechanical handbrake system was also eliminated.
It would seem foolish to have no backup braking system to stop the vehicle in the event of a system failure.
4 years ago
i dont get why major car compaines like chevy and ford dont make replica cars indenticle to the origionals for example the 69 camaro but put a electric motor in it . There would be such a high demand for hybrid cars if they did that instead of making them look all futuristic and putting the rear wheels inside the car and what not.
and a question ,is it possible to convert a 89 camaro into a hybrid by just switching the motor or is there more to it ?
thanks
-nick
4 years ago
Very few (maybe zero) '60's cars would pass modern crash safety tests without major modifications. This is why the new T-Bird or Mini-Cooper look more like a Honda Accord than their classic ancestors.
Just switching the motor isn't all, you'd probably need to change the tranny and do a lot of hard metal modifications (cutting and welding). Additionally, there aren't a lot of old Hybrid drivetrains lying around the junkyards yet.
4 years ago
With the new hybrid transmission GM is working on for their SUVs, that may not be as difficult as it seems. From what I understand, it's a RWD 6-speed transmission with dual electric motors in one package. Depending on whether or not the control unit is integrated in the transmission, it could be as simple as adapting it to the engine and having the proper mounts fabbed along with installing a battery pack.
The aftermarket transmission companies could engineer bolt-in products with the motor and controller circuitry built-in to the transmission. All you'd need then is some type of energy storage unit to plug into it.
The only aftermarket product I've seen was a very mild kit that used an alternator replacement-type motor much like the first Saturn Vue hybrid used. (http://www.sigmaautomotive.com/electrocharger/electrocharger.php)
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