Recently we have been seeing a lot more 3-wheelers than we used to. The Automotive X-Prize competition is full of them, with teams hoping to take advantage of the improved aerodynamics and reduced rolling resistance of 3-wheeled vehicles. While many of these vehicles end up looking like space-age ships (ahem, Aptera) or land rockets, the design principles are sound, and can even be cool.

Just take a look at this recent article by Popular Mechanics that looks at some of the historically cool 3-wheelers out there. Despite being around since the beginnings of the car and motorcycle, these vehicles never really took off. I can see 3 good reasons why that is about to change:

• Fuel efficiency: 3-wheeled designs have greater possibility for fuel efficiency, which is going to be a must as we transition away from gasoline and toward alternatives like batteries or hydrogen.
• Speed: 3-wheelers tend to be fast, very fast. Like motorcycles, often much faster than cars. However, they are safer than motorcycles and offer a more conventional drive for the everyday driver/commuter.
• Fun: For most drivers, the biggest difference in a vehicle’s “fun factor” is how well it handles. While the suspension on the average land boat may be getting better, they will likely never rival the sporty feeling you get behind the wheel of a trike.

I, for one, welcome our 3-wheeled friends to share the streets with us any time!

EcoModder member bondo is well known for his aerodynamic pickup bed cap, which he designed, builds, and sells himself. Recently he hit us over the head with another great aero design, this time a scale vehicle model he donated to the Ford Motor Company to help them pull through their current rough patch.

As you can see in the original thread, bondo built the model himself in his garage and chose Ford as the recipient because of their insistence to go it alone without federal bailout money and because he believes the company is under good stewardship. Personally, I think this this is a great design and Ford is lucky to have it. Congrats to bondo for putting it together.

Photo: Shell

This year at the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas, over 40 teams and 500 people competed to go the furthest distance on a set amount of fuel. The competition was created to inspire students to design the most fuel-efficient vehicles in a variety of categories, most notable the prototype category. This year the top prototype vehicle took home the prize with an astounding 2,757.1 MPG.

However, that number was still short of last year’s record-setting 2,843 MPG, set by Mater Del Sol High School. For more on the awards, check out the official press release:

Prototype

Grand Prize – Combustion Engine

With mileage of 2,757.1 mpg (1,172.2 kilometers per liter) the Alerion Supermileage team from Laval University in Quebec, Canada won a US$5,000 grand prize with their vehicle, NTF 3.0.

Fuel Cell/Hydrogen

The Penn State University team from University Park, Pa. achieved 1,912.9 mpg (813.2 km/l) in its Blood, Sweat & Gears vehicle.

Solar Power

The Purdue Solar Racing team from Purdue University took first place with its solar vehicle, Pulsar, which achieved 4,913 mpg (2,088.7 km/l).

UrbanConcept

Grand Prize – Combustion Engine

With mileage of 433.3 mpg (184.2 kilometers per liter) the Mater Dei Supermileage Team from Mater Dei High School in Evansville, Ind. won a US$5,000 grand prize with their vehicle, Street Buggy.

Special Awards for the 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas

Achieving the best fuel economy in a category wasn’t the only way to win at the 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas. Teams were also given the opportunity to compete for one or more Special Awards, including:

Eco-Design Award

A special “Eco-Design Award” was presented to the UCLA team for their Prototype design. Their special design not only contributed to the fuel efficiency of their vehicle, but incorporated recycled and eco-friendly materials into the vehicle and production process.

Safety

The “Safety Award” recognized three teams who made the most extensive efforts to comply with the safety regulations of the Shell Eco-marathon Americas. This award went to UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico), Grand Rapids Technical School and Loyola Marymount University. These teams all demonstrated safety as a top priority in vehicle designs and construction.

Technical Innovation

This award was presented to three teams who demonstrated outstanding initiative and technical ingenuity along with optimal use of new materials in the drive train, chassis, instrumentation and tires. First prize was awarded to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, second prize to Purdue University and third prize to California Polytechnic State University.

Design

The 2009 Shell Eco-marathon Americas “Design Award” was presented to the Brazilian team from Minas Gerais State University. This award recognized their innovative design research related to ergonomics, aesthetics, choice of materials and technical feasibility. The originality and overall coherence of their design were also taken into account.

Communications

This award recognized the Dalhousie University team from Canada, who made outstanding communications efforts concerning the Shell Eco-marathon. All actions throughout the year are taken into account: participation at trade shows, creation of a Web site and all other activities that successfully promote the competition, its name, its founding principle, its educational aspects, etc. in the team’s country of origin.

Best Team Spirit

The “Best Team Spirit Award” was presented to the George M. Schurr High School team who fostered cooperation and collaboration among their team and others at the competition. Not only did they demonstrate initiative to learn more about other teams and contribute to the morale at the competition, they lent a tire to another team and helped a team in need whose car wasn’t ready to compete by loaning them one of their vehicles to participate in the challenge.

Perseverance in the Face of Adversity

The “Perseverance in the Face of Adversity Award” was presented to two teams – Chitkara Institute of Engineering & Technology in India and Louisiana State University. Both teams overcame many obstacles in order to make it to the Shell Eco-marathon Americas – the team from India not only traveled a very far distance to participate in the event, they also battled many issues with their vehicle, and the team from LSU overcame the loss of a team member, who passed away last year. The team dedicated their Shell Eco-marathon project to this team member, even naming their vehicle after her, Ellen.

Unlike most automakers with EV concepts, Chrysler is not focusing on just one electric car. Instead, the company is trying to cut costs and improve quality by designing a full line of electric cars on a common platform.

While the concept vehicles are not ready to hit the road yet, you can see them at this year’s New York International Auto Show.

Chrysler Showcases 3 Electric Cars in New York

Dodge Circuit EV Concept
If you wondered where Tesla’s competition would be coming from, this is the car that is set to do it. The Dodge Circuit also sports Lotus styling and will be able to go 150-200 miles on a single charge. This is one car I’d like to see in a race with the Tesla Roadster.

Chrysler 200C EV Concept
The 200C is Chrysler’s answer to the GM Volt: a sleek looking car that will be able to drive 40 miles on electric power alone before a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the batteries. Chrysler is also advertising the car’s “social media” capabilities, which, to be honest, sounds like something that we should leave to phones instead of trying to integrate into our cars.

Chrysler Town & Country EV Concept
This is the minivan that started it all. Now, Chrysler is hoping that it will be the first minivan to head into our alternatively-fuelled future. Built on the same ENVI platform as the other vehicles, the Town & Country will, like the 200C, be a parallel hybrid with range extending capabilities.

It’s not all that often that you come across something truly new and cool, but for me, this is one of those times. There’s not much information that I can find on this reverse trike concept, which was built at the Volkswagen Design Center in California, but from what I can see, it’s definitely something I’d want to drive.

This trike acheives a fantastic 10hp/lb power-to-weight ratio by attaching a 125 hp, 113 ft-lbs 1.6 liter engine to an incredible like and nimble 1200 pound frame. The 6-speed can accelerate from 0-62 mph in 5.7 seconds and tops out at 125 mph (which could be better, but I imagine the aerodynamics on this thing aren’t all that hot).

Perhaps the coolest things about this trike is that is also promises 47 mpg and VW offered to sell it for just $17,000. A little bit more than your average economy car, but for that mix of fuel efficiency, power, and handling I would be very interested. When it was originally show at the LA Auto Show a few years back, VW said it might come out as soon as 2007, so obviously it’s a little behind, but we might still see it yet.

More photos:

Source: Reverse Trike Club

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