The 21st Century Automotive Challenge pics

[blownb310]

Here's an interesting event that seemed to have slipped through the cracks here on Ecomodder. For an explanation of the event and it's many challenges, the event web site can be found HERE.


I was not there personally, but Jonathan [LugNut] was, and he was participating in his TDi equipped VW Cabrio. He sent me the terrific pictures and comments that I am sharing with you all here. Thanks Jonathan!

Day 1 [May 22nd] report:

In Jonathan's words:

The 21st Century Automotive Challenge is underway.
The entrants have passed technical inspection and dynamics.
We were then turned loose on the Penn State Transportation department's test track where the Central PA branch of the SCCA had put up an autocross course.
Results of the day's scoring are still being tallied, but FTD went to a Tesla Roadster at 43.643, my Cabrio diesel was second at 44.478, and a Mini Cooper E was third, Somewhere under 45 seconds. The other 8 or so entrants, mostly battery electric conversions, were 8 or more seconds off that pace.

Tomorrow's tests are to demonstrate the ability of the cars to be used for everyday errands: cubic capacity, passenger capacity, city range. Those of us with highway speed capable cars will take an 80 mile mountain road lap instead of the afternoon "errand run".

Sunday will be range only. Non-highway speed capable cars on the test track at 35 mph, Highway cars on the mountain lap, with a time limit of 7 hours before returning and re-filling or re-charging for energy consumption, CO2 emissions, gasoline equivalent MPG and a host of other considerations.

Hybrid & Hydrogen Vehicle Research Laboratory

Some of this year's all battery electric entries:


Saab 96 Sedan

Tesla Roadster


Saturn SL


VW Pick-up


Geo Metro Convertible

And now for something a little different!


This little blue and white thing is a 1958 Berkley hybrid.


It is powered by a Series/Parallel electric and /or 190 cc Honda.
************************************************** ********
Day #2

Today I filled the car. Tomorrow afternoon it'll be filled again. Economy runs are tough enough, but I have to go two days with not only the event tasks, but also going for lunch, to and from the hotel, all other transit is also counted towards distance (range) and fuel use.
Here are some more images of the entrants.



Yes, there was an EV-1 there!






GM pulled all the drive guts, but Penn State are installing a H2 fuel cell system.


I got to drive it today, on battery power only, with Penn State's electric system replacing the GM one.


I'm most impressed with the home-built F-150 hybrid.




I'd have wrapped more belt teeth around the drive shaft, but what a clean install!


Twin motor Escort wagon.

[RobertSmalls]

That looks like a really impressive expo, with lots more EVs than we had at the GGP.

That F150 DIY hybrid is really cool. If it can do regenerative braking, too, then it would save loads of fuel in the hands of a semi-aware ecodriver. There's been lots of talk around EcoModder about DIY hybrids, and this is a great example. Does the truck have a web site?

[blownb310]

Originally Posted by RobertSmalls

That looks like a really impressive expo, with lots more EVs than we had at the GGP.

That F150 DIY hybrid is really cool. If it can do regenerative braking, too, then it would save loads of fuel in the hands of a semi-aware ecodriver. There's been lots of talk around EcoModder about DIY hybrids, and this is a great example. Does the truck have a web site?

Hello Matt,

I sent Jonathan a note asking him if he knows of any further info on the F150 hybrid.

As a follow up, here were Jonathan's words at the conclusion of the event:

Final standings in each class and category haven't been published, but some impressive numbers were realized.

The electric Saab 96 did 98 laps of the one mile track on one charge. That car had been finished just a few weeks earlier. The green VW pick-up went 100 laps, only because the Saab was still running and the VW driver didn't want to drop out first. Both were personal distance bests, as were distances from the VW Vanagon and the three wheeled Electric Lorax (nee 2CV).
The Saab managed that distance on the equivalent energy of a gallon of gasoline, the VW truck used a bit more in it's bigger capacity battery pack.

Mine was a bit disappointing. A number of 58 mpg equivalent (based on BTU content of energy consumed compared to BTU content of gasoline) was mentioned, but that was derived from a complex formula based on fuel weight, BTU content measurement results per pound, fuel specific gravity, and such. When the numbers are re-checked and final standings are issued, I'll inquire as to the number of gallons.
I also had managed to knock the alignment out, apparently during the autocross, and didn't discover the toe and camber change until completion of the long fuel economy run.

Oh, well... there's always the next event.....

[Arragonis]

That is so cool. The Berkley is my personal fave followed by the SAAB from the era when SAAB made really good cars.