CarBEN Model -- 1/24th scale model and 3D computer model for EV

[jason1973tl]

Love the design. Not sure if this has been brought up yet but.......

I was just noticing the seat layout for the inside. It just begs for the Honda Element treatment.....ala seats fold up to the side and out of the way. You could even add a 6th seat folded up for the occasional sixth passenger. Fold up all but the front three seats to the side and you have a huge play area behind the front three seats. Great place for kids to play or eat(not while driving of course).

[NeilBlanchard]

Hi Jason,

Yes, I had that sort of thought -- either the seats could be removed, or they could fold. But, that is the sort of thing that will have to wait until after I build the *first* prototype...

[Vekke]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...with advent of airbags, one wonders *WHY* the auto industry hasn't gone back to tubing frames for weight and structural improvements? Nice thing about a tube is that it can simultaneously serve as a conduit for wires, hoses, cables, etc., heck even as exhaust piping!

now I got some weird ideas for my car, thanks for this post

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...with advent of airbags, one wonders *WHY* the auto industry hasn't gone back to tubing frames for weight and structural improvements? Nice thing about a tube is that it can simultaneously serve as a conduit for wires, hoses, cables, etc., heck even as exhaust piping!

The technique of using the tubular frame is being used <for secondary tasks> in the bike industry (Harley, Buell, cottage industries).
Both the M/C and kit-car industry often use tube frames.

It boils down to how much alternative materials you want to use.
As long as car manufacturers want to continue producing metal shells, the pressed and welded body parts are more efficient than a cover-on-frame.


Using advanced composites, the weight of a VW Golf V can be reduced by 371kg (starting from 1360kg) without compromising safety or practical usefulness - and you can't even see it.
Evonik press release, Auf dem Weg zum Drei-Liter-Auto, PDF in German
Only they don't seem to realize the "3L car" had already been built a decade before
Nor that Volvo has a similar sized car that gets the same 3.9L/100km without resorting to exotic composites.

Imagine combining the the best of both technologies, rather than using one to counter the inefficiencies of the other ...

[jason1973tl]

Don't forget. The major auto manufacturers are producing cars in massive numbers, and uni-body construction is by far the fastest, easiest and most cost effective way for them to do that. Unfortunately also results in the heaviest car for whatever particular method of construction you choose.

[Frank Lee]

What? They went AWAY from body-on-frame for several reasons, weight reduction being one of the biggies.

[jason1973tl]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

What? They went AWAY from body-on-frame for several reasons, weight reduction being one of the biggies.

I always thought that too. But now I'm not so sure. I had a 1990 Mercury Grand Marques up until a few years ago. It was body on frame construction and weighed 3895lbs. The Dodge Charger, which is a smaller car in comparison, is over 4100lbs last time I checked. The Charger (the new ones) is uni-body construction.

The other thing is this. Look at how the fenders and such of the body on frame cars were produced. Stamped steel that comes out of a large press, now that we have eliminated the traditional frame, we can now stamp the cars skeleton out of a giant press also.

[Frank Lee]

The increased weight of new cars is not due to unibody per se; it is partly due to gummint regs for all the onboard crap cars need to have now, and partly due to the boatload of options everything "needs" now.

[jason1973tl]

Don't forget the newest gubment regulation just past by President Scroob.......Now electric cars have to automatically make noises to save the blind.

[Old Tele man]

Originally Posted by jason1973tl

Don't forget the newest gubment regulation just past by President Scroob.......Now electric cars have to automatically make noises to save the blind.

...I recommend the sound of a juicy "...beans & beer..." phart with appropriate odorant added to the exhaust to act as a "back-up," just in case they miss the sound (wink,wink).