Design Ideas on a car for primary highway use

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by bgd73

Highway design..

• torque based four cyl (3 main boxer)
• downdraft or 1024 bit computer for injection (hmmm downdraft it is then)
• 15 inch wheels (24 inch minimum overall diameter)
• longer than a hatch, shorter than a suburban
• tall gears
• 3000 pounds

3,000 lbs?? That would be a decent payload ratio for a rocket, but there are 4 passenger cars that weigh less than half that.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

3,000 lbs?? That would be a decent payload ratio for a rocket, but there are 4 passenger cars that weigh less than half that.

We hope!!!

[Bicycle Bob]

The Citroen 2cv was around 1,100 lbs, the Morris Minor under 1,500, the real Mini around 1,200, and the older Metros are about 1,650. Some Civics and Rabbits also were under 2,000, IIRC. For a land vehicle, I'm appalled at anything under 50% payload weight. Bicycles can carry ten times their weight.

[Old Tele man]

...anything over 3,000 pounds is a land cruiser

...anything over 4,000 pounds is a tuna boat or freeway barge

...anything over 5,000 poiunds is rediculous or a HUMMER.

[Frank Lee]

LOL! I misread Bob's statement and thought "four passengers in cars that weigh less than half that", picturing four 400 lb passengers, their 1600 lbs being more than 1/2 the car's weight.

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by Bicycle Bob

The Citroen 2cv was around 1,100 lbs, the Morris Minor under 1,500, the real Mini around 1,200, and the older Metros are about 1,650. Some Civics and Rabbits also were under 2,000, IIRC. For a land vehicle, I'm appalled at anything under 50% payload weight. Bicycles can carry ten times their weight.

The first-gen Insight appalls you? 350lbs payload, 1850lbs curb weight.

[Frank Lee]

That is appalling!

[Bicycle Bob]

Yes, those lighter cars are approved for 600 lbs or more. Unrenewable energy priced for quick sale has really warped vehicle development across the board. The guy who knows the value of a gallon of gas is the one without the money to fill his rototiller. You don't see people hauling a ton of fenders and flash around even with a horse.

[Old Tele man]

...here are the 'target' vehicle specifications that EPA/GM specified in one of their reports(*) about alternative-fuel vehicles:

Vehicle Acceleration, 0-30 mph.......................4 sec
Vehicle Acceleration, 0-60 mph.......................10 sec
Vehicle Acceleration in Top Gear, 50-80 mph.....20 sec
Maximum Vehicle Acceleration.........................5 meters-per-second^2
Time to Maximum Acceleration........................1 sec
Vehicle Gradeability at 55 mph for 20 minutes....6% grade
Top Vehicle Speed........................................110 mph

(*) source: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/fuelcel...esentation.ppt

[Frank Lee]

Heck no, I won't buy it unless it can waste my V-Max.