After much thinking, and many drinks, I've decided that current car offerings are unsuitable for super high fuel economy numbers. So, I've decided to jump in and build my own high-mpg car..
Goals are:
1.Capable of freeway speeds
2.Under 5K (this one might be hard)
3.Over 100mpg.
Luckily I have the help on an engineer friend who will help me create an electric-diesel vehicle. For registration purposes (and to drive in the carpool lane) it will be three wheeled, even though I didn't really want it to be. For power I'm starting out with an old-school E-tek electric motor, which provides a constant 30 lb-ft of torque. Not much you say? Well this sucker is going to be LIGHT.
Since I am a dreamer, but no fabricator, I'l be starting out with a t-bucket chassis and front suspension, most likely from Total Performance of some other similar shop. The rear suspension will be a motorcycle swingarm, and the regen for the electric motor will be a 10hp diesel generator which uses about 1 gallon per 5 hours at 12 volts. I've built a T-bucket before, and I can tell you that the chassis, front suspension, and steering only weighs a few hundred pounds.
I'll be running a 24 volt alternator off of a motorhome for a charging system, and I expect the running vehicle to be well under 1000 pounds with a rollcage (don't want to get smashed by LA traffic)....since my Chevette only makes about 70 lb-ft at peak, and weighs 2400 pounds, the vehicle should be plenty fast to "keep up with traffic."
Wish me luck guys and gals, I'll keep updating this thread as I make progress......
For now, here is an example of what I'll be shooting for, minus the hi-po engine but with a much more enclosed bodywork....
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4...ympus69ck5.jpg
36 hp at the wheels, best 59.6mpg.
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