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Old 12-02-2007, 12:24 AM   #1 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,527

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 54.46 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 62.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,078
Thanked 6,976 Times in 3,612 Posts
Solectria Sunrise to rise again

(written March 07)

Those of you not following the EVDL may be interested to know that one of the Elder Statesmen of the list, Lee Hart and several other members purchased a Sunrise body and are in the process of developing a kit car from it.




The original 4-passenger Sunrise is known in EV circles as having one of the longest ranges on a single charge of any EV.

The car's aerodynamics are superb - though nobody seems to have an exact figure, it's probably in the same league as the EV1 (Cd of 0.19).

Originally, it was a fully composite monocoque, front-wheel drive, AC powered vehicle using some parts from the Geo Metro (suspension, brakes, some interior parts, windshield).

In its next iteration, it will be rear wheel drive, using direct DC into the differential, with driveline & suspension parts from Ford RWD production cars (Mustang II, Cougar/Thunderbird). The body will be fully fiberglass (fullly smooth bottom, like the original), with suspension & drive components on metal subframes.

The idea is to roll out availability in stages: initially just the body and a manual with a suggested parts list. Then, progressively, kits with more and more components already sourced, included & assembled. The aim is to sell kits at various price points and stages of assembly that will permit buyers of various levels of ability to complete their vehicles. (Sort of like the BugE example.)

I'd like to be able to point you to the thread on this topic in the EVDL Yahoo archive, but the archive "owner" apparently had a hissy fit and took it offline last week. Probably permanently. There's a "daily digest" version of the archive at Yahoo - but good luck searching it and trying to follow a thread in any kind of timely way.

There's also an original Sunrise in the EV Album: http://www.austinev.org/evalbum/655.html

And now I'm going to work on the ForkenSwift. No more posts this afternoon!

__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget

Last edited by tasdrouille; 05-20-2009 at 07:50 PM.. Reason: "as having on of the longest ranges" edited "on"
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