Quote:
Originally Posted by theycallmeebryan
Here are two points that i'd like to enter into this discussion:
1. I'd like to know why we need to have 2+2 designs? Why cant we have a 1 row of passengers to keep frontal area to a minimum? Having a passenger sitting next to you is just a distraction anyway. I think this is one aspect of automobile design we need to reevaluate.
2. Why are new concepts using old propulsion technologies that are relatively inefficient?! I think its a slap in the face to everything we stand for to try to introduce a new concept using an ICE. Electric motors are pretty much the most efficient way to move a vehicle under its own power. Combine it with a low CdA vehicle, and you wont need so many batteries (and their weight) to travel long distances.
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Here is my answer to your questions. 1. I feel tandem seating in a car is impractical.I also don't believe that having a canopy around you without any roll up windows is very comfortable.Most tandem cars use canopies.What is wrong with two tall guys sitting up front and two sets of golf clubs or a bunch of groceries in the back? 2. It is way too early to throw away the ICE.Once the efficiency is improved to the point where there is no more to be had then we can look at changing our entire global infrastructure to meet the needs of future technology that is still to be discovered .What i have learnt about electric motors for powering cars is, the idea of using electric motors that are 90% efficient may soud good,until the issue of generating electricity and distributing it is considered .It is estimated that by the time electricity arrives at your home it is 33% efficient.In other words,67% of the original fuel energy has been lost. So even if you assume battery charging is 90% efficient,and the electric motor is 90% efficient, the overall energy efficiency suddenly drops to 26.73%, only about 6% better than ICE.About 65% of the fuel used to make electricity in north america is fossil.Energy density of the battery is dismal compared to gasoline and fill up time is long.