Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Design Ideas on a car for primary highway use

aerohead · 03-06-2010, 05:34 PM

The Sunraycer was rated at 400-mpg with I.C.engine/powertrain.
In 'race' trim she had Cd 0.12.'Clean' she was rated at Cd 0.089 with the full wheel fairing package.
This was and is the inspiration for the range-extender trailer project.With 'real'
wheels/tires,and more all-up mass,this platform would continue to deliver remarkable mpg performance.
It's a 'known quantity',very little R&D would be required to develop a conventionally-powered road-going version.
But that's also the problem.She suffers from the tyranny of unity.She could be the single solution for so many of the challenges we perceive,so this is precisely why these vehicles cannot exist.
Solutions must be complicated and support millions of useless jobs.And problems must never be solved,for,they continue to provide growth industries which must continue to struggle with the problem for centuries to come,paying dividends to shareholders and institutional investors,hedge funds.
There's trillions of dollars to made from problems,little to be made from solutions.
That said,if I was in a position to 'design' a dedicated high-mpg highway vehicle,the Sunraycer would be a talking point.

03-06-2010, 05:34 PM	#57 (permalink)
aerohead Master EcoModder Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sanger,Texas,U.S.A. Posts: 16,335 Thanks: 24,453 Thanked 7,394 Times in 4,789 Posts	1987 GM/AeroVironment-Sunraycer: 400 mpg The Sunraycer was rated at 400-mpg with I.C.engine/powertrain. In 'race' trim she had Cd 0.12.'Clean' she was rated at Cd 0.089 with the full wheel fairing package. This was and is the inspiration for the range-extender trailer project.With 'real' wheels/tires,and more all-up mass,this platform would continue to deliver remarkable mpg performance. It's a 'known quantity',very little R&D would be required to develop a conventionally-powered road-going version. But that's also the problem.She suffers from the tyranny of unity.She could be the single solution for so many of the challenges we perceive,so this is precisely why these vehicles cannot exist. Solutions must be complicated and support millions of useless jobs.And problems must never be solved,for,they continue to provide growth industries which must continue to struggle with the problem for centuries to come,paying dividends to shareholders and institutional investors,hedge funds. There's trillions of dollars to made from problems,little to be made from solutions. That said,if I was in a position to 'design' a dedicated high-mpg highway vehicle,the Sunraycer would be a talking point.