Hi,
Quote:
Originally Posted by dcb
why not hook that 5hp motor to a 5th wheel and stick it in your tow hitch with a lever to raise/kill it or lower it?
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The Edison2 VLC requires just 3.5HP to go 50mph on flat ground (830 pounds, Cd of 0.161 CdA of 2.96 sq ft), but I think you'd need a 10-15HP motor for most conventional cars. Those single cylinder engines are pretty poor efficiency. The VLC had a 34% (peak) efficient single 250cc and a high efficiency transmission, and it got 102MPGe Combined and >120MPGe at highway speeds (they burned E85 and the actual MPG was lower).
We'll see how the VLC EV goes sometime next year. Electric motors are >90% efficient. And plug-to-wheel good EV's are about 85% efficient.
Edit: Popular Mechanics drove the Volt 900 miles, and averaged 32-36MPG with the ICE running, and 37.5 mpg city and 38.15 mpg highway, when they included the EV miles:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars...ty-report-test
Fairly pitiful, I think.