View Single Post
Old 12-20-2012, 02:54 PM   #25 (permalink)
Sven7
Master EcoModder
 
Sven7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Warren, MI
Posts: 2,456

Boo Radley - '65 Ford F100
90 day: 13.28 mpg (US)
Thanks: 782
Thanked 669 Times in 411 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by euromodder View Post
Reduce the weight, and you're back at diesel rabbit p/w.

If you want to run it out on the streets in the real world , instead of on the track as per eco-marathon, I'd go for 4 wheels rather than 3.
I'm not confident I could build the thing, batteries and all, to be under, say, 900 including driver (150lbs). To equal the diesel Rabbit's dismal acceleration I'd need 26.7 hp.

Now, let's reverse that. If I wanted to use that 19hp [peak] motor, the loaded car would need to weigh 639.5 lbs. Subtracting the driver's weight, that comes to 489.4 lbs. That's really, really light. Sport bike light.

I want to use it as a commuter car. I would very much like to use the 3 wheel tadpole layout. I think if the weight is low and forward it should be stable enough for street duty. The only things sticking out above the top of the wheels should be my upper torso, head, and roll bar.

I don't want to brag, but I have attended autocross school and done some racing, so it's not as if I don't know how to handle a car. Of course, the main concern would be emergency maneuvers. Air brakes, anyone?

Thoughts on this stuff?

Quote:
Originally Posted by freebeard View Post
I think you're right.

Have you seen this? I posted it in another thread (I don't draw enough to have a fluid line). The windscreen would be a conic section with an irregular radius. I didn't draw them in, but the headlights would be under glass, like the taillights in the Pininfarina B0, or VW's Up!.
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/lnOex.jpg
I saw it. I am planning on doing an irregular radius lexan window. The headlights would also be under radiused lexan since I figure glass would be hard to find and heavy.

My friend has worked with fiberglass a bit on top secret projects and makes it sound easy. He's also done some (cosmetic) carbon fiber work. From some quick Googling it sounds like CF is more expensive, stronger, more likely to crack and lighter than fiberglass. That would leave the latter's strengths to be much lower cost and higher durability. Can anyone give me numbers for weight comparison? Also, how much durability will the vehicle need? I don't know. Probably depends on the frame flex.

I am thinking about a tubular steel chassis shaped like those tetrahedral cream packets, with the flat part up front and the vertical one acting as a roll bar and rear suspension mount in back. With reinforcement, of course.

I need to make a 3D model and get some good proportions and perspective going. It's hard to work out.


Stromlinet Vogn II by Tyler Linner, Intergalactic Man of Mystery, on Flickr
__________________
He gave me a dollar. A blood-soaked dollar.
I cannot get the spot out but it's okay; It still works in the store
  Reply With Quote