Automotive X-Prize: "The Very Light Car" (also very aero) with conventional engine

[Frank Lee]

Well, it would work, the question is would you like it? Cuz it's the torque values we should be comparing, I think. I think it would work but you may find yourself using higher rpms through the gears to get going. Eh, maybe, maybe not.

I recall back in the day we discussed these cars; I like the Speedster kits and you like the 550s, but given the chance I'd be happy with either!

[cfg83]

Frank -

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Well, it would work, the question is would you like it? Cuz it's the torque values we should be comparing, I think. I think it would work but you may find yourself using higher rpms through the gears to get going. Eh, maybe, maybe not.

I recall back in the day we discussed these cars; I like the Speedster kits and you like the 550s, but given the chance I'd be happy with either!

Ok. You see, you know what you're talking about in terms of the engine. I wasn't thinking of that, I was simply thinking power to weight ratio. Come to think of it, I think you are describing a Honda Beat :

64 PS (63 bhp) at 8100 rpm with a top speed of 135 km/h (84mph).

Except, instead of a 656 cc 3-banger, it's a 250 cc 1-banger, !


CarloSW2

[NeilBlanchard]

The other very light car we can compare and contrast with the Edison2 and the VW 1L is the Toyota 1/X -- a four seater with a curb weight of 926 pounds. If carbon fiber was made from chicken feathers, it would not be expensive.

[Frank Lee]

One other thing I'll say is that the real production version should have real glass, for those that need to scrape frost off.

[Bicycle Bob]

I hear that hard coatings are getting better, but at that angle, I'd want glass anyway, for the clarity. Running a very similar shape and angle with plain polycarbonate, I often had problems with low sun angles or headlights, especially in rainy or mist-prone weather. Even when brand new, it was noticeably worse than glass. Perhaps a hard coating can also reduce reflectance, etc.

[Frank Lee]

In my previous engineering capacity I looked at hardcoated polycarb windshields. Nicer appearance, nicer optics, nicer scratch resistance.... but quite a bit costlier and still, relatively easily scratched vs glass. Wouldn't want them on my car. But on bikes, sleds, open cockpit stuff especially that where one often looks over the top of the windshield anyway, plastic is OK.

P.S. I corrected an earlier post of mine where I was wrong about the rear axle assy. The pic I'd seen was only one axle out of two, not the whole thing. Yes this car has W I D E tracks.

[WoZw]

I don´t understand the hype about the electric-powered cars. Apart from the carbon-imprint of these vehicles, which is not smaller than that of fuel-powered cars, the costs (mainly of the batteries) will be prohibitive. The Boston Consulting Group recently publisihed a study which predicts that in 2020 only 0.5percent of all vehicles will be powered exclusively by electric power. Which proves that a car which uses as little fuel as possible is the only way to save our diminishing resources

[Frank Lee]

I see niches where they would excell- stop-n-go, urban, short distance. Wonderful! My electric bicycle has proven that concept to me.

But as the be-all, end-all, universal replacement for Everyman's vehicle? I don't think so. I don't even think hybrids are the answer to that.

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a pretty detailed video interview about the Edison2 Very Light Car:

Automotive X-Prize: Edison 2 - Engineering TV

The suspension is inside the front wheels, and on the rear, the strut tube pivots to provide the suspension travel. The wheels weigh 6.2 pounds each (aluminum, carbon fiber, and magnesium) and they hope to get them down to 6 pounds, at least. The engine is a 250cc motorcycle engine, with proprietary packaging, and the transmission is custom made. It burns ethanol, which the X-Prize rules let them burn 1.5 gallons as an equivalent to gasoline. They plan on using a 5 gallon fuel tank to get over the 200 miles range -- the 3 gallon tank size would not do this.

[MetroMPG]

Nice find, Neil.

Super secret lightweight A/C too (A/C required by AXP rules to keep interior temps below 95F). With a completely sealed passenger compartment! If a conventional compressor is too heavy, what's the plan?

The X-Prize probably doesn't explicitly prohibit a refillable dry ice compartment.