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

[Frank Lee]

How does it steer?

[NeilBlanchard]

This is just a 1/4 scale conceptual model -- it does look like a challenge to get the front wheel "pods" to pivot, considering their length. I was pondering some sort of telescoping wedges that allow the surfaces to be smooth and continuous, but to let the wheels and the pods pivot?

On the X-Prize cars, the trailing tips came withing about 1" of touching the sides of the car, and there was a slight interference with the entry door.

Having the mirrors on the pods makes some sense because of their proximity, but they will move when the wheels are steered, so they would not be practical to use except when driving on the highway.

I think they have some more design work to do? This new car by the way, they say could fit up to 7 people. The X-Prize version were 4 seat, so it certainly is possible.

Oh, the skidpad number is on record with the X-Prize data -- it is a crisp handling car; by all accounts. They had Emanuele Pirro as one of their drivers, so I'm sure he wrung it out!

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Now that they're done with the contest they can ditch that extra wheel.

What, they carry a spare too ?

[NeilBlanchard]

An update on the Electric VLC:

- Edison2 - Very Light Blog - The Limits of the Possible

very large picture

It looks like they have revised the profile of the nose and windshield and roof; as they all form a smooth arc. And it looks like there is now a single central 'A' pillar.

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a brief video of the VLC Electric in action:



Some more information:

Automotive X Prize winner Edison2 forges ahead with new design

[Frank Lee]

Seriously- give some consideration to the size of the pics posted.

[NeilBlanchard]

Sorry Frank -- I made it a link instead.

[Frank Lee]

Thanks!

In the past I've edited pics by cropping and/or resizing then posting the edited image.

And I've become accustomed to a much "coarser" digi camera setting- saves oodles of memory space on the camera and makes the pics somewhat smaller. The reduction of fine detail hasn't been an issue.

[MetroMPG]

Interesting to see the development of the EV version of the car. Thanks for keeping us updated, Neil.

[gone-ot]

...with Detroits' customery "NOT INVENTED HERE" attitude, odds are we'll never see any of those three winners cars coming from ANY of the established automotive manufacturers.