Designing and Building my own High MPG Car

[GoGogebic]

Hi everybody! I'm designing my own high MPG car. Its called the Gogebic XP. Please track my progress at Gogebic XP

[deathtrain]

good luck but think a three wheel would result in better FE/aero.

[GoGogebic]

I agree but living in wisconsin the third wheel would be running in a snowfilled area. Not good for traction. Four wheels that will run in the tracks left by others car is really a necessity in snowy areas

[deathtrain]

i dont know what snow is..... dont get it here. and when we do only the smart ones stay off the roads.

[HydroJim]

That's something I've been wanting to do for years. Unfortunately, I do not have the funds. You're a lucky guy!

I do suggest making the front of the car more sharp like a knife to split the air to the side of the car. The way it is now will send air up and over the car Which isn't a bad thing, but the way your boat tail is designed, the air on the side of the car will have an easier time joining back together. So instead of a semi-circle front bumper, It will be shaped more like a triangle. Just an idea!

Good Luck!

Jim

[GoGogebic]

Yeah it seems like most cars aren't designed for colder weather. For example, why don't they make cars with electric assisted heating. The car would have a coil that turned on for a couple minutes until the engine was up to temperature to heat the car. People still warm up their car around here just because the heat doesn't really work until you have the engine on for 5-10 mins. Plus having a electric windshield defroster would be nice so you don't have to have the heat blasting and the cabin temperature at a 100 just to keep the windows from frosting up when it -5degrees.

Gogogebic

[Ryland]

So what are you using for a drive train? how are you making the body?

Winter warm up does a great job of killing mileage, from the research that I've done it looks like the energy and cost of plugging in a block heater for 1-2 hours is a better use of resources then driving with a cold engine and that is much better then letting your car sit idling to warm it up, if you can install a trickle charger that tops off the battery when you plug the block heater in, then your battery will last a few years longer as well.
Or see if you can get the exhaust heat recovery system that the newest generation of Prius uses to warm the engine coolant using exhaust heat for quicker warm ups and quicker cabin heat without using extra energy.
Or you can just have your defrost use exhaust heat, it might be simpler for a home built system.

[Patrick]

Looks like an Edison2. You might want to take a look at their designs as they probably have solved a lot of the problems already. Edison2 - Welcome

[GoGogebic]

HydroJim,

Thanks for your comment! They're a couple reasons why I have the nose like that.

1. I need the frontal area to help with the crash crumple zone structure
2. I may have to put a duct there if my idea of a naca duct radiator entrance doesn't work.
3. The shocks are located behind that area and I need the space for them.
4. Personally I feel it looks better
5. Also the sharp edge is more aerodynamically sensitive in cross winds

Ryland,

Thanks for your comment!

The drive train will be from a ninja 250 or the new honda cbr 250

The body will be all aluminum. Laser cut and seam MIG welded. Every part of the car I can make at work except the canopy, but I know where I can get it made. The entire car has been designed around the tools I have available to me.

[GoGogebic]

Please comment on what you think about the idea of a single seater. I feel it can really make the car a lot cheaper to build and much more aerodynamically efficient. Of course, I am planning on have storage for about 4 bags of groceries.