Edison2 Very Light Car: Chapter 2

[P-hack]

It is a car in that it has 4 wheels, and you have certain expectations about things with 4 wheels because why? What sort of status-quo policeman are you?
I find making vehicles safer for the occupants makes them more dangerous for everyone else, it is an arms race.

[P-hack]

It did really well in the HEAD ON offset crash, a common and high risk accident scenario. It seems less likely to crush another car. Factor that in.

[freebeard]

Originally Posted by sheepdog 44

I've watched it several times actually.

My comment was unnecessarily confrontational, Sorry.

It looks like the bar is set pretty low. The Kia losses 30% of it's value in a 6mph collision. I'll still take nimble over impenetrable. I've driven around some situations that would have crushed my Type III.

Originally Posted by euromodder

The holes in the cage are too large compared to the tubes.
That doesn't just mean the tubes will give way more easily, you'll also get intrusion between the tubes.

You make a good case. But I think that if the doors (bearclaw latches and Telsa-style door anti-intrusion bars) and endcaps are designed well that would be mitigated. Here's a screencap from a NASA video which had some early designs from Edison2. It appears they inverted the fenders for some reason. Does this look more survivable?


Edit: P-hack -- you can edit your post within 5 minutes without getting the edited notice, like I'm doing here.

[IamIan]

Originally Posted by freebeard

I'll still take nimble over impenetrable.

+1 ... and statistically in the long run it's net safer too ... but , that's a whole other discussion.

- - - - - - - - -

Although I recognize they are trying to do a herculean feat ... And I wish Edison2 nothing but the best ... I think they can only ride on prototype / concept car momentum for so long ... They've been at this 6 years now ... about 3 years after X-Prize ... Still 100% concept car / prototype with no products on the market ... and no solid signs of product getting on the market in the near future.

Maybe it isn't 100% Fair ... but the other recent successful car company start up ... Tesla ... took 5 years to have product on the market to buy ... and just recently after ~10 years posted their first quarter of turning a profit.

I think if Edison2 and VLC want to exist in ~10 years or so ... they need to shift gears ... and have serious plans to get a good PR product on the market for real people to buy ... in the near future... if it takes them 5+ more years to get a good PR product on the market for real people to buy ... I worry for them that they will run out of concept car / prototype steam / momentum.

[XprizeRoadTrip]

Originally Posted by euromodder

Have you seen or found any crash test pics / videos ?
All I've seen is the alu block they hit...That's fine for what it crashes into.
But what about the VLC itself ?

The VLC used in the frontal collision (40% offset, one of the most common frontal collisions) is on display at the shop for everyone to see along with the alu block. That answers one question.


The industry will also employ computer simulated crashes to gather data without the cost of physical tests. Some use this for R&D, some verify designs before physical crash-test, some modify designs post-crash test and verify modifications with simulations before moving forward with more tests. Some of this has been done, and results so far have been poured into the driving VLC4 chassis, which is continuing to be revised.

Everyone is certainly welcome to comment on the safety design of the vehicle. But rest assured, before this vehicle is available to USA public, the required USA IIHS tests will be done, and results will be available to the public. IMO, that's a great time to start judging the completed vehicle.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by IamIan

I think they can only ride on prototype / concept car momentum for so long ... They've been at this 6 years now ... about 3 years after X-Prize ... Still 100% concept car / prototype with no products on the market ...

Which isn't all that strange.
Cars take like 4-6 years to design and get ready for market.
For established manufacturers. With conventional designs. And high budgets.

and no solid signs of product getting on the market in the near future.

OTOH, it's a lot worse not to deliver on or around promised-for dates - then do that repeatedly, Loremo style.

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by XprizeRoadTrip

Take a look in the upper right - a "clay" model? It looks like two halves of slightly different designs. It seems to be the front, because it looks like a side view mirror on the left side.

Now that we've seen the V4 chassis, take a fresh look at this:

[XprizeRoadTrip]

A very nice piece from Bruce Morey at Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) magazine about Edison2's appearance/presentation at IESF 2013. As was written before, this invitation and appearance are very significant.

Edison2 sees opportunity in disruptive thinking

[freebeard]

I'm with Euromodder.
Edison suggests the VLC may be safer than other cars in many aspects.
I very much doubt that can be true.

Wired Magazine: Let the Robot Drive: The Autonomous Car of the Future Is Here

[NeilBlanchard]

Here's a video of Oliver Kuttner speaking about a broad range of topics, including the Very Light Car:

http://go.mentor.com/3cd5f