Edison2 Very Light Car: Chapter 2

[NeilBlanchard]

Edison2 - Very Light Blog - Edison2 consumer prototype on the ground for successful first drive!

PROGRESS REPORT – 2013 Week 9 - 2/27/2013

A good week. The first VLC 4.0 rolling chassis stood on its wheels this Monday and has gained favourable responses for all who have seen and sat in it. In the hands of our founder, Oliver Kuttner, chassis #018 was driven for the first time today.

An extensive test program is being planned and will be under way in the next few days but early impressions gained in the Lynchburg shop parking lot are favourable. The car drives particularly smoothly and has already demonstrated much improved refinement from the competition cars.

It was gratifying that first-estimate spring and damper settings yielded excellent ride quality over rough blacktop. Suspension anti pitch vector action met design expectations and permitted full acceleration and hard use of the powerful new brakes while maintaining a nearly level attitude. This is an additional step forwards from the X-Prize cars.

From the absence of harshness transmitted to the main frame, the isolation function of the new compliant axle beam mounts appears successful. Although it is too early to say whether the mounts’ stability enhancement function is working as hoped, it is already fair to say they cause no harm.

While of course work remains to be done and matters arising will continue to emerge, a post-running inspection has turned up no problems worth the name. This is an encouraging start indeed for an entirely new car.

Next steps include beginning a ride, handling, motor control and regen strategy scan.

[NeilBlanchard]

I expect we'll see some more photos soon, but until then, here's a transparent rendering of the VLC 4.0:

[XprizeRoadTrip]

*opinion alert* my opinion only here

What does it take to get this forum excited? Edison2 is doing some of the coolest eco-modding in existence and it's landing on dead ears in an ecomodding forum...I don't get it. Can anyone clue me in here?

[pete c]

4 pages says otherwise. Also, many of us are cheap SOBs more interested in squeezing better mileage out of 20 year old 500 dollar hoopties!

As we get more info on the VLC, there will be more interest. It seems that E2 is playing it kind of close to the vest, which is quite understandable as it is a company which would actually like to market a vehicle and maybe make a buck along the way and giving out all their info isn't the way to do it.

Would like to see more pics and more drivetrain info.

[sheepdog 44]

I think it's just because it's not for sale yet. You can't reserve it either.

Take a look at the Elios which isn't half as aero (or utilitarian, safe, etc) as the VLC, but once you have the chance to buy it you get a lot of interest even from non eco-minded people. You can't really count the amount of people who have said they would buy a VLC NOW, but until then it's just a waiting game. Until you can buy it, it doesn't seem real. That's my take on it.

[gone-ot]

SIMPLE ANSWER -- We can't get excited over something that's NOT AVAILABLE (yet)!

Politicians have jaded us to ignore promises and only believe things that "fall out of the sky" and smack us on the head...ie: reality bites!

[XprizeRoadTrip]

Progress report from week 12:

Edison2 - Very Light Blog - PROGRESS REPORT - 2013 week*12

Edison2’s Lynchburg experimental prototype shop conducted a planned series of checks following our early testing of VLC 4.0 chassis number 18. This very thorough inspection after 143 miles’ running to date has produced no unpleasant surprises.

Driver comments and feedback are encouraging and match expectations given the car’s present build. This finding allows us to make development decisions with good confidence. In short, knowledge of the new car, its performance and operation is accumulating rapidly.

Meanwhile, work in the machine shop continues on development parts for future testing and assessment. As they become available, these new parts will be sequenced into the program for proper evaluation.

Edison2 community outreach continued this week. Visits included a party from Central Virginia Community college whose machine shop trainees are already working on production evaluation parts for our future cars.

On April 11 we are unveiling the consumer production prototype at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. Preparations are well under way for this exciting event featuring the vehicle we’re currently testing and inspecting.

[XprizeRoadTrip]

Progress report from week 13:

Edison2 - Very Light Blog - PROGRESS REPORT - 2013 week*13

Happy Easter! This week the prototype shop and personnel focused on development for the V4.0 front axle assembly, concentrating specifically on sensitivity and feel.

With feedback from running to date in hand, we decided to change the steering rack from the Option 1 to Option 2 bearing configuration. This involved completely dismantling the rack to reconfigure the bearings. While inside the unit, we had the opportunity to inspect the primary components and were pleased to see that all operational signatures appeared good. In its new guise, the rack is back on chassis 18.

In the light of a complete strip and inspection of the front suspension, revised ball bearing kingpin thrust washers have been incorporated in the new front axle build. Combined with the rack development work described above, the steering now displays a particularly smooth action.

Further development includes new front wishbone carrier assembly pieces that are already on the car and the imminent availability of new front damper spring platforms.

The rear suspension and driveline continues its gratifying absence of problems. With accumulating experience of Chassis 18’s electric motor characteristics, the decision has been made to make revised gearing available for test. New parts offering a 4.5% shorter overall ratio are now in process.

Production questions continue to be explored with procurement work this week concentrating on the car’s roller bearing wheel hubs.

[IamIan]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

SIMPLE ANSWER -- We can't get excited over something that's NOT AVAILABLE (yet)!

Politicians have jaded us to ignore promises and only believe things that "fall out of the sky" and smack us on the head...ie: reality bites!

Ditto the above ... and I hope they learn from others and the past ... you don't start out at the top or in the majors ... you start off in little league ... and spend years to get the minors ... and then years more to even have a shoot at the majors.

Start off selling small scale , low volume ... then later if one's market demand supports it , then you scale up to try and take advantage of economies of large scale... years after your product is proven , is in real world people's hands, etc.

There are many smaller scale companies that have been in production of niche products for decades ... if that's your market demand ... live with it ... until the market itself changes ... there are many examples of companies trying to skip quickly to the majors ... and go way big way too fast , or faster than the market demand for the product ... and it can destroy the company ... even if they have an otherwise fairly good product... a product that could have sold in the small scale niche long term.

[Xist]

I really hope to drive one of these awesome cars in a few years!