Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > EcoModding Central
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 06-10-2008, 03:52 PM   #1 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
Fabric car?

Just ran across this article: http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/06/bmw-builds-a-ca.html (hope the link works). I've been puzzled at the lack of interest here in ways to lighten a car, and this should do it. Would save on minor body repairs, too: instead of expensive body shop work, you just zip in a new panel :-)

It's not an entirely new idea, either: up until WWII, most airplanes were built with fabric over tubing (or even wood) frames.

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 06-10-2008, 04:28 PM   #2 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
That's awesome.



I'm betting there are going to be a lot of links from fabric covered recumbent bike sites to that article.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 04:34 PM   #3 (permalink)
Batman Junior
 
MetroMPG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
The "eye lids" are so trick! Check it out @ about 2:25.

Tail lights are great too.
__________________
Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 04:39 PM   #4 (permalink)
Pokémoderator
 
cfg83's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Southern California
Posts: 5,864

1999 Saturn SW2 - '99 Saturn SW2 Wagon
Team Saturn
90 day: 40.49 mpg (US)
Thanks: 439
Thanked 530 Times in 356 Posts
jamesqf -

Really cool. I like how they solve folds by putting them in the parts of the door that you don't see.

Maybe Paris will start having car-fashion shows, .

EDIT: And the bikers can have 100% leather cars!

CarloSW2
__________________

What's your EPA MPG? Go Here and find out!
American Solar Energy Society
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 04:58 PM   #5 (permalink)
ECO-Evolution
 
Lazarus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 1,482

Iron Horse (retired) - '97 Iron horse Intrepid

Ninja - '08 Kawasaki 250R
90 day: 76.23 mpg (US)
Thanks: 17
Thanked 44 Times in 33 Posts
Thanks for posting this is really something. I wonder how durable the fabric is and if it easily damaged from heavy rain or road debris.
__________________
"Judge a person by their questions rather than their answers."

  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 06:55 PM   #6 (permalink)
Saving Those Greenbacks
 
FX2.3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UTA
Posts: 91

Snowy - '02 Ford Ranger XL
90 day: 23.29 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
drool..
__________________
[/URL]
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 07:00 PM   #7 (permalink)
Liberti
 
LostCause's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: California
Posts: 504

Thunderbird - '96 Ford Thunderbird
90 day: 27.75 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts
That is a really beautiful car.

I don't think the fabric they chose would be the most practical, though. Most modern wood/tube aircraft use doped dacron, which feels slightly less rigid than a drum top. Based on its stretchiness, I'd imagine bubbles of deformation to exist as that car drives down the freeway.

The fiber's biggest enemy is going to be the sun. I'd bet traditional dacron would only last 5-10 years constantly in the sun (w/ a UV protective coat). It would also suck for a punk with a pocket knife to "declothe" you car in a matter of minutes.

- LostCause
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2008, 11:59 PM   #8 (permalink)
Bicycle Junky
 
NoCO2's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 464

Putsaround - '96 Toyota Camry LE
90 day: 32.74 mpg (US)

The Commuter - '07 Trek 1000SL
90 day: 617.28 mpg (US)

Zippy - '91 Honda Civic DX
90 day: 33.29 mpg (US)
Thanks: 0
Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts
That's a VERY sexy car.

My only question, how will it pass a crash test?
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2008, 12:24 AM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 5,209
Thanks: 225
Thanked 811 Times in 594 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by NoCO2 View Post
My only question, how will it pass a crash test?
Why wouldn't it? From a safety perspective, it's the frame underneath - essentially a roll cage structure - that provides the crashworthiness of most cars. The skin is just there for appearance/aerodynamics. Get rid of the morphing features, and you could have a crashworthy inner structure that's common to all models of similar size, covered by a very light aerodynamic skin.

Minor body damage could become a thing of the past, too. Minor dings would just pop out. For cuts & tears, just zip in a new panel of fabric (which the factory could ship in an envelope, instead of a crate).

PS: An idea for aerodynamic eco-mods. Instead of adding weight by pasting on extended noses & tails, why not cut off some of the sheet metal, and mold a shape of foam (for stiffness) covered with thin, doped fabric? Seems like you could get pretty significant weight reduction that way...
  Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2008, 01:05 AM   #10 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: California
Posts: 73
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Interesting ... there are some very lightweight boats made from a frame with a stretched skin over it, which might be applicable to an ecomodder trying to lighten the weight of a car by replacing a heavy hatch, hood or other panel.


  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Thread Tools


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
I found another advantage to driving an ultra-low Cd car basjoos Aerodynamics 26 08-25-2012 02:15 PM
EcoModding for Beginners: Getting great gas mileage. SVOboy EcoModding Central 55 08-20-2012 11:34 PM
Win $100.00 in Free Gas! Design Contest: Ecomod my Ride XFi EcoModding Central 127 02-17-2011 12:07 AM
My First Electric car Experience WaxyChicken The Lounge 8 09-05-2008 08:46 PM
$500 and 30mpg car? possible? olderthanme EcoModding Central 6 07-15-2008 09:37 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com