Go Back   EcoModder Forum > EcoModding > General Efficiency Discussion
Register Now
 Register Now
 

Reply  Post New Thread
 
Submit Tools LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 11-02-2013, 02:42 PM   #1 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 16
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Urbee fundraiser

I saw Jim Kor speak a couple years back and have been following the project ever since. It is a daunting task for any start-up auto manufacturer, but this team has developed a lot of interesting research that will benefit fuel efficient cars of the future whether they get the Urbee to production or not. I'm hoping they do produce it!

For those unfamiliar, here are some numbers: 8hp, 130km/h top speed, 290mpg (US)/0.81 L/100km, Cd = 0.15

Here are more details of the project: http://korecologic.com/

They are hoping to write a book about it (fundraising site): Driving for Our Lives - a road trip through the Ecosphere by Jim Kor — Kickstarter

I'm thinking of getting a Mitsubishi Mirage - just to hold me over until I can get an Urbee (I don't think my '03 Focus can wait that long)

  Reply With Quote
Alt Today
Popular topics

Other popular topics in this forum...

   
Old 11-02-2013, 10:49 PM   #2 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
NeilBlanchard's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Maynard, MA Eaarth
Posts: 7,907

Mica Blue - '05 Scion xA RS 2.0
Team Toyota
90 day: 42.48 mpg (US)

Forest - '15 Nissan Leaf S
Team Nissan
90 day: 156.46 mpg (US)

Number 7 - '15 VW e-Golf SEL
TEAM VW AUDI Group
90 day: 155.81 mpg (US)
Thanks: 3,475
Thanked 2,950 Times in 1,844 Posts
We've had a couple of threads on the Urbee, starting a while back:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ids-15069.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ing-25070.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post349973

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...car-15077.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ove-24129.html
__________________
Sincerely, Neil

http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to NeilBlanchard For This Useful Post:
freebeard (11-05-2013)
Old 11-02-2013, 11:12 PM   #3 (permalink)
Human Environmentalist
 
redpoint5's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,396

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,192
Thanked 4,380 Times in 3,354 Posts
Donating $1 gets you a choice of a book, DVD, tee shirt, or bumper sticker- How is cheap merchandise related to building an efficient car? $1 doesn't cover the cost of shipping the merchandise, let alone the product itself.

Their fundraising goal is $30k? Is a measly $30k really the biggest obstacle to putting the car into production?

... and rear wheel steering

... and ethanol

If $30k is all that stands in the way of their dream, then it should be no problem to save that amount up between the 5 of those guys in the video.

The idea clearly isn't good, otherwise there would be a line of investors willing to pony up the $30k.
__________________
Gas and Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Calculator







Give me absolute safety, or give me death!
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-02-2013, 11:49 PM   #4 (permalink)
B.O. Zen
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 208

Pickup - '99 Toyota Tacoma 2wd, Regular Cab, Short Bed
90 day: 34.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 130
Thanked 140 Times in 59 Posts
Their kickstarter is to fund making a book about their car... I got the impression that they didn't expect to be able to raise 3M on kickstarter, so they're just using it for PR to help find other investors.

This is the first I've seen of their car... That looks great! I want one with a slightly more powerful motor... :P If these were available now for ~$10k, I can think of a couple people who would buy them.
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2013, 12:06 AM   #5 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 16
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
a8ksh4 is correct - they are looking for $30 000 to publish a book about the design process only. They mention in the video that it will take about $3million to get the car to production. Donating $1 gets you the good feeling of having helped out the cause, but nothing more. Starting at $25 you can get an electronic copy of the video.

As to the comments on rear-wheel steering - that issue has been solved in the first prototype.

Thanks to MetroMPG for pointing this out (on the Mirage forum) - for those looking for a car closer to production, the Elio is further along. It has the greater horsepower and is closer to market (they are taking deposits), though it isn't quite as efficient.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2013, 12:45 AM   #6 (permalink)
B.O. Zen
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Folsom, CA
Posts: 208

Pickup - '99 Toyota Tacoma 2wd, Regular Cab, Short Bed
90 day: 34.62 mpg (US)
Thanks: 130
Thanked 140 Times in 59 Posts
QQ w/o searching... does the elio seat one or two?
__________________
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-03-2013, 01:42 PM   #7 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 16
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
I believe it seats two - one behind the driver. I did not notice whether there was trunk space in addition to that.
  Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to canoeist For This Useful Post:
a8ksh4 (11-03-2013)
Old 11-04-2013, 07:12 AM   #8 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
euromodder's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belgium
Posts: 4,683

The SCUD - '15 Fiat Scudo L2
Thanks: 178
Thanked 652 Times in 516 Posts
Not quite ...

http://korecologic.com
"We are now crowd-funding on Kickstarter to create the greenest car on Earth."


The linked threads date back some 3.5 years.
I hate to think they've gone down the line of many an alternative car manufacturer before them.
Promises that are way off in the future.
Not building & selling what they've come up with, before starting on v2 ...
__________________
Strayed to the Dark Diesel Side

  Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2013, 09:13 AM   #9 (permalink)
Master EcoModder
 
Ryland's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Western Wisconsin
Posts: 3,903

honda cb125 - '74 Honda CB 125 S1
90 day: 79.71 mpg (US)

green wedge - '81 Commuter Vehicles Inc. Commuti-Car

Blue VX - '93 Honda Civic VX
Thanks: 867
Thanked 433 Times in 353 Posts
Sad thing is, if they were doing a kickstarter to build the car, I'd give money, I don't want a sticker or shirt, I just want to see something like this built.

But to do a book about how great it is? not really in to that.
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-04-2013, 05:20 PM   #10 (permalink)
EcoModding Lurker
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Winnipeg
Posts: 16
Thanks: 0
Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts
"Not building & selling what they've come up with, before starting on v2 ... "

As I understand it, version 1 was to work out the technical details. The seats were rudimentary, there was no dash or interior amenities at all. V2 is not a drastically different car (should look exactly the same from the outside), but is a car one step closer to production with the look of a concept car, more 3d printed parts (including the dash and seats), and possibly some refinements.

They don't claim to be anywhere near production at this time. You must understand that we are talking about five guys who work for a living as engineers and such - none of them are heirs to a fortune or self-made millionaires. Getting a car to production is rather pricey, and what they are doing is all they can to design and refine the product so that they could either partner with an investor and see it through, or sell their work to a major manufacturer who would produce it. As I understand it, they want the car to be made, and ideally would like to make it themselves, but they still have a long way to go.

  Reply With Quote
Reply  Post New Thread


Tags
3d printing, experimental, fundraiser, kor, urbee

Thread Tools




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