Engineers to Build and Sell 330 MPG Hybrid Car - GreenHybrid

Jason · #1 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Accelerated Composites, LLC, has designed a two-seat passenger car that will achieve up to 330 MPG and sell for under $20,000. The lightweight composite, hybrid car will post this fuel efficiency in normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling similar to that of a Honda Insight. Dubbed the Aptera(C), the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods, and a maverick design mantra.

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2...18/207698.html

Delta Flyer · #2 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 11:25 AM

I hope it's able to drive under a big-rig.

Seriously, will the law consider this a motorcycle?

The weight is less than half of an Insight, and so is the engine's combined power. Wonder what the Cd is.

#3 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 11:30 AM

Brings back memorys of Buckminster Fuller's "Dymaxion Car":

http://www.washedashore.com/projects.../pictures.html

and

http://www.maxmatic.com/Dymaxion/dymaxion_patent.htm

More on Fuller can be found here:

http://www.bfi.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckminster_Fuller
http://www.worldtrans.org/whole/bucky.html

(top 3 links from Google)

Delta Flyer · #4 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 12:17 PM

They quote 330mpg at 65mph, so could this mean 400mpg at 50mph?

It's diesel, BTW

hawkGT647 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 12:58 PM

Another story on the same vehicle:

http://www.channel4.com/4car/news/ne...?news_id=13759

Wasn't someone here asking for a diesel hybrid? Bio-diesel?

What will it look like after a redesign to pass safety standards?

Or will it sneak by as a motorcycle?

Regards,

Takfen · #6 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 05:17 PM

All well and good, but will it stand up to getting rear ended on the freeway?

xcel · #7 (**permalink**) 01-19-2006, 07:23 PM

Schwa · #8 (**permalink**) 01-20-2006, 01:15 AM

Cd = 0.06

The safety in this thing is supposed to be equivalent to F1 racecars:

Quote:

*License plate: The plate is recessed with a flush mount Lexan cover (like an aircraft landing light). Our designer hurt his wrist and was not able to complete the renderings before the press release. Images on the website will be updated in due time.

*Bumpers et al: The Aptera will be treated as a motorcycle in the eyes of the law, but that doesn't mean it's unsafe. On the contrary, it will have the same type of airbag-in-seatbelt technology used in newer light planes. Additionally, the dirver and passenger sit in a 'crashbox' thats underneath the aeroshell...or body. There's crushable/absorbing material between the aeroshell and body as well. The crashbox design, still being modeled and simulated, offers much more protection than most car doors/pillars.

*cold weather: Since the core material of the crashbox sandwich has a very high 'R' value, the Aptera should lose/gain heat very slowly. Meaning, it doesn't take much energy to heat or cool.

bluesesshomaru17 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-20-2006, 04:59 AM

yeah, but I have never known a F1 car to go up against a street legal vehicle of any size, not to mention an SUV, truck, semi, etc. If you said NASCAR safety rating that would be different since they do crash into solid objects and other strongly built cars, rollovers, etc and the drivers walk away most of the time. it would be an interesting car/vehicle to see on the road ... xcel gets ~ 115 mpg segments in a HCH rated at ~ 50 mpg ... about 2.3x epa ... so could it be possible for xcel to get segments in the 760 mpg range!!! No longer will we be looking for 1000 mile tanks but 1000 mpg! hehe an oil company's worst nightmare.

Delta Flyer · #10 (**permalink**) 01-20-2006, 05:23 AM

I hope the dashboard monitors the fuel economy well.

I'd curious as to how you get in and out as well as the luggage space.

We might want to followup on the 330mpg estimates - remember they are trying to sell the car. It's still remarkable if it's "only" 250mpg.