VW Concept Gets 261 MPG
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The front looks OK, but the rear not so much. Why can't these hybrids look more like normal cars?
ALso, they claim 261 MPG, but then further down they say that the 2.6 gallon tank has a range of 341 miles. 341/2.6 = 131 MPG.
ALso, they claim 261 MPG, but then further down they say that the 2.6 gallon tank has a range of 341 miles. 341/2.6 = 131 MPG.
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
The front looks OK, but the rear not so much. Why can't these hybrids look more like normal cars?
...because the air coming off the back of the car is a significant factor in the car's aerodynamic drag.
You have to admit, at least it looks better than this!
The Kamm tail on the back simulates the teardrop shape; that's why so many manufacturers use it, and why so many purpose-built high MPG cars end up looking the same.
The alternative is the Aerocivic! Personally, I don't really wanna parallel park that sucker...
The front looks OK, but the rear not so much. Why can't these hybrids look more like normal cars?
...because the air coming off the back of the car is a significant factor in the car's aerodynamic drag.
You have to admit, at least it looks better than this!
The Kamm tail on the back simulates the teardrop shape; that's why so many manufacturers use it, and why so many purpose-built high MPG cars end up looking the same.
The alternative is the Aerocivic! Personally, I don't really wanna parallel park that sucker...
The 261 is probably figured into the equation some how with the batteries and the plug in recharge.
I like the front,not real crazy about the back wheels being covered like they are.
With a little modification,this could be a really nice car if you like VW.
I like the front,not real crazy about the back wheels being covered like they are.
With a little modification,this could be a really nice car if you like VW.
Originally Posted By: motorguy222
I like the front,not real crazy about the back wheels being covered like they are.
I think there are 3 things people might as well get used to seeing:
fully-faired rear wheels, a Kamm-type rear tail design and no external mirrors. This car utilizes all of those design elements, and as cars get more fuel efficient this is just how it's gonna be.
The alternatives to these design elements are just an aerodynamic nightmare. People hated the original Insight because of this, but the designs just work (the Insight had external mirrors, but that was before the cost/availability of cameras was within reason).
I'll be the first to say it's an acquired taste in the aesthetics department.
I like the front,not real crazy about the back wheels being covered like they are.
I think there are 3 things people might as well get used to seeing:
fully-faired rear wheels, a Kamm-type rear tail design and no external mirrors. This car utilizes all of those design elements, and as cars get more fuel efficient this is just how it's gonna be.
The alternatives to these design elements are just an aerodynamic nightmare. People hated the original Insight because of this, but the designs just work (the Insight had external mirrors, but that was before the cost/availability of cameras was within reason).
I'll be the first to say it's an acquired taste in the aesthetics department.
The problem with all these plug in vehicles is the electric power is not free, that power WILL be going up beyond anyone's nightmares if quite a bit of the vehicles start to use it and what taxes WILL BE PLACED since they are not paying their "fair" share of the road taxes?
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
But I love the idea of Turbo Diesel Hybrid. Bet we NEVER see them here.
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
But I love the idea of Turbo Diesel Hybrid. Bet we NEVER see them here.
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
Our electric grid is already over-stressed by electric vehicles? Am I reading that correctly?
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
Our electric grid is already over-stressed by electric vehicles? Am I reading that correctly?
Originally Posted By: JOD
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
Our electric grid is already over-stressed by electric vehicles? Am I reading that correctly?
No, What I meant is its already stressed withOUT them.
Sorta forgot that part of the word...
Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
And our grid can not take vehicles charging here and there. For some places its over stressed already with them.
Our electric grid is already over-stressed by electric vehicles? Am I reading that correctly?
No, What I meant is its already stressed withOUT them.
Sorta forgot that part of the word...
Not if you charge them off-peak overnight.
I still don't buy it. The emissions are still potentially more than an efficient gas or diesel car. Check the British study referenced in the wikipedia entry for "electric car" before you flame this.
I'd rather have a turbodiesel hybrid too. I'd be really happy with the turbodiesel passenger cars like they get in europe.
I still don't buy it. The emissions are still potentially more than an efficient gas or diesel car. Check the British study referenced in the wikipedia entry for "electric car" before you flame this.
I'd rather have a turbodiesel hybrid too. I'd be really happy with the turbodiesel passenger cars like they get in europe.
Why didn't they stick with their nine-year-old 236 mpg car (1 lhk) that was driven by Ferdinand Piëch drove 220 km from Wolfsburg to Hamburg for a VW shareholders meeting - and actually got a recorded 0.89 lhk - 264 mpg!
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-vw-1-liter-car.htm
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-vw-1-liter-car.htm
Originally Posted By: Jim 5
Not if you charge them off-peak overnight.
I still don't buy it. The emissions are still potentially more than an efficient gas or diesel car. Check the British study referenced in the wikipedia entry for "electric car" before you flame this.
Well, according to the wiki page, the emissions are also potentially much less.
It's a complex question, and unfortunately it becomes a difficult one to discuss since it becomes grossly politicized by those on both sides; those who will "never, ever buy an electric car no matter what" and view electric cars as a vast government conspiracy and an attempt to steal their freedom, and those who think that because it has a plug is full of virtue and is all puppies and rainbows since electricity is "renewable" (never mind that the much of what goes into the harnessing, distribution and production of electricity is neither renewable nor free of emissions).
The bottom line is "it depends"; it depends on how the additional need is met--how is that energy produced, what changes are made to the power grid to make the transfer and storage of electricity more efficient.
All that said, until the range of the cars increases significantly, it's a non-starter for me. If I'm traveling fewer than 3 miles I'm either walking or riding my bike.
Regardless of how the VW is powered, I think the aerodynamics of it are the most interesting. I wonder if they published a Cd number for it?
Not if you charge them off-peak overnight.
I still don't buy it. The emissions are still potentially more than an efficient gas or diesel car. Check the British study referenced in the wikipedia entry for "electric car" before you flame this.
Well, according to the wiki page, the emissions are also potentially much less.
It's a complex question, and unfortunately it becomes a difficult one to discuss since it becomes grossly politicized by those on both sides; those who will "never, ever buy an electric car no matter what" and view electric cars as a vast government conspiracy and an attempt to steal their freedom, and those who think that because it has a plug is full of virtue and is all puppies and rainbows since electricity is "renewable" (never mind that the much of what goes into the harnessing, distribution and production of electricity is neither renewable nor free of emissions).
The bottom line is "it depends"; it depends on how the additional need is met--how is that energy produced, what changes are made to the power grid to make the transfer and storage of electricity more efficient.
All that said, until the range of the cars increases significantly, it's a non-starter for me. If I'm traveling fewer than 3 miles I'm either walking or riding my bike.
Regardless of how the VW is powered, I think the aerodynamics of it are the most interesting. I wonder if they published a Cd number for it?
Electric cars may be the future for some but until they get a better range on a charge,they are not of any real use.
A huge number of people in the US have to drive many times the mileage that a single charge on an electric car can go before needing a recharge.
I suppose that we could all move to what would be a few cities around the US that held millions and millions of people and do away with the smaller areas and states of the country.
To do such would be a huge homeland security risk.It would be much easier to wipe out an enemy that was located in a huge metropolitan area instead of a population that covered several thousand square miles.
We all know that large cities are military targets anyway and if the whole population lived in such,well,we know the outcome of that.
A huge number of people in the US have to drive many times the mileage that a single charge on an electric car can go before needing a recharge.
I suppose that we could all move to what would be a few cities around the US that held millions and millions of people and do away with the smaller areas and states of the country.
To do such would be a huge homeland security risk.It would be much easier to wipe out an enemy that was located in a huge metropolitan area instead of a population that covered several thousand square miles.
We all know that large cities are military targets anyway and if the whole population lived in such,well,we know the outcome of that.
'nuff said.
People just don't get what their daily electricity consumption is in gallons equivalent, that the grid is sized to provide their daily electricity consumption, plus a bit...
Then can't translate their transport consumption back into what's required to run their cars.
And besides, it doesn't come free of energy useage/conversion out of the wall plug.
Then can't translate their transport consumption back into what's required to run their cars.
And besides, it doesn't come free of energy useage/conversion out of the wall plug.
Anyone want to venture to guess its true MPG rating when considering the electricy cost converted into gasoline? I'm thinking around 60-65mpg
The really big savings come when switching from 15 mpg to 20, or from 20 mpg to 30, or from 30 mpg to 50.
After that, the number of gallons you save in any given interval, say every 10k miles, are not enough to justify spending much for better fuel economy. 60 mpg might be nice, for a one- or two-passenger commuter car. But there's no advantage to 100 mpg if you have to sacrifice room or comfort or speed.
After that, the number of gallons you save in any given interval, say every 10k miles, are not enough to justify spending much for better fuel economy. 60 mpg might be nice, for a one- or two-passenger commuter car. But there's no advantage to 100 mpg if you have to sacrifice room or comfort or speed.
I don't mind the look of the car at all, the covered rear wheel well and boat tail design looks sleek to me. Combine a very aerodynamic design like that with a more traditional turbodiesel power plant and you might well get 60-70 MPG on the highway. Price it under 20K and you could have a revolution.
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