Electric/hybrid cars breaking efficiency records!

By Sergio Ferreira / Published on Wed, 2007-10-10 13:28

The Aptera is the newest two-seat car with high fuel efficiency entering the market – the company is accepting orders for delivery in about one year. The producers claim that it can achieve more than 300 miles to the gallon (or less than 0.78 l/100 km) and a top speed of 150 km/h.

The three wheeled car comes in full electrical or hybrid diesel versions. The full electric version is powered by a 25 hp (19 kW) electrical motor fed by Ni-Zn batteries and it will include regenerative breaking. The hybrid version will also run 100% on electric power but will have a one cylinder diesel engine to charge the batteries.

The Aptera is said to have a range around 900 km on the hybrid version and 200 km on the full electric version. The car is equipped with a PV panel on the roof that power an air conditioning unit that keeps the car cool on a sunny day – when you need it. It is made of 100% recycled materials and provides a spacious “cockpit” for two passengers.

The high efficiency achieved is due to the extreme aerodynamics that provide it with a very low drag coefficient.

Now, will this car reach a high market share among the “green generation”?

Would you get a Tesla Roadster or Aptera utility vehicle?

How much do we still have to wait to see these cars as a mainstream?

Comment

Share / Save

Tagged with

Rating

Comments

Wow, what a beauty!!!

By Luc need some Air Conditioning Repair... / Published on Sat, 2008-03-15 4:02

Please allow me to expand on electric cars:

The electric car is a vehicle that utilizes chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, and electric motors and motor controllers instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE).

Vehicles using both electric motors and ICEs (hybrid electric vehicles) are examples of hybrid vehicles, and are not considered pure electric vehicles (EVs) because they operate in a charge-sustaining mode. Hybrid vehicles with batteries that can be charged externally to displace some or all of their ICE power and gasoline fuel are called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), and are pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) during their charge-depleting mode. Electric vehicles include automobiles, light trucks, and neighborhood electric vehicles.

Electric cars were among the earliest automobiles. They produce no exhaust fumes, and minimal pollution if charged from most forms of renewable energy. Many are capable of acceleration exceeding that of conventional vehicles, are quiet, and do not produce noxious fumes. Electric cars reduce dependence on petroleum and decrease or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, depending on how their electricity is produced.

Historically, EVs and PHEVs have had issues with high battery costs, limited travel distance between battery recharging, charging time, and battery lifespan, which have limited widespread adoption. Ongoing battery technology advancements have addressed many of these problems; many models have recently been prototyped, and a handful of future production models have been announced. Toyota, Honda, Ford and General Motors all produced electric cars in the 1990s in order to comply with the California Air Resources Board's Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. The major US automobile manufacturers have been accused of deliberately sabotaging their electric vehicle production efforts.

Electric cars are expected to be cheaper to make and maintain than internal combustion engine vehicles because they have many fewer parts[citation needed]. Using regenerative braking, a feature which is standard on many electric and hybrid vehicles, a significant portion of the energy expended during acceleration may be recovered during braking, increasing the efficiency of the vehicle.

In general terms an electric car is a rechargeable battery electric vehicle. Other examples of rechargeable electric vehicles are ones that store electricity in ultracapacitors, or in a flywheel.

You Still Have to Charge an EV

By Smart Grid Management / Published on Tue, 2008-04-22 22:54

This car is a great innovation, but the reality is that the more electric vehicles become prevalent, the more the already overtaxed electrical grid is jeopardized.

Utilities are going to have to use Smart Grid Technology to keep every night from being a peak load / demand problem.

Utilities are smarter than that

By Used Cars David / Published on Fri, 2008-06-27 4:47 Most people drive during the day, expending electricity during peak hours, and park their cars during the night, when electricity demand is low. The utilities have only to price electricity by the time of day, and we will all happily fork out the $29.99 for a car charger timer that charges the car during the off-peak rate hours of 1:00 am to 5 :00 am.

That's pretty fast!

By Foodcare Fride Freezer / Published on Wed, 2008-03-26 13:22

150km/h is pretty fast for a high efficiency vehicle like that.

Interesting post.

It's cramped

By Auto Battery Chargers / Published on Tue, 2008-04-15 23:32

I don't think riding over 500 miles in that would be very comfortable. I think that you will start seeing more of these types of vehicles sold once they can start making them 1. more affordable and 2. more comfortable.

I think it's meant for

By alabamer / Published on Sat, 2008-04-26 23:30

The vehicle was inspired by watching motorcycles utilizing the HOV lanes during rush hour... The designer wanted a vehicle that could technically be a motorcycle so that he could travel in the less congested traffic lanes.

Also, what this inherently implies is that it's also meant for commuting. Average commute in US is not very far (you mention 500 miles?).

If I commuted to work and this vehicle was affordable, I would definitely buy one.

Environmental impact

By Mikes Air Conditioning Repair / Published on Thu, 2008-04-17 11:46

Dollar for dollar there is no greater impact a homeowner can make on their carbon footprint than to properly upgrade their home comfort system with a high efficiency system

We're getting there

By Dave / Published on Tue, 2008-05-27 19:49

Excellent stuff!!!

Can I add something about electric cars?

The electric car is a vehicle that utilizes chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, and electric motors and motor controllers instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE).

Electric cars are expected to be cheaper to make and maintain than internal combustion engine vehicles because they have fewer parts. Using regenerative braking, a feature which is standard on many electric and hybrid vehicles, a significant portion of the energy expended during acceleration may be recovered during braking, increasing the efficiency of the vehicle.

In general terms an electric car is a rechargeable battery electric vehicle. Other examples of rechargeable electric vehicles are ones that store electricity in ultracapacitors, or in a flywheel.

I'm excited to see the day we

By Ron / Published on Tue, 2008-06-03 5:02

I'm excited to see the day we have more electric cars on the road. I think this one looks a tad too futuristic for most people right now but eventually we'll be there. 500 mils an hour? Did I read that right? I'm not sure there will ever be room on the road for a car this speed but I guess that's what mock up cars are for. Reality is if your going 500 miles an hour theres no way you'd survive a crash....and well speed limits are set so doubt you'd ever use it to its full potential. Now on the topic of electric I do believe we'll be seeing more and more of them, fuel costs are getting out of control and making driving a car a luxury not a routine way of getting around.

Hybrids and the Environment

By Beverly Clarke / Published on Fri, 2009-04-24 14:15

Sure, hybrid cars are fairly new, so their immediate impact on the environment cannot be foreseen in the short term. However, over the course of time, the next generations will definitely be thankful for having a clean, pollution free world, thanks to hybrid vehicles.

i would give anything

By steve tyler / Published on Tue, 2008-06-17 10:25

i would give anything to own this car. i saw it up-close in vegas and it is unbelievable!

It's gonna get awfully quiet out there

By Mike Newberry / Published on Wed, 2008-09-17 20:03

We urbanites won't know what to do when all the vehicle noise goes away but it will be nice to try.

Time to start again

By dfoord / Published on Tue, 2008-10-28 10:24

This may be a solution in America, but it would not survive on the UK roads, pot holes, traffic calming measures and no infrastructure would undoubtedly mean that the Tesla would go the same way as the Sinclair C5. A severe lack of sun would also mean the air con never worked. Why can't we find a power source that looks away from fossil fuels totally, we don't need to reduce carbon emissions we need to eliminate them.

electrical energy

By greenskidusautoparts / Published on Tue, 2008-12-09 4:12

"It strikes me that significant gains could be made by combining the latest technology on fuel efficiency. I don't think you can get away from the obvious efficiency gains by recovering the kinetic energy lost during braking, whether as hydraulic or electrical energy.

Actually long term studies

By ceejay2005 / Published on Mon, 2008-12-08 11:23

Actually long term studies showed that living under or near high frequency electric lines can cause birth defects and cancer, hybrid cars emit similar EMFs. There is no short term impact but if you spend quite a lot of time in your car then this can cause cancer and other problems.

Future cars !!

By Japanese cars / Published on Tue, 2009-10-20 5:40

That is so Great such Electric Hybrid car. The body shape is really cool which may be very right against air resistance. Furthermore, I was surprised such fuel consumption with high speeding drive. This type of car must be our future.