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300 mpg??is it possible??

bp71k5 said:
Actually, I'm not surprised it's that low. I am assuming the hybrid systems are much more efficient because they generate most of their power in the most efficient power band compared to standard motors which deal with idling at stop lights and stomping on the gas to accelerate.
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Great point.
And the bigger the vehicle... the more benefit from the Hybrid system. But you still burn more gas overall to move the larger hunk of metal arouind I guess... so no real ammunition to use against the SUV haters there.
 
bp71k5 said:
Reading the article, it's the kind you plugin to you house to recharge. In reality those get worse mileage than normal hybrids like the Prius.

I've read some articles illustrating that the power going to your house comes from a power plant that's about 80% efficient just to generate the power. You then lose another 20% of that 80% in the transmission lines to your house. Then the resulting 60% efficiently generated power, storing it in batteries gives another 20% loss to heat and other stuff, so in the end you only get to use 40% of the power generated.

Compare that to just a typical hybrid motor generating power on the fly with gasoline and the gas beats is by a lot. (no numbers to quote at the moment, but I'd have to assume it's at least 50% efficient? I guess you'd be buying less gas, but you spend a lot more on your electric bill to make up for it.
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Yes and no. The first version to come out next year will be a strictly plug in version. The "hybrid" version does not come out until late next year/early 2009. The hybrid is actually getting 300 MPG, because unlike a Prius, the engine is only a very small generator that provides power to the batteries. In this way the 300 is true MPG, because the generator will burn 1 gallon of gas for every 300 miles worth of charge.
 
**** that hybrid ****, give me the full electric version!!!! 120 mile range? I drive more than 120 miles, 1 way, about twice a year... sometimes not even twice. I'd never need to buy gas to commute again, and that would rock. :thumb:

As far as efficiency vs gasoline goes... electricity in my neck of the woods is relatively cheap compared to some parts of the country. I doubt a normal car (even a prius or geo metro Xfi) would cost less to fuel than the full electric version of the car linked above. I doubt it would even be close. btw, did I mention that at work there is a nice plug in right next to the parking spot we use? :grin: Other than insurance and replacing broken parts, my commute would be free. Man... that'd be niiiiice! :thumb: 120 mile range is great. Way better than Chevys idea of making a big ass sedan plug in hybrid (the volt). The Volt is very cool... but I want something much smaller. When I commute its just me and a backpack... I don't need (or want to pay for!) seating for 5 and a trunk. :crazy:

that company should sell its electric motor assembly so peeps can build kit cars and stuff based on it. :thumb: a stripped down version without all the interior bling would be good too. Poor people would like some efficiency also please!!
 
I could see it for someone in your situation, but for me, I clear 120 miles a day commuting, so I would need the hybrid. But at 300 MPG, I could easily fill up less than once a month and save so much money that I would be smiling while filling up. Just thinking about all the parts I could buy with that 4-500 a month savings.
 
yikes, you have a serious commute! :shocked: I do 10 miles each way, and thats it.
 
I cover about 80 myself, then my wife takes the kids to school and puts about another 60 on it. Now with this car, I would have to get rid of the kids so that would be another bonus.
 
considering my friend's regular civic gets 35-40mpg with a normal powertrain, 300mpg is completely believable. a guy that lives a few miles from my parents drives what looks like a spaceship and claims to get 100-170 mpg depending on traffic, weather, cargo (about 1.5 cubic feet) and whether he's running gas, e85 or propane. i don't know what engine it's running, but it moves quick enough and is street-legal. he's a little guy, about 5'7" 140lbs. my 5'10 200lb butt would probably kill the mpg.
 
dude, thats way to much (for me). I'd just move closer at some point. Preferably a few years ago, when you could get a homeloan for under 5%. ;) :thumb:
 
blazinzuk said:
I think a 4 wheeled version might do better in snow, course if my gas bill goes down that much a month I can afford to just drive the blazer when its snowy.
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The reason it's 3 wheeled is to bypass DOT regs. It's registered as a motorcycle. Once they put on 4 wheels the price will triple because of all of the safety crap that would have to go into it. Padded dash, collapsible steering column, passenger protective doors, air bags, little black box that records your every move...

Pretty nifty little rig though. I'd just as soon by a motorcycle though. I'd feel more in control, and I can live with 50 mpg.
 
The original Saturn concept car knocked down 100 mpg, in 1982... Crash reg's killed it in it's cradle.
 
lectric80 said:
... the engine is only a very small generator that provides power to the batteries. In this way the 300 is true MPG, because the generator will burn 1 gallon of gas for every 300 miles worth of charge.
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This is the part I find unbelievable. It's just not efficient to have a gas engine power a generator to run an electric engine. You'd have less energy loss, a lot less, by having the gas engine power the vehicle directly.

It may be this vehicle with a full electrical charge and one gallon of gas may travel 300 miles, I suspect those would be "paper" miles as well, but it's not getting 300 mpg as the article implies.

There never was a carburetor that ran on water either:rolleyes:
 
the generator is just there for when your plug-in-charge wears out. Its just supposed to be emergency / long trip back up. The thing has solar cells on the roof... you could just use the full electric version and if it dies after 120 miles... let it sit in the sun for a while. :grin:
 
The article quotes what the company states. However, I am sure under certain driving conditions, the mileage would be less. How much wasted energy is there in your current vehicle? Think about the loss going through the drivetrain, 15 - 20% at the trans, more in the gears, and yet you cannot get anywhere near 100 MPG with a gas engine directly powering the vehicle, yet. This vehicle is still designed to be plugged in, but the generator is there for people like myself that cannot charge the vehicle everywhere we go.

Until it actually makes it to market, which could be a while, look at the Tesla, I can only base what I say on what is reported by the company and those that actually test the vehicle. Granted this may be considered a motorcycle, but I would take this vehicle over a bike any day. The higher visibility alone makes it safer than any motorcycle on the road today. Let alone being able to comfortably sit and stay warm all year long.
 
like my link to air car suggests, throw gas and electricity out, have a pneumatic motor....i put my name on their waiting list years ago w/ i saw them testing on tv looking for investors and checking interest....looks like it may make it to market here in usa!
 
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