Friday, September 25, 2009

VW 1 Liter Auto L1

VW L1
World Premiere of the L1

Drivetrain

The Future Needs the TDI:
Small TDI leverages minimal fuel consumption and maximum range
Downsizing - 0.8 TDI is smallest diesel engine intended for production applications ever built by Volkswagen
Electrifying idea - E-motor plus TDI pushes CO2 emissions down to 36 g/km

The TDI, E-motor and 7-speed DSG are located at the rear, and they combine to create the most fuel efficient road-legal car hybrid drive in the world. Proof of this are its 1.38 litre per 100 kilometres fuel consumption and 36 g/km CO2 emissions. Serving as the primary drive source is a completely redeveloped two-cylinder turbo-diesel with common rail direct injection (TDI). It is operated in two different modes depending on the load conditions. In the standard "ECO" mode, the 800 cm3 TDI develops a power of 20 kW / 27 PS (at 4,000 rpm); in "Sport" mode - used to reach top speed, for example - the car's power rises to 29 kW / 39 PS (at 4,000 rpm). The TDI's maximum torque is 100 Newton-meter (at 1,900 rpm). Naturally, the L1 also has a Stop-Start system that automatically shuts down the engine when vehicle has stopped and restarts when the accelerator or E-pedal is pressed.

The hybrid module has been integrated into the housing of the 7-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox). It is located between the TDI engine and the DSG gearbox and consists of a 10 kW / 14 PS electric motor and a clutch. The E-motor is supplied with energy from a lithium-ion battery located at the front of the car. An electronic power control module, operating at around. 130 Volts manages the flow of high voltage energy the battery and to the E-motor. In parallel, the vehicle's low voltage electrical system is supplied with the necessary 12 Volts through a DC/DC converter.

Automatic transmission - details of the 7-speed DSG

Gear shifting work aboard the L1 is handled by the 7-speed DSG, which is one of the most innovative automatic transmissions in production. Compared to the version equipping the new Polo, for example, the design of the Direct Shift Gearbox has been developed to include clutch control for the hybrid module. Furthermore, individual gear ratios have been optimised to attain responsive driving performance despite the car's extremely low fuel consumption. The hybrid module is integrated into the DSG housing as previously mentioned. It is located where the flywheel is usually to be found.

Driving performance - economical and yet responsive

The L1, equipped with ABS and ESP, has a top speed of up to 160 km/h - this is remarkable considering its fuel efficiency. With maximum acceleration from a standstill, the two-seater reaches 100 km/h after just 14.3 seconds. The fuel tank holds just ten litres yet, this is sufficient for a theoretical driving range of about 670 kilometres, given the car's 1.38 litre average fuel consumption.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Tango EV Electric Sports Car

Google Tech Talks
July 18, 2006

ABSTRACT
Before there was the Wrightspeed X-1, there was the Tesla prototype. Before the Tesla, there was the Tango - the first 0-60 in 4 seconds electric sports car that you can actually buy. Credits: Speaker:Rick Woodbury

The World's Fastest Electric Urban Car

The Tango, built in Spokane, WA is billed as the world's fastest urban car powered by electricity. The Tango achieves 0 to 60 mph in 4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 MPH!

http://www.commutercars.com/

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Fifth Gear: Tramontana R Edition

Visit - http://germancarscene.com/ Fifth Gear's Tom Ford drives the Spanish Tramontana R Edition. Equipped with a 720bhp twin turbo V12 Mercedes engine and constructed from carbon fibre; it's quite nippy.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Trima S3 "Dedicated to Cory Our President"

The TRIMA S3 - an original concept of Ehnriko Disegno.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

SAHIMO



Turkish students at Sakarya University have built a hydrogen car that gets 1,336 mpg. Well, sorta.

Called the SAHİMO, the vehicle’s current range is about 353 miles on a quarter gallon of fuel (568 kilometers on 1 liter). It travels such an obscene distance with so little fuel due to the vehicle’s uber-light weight: it weighs only 240 pounds (110 kilograms). The car’s made up of 90-percent carbon fiber.

I assume the size and weight limit it to holding only a liter of fuel. I couldn’t verify this as their site is in Turkish and mine is a little rusty.

The SAHMO won third most efficient vehicle in Europe’s 26th Shell Eco Marathon. And their next goal is to conquer the inaugural 2009 Global Green Challengee–an evolution of the World Solar Challenge competition in Australia–this October. About twenty electric, hybrid, alternative fuel and low emission production and prototype vehicles will compete in the race.

Melemez, a fourth-year student in the engineering department at Sakarya University, says “We are hoping to raise our record from 568 kilometers on one liter of hydrogen up to a full 1,000 kilometers on one liter, and we believe we can do it.”

A 3,000 kilometer trek across the Australian Outback on just 3 liters is quite ambitious but I really hope they can pull it off.

But before you think about running out and buying one, the car did cost $170,000 to build.

The 40-member group that developed the SAHIMO hydrogen car is the Sakarya University Advanced Technologies Implementation Group (SAITEM). Today’s Zaman reports that the team hopes to work on a non-piloted aircraft next and is already trying to get support from Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI).

Source: Inhabitat

Sunday, July 12, 2009