Need for More Economical Vehicles

Despite the achievement of Indian motor industry Tata in creating a small economical and affordable (only USD2500 new) car of its Nano, the world currently still needs a more petrol efficient car.

Decades ago, in reaction toward 1956 Suez oil crisis, the world had witnessed such engineering achievement of many motorcar industries which have already answered the challenge of increasing oil price, now reaching more than USD100 per barrel.

BMW for example introduced Isetta 300 following the Iso Rivolta’s success.
Messerschmitt introduced KR175 earlier in 1954 which subsequently replaced by a bigger engine KR200 in 1955.Its original specification (in German) is still available here.

The picture below shows the roadster version with the glass hardtop removed enhancing its aerodynamics.

These pictures are just a taster, you can have a long but not exhausted list of microcars at Wikipedia. In brief the smallest petrol engine ever used was 38cc (Fend Flitzer) and the biggest one was 700cc (Reliant Bond Bug).

My ideas of the future world involve smaller cars or microcars apart from smart buses and lorries which auto-off their engines after a couple of seconds(I will write about this at a later time).

The main characteristics of these microcars are their small engines mostly modified from motorcycle engine (exclude the electric motor please) and air cooled, with small wheels like those of scooters. Such characteristics were not able to be kept out in Tata Nano using a twin-cylinder, 623cc petrol engine powering it drives the rear wheels. The Tata Nano weighs around 600kg.

Developing 32bhp at 5500rpm, its parallel twin petrol engine delivers only modest performance – Tata claims 0-44mph in 14secs and between 66- and 70mph flat out.

And with high-profile 12in wheels as standard, and unas

sisted drum brakes at each corner, braking performance should be similarly modest.

Without modern cars comforts such as air conditioning, power steering and electric window at the moment Tata Nano gives 57mpg. Compared to Toyota Prius or Honda Civic Hybrid giving 60-70mpg, Tata Nano fuel efficiency can still be improved.

Forget about Acabion (below left) which looks too motorcycle giving 342mpg at efficient slow mode or 100mpg at 100mph high-speed mode,

the world needs a car more than a motorcycle. I don’t think the answer to the prayer would be Aptera (below right) by Accelerated Composites, San Diego, which prototype gives 330mpg with acceleration and handling similar to Honda Insight as it sells just under USD20,000, almost 8 times of Tata Nano.

In order to achieve the balance between the price, the mpg and the usability (transporting 4 people, rather than just one or two), we have to considers all influencing factors. Factors of price include R&D cost, production scale and materials used.

Factors of mpg include mass, aerodynamics, and engine used. Factors of usability include space size, access doors, and boot/compartments.

To cut the R&D cost, my suggestion is to use existing designed like EV1 from GM (see

picture below) or Honda Insight (further below), yet we need to ensure that they are four seats models.

EV1 offers drag coefficient of just 0.195, while Insight Cd=0.25. These are acceptable to my laymen understanding.

The materials should be composite with aluminium frame to minimise its weight. The engine size and type should match the final gross weight including 4 adult medium weight passengers. If possible, use an existing engine either 2 (from big motorcycles) or 3 (from small cars) cylinders petrol, water cooled and lightweight (e.g. ceramic or

intermetallic-alloys one).

Having said that, I would not neglect the need for one person car like those bubble cars for commuting to work.

These bubble cars would help cut the traffic jams and the pollution. But what sort of bubble-cars would be acceptable for today’s need.

In my opinion if becak (see below) can be enhanced, we can have a motorised tricycle which will look like the Isetta, but allow 3 people instead of only 1 person.

To enhance its efficiency, the size of the wheel needs to be reduced. The front opening needs a proper tempered glass door and the body needs to be made by resin, instead of heavy wood. Hmm maybe it won’t look like becak anymore.

Last but not least, we need to promote the green diesel. Not only for its less pollution, but also for the state’s balance of payment. We have been importing loads of fossil fuel products, much more than our crude oil export. Forget about habitat, ecosystem etc.; a palm tree is as good as other tree in absorbing carbon dioxide at daylight. Alternatively, we can use methanol for petrol engine. With current development of lithium ion battery, electric engine is equally good alternative to the green diesel. To mention one, ZAP (Zero

Air Pollution) 3 wheeler cars have been mass produced by a public company based in Santa Rosa, California, since May 2006.

The top speed of the Xebra is 40 mph (65 km/h), with a range of about twenty five miles with the standard batteries, or forty miles (64 km) with the optional extended range batteries. The sedan version can carry up to 4 people. The listed cargo weight for both the SD sedan and the PK pickup is 500 lb (230 kg), although PK owners have carried more weight than that. The SD sedan lists for US$10,500, and the PK pickup truck model with dump bed for US$11,900 in December 2006.

Of course, the government needs to influence the population for example by exempting the bubble cars, especially the electric ones from road tax or even 3-in-1 zone.

Well, see you in your cool bubble car!