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http://pesn.com/2006/01/21/9600227_Accelerated_Composits_330MPG_car/
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2006 |
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330 MPG Uber Hybrid?
The Aptera prototype, which is halfway to completion, will go for up to
330 miles on a gallon of gas thanks to an aerodynamic design and the lightweight
composites that make up the chassis.
Compiled by Sterling
D. Allan
The Aptera©, by Accelerated Composites, LLC |
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CARLSBAD, CA, USA -- Imagine driving across the United States on just one
tank of gas. That is what Accelerated Composites, formed by three
San-Diego engineers purport to be developing.
They plan to sell a revolutionary hybrid two-seater car that they say can get up
to 330 miles per gallon, and will sell for under $20,000.
They say that the lightweight composite car will post this fuel efficiency in
normal city and highway driving and demonstrate acceleration and handling
similar to that of a Honda Insight.
Dubbed the Aptera©, the vehicle achieves these remarkable numbers through the
use of cutting-edge materials, manufacturing methods, and a maverick design that
resembles a dolphin.
Aerodynamics
Unique, optimized aerodynamics gives the Aptera© a drag form factor that
will be lower than any mass produced car in the world. "It looks like
nothing you've ever seen," says Accelerated Composites founder and CEO
Steve Fambro.
"What we've done is changed the way cars are thought of and
designed. Rather than designing to a styling aesthetic, like the big auto makers
do, we hew to an efficiency and safety aesthetic. When you do that, math and
physics mostly dictate the shape of the car, and in this case, math and physics
look awesome."
Weight
Aerodynamics is only half of the equation. The other half is weight.
The Aptera© is made almost entirely of lightweight composites, making it one of
the lightest cars on the road. Yet the company says that this savings does not
come at the cost of safety. The construction of the car is based on the
driver-protection "crash box" found in Formula One race cars.
"Composites are enormously strong and lightweight," says Fambro.
"That's why all the aircraft manufacturers are switching to them."
Manufacturing
So why aren't the auto makers switching? "Cost" says Fambro.
"They haven't figured out cost-effective manufacturing processes for
composites. But we have."
The Aptera© utilizes proprietary composite construction that significantly
lowers manufacturing cost when compared to most other composite construction
methods, including steel. Many small companies are still building fiberglass and
carbon-fiber vehicle parts by hand, using squeegees to force resin into the
fiber layers inside a vacuum bag to ensure that air bubbles are completely
extracted. This is time-consuming as well as labor-intensive.
The company's patent-pending "Panelized Automated Composite
Construction", or PAC2©, lends itself to parallel assembly and has a very
low initial capitalization. Additionally, AC's patent-pending hybrid technology
allows off-the-shelf engines and electric motors to be seamlessly integrated for
a very low cost.
Another reason the big automakers aren't jumping to composites is corporate
inertia. "They have many billions of dollars invested in factories and
infrastructure for making cars the old-fashioned way. They couldn't walk away
from that if they wanted to. This is something that only a new company can do,
and that's where we come in".
"We've got a perfectly-timed, market-busting product. We have a great
team of world class engineers and designers, high-powered marketing and sales
experience, and a solid business plan".
About Accelerated Composites
Accelerated Composites, LLC, is a Carlsbad-based startup that is disrupting
the car design status quo by developing a low cost, 330 MPG hybrid car to be
manufactured in Southern California.
Founder Steve Fambro said he built robots that made DNA before turning his
attention to the automotive market. (Ref.)
# # #
SOURCES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTACT
Steve Fambro <email >
phone: 760.908.3051
Feedback
Dolphin Shape and Mercedes Benz
Your mention of the dolphin-like shape brings to mind the boxfish car by
Mercedes Benz. (Ref.)
There is something about these marine animals and their hydrodynamics that lends
itself to aerodynamics as well.
Mercedes-Benz Bionic Concept Vehicle / © GCF
The story on Discovery about the Mercedes-Benz design indicated that the
positive public response to it is prompting the car company to consider actual
production. I know I'd like one of those! The Aptera is cute, but won't carry
much in the way of stuff. Of course if loaded
down with cargo, it won't be as light weight and definitely won't get as good
mileage.
And that's something to consider by way of marketing issues. It's going to be a
great commuter car, though for families it's not suitable.
-- Mary-Sue
Haliburton (Jan. 21, 2006)
Related Coverage
Startup
Plans 330-MPG Hybrid
BusinessWeek - Jan
19, 2006
Accelerated Composites is a Carlsbad-based startup that
aims to disrupt the car design status quo by developing a low cost, 330
MPG hybrid car to be ...
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Autoblog |
"A
330 mpg car for everyone"
Autoblog, CA - Jan
18, 2006
... Construction has begun for the first
prototype. And yes, fuel consumption is estimated to be 330 mpg
at 65 mph. More pictures after the jump. ...
|
"A
330 mpg car for everyone"
Autoblog, CA - Jan
18, 2006
... Construction has begun for the first
prototype. And yes, fuel consumption is estimated to be 330 mpg
at 65 mph. More pictures after the jump.
|
EV World |
Extreme
Machine: 330 MPG Aptera
EV World, Nebraska -
Jan 19, 2006
Steve Fambro and the guys at Accelerated Composites in
Carlsbad, CA have a dream. It's a radically efficient machine classified
...
|
Would
you believe... 300 MPG!
Political Cortex, NY -
Jan 20, 2006
Why am I interested in this little white 2 seater?
Because it's projected to get 330 MPG that's why. Bring in
this car, and forget the oil crisis. ...
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See also
Page posted by Sterling
D. Allan Jan. 17, 2006
Last updated January 22, 2006
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