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Brits Pioneer 100mpg Carbon Car
It's a Lotus Elise, but not like any you've seen before. This is a British car capable of returning 100mpg, and it has two hugely influential backers - the UK Government and the motor industry - so it might succeed where other 'green' projects have failed!
It's called the AeroCarbon, and is so aerodynamic that its ultra-low petrol consumption makes hybrid vehicles look thirsty. It boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.22 - by comparison an Elise has 0.34 - and the four-seater is also only half as heavy as similar-sized conventional cars. "The carbon fibre spaceframe and panels save weight," said Dr Steven Cousins of Cranfield University, Beds, where the car is being developed. "It's a safe, crashworthy design, and this country has the expertise to exploit the benefits of this material."
The 660cc engine and powertrain are from Honda and will give the car a top speed of 92mph. It has a Lotus Elise suspension, steering and windscreen, while Ford, Caterham and space rocket company APECS are also partners in the project. Yet despite £2million of investment, more commercial backers are needed. "We want extra funding to take it to production," said Cousins, who has been developing eco vehicles for a dec-ade. "Hybrids and fuel cells are not the only route to 100mpg, and both will need light bodies like the AeroCarbon's to achieve it."
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It's a Lotus Elise, but not like any you've seen before. This is a British car capable of returning 100mpg, and it has two hugely influential backers - the UK Government and the motor industry - so it might succeed where other 'green' projects have failed!
It's called the AeroCarbon, and is so aerodynamic that its ultra-low petrol consumption makes hybrid vehicles look thirsty. It boasts a drag coefficient of only 0.22 - by comparison an Elise has 0.34 - and the four-seater is also only half as heavy as similar-sized conventional cars. "The carbon fibre spaceframe and panels save weight," said Dr Steven Cousins of Cranfield University, Beds, where the car is being developed. "It's a safe, crashworthy design, and this country has the expertise to exploit the benefits of this material."
The 660cc engine and powertrain are from Honda and will give the car a top speed of 92mph. It has a Lotus Elise suspension, steering and windscreen, while Ford, Caterham and space rocket company APECS are also partners in the project. Yet despite £2million of investment, more commercial backers are needed. "We want extra funding to take it to production," said Cousins, who has been developing eco vehicles for a dec-ade. "Hybrids and fuel cells are not the only route to 100mpg, and both will need light bodies like the AeroCarbon's to achieve it."
