Trev (two-seater renewable energy vehicle)

Suppose you decided that you weren't going to use fossil fuels anymore. How would you get around?

Solar racing cars are able to travel 750km per day, at highway speeds, powered only by sunlight. Surely it is possible to use similar technologies to build a car in which you could do your daily commuting, but without the noise and pollution of a petrol engine.

Staff and students at the University of South Australia have designed and built such a car—Trev. Its features include: * two comfortable seats, since more than 90% of urban trips have only one or two people in the car; * enough luggage space for at least two overnight bags; * 300 kg mass—because using a 2.5 tonne vehicle for commuting is ridiculous; * energy-efficient tyres, brakes and suspension; * a clean, quiet and efficient electric drive system; * compliance with road safety and worthiness regulations; * good performance, with a top speed of 120 km/h; and * 150 km of city driving before the car must be recharged.

Most importantly, it uses less than 1/5 of the energy required by a conventional car, and can be recharged using electricity from clean, renewable sources such as solar and wind.

And it doesn't look too bad...
Features * The tandem seating layout gives good aerodynamics, good balance, and good vision. * The acrylic canopy gives the driver an unimpeded view of the road. * The canopy and door open on the kerb side of the car. * The electric motor gives smooth, quiet acceleration from 0--100 km/h in under 10 seconds. * A composite tub chassis, with foam and plastic body panels, gives a total car mass of 300 kg. * A 45 kg lithium ion polymer battery gives over 150km of city driving. * Low-energy tyres on low-mass alloy wheels give low rolling resistance. * The single rear drive wheel simplifies the suspension, and allows a simple, efficient transmission.

Performance

In October 2007 we drove Trev from Darwin to Adelaide in the Greenfleet Technology Class of the World Solar Challenge. For most of the journey, we drove 80 - 120 km at speeds of 80 - 90 km/h before stopping to recharge from a generator. We completed the 3020 km trip in just over 6 days.

Our energy consumption was 6.2 kWh/100 km. Recharged from solar, wind or hydro, there are no emissions.

Electricity costs about $0.18 per kWh. The cost of recharging Trev is 1.1 cents per kilometre, so the entire journey cost us $33 of electricity

It makes petrol look silly.

http://www.unisa.edu.au/solarcar/trev/

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• trev
• electric
• car
• vehicle
• transport
• ev
• solar
• racing

[cokie58]

Put a gasoline engine in it and I'll buy one.

[Odziz]

Put a gasoline engine in it wouldbe defeating the purpose. Also oil will reach $200 a barrel by the end of the year, so only the rich will be able to drive Planet Killers

[cokie58]

You are aware that electricity doesn't originate from an outlet on the wall, right?

We burn fuels to produce electricity that gets steped up to travel long distances to a trandformer that steps it down to charge a battery that runs an electric motor. With each transaction you're losing efficiency-and energy.

So why not just eliminate the middle man?

Or we could go nuclear. But that makes the Greenies sad.

[Odziz]

Yes you can eliminate the middleman and use solar, wind or wave energy and convert that to electricity.

Nuclear is a no no! for the reasons you have just mentioned concerning fossil fuels. Also we would be back to square one within 20 years if we build the nuclear power stations they say we need.

[budgienation]

@christsaves227 "How come we can't use nuclear"? You're kidding right? For one thing, you don't want to turn your balls into little night lights, right? Second, we're having enough trouble with nuclear waste disposal now, how's it going to be with thousands of little nukes running around that will have to dispose of spent fuel at some point. Just think it through, man, think it through. Next you'll be asking 'where the hells our jetpacks already?'

[christsaves227]

@Odziz How come we can't use nuclear?

[jwserge]

everything is good, but where from it collected 300kg of its weight???

[cptnsmelly]

Where can I buy one?

[maxxbad17]

i want a nuclear powered car!

[JasonWW2000]

I just have this strong desire to drop a motorcycle engine in it. Same for the VW 1L.

[GaspyGrassHopper]

OH shit Its Green!

[bolijack]

@cokie58 you really are out, didnt get the picture yet :-((

[GayBoyRunning]

@ghostjaguar Yer if you want to face a nuclear melt down? Hmm