I feel the usage of solar panels in the roof area of the car as well as the trunk can help greatly this car to give in excess of a 100 MPG easily. The usage of a Diesel instead of a gas engine can even improve mpg even more.

Try using a CVT transmission that maximizes the engine output while helping with the MPG. There is a Professor in California who has done the same with a Prius obtaining about a 100 MPG of the Car.

Secondly you could use a RAM air turbine that uses the wind as the car runs at high speeds to help keep the battery charge as well as a fifth wheel as a matter of dinamo just to keep the battery charged. This option while be one of the cheapest ones to do in the production car.

Keep the wheels in the 18, to 20 inch range the car looks aggressive and super nice, that would count for the sales of the younger people and massification of the car. The usage of a small jet turbine that runs with biodiessel and spins at 60,000 rpm's would charge your battery in seconds and then it would shut off, all happening in less than ten seconds and with minimum fuel consumption on the part of the engine. These are called APU's and are widely produced. Look up THe Motorhead Messiah on the net, he has great ideas, to make a Hummer give 60 MPG, from the 8 GM's made it with.

Also the car should burn like 99% of the fuel put inside of it, this would be accomplished using a gasification system in the fuel injection coupled with a high voltage spark system, similar to the ones used in the jet engines with capacitors incorporated to them.

I would also get advice from the Ultra hypper Miller Gerdes, Wayne he is the champion to get a normal car into the 50 to 60 MPG's

Thanks,


C. Cardona

Try using a CVT transmission that maximizes the engine output while helping with the MPG. There is a Professor in California who has done the same with a Prius obtaining about a 100 MPG of the Car.

Secondly you could use a RAM air turbine that uses the wind as the car runs at high speeds to help keep the battery charge as well as a fifth wheel as a matter of dinamo just to keep the battery charged.

I would also get advice from the Ultra hypper Miller Gerdes, Wayne he is the champion to get a normal car into the 50 to 60 MPG's

Thanks,


C. Cardona

Welcome to the forum Cardona! One question, did Miller Gerdes recommend the ram turbine? lol. Sorry, it`s something we hear all the time on this forum. People just don`t realize that it costs more energy to push the car more to overcome the drag caused by the turbine and thus you actually lose energy. Laws of physics and all. Anyway, please read around the forum and enjoy.

I agree, if anyone has checked out what Aptera is doing with their car, solar seems a great idea to further the electric-series efficiency.
The solar panels on roof/trunk space could not only extend range while driving, but I can't help but appreciate what solar would do if I drove to work, and left it in a sunny parking lot all day (as many others do I'm sure.)
If the solar could charge the battery even the difference of an extra 10% charge would be worthwhile, the energy gained from the sun would be free of charge while a plug-in still costs you (albeit, not much) in buying the electricity from the power-grid.
Aptera, a goofy looking alternative to the Volt not only charges the battery with solar, but uses solar to power the AC/heat to keep the car a comfortable temperature when you get in. Now we're talking!

I humbly request a sticky on this topic.

Trust us, we have done this thread....a lot. Here is the invariable conclusion which I have no intention of supporting again, lol.

1.) If the math angle is how you are justifying this, it's just not viable.

2.) If the 'it's freaking cool' angle is how you justify this, then it is viable...but no way it's a Gen 1. If it does come, think Gen 2 and think $10/w minimum. (It's not like slapping a panel on your roof).

GM has already considered placing solar panels in the sunroof area. See the GM Cadillac Provoq fuel cell concept. http://www.cadillac.com/cadillacjsp/experience/news_provoq.jsp
It will be a second-generation addition on the Volt possibly the 2011 model.
:)