Alt Car Expo: Solar Bug NEV ready for production
Built around an imported ATV chassis, the Solar Bug neighborhood electric vehicle will soon go into production. Steve Titus, owner of Free Drive EV in Bozeman, Montana, says a more stylish body will replace the telephone-booth-looking engineering model on display at the show. The Solar Bug isn't powered entirely by the sun. Titus says the solar panels supply from 1-10 percent of battery recharging in ideal conditions. Since the foundation is an ATV chassis, the driver (and passenger) straddles the seat and operates the steering and throttle on the handlebar. Even the regenerative braking is actuated by a hand lever. Titus has been driving his engineering model for more than three years. Since it's classified as a NEV, top speed is limited to 25 mph and can't be driven on roads with posted speeds higher than 35 mph. Titus is working with the Montana legislature to speed up the limitations to 35 and 45 mph, respectively, if the vehicle is enclosed and provides a rollbar. Although ATVs are notorious for rollovers, Titus says he dramatically lowered the center of gravity with 300 pounds of batteries and changed to road-worthy tires. He has not had any problem with tipping or rollovers. Total weight is 650 pounds, charge time is 4-6 hours and range is 30 miles. Prices will start at $9,500.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Charles Black 7:15PM (12/10/2006)
I have a question. Could an all electric vehicle be built with alternaters in the axles or 2 extra wheels attached to alternaters just to add juice to the batteries when the car is running? I was just wondering would that idea work in the real world.
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Phil L. 11:22AM (12/11/2006)
Basic physics: The energy has to come from somewhere. It will show up as extra load on the drivetrain, which means extra battery drain. Since all of these components have losses associated with them, the alternator will never be able to add more energy than it takes to run it (well - unless you're going downhill).
Of course, regerative braking systems try to recover otherwise lost energy when you *want* to slow down, which is a different situation.
My disappointment with most efforts like this: It seems that technology hasn't really advanced much from the remarkably similar CommutaCar from the 70s. And vehicles limited by NEV rules will always be niche players.
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