Venturi to launch production of wind/solar Eclectic in June 2007
Monaco based car-maker Venturi showed off a peculiar little machine at last September's Paris Auto Show called the Eclectic. The Eclectic is a three seater that resembles a twenty-first century rendition of a nineteenth century carriage. The roof is covered by solar cells and there is also a mast with a wind turbine to help charge the batteries. Venturi is apparently doing a pilot run of 20 samples right now, and plans to start limited series production in June 2007. The first batch of 200 examples will cost €24,000 each. A further larger production run will be available starting in 2009, with each costing €15,000. The Eclectic is an interesting vehicle although side impact protection seems to have been neglected.
[Source: AutoExpress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
George Krpan 1:23PM (12/19/2006)
Range 31 miles. Speed 31mph. Solar panels and wind tubine contribute 9.3 miles of the range (30%). Weight 770 lbs.
It's not very practcal but it is so lovable. It would be safer than riding around on a motor scooter. I'm down on motor scooters because I was hit on mine by a car the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Perhaps the next generation will be fully enclosed, have side protection, more speed, more range, and still weigh less than 1000 lbs. And how about an internal combustion powered version. It would have to get 100mpg. Or maybe a version with Altair Nanotech batteries.
They've got the right idea. Light makes right.
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wm 1:17PM (12/26/2006)
Looks like my guld cart.
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Ruben 6:41PM (12/25/2006)
Great idea, a little more elegance would make it attractive to more consumers. An increase in range also would make it more practical and reliable. This could be the beginning of a future in which gasoline will become obsolete, and cars will be enviromentally friendly.
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R.Paul DuBois 6:42PM (12/25/2006)
When you are parked at home companies like Pinnaclewindpower.com will help with polution problems
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Tim O'Neal 7:01PM (12/25/2006)
Can they make one I can deliver mail out of? Getting 8 mpg in my Jeep stinks. An electric car would be great for delivering mail. I'm out on the route four hours a day and about 75% of the time I'm idling or coasting down to the next box. What a total waste out gas. Think about 300,000 electrics replacing 300,000 gas powered trucks. I bet the Post Office could save millions on fuel costs.
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a.k.a. Ponyboy 7:00PM (12/25/2006)
yes, I want one of these vehicles'
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a.k.a. Ponyboy 7:01PM (12/25/2006)
I want one
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Michael Nomura 7:03PM (12/25/2006)
The secret to good gas economy was proven in the 1980's. Small, lightweight vehicles such as the Toyota Tercel, Mazda 323, etc. The trouble with this is that these cars are so basic in design that the profit margins are non-exsistent. To replace that, the hybrids are practically the same thing as the subcompacts as above with a added battery to power the vehicle that will rarely be used, but could be priced ten thousand dollars more for the same amount of space. The automotive industry will only make and sell a vehicle if it can make money for the company.
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joseph smothers 7:09PM (12/25/2006)
That is so cool looking!!
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Michael Nomura 7:14PM (12/25/2006)
A fuel economy range of up to fifty miles per gallon is sufficent and high enough. Any amount above that is insignificant and not worth measuring in dollar sense.
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JIMMY BOLDE 7:14PM (12/25/2006)
I THOUGHT 10 YEARS AGO THAT A VEHICLE COULD RUN WITH BATTERY POWER. AS IT MOVED ALONG ,THE AIR PASSING BY COULD BE COUGHT BY A TURBINE FAN AND AS IT SPUN, IT WOULD RUN A GENERATOR IN WHICH WOULD CHARGE THE BATTERY OR POWER PACK.
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Michael Nomura 7:16PM (12/25/2006)
Too much safety will have to be given up when designing a vehicle over fifty miles per gallon.
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Jesus C. 11:14PM (12/25/2006)
Please go to: www.whokilledtheelectriccarmovie.com
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joseph ullman 7:54PM (12/25/2006)
you guys are kind of funny. You can already get a real car that gets 50 mpg; i've owned one. VW Jetta TDI averaged 45mpg and over 50 on the highway. My current Passat TDI gets 38/45. It isn't beyond realistic that this fossil fuel burner will get over 60-70 teamed with a hybrid. It drives beautifully and has side panels. Yeah, wind and sun are romantic; i've tried to have a cabin with solar and wind and batteries and it is a romantic joke so far.
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Hugh 10:49PM (12/25/2006)
Would make a nice golf cart, but wait a minute, I have seen mucgh nicer golf carts.
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Hugh 10:49PM (12/25/2006)
Would make a nice golf cart, but wait a minute, I have seen mucgh nicer golf carts.
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RICK BADMAN 8:54PM (12/25/2006)
I'm still going to stick with flywheel-powered vehicles because I believe a sedan like my Sable could carry two primary units and four secondary units to power the systems and it would have a range of over 500 miles nonstop. It only takes about 10 minutes to respin the flywheels up to speed. As long as the flywheels don't fly apart, they could last for years and save me thousands of dollars I would otherwise spend on fuel, oil, and regular maintenance.
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mike 12:12AM (12/26/2006)
YOU TREE HUGGERS WONT BE HAPPY TIL WE ARE A THIRD WORLD ECONOMY!!!!!
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Tim 8:27PM (12/25/2006)
It looks about as aerodynamic as a shoe box.
It's performance leaves a lot to be desired as well.
This one is better..
http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=386
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George Lee 8:33PM (12/25/2006)
It looks like something DAIMLER produced as a second effort back in 1892. Americans want power as proved lately wit the Mustang, Charger and cars like that.We tried the small econo boxes and now the public are buying HP.
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