Would you like to Tango? George Clooney does
As the photo shows, Commuter Car's Tango is a tiny 2-passenger one-box vehicle sitting on four tiny tires. What is doesn't show is that is it only one meter wide (39 inches)! It is so narrow it can drive two abreast in a normal road lane. It is so short it can park four to a standard parking space. Being so narrow, how can it be stable? Well, if you put 460 kilograms (about 1,000 pounds) of lead acid batteries under the floor of it, you get a mighty low center of gravity.
We've covered the Tango before (see below), but what about actually using one of these as a daily driver? I think it'd be good, but for one issue.
The seating is tandem. I don't know if there is provision for air conditioning. Power is awesome. 0 - 60 mph is quoted as about four seconds so it can leave any wise guys as the traffic light in the dust. The car is to be assembled by Commuter Cars, Inc. of Spokane, WA. George Clooney did order the first one but I don't think it has been delivered yet. Like the Tesla, this is not a cheap vehicle. The price range is between $108,000 and $148,000.
The point of this vehicle is that it lacks a lot of fatal flaws that plague other vehicle types. For instance:
- It doesn't use petroleum. It is an EV charged from the grid.
- Unlike a motorcycle, it is all weather, full enclosed. Safer.
- It is far easier to find parking and to park than a normal configuration 2 or 4 seat car. Easier than a Smart car.
- It is a good solution to the traffic problem we face in our metropolitan areas.
Related:
[Source: Commuter Cars]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Duster 5:44PM (6/30/2008)
I'd be driving one today if they were $15-20K... but not because it's electric (although that's good)... and not because I think it's sexy... but because of its size and ability to slide through traffic like a hot knife through butter. This is the answer to congestion, and any car that gets me home without sitting in stop-and-go traffic is sexy to me. Maybe Th!ink motors should license their patent for narrow car with ballast (low c-of-g) and make a narrow car, too.
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JamesWB 8:57AM (7/01/2007)
''Its only glaring flaw is that it is way too expensive.''
And ugly as sin.
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Tim 12:44PM (7/01/2007)
The VentureOne based on the Carver looks like a better vehicle. It WILL come in 3 flavors including a BEV and 2 PHEV. Take a look at their strategic partners and you’ll see that they are playing with the right team. Best of all, they are going to sell for around $20K. They are not in production yet so, well see… http://www.flytheroad.com/
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Tony Belding 11:13AM (7/01/2007)
That last sentence has an all-too-familiar tone. "Electric cars sound wonderful, and I hope my friends/neighbors/spouse/extended family/co-workers/etc will drive them soon! umm. . . What, you didn't mean *me* did you?"
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O.Jeff 11:39AM (7/01/2007)
This is a good example why we need to pin our hopes on real car companies. Only someone like GM can get the kind of efficiencies that come from mass production. The gm-volt.com web site has some promising interviews with the two companies that are competing to build the GM Volt battery pack. Both companies are confident they can meet GM's specifications. GM says the battery pack is the most difficult part about the GM Volt project.
By the way, if the Volt is made, I suspect it will become the new darling of green car modifiers. Some people will probably remove the gas engine and put in more batteries.
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Chase 1:17PM (7/01/2007)
"ugly as sin" - you said it James.
Why not just make a golf cart street legal? it will only cost one twentieth of that thing.
http://www.hotrods.ws
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Calebe 12:09PM (7/02/2007)
I normally do not knock a car for its looks. But wow. And why is the price so high?
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Ping Wang 11:10AM (7/02/2007)
Hell would have to freeze over for me to even consider this junker over the Tesla
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blake 12:21AM (7/03/2007)
I saw these things at the maker faire... they arent nearly as ugly in person, and they come with a roll cage. It also seats nicely, it is tall with a lot of headroom.
I do agree on the price. It would be nice if an established company bouhght these guys and produced the vehicle for about $15,000
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