Venturi Astrolab in Monaco
Although introduced in the Paris Motor Show in 2006, the Venturi Astrolab was spotted again at the EVER Salon in Monaco (Green Cars Autoshow). The concept, which showed an interesting tandem lightweight (only 280 kg!) architecture, was designed to provide the maximum surface available to recharge the car's batteries.
The car has a total surface of 3.2 m2 which provide 600 W of energy to charge the NiMH Venturi NIV-7 batteries in five hours. With that, you have 18 km (12 miles) of range. But, if you plug it in, the range jumps to about 110 km (70 mi). The concept allowed the development of a solar roof for the second generation of the Eclectic announced for this year's Auto Show.
[Source: Leblogauto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
George Krpan 7:16PM (4/01/2008)
No power steering needed.
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Kevin Nugent 7:27PM (4/01/2008)
That things looks highly unpratical
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Peekoyle 9:01PM (4/01/2008)
Looks like it will be pretty handy when oil gets up to 10 bucks a gallon
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GenWaylaid 9:05PM (4/01/2008)
That's the sad truth about solar vehicles: great big sun, little tiny car. Nothing that fits on the road can intercept a truly useful quantity of solar energy. Might as well leave the solar cells at home on the garage roof.
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James M 2:31AM (4/02/2008)
When will all of the EV manufactureers start using this idea for car roofs? Obvious really isn't it?
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Niralisherni 4:04AM (4/02/2008)
@ James M> EV manuracturers are in fact using this idea for car roofs. Take a look at the xebra zero solar at http://www.zapworld.com/electric-vehicles/electric-cars/xebra-xero-solar-option
The solar panel is on the roof and the design is way better looking.
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Rochefort Simon 10:13AM (4/02/2008)
Hi Xavier, thank you for the credits you gave us on the articles we made after the Ever show in Monaco. Could you just quote leblogauto.com instead of leblogauto.fr below the pictures please.
Best Regards
Simon
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Eletruk 4:04PM (4/02/2008)
With the typical surface area available in an EV, and the greater weight, you are more likely to get 2-3 miles from 5 hours of sunlight. I'm surprised that they are using NiMH batteries and not Lithium, that would save a few kg and get you a couple more km a day.
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