Greenpeace's SmiLE Project proved 70mpg was possible in 1995
High fuel efficiency is a hot topic today, but people have been tinkering with miserly vehicles for a long time. Take GreenPeace, which started working on the "SmILE-Project" in the mid '90s. GreenPeace thought that if it was going to have to be cars that we use for transportation, they may as well be "Small, Intelligent, Light und Efficient" (hence, SmILE). Unveiled in 1996, the tweaked first generation Renault Twingo got dramatically better fuel economy and, had Renault followed up and put these into production, would undoubtedly be a huge seller today.
The vehicle itself is labeled with the words "First Aid for the environment - same performance, half the fuel usage." That's not an exaggeration. Before the work, the Twingo used 6.7 liters per 100 km (35mpg U.S.) and afterwards just 3.3 (71mpg U.S.). Thanks to Slim for the tip!
[Source: Greenpeace (link is in German)]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Doug 1:19PM (7/06/2008)
Is that really what the '90s looked like. Man, I'm starting to feel old.
Reply
axiom 2:06PM (7/06/2008)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.greenpeace.de/themen/sonstige_themen/smile/artikel/das_projekt_smile_technische_details/&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.greenpeace.de/themen/sonstige_themen/smile/artikel/das_projekt_smile_technische_details/%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG
Automakers should easily be able to duplicate this technology. If not, the execs should be fired for not being able to do what Greenpeace could, 13 years ago.
Reply
Andy 2:07PM (7/06/2008)
Better link
http://archive.greenpeace.org/climate/smile/
Reply
Mike Z 3:58PM (7/06/2008)
Basically they cut the weight by using aluminum and plastics, tweaked the aerodynamics, and replaced the engine with a 55 hp 2-cylinder turbocharged engine.
Reply
badbooty 7:12PM (7/06/2008)
nah, there's alot more to it. Read the links or don't waste our time.
Michael 1:14PM (7/07/2008)
The car's original engine was also 55hp, although it was 4 cylinders as opposed to 2 and the Greenpeace engine was supercharged. Interestingly they cut the gas tank in half to reduce weight.
magic? 10:47PM (7/06/2008)
the modded car weighed in at 650 kg! that's not a car, that's a go-kart.
Look, there's no magic here, tiny car, underpowered, super light-weight. wanna get great mileage? Buy a motorcycle. It's not for everyone, but I ride. I get great mileage too. I also drive. This would not make my garage.
Reply
nagmashot 8:40AM (7/07/2008)
there was the VolksWagen Lupo 3l in 2000 easy toping that greenpeace car 75mpg.... it was more or lee a complete flop even technical brilliant, no one wanted it during that time. Even with the already high fuel costs in 2000.
There was no 75mpg car in 1995 because there was no market for it... the industry produce what the people ask for.. in 1995 the average world wide customer wanted something bigger and better powered...
Reply
Ricky 3:27AM (8/08/2008)
Greenpeace proved 70mpg was possible? 70 miles per gallon has been possible and feasible since the 70's. By this point we should be up to 100's, automakers haven't had the desire to.
Ricky Willems
Rickywillems.myrpi.org
Reply
Ricky 3:30AM (8/08/2008)
I forgot to add that nagmashot is right in part. While there certainly was -a- market in 1995 for a 70mpg car, it wasn't nearly as profitable as the hulking SUV's they were selling. They are companies after all, they're going to sell what sells best.
Ricky Willems
http://rickywillems.myrpi.org
Reply