Not a Tiny Airplane – On the Ground
Let me explain first the title: a single-engine Cessna is a type of small airplane, while this project is called “VESNA”, and is an auto that stays flat on the ground. But it’s fantastic! The Vesna is a single-seat electric car. The body of this car is made entirely of a single piece of natural resin with built-in wiring. How wild is that?
The wheels in the front go round and round. They also take the form of a reinforced, perforated rubber belt affixed to the electric motor. They also have an offset center of rotation. And they work with MAGNETS!
The motor is non-synchronous and runs on direct current with high-powered permanent magnets. The motor works with a geared cylinder with teeth matching apertures in the belt tire. Regenerative breaking x mechanical breaking. Steering via “edistribution of torque and braking on the leading wheels, depending on how the steering wheel is turned.”
The rear wheel is even more wild. Even more. The rear wheel? It’s a reinforced-rubber sphere. Fastened to a suspension clip that’s got four pedals, each of which contains a roller for free rotation of the sphere. Breaks and assisted steering work on this as well, as each clip is also connected to the main electrical system.
Refueling of this amazing machine happens via the network of wires that, when the vehicle is parked on it’s special “electro-floor”, connect to a working electric channel which connects to sockets that you can plug in using your regular electric plugs.
So simpo!
Designer: Kristina Magnitskaya
Posted: February 22nd, 2010
at 8:02am by Chris Burns
Topics: Automotive, Car, carpiece, electric automotive, electric car, electricity
Toyota’s FT-EV II concept sports steampunk interior, joystick controls
Toyota’s FT-EV concept was tiny, quirky, electric powered — and honestly a bit predictable. Its successor, the FT-EV II, takes that staid design and sends it way out there, leaving the exterior unchanged (some gold detailing adds a touch of flash) but dialing up the intrigue on the inside. The traditional wheel and pedal controls have been replaced by a gilded mechanical joystick contraption that would look appropriate on a Victorian-era rocket ship (had any such thing actually existed) leaving more legroom and what looks to be a more ergonomic driving experience. It’s a control scheme the company used previously on its i-Real concept… chair… thing, but this is the first Toyota with doors to rock it. Will those sticks and all that brushed metal and faux-ivory still be there when this car releases? Not a chance, sadly.
[Via Slashdot; image courtesy of Autoblog]
Filed under: Transportation
Toyota’s FT-EV II concept sports steampunk interior, joystick controls originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted: October 22nd, 2009
at 9:45am by Tim Stevens
Topics: ElectricCar, Ft-evIi, Steampunk, Toyota, ToyotaFt-evIi, Transportation, electric car, ft-ev, ft-ev II, joystick, toyota ft-ev ii
Tesla Roadster Sport gets taken for a test drive, photo shoot
Like the Tesla Roadster but think it’s just not expensive enough for you? Then fear not, person we’d like to get to know, ’cause the Tesla Roadster Sport is here complete with a $19,500 premium over its less sporty counterpart. Thankfully, according to the lucky folks at Autoblog Green, you will get quite a few bonuses for that extra cash, including an improved 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, a new suspension that can be set to one of ten different settings and, perhaps most importantly, a new set of black-finish forged wheels (paired with some Yokohama ADVAN A048 tires) that’ll ensure no one mistakes it for a “low end” Tesla. Be sure to hit up the read link below for Autoblog Green’s full report, not to mention plenty of pics inside and out.
Filed under: Transportation
Tesla Roadster Sport gets taken for a test drive, photo shoot originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted: October 8th, 2009
at 4:54pm by Donald Melanson
Topics: ElectricCar, ElectricVehicle, TeslaRoadster, TeslaRoadsterSport, TestDrive, electric car, electric vehicle, tesla, tesla roadster, tesla roadster sport, test drive
Toyota to showcase two new electric/hybrid cars this month
The world’s No. 1 auto maker Toyota has announced [JP] it will exhibit a four-seat electric car at the 41th Tokyo Motor Show for the first time (the show opens October 24 and will run through November 4). It’s sized at 2,730×1,680×1,490mm. Visitors will also get to see an update of Toyota’s hybrid car Prius at the show.
The new completely electric model, the FT-EV II (pictured above and below), can be driven for more than 90km on a single charge and is specifically designed for convenient city driving. Toyota will offer, for example, electric sliding doors. But the FT-EV II isn’t for city driving only, as the top speed exceeds 100km/h.
Toyota also plans to show a plug-in version of its Prius hybrid that’s in its third generation. Drivers will be able to use the vehicle with batteries only until they run out. When that happens, the car will switch to hybrid mode automatically. One liter of gas is enough for 55km, up from 38km for the Prius models that are on the market now.
Nissan’s Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video)
Motorcycles are about the most efficient (and fun) way to get around, but people in this country don’t seem to care too much — maybe worried about getting smeared all over the SUV of an eager commuter talking on his cellphone while eating breakfast and shaving. Nissan’s Land Glider could offer that fun and that efficiency in what looks to be a slightly safer package. The zero-emissions electric car seats two in-line and is just 3.6-feet wide, utilizing motorcycle tires that dip on one side when turning to enable leans of up to 17 degrees. The Tokyo Motor Show is just a few weeks away, where this interesting concept will be on display — and surely many others that are even more out there. Check out a video of this one tipping precariously just after the break.
[Via PhysOrg.com]
Filed under: Transportation
Nissan’s Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Posted: October 8th, 2009
at 10:04am by Tim Stevens
Topics: EV, ElectricCar, LandGlider, NissanLandGlider, TokyoMotorShow, electric car, land glider, nissan, nissan land glider, tokyo motor show, zero-emissions
