Tag Archive > human-powered vehicles

Hungarian hybrid, planned for 2012 production, gets 150 mpg

Jon » 24 June 2008 » In Hybrids, Transportation » No Comments

Jorge Chapa, writing in Inhabitat, reports that the Hungarian prototype for the Antro Solo, production planned for 2012, gets 150 mpg, and here’s how:

  • The hybrid electric/fossil fuel engine, familiar now to most of us - which captures energy while braking, thus recharging the electric batteries;
  • an exceptionally light carbon composite frame;
  • solar panels on the roof which can provide power for a 15 - 25 km trip (the post doesn’t specify how long that charge takes);
  • The two passenger seats (it’s a three-seater) come with bicycle pedals, which can offset the car’s energy consumption;
  • So if it’s dark, the battery is exhausted, you and your passengers are exhausted, what’s the last option?

Trick question: two options - a dual-fuel petrol/ethanol engine. Sound like an easy fit for a “station car,” if there’s any light at all. TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Antro Solo gets 150mpg at Inhabitat, in turn via AutoFiends. antrosolo.jpg

If this technology, and others like it, become competitive - whoever has developed it stands to make a lot of money - and contribute to a gradual drip-drip of oil company profits. (Today’s Times has a comment from a Saudi official, who articulated some anxiety that current price shock and anger might result in people remembering the current state of affairs, and reducing long-term demand for petroleum; we’ll try to post about this later - but - you read it here first - at least some of the Saudi leadership think’s we’re intelligent and adaptive. Flattery).

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