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Let's say you had unlimited time, loads of technical know-how, a garage full of tools, and a whole bunch of cash that just has to be spent on some kind of FE project. What would you build?

Personally, I'm torn. I think my first choice would be to build a commuter EV w/ ~100mi range. It would have to be based on a car of fairly decent size to fit the batteries but not huge. Maybe a 7th gen Accord coupe since I really like those and the CD is 0.30, remove the back seat to get the pack between the axles. The batteries are tough since we're talking about lots and lots of energy. The A123 nano-phosphate cells are ideal but the pack alone would be insanely expensive...several tens of thousands of dollars. A ridiculous quantity of NiMH cells would be cheaper and still safe, and life span should be fine if running a massively parallel configuration for minimal current draw on each cell. Just nobody tell Chevron what I'm up to or they'll come get me!

My close-second choice would be a PHEV conversion in the Prius. That would be a little simpler (almost realistic) but of course this is a fantasy and there's no point in going PZEV when it could be a true ZEV. ;) Besides, I need a functioning "spare" car for when my project blows up on me.

Since this is fantasy, how about a small pickup (like a Ford Sportrac, but more aerodynamic). Something along the lines of Phoenix Motorcar's sports utility truck.

EV with the latest battery technology (hey, it's a fantasy, right. Forget about costs.)
Maybe the lithium ion batteries would fit into the carbon fiber frame rails?

Selectable power profiles:
Normal mode
Economy mode
Towing modeMultiple recharge options:
Grid - 110V slow charge or 480V 3 minute charge
RE - solar, wind
optional small HP backup generator to extend range - that would fit below the bed (maybe a small rotary engine with multiple fuel select)Make it in a full range of packages :
stripped down el cheapo basic no frills (you get NIMH batteries that take up half the bed and an AM radio)
Standard with common sense options
Hi-tech loaded - Intelligent navigation with traffic/weather live updates, satellite linked internet connection for onboard PC, accident avoidance cruise control, the body and all glass would be one huge flexible solar panel, ventilated and heated seats, tire pressure sensor with auto inflation, onboard inverter for 120V outlets in the bed (powered by the PV body or onboard generator)I think it would sell. Let GM and the military develop it first (your tax dollars at work) and then turn it loose on the public after the bugs are worked out.

OK, back to the real world, but it was fun dreaming for awhile.

I would want a 8th Gen Accord Coupe. All Alum. construction like a Insight. With a K24 lean burn with electric higher rpm super charger with fuel control to match. Stuffed in between the engine and 6MT with LSD. A monster IMA. With a pack in the back made out of some thin film Star Trek like batterys. The HID's would also serve as stun guns. There should be a solar panel built into the top of the car and plug in recharge. EV range of 50 miles at 60 mph would be a must. It would then have to have hugh disc brakes that would make a porsche blush with envy. Ultra light 18". Photo electric auto and manual control glass tint system would be a must.

I ran out of money at the Accord Coupe, all alum stage. :)

psy

E85 powered 3.4L V6 camaro

[looks in garage] well look there... a 3.4L v6 camaro [/looks in garage] :smile:

Lots of cash, know how and tools...I know what I'd do. Hot little ev sports car, 200 mile range.

Oops, they beat me to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOl_1S10jTk.

Maybe a wood gas powered car http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi7Yf8-sAxM would be fun for a slightly lower budget.

Hi Tim:

___A PHEV-60 (I need 90 miles so that might make it ;)) TCH w/ the new 62 mph EV programming. 17 kWh of A123Systems newer larger cap Li-Ion cel’s and Honda’s 2.2 iCDTi matched to it with their new ammonia like recycling CAT for the range extender. Upgrade w/ NAVI, Comfort and Convenience and Moonroof package to round out the car’s options. I think that would do nicely? In fact, one each for both the wife and I :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

First I'd build a house with full geothermal heating and cooling. Maybe even an EarthShip (for the later I'd have the PhDs on retainer in case anything got out of whack).

Then I'd buy a hunk of un-zoned grazing land (lots in Texas) and put gobs and gobs of wind turbines on it. Fill the "blanks" between the turbines with solar cells. Get them busily working on converting ground water to H2, store it in tankers and have a staff on hand to shuttle a new tanker to my house (lets call it a "compound") whenever it was near capacity.

Next I'd convert a first gen Mazda Miata to a fuel-cell EV. Those cars are just fun. Then I'd have the "compound's" full electrical needs met buy a fuel-cell AC generator. So most of my needs are met by essentially Earth (geothermal), Wind (turbines), Fire (solar), and Water (H2 electrolysis).

Just for nostalgia (and a family car), I'd get my Prius redesigned to have it's ICE run off H2 combustion, and it's pack converted to fuel cells. After the last year, I just think driving an EV would get so boring. I'd leave all the FCD functions the same so it would feel like I was maximizing MPG.

Have to get a fuel cell Hummer or something for the wife. Try as I might, she's not one of the true believers and secretly longs for a huge SUV. Then there is also the obvious fleet of EV stuff run off the compound's clean grid. Seaways, EV bikes and the like.

I'd also have set up a trust fund to advertise CleanMPG all over the place, and spring for a really nice server farm and fleet of staff for Tom and Wayne. Figure expanding CMPG would save more gas than I ever could.

You said anything right?

11011011

A Blue Tec diesel powered Hybrid, with Li based batteries and a plug, the batteries would have enough storage capacity to enable a 40 mile range, sufficient for most of my daily chores. The diesel would come with the Bio Kit fuel kit. 120 MPG assured.

The vehicle would have HID 6000K Lighting, Yellow LED fogs, Led, Tails and turn signal mirrors, Back-up camera, Aux in Audio. XM Sat and Cd changer that plays MP3's,

Solar sun roof to run the ventilation system when Parked to keep car cool. A much higher electric motor to run the AC and keep the drain down.

Full Air Bags, Side Thorax, Side Head, Dual stage front, Pyro tensioning seat belts, Crash Active head rests. Adjustable Lumbar support seats, One touch windows all around, * way seats driver and passenger, Heated and cooled Pelter effect cup holders.

Extreme sound insulation, a Great surround sound system (nothing to do with Bose junk) True intelligent key, Voice activated Nav with a minimum of 40 controls, Blue Tooth and 40 phone voice controls.

Black Floor and foot well carpeting carpeting with Rought Tan Camel finish elsewhere including the leather seating, etc. Real Birdseye wood in bleached finish.

Adjustable suspension system Soft, med, Stiff, with adjustable ride height.

Adjustable height side an center arm/elbow supports.

98% heat rejection window filter layer.

4 Door with good rear leg room, Nice styling like a Passat, Altima, VW Eos, Chrysler Crossfire, MB C class

Finally 3 tone italian Air horns. :)

Unlimited resources, you mean like the military's already
got in reality? Which the general public never sees any
benefits from, just a year-to-year tax burden?
.
_H*

Yeah, like those resources. :)

If I had those resources, I would build a society that didn't need automobiles.

Yeah, sure. The stuff we've already paid for but don't have. ;)

An Accord, with turbocharged (miller cycle) 3cyl Insight engine, with double or triple the Honda electrical system for low end torque. 5 speed manual. Perhaps changed to a hatchback, but definitely split, fold down rear seat (3 passengers and skis inside). Make that the Fit's magic seats. (I know someone who carries a tandem bike inside a Fit, with wheels on! Both riders, too.)

Or, the same as a serial PHEV. Engine would be 20 HP diesel, with catalytic particulate filter inches away from the engine (should regenerate by itself, since the diesel would run high power or not at all). Similar to the Mini Cooper conversion, but with less power. The Nav system would optimize engine recharging and battery usage for full power going up the pass, but leaving sufficient battery space to recapture energy all the way down the pass. Continuously adjustable "brakes off" regeneration -- free coasting for normal driving, equivalent to 2nd or 3rd gear for descents.

Greg

Small wagon -- Focus or Matrix -- converted to full EV using LiFePO4. "Modest" 50 mile range to keep the battery requirement within reason. Wagon so it can still carry something larger than a fruitbasket after the batteries have been installed in back.

Second phase of the project: small (15-20kWh) generator trailer so I can operate the vehicle as a series hybrid for short road trips.

well, I hinted at this in another posting ...

I would take the blueprint for a 75 GrandVille vert. and build the frame out of carbon fiber. Next I would get the panels molded in carbonfiber and covered in solar cells. Find out if there is a way to use the wind resistance as a power source ... since drag is inevitable, if a lot of it could somehow be routed or used in a way to power wind turbines that can charge the battery, then it is a way of using a loss as a partial gain ... combined with the solar cells and regenerative braking, it could add up.

I would have electric motors in all four wheels instead of a drivetrain setup. The ability to plug-in, by lowering the license plate just as now you lower the plate to get to the gas fill. Build the top mechanism with carbon fiber and a roll bar for extra safety (though the thing is so wide and low, I doubt it could roll unless you were being ridiculous).

To have tons of battery storage, use the area behind the top in the trunk, a large area by the firewall under the hood, and along the floor ... reinforced of course, so in the worst case, passenger compartment is protected from a rare battery problem/explosion/acid-gas leak.

There would be still tons of storage for personal use, since the trunk and engine bay are huge, and there would be no engine, so it would be used as trunk space as well.

This would end up being a very light, ultra strong, but still very large car. Quiet, powerful, and capable of traveling great distances. To some extent self-charging. Maybe a small generator ... just so longer trips would be possible.

A classic that is clean ... I would love it.

Hi Tim:

___A PHEV-60 (I need 90 miles so that might make it ;)) TCH w/ the new 62 mph EV programming. 17 kWh of A123Systems newer larger cap Li-Ion cel’s and Honda’s 2.2 iCDTi matched to it with their new ammonia like recycling CAT for the range extender. Upgrade w/ NAVI, Comfort and Convenience and Moonroof package to round out the car’s options. I think that would do nicely? In fact, one each for both the wife and I :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

If you get around to it, I'll take one too. And if you don't mind, could you put all of that into a Sienna or an Odyssey (for the wife, baby, and dog). We'd be fine with a HiHy as well. ;)

Chevy Volt




OOOOOOPS........chevy has plenty of $$$$$$ and still can't build one

guess it is all just fantasy

OOOOOOPS........chevy has plenty of $$$$$$ and still can't build one

ROFL!!! :Banane26:

Get an Aptera, stretch the body to add a 2nd row of seats, and replace the NiZn batteries with Li for added EV range.

Easy... I'd buy a GM EV1 ;)

Probably an old T-bucket with, say, an old Chevy 235 straight six and either a 3-speed with selectible overdrive unit or an S10 5-speed. The car only weighs ~1500lbs, and the 235 is known to pull almost 30mpg on big cars, let alone a light one with overdrive. Plus, even stock it'd probably be pretty quick.

For kicks, put in a beer tap handle for a shifter, tuck + roll the interior, get the old Chevy "Butterfly" steering wheel, a beer keg for a gas tank, and you'd get a gas saver that also drops panties and puts rice boys in their place.

return to a society that didn't need cars......

Highlander hybrid 4WD drivetrain under a Rialto or similar B class RV body. An airlift suspension so the 4WD would not be (entirely) wasted. A roof-full of PV of course, except for where the telescope dome goes.

At least one of these needs to exist, so why should it not be mine? Just an off-roader at heart I guess.

DAS

A green house somewhere that had no snow and I could cycle anywhere too far to walk, swim or paddle...