Auto Trends

Volkswagen L1 - enlitersbilen , originally uploaded by Fordonsnyheter

Volkswagen has been working on their L1 (1-liter) concept vehicle for awhile now, and this year it has been bestowed as the most fuel efficient hybrid in the world. It sucks down a measly 1.38-liters of diesel per 100 kilometers, or in other words, about 170 miles per the gallon. How’d they do it? Let’s take a look:

Aerodynamics and Weight Reduction
The Volkswagen L1 has been completely designed from the ground up to drag across the wind at a minimum of 0.195. Compare this to most cars and trucks which ride the CD (Coefficient of Drag) spectrum between 0.30 and 0.45, that’s a pretty slick outer shell. The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, both considered fairly aerodynamic for this day and age, only come in at 0.25 CD in comparison.

The sleek shell is predominantly made from lightweight carbon fiber reinforced plastic, weighing in at just 273 lbs. The 0.8-liter 2-cylinder diesel engine and hybrid powertrain come in at an abysmal 270 lbs. The electric pathways make up a paltry 44 lbs, the chassis 174 lbs, and the interior layout only 77 lbs. All these components add up to a grand total of just 840 lbs without the driver.

What’s Under the Hood
The Volkswagen 0.8-liter diesel produces around 27 horsepower and 74 lb-ft of torque, and is assisted by a 14-horsepower front-wheel, lithium ion, electric motor. The 14 electric ponies can also be translated into about 40 percent additional torque, thanks to the wonders of electric motor technology.

The powertrain is directed by a 7-speed direct shift gearbox, so although this is far from being a real road burner (99 mph top speed), at 170 miles per the gallon, you can afford it not to be. Within 10 or 20 years down the line, you could probably save up enough money to buy a Tesla Roadster (or the latest equivalent) with the difference you’ll be paying at the pump.

Manufacturers are hard at work creating self automated vehicles. You know, the kind that you can step into with a cup of coffee, donut, and your cell phone, and spill crumbs all over yourself while chatting with three friends and not kill yourself in the process (or anyone else for that matter)!

The problem with the automated car has not been so much the technology. We already know we can design a vehicle to track itself from point A to point B. The problem is the other vehicles on the road. Or more appropriately… the millions of other vehicles on the road.

With hundreds of vehicles heading in the same direction at any given time, there has to be some sort of rules set in place to overcome certain situations that may arise. Such as during an accident or emergency situation. This is the exact solution that the new Nissan Eporo Robotic Concept Car aims to offer future commuters.

The Nissan Eporo “Episode O (Zero)” Robot Thinks Like a Fish
Nissan found the answer to adapting automated vehicles to the road, by using natures own skills of adaption. While I can’t say I am a big fan of its outward appearance, the Eporo has been designed to function and react similarly to that of a fish.

Fish are experts at traveling in large groups at very close proximity. They do this by sensing the other fish around them, and then reacting accordingly. If a large shark swings too close to take a bite, they swing out away from their current path of travel, avoiding being eaten, and do this in a systematic fashion that avoids both collision and confusion.

The Nissan Eporo will function very similarly to a school of fish by monitoring the other vehicles around them (via laser technology), and keeping constant communication with each other. If an emergency arises, the vehicles will collectively decide the proper course of action, then safely maneuver themselves to safety (as the diagram below illustrates).

While I am not a huge fan of the self-automated vehicle, as long as they don’t look like hairless Furby’s, and they have the option of manual override… this is actually some pretty neat technology.

[Photos via Nissan]

Audi E tron Concept, all photos originally uploaded by www.Dream-car.tv

Audi President, Johan de Nysschen, who only a few short weeks ago claimed electric vehicles were “for idiots”, is proudly presenting the new Audi e-Tron today. This 313 horsepower and 3,319 lb-ft of torque monster, will be capable of 0-60 in just 4.8 seconds, thanks to the idiotic technology Audi has been working on over the past several years.

The e-Tron features four electric motors that will run off of a water-cooled lithium-ion battery (placed in the rear of the cabin for optimum center of gravity), providing 42.4 kilowatts of power, which translates to about a 154 mile radius before the driver finds themselves hoofing the road with a power cord in hand. There is no gas engine back up here, the e-Tron is purely electric.

For all intense purposes, the electric Audi is much more of a eccentric sports car, like the Tesla Roadster, than an earth saving family mobile. The eventual price tag given to this mini-supercar should further press this point. But what better way to introduce a new style of driving, than showing the public the maximum levels of performance that can be attained with such technology.

The 3,000-plus lb-feet of torque alone should attract the performance crowd, as scarcely few gas vehicles could even dream of such spine bending instantaneous torque nestled between its chassis. In the interest of peak performance potential, the e-Tron has been built to be as light as possible, which means being fitted with no more than two seats.

In addition to the human weight savings, the entire chassis is designed from what Audi likes to call its (ASF) Audi Space Frame Technology (predominantly aluminum). The rest of the body shell, including the doors, sidewalls, and roof, are made from a space-age plastic that is reinforced with fiber. This gives the e-Tron its maximum durability, weight savings, rigidity, and safety.

Despite all this technology put into weight savings, we have to remember that electric motor driven technology is still in its dinosaur form, and is considerably heavy compared to what it will become one day in the future. The battery and electric motors combined with the the chassis and remaining technologies, still weigh in at approximately 3,527.40 pounds, which is equivalent to that of a Ford Mustang GT. Not particularly heavy, but not really light either.

Beyond the cooled electric motors and weight saving body panels, the other revolutionary feature of the e-Tron will be its car-to-x communications system. Car-to-x communication is basically the direct exchange of information to flowing traffic and traffic environment, in order to increase both the vehicles safety, and level of convenience for the driver.

The way it works is the e-Tron can communicate with both the other vehicles on the road, as well as an all mighty traffic god, that will control traffic lights and the various parking garages around a busy inner city. If the e-Tron loses control on an icy road, and spins out of control, it can send a distress call to the traffic behind, telling them to slow down and take precaution.

This technology will also allow the e-Tron to communicate with parking garages, thereby designating where there is room, and where there is not. This will inhibit the wasteful driving pattern of “looking for a spot”, in traditionally crowded city downtown areas. Once a parking place is found, car-to-x can reserve the spot, so that when the driver reaches their destination, it will still be available.

Ain’t technology something…