Very interesting….

I was wondering if you’ve looked into WindBelt technology for powering the car.

Websites:
http://thefutureofthings.com/news/1027/windbelt-technology-good-vibrations.html
http://www.humdingerwind.com

Thanks, Bruce

How is this different to using a turbine to power a giant fan which then blows air at the turbine to generate power?

And finally, is there any reason why you couldn’t post the contents of your CD online somewhere?

In fact this would have to be a step beyond perpetual motion since in order that the car remain constantly charged AND can travel what one must assume is infinite distance then the energy being put into it must be greater than the energy being used to travel. Have you discovered the key to cold fusion perhaps? Or maybe you’ve harnessed the power of a point singularity, because if we agree that current understanding of thermodynamics, entropy and enthalpy are correct then your options of power plant are somewhat limited.

I would suggest you write to the Nobel Foundation and submit for a prize. (http://nobelprize.org/nomination/physics/)

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Hi Bones16 – the reason we chose two wheel drive over four is all down to the availability of motors. We’d have loved to have four wheel drive using four wheel hub motors but for two things – first we couldn’t get them big enough to meet our performance objectives (we needed about 150 HP) and second wheel hub motors come with some serious engineering issues, like the increase in un sprung weight (which adversely affects handling and the exposure of the motors to the environment down at the wheel. We opted for the inboard pair of motors at the rear for those reasons. Wheel hub motors may well have more to offer in the future or for a diff car – probably both. Cheers.

As I say I know nothing but I do listen to my intuition – I see the future as individual generating mini wind turbines, solar panels etc each individual generating their own energy supply on a microscale as well as more commercial ventures

Love & Light and keep the mind turbines turning.

As for a name I suggest the ZC (pronounced ZED SEE)Zero Carbonista!!!!

Kyles comments Sept 18 2008:
But if you were thinking of using some form of smaller diameter fans sitting where the radiator normally would (enabling the wind being forced through the old radiator ducts whilst driving to turn them more easily and at hgher RPM), to drive some form of generator which in turn charges the batteries; ….. now THAT would be special.

Good luck, next step is a new version of the Berlingo/ equivalent at a decent cost. It would sell loads.

Regards
Grumpy_b

I’m surprised that you have dismissed regenerative braking as a marketing tool. Some train operators are reporting 21% return for regen trains.

The level of returned energy will depend on how often you are decelerating, turning kinetic energy back into electricity, That’s going to depend on how and where you drive.

Since this is a sports car, and they are meant to be driven hard, that’s a lot of energy just wasted.

And while you’ve got the seats out take the opportunity to replace the standard speakers!

Good luck with the project and your company.

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Thanks Scott, I had the feeling VW had used the name, it’s a good one. but never mind.

Cheers

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Hope you are incorporating regenerative braking into the design – no use wasting all the braking energy to heat, use it to top-up the batteries !

Mick

And sirocco has some kind of sound similarity to zero-CO (admittedly that’s monoxide) or zero-coal.

The motors will be independent and we’ll have in effect an electronic differential, for corners and stuff. Small technical challenge I’m told, but an electronic diff should be better than a mechanical one in a number of ways. We’ll see. Cheers.

Thangs: Denny Kimble

Good luck with the project.

Paul Denney