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Depois da Aston Martin... Lotus Electric City-Car

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    [Antevisão] Depois da Aston Martin... Lotus Electric City-Car

    LotusCityCar2015_5.jpg

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    Lotus electric city car (2009) the first photos
    By Richard Webber

    Lotus Engineering has turned its hand to city car design, and has produced this innovative electric vehicle concept, pitched at the urban driver of 2015. At just 2600mm in length and 1600mm wide, the Lotus supermini is even smaller than a Toyota iQ, but manages to match the Toyota’s 3+1 layout.

    How is the Lotus city car concept different from other EVs?

    The crucial aspect of the design is the aluminium spaceframe in the floor, which houses the batteries and electrical gubbins, while also providing stiffness and crash resistance. The Lotus supermini has been designed specifically for short trips in urban environments, so weight has been saved by limiting the battery pack to 100 lithium ion cells with a total capacity of 10kWh and a charge time of 3.5 hours.

    The battery load is flexible, though, and an additional 100 cells can be added through the floor for increased range, or during the winter when battery performance drops off. Other innovations include solar panels on the roof to supplement battery power, magnesium-cast doors which slide open on special hinges, and the use of composite energy absorbers which turn to dust at impact for improved crumpling in a crash.

    That’s not a lot of battery power! Will the Lotus supermini get me to the shops and back?

    As long as you live within 15 miles of your greengrocer it will. Total range is just over 30 miles and the 37kW motor allows a top speed of around 65mph. It should be reasonably perky up to 40mph. Those aren’t big numbers but this car has been designed for purpose, and most owners are expected to have a conventional car on the driveway too for longer, faster journeys.

    Does it handle like a Lotus should?

    Not likely, but given the boxy dimensions, Lotus has done its best by minimising overhang at both ends and using lightweight materials including composites, aluminium and magnesium throughout the design. Head of vehicle architecture Richard Rackham insists this EV would still be a giggle to drive: ‘We wanted to make this thing a bit nippy and fun to get people into it.’

    Talking of getting into the Lotus supermini, how do I get into that tiny back seat?

    If you don’t call shotgun, the driver’s seat pushes right forward and underneath the steering wheel for easier access. Alternatively, the back seats can be folded down to make space for luggage. Designer Jon Statham relished the chance to shake things up. ‘The interior gave us a chance to rethink things,’ choosing composite materials with mesh panels for the seats.

    Controls on the inside are very simple – a panel of buttons to the left of the steering wheel and a paddle on the right with which to choose forwards, backwards or neutral. Lotus expects that personal media devices like iPods and mobile phones will be advanced enough by 2015 to control all in-car media via a docking station.

    The new baby Lotus sure looks sleek for a city car...

    The Lotus concept is actually quite a bit taller than the Toyota iQ and the Smart Fortwo, but the designers have extended the lines on each side of the car to the front, creating a wraparound effect that makes it seem stouter. Two versions of the exterior styling were produced, one of which uses golf ball-style dimples to exaggerate the swathes which run diagonally across the sides and on to the front. LED lights reinforce the futuristic looks.

    Are they going to build it?

    Probably not. Which is a pity. Lotus was asked to produce the city car design as a study for Automotive Engineer magazine – but it could be further developed for manufacture by a third party. It took Hethel’s draftsmen just two weeks to produce the concept, 10% of the time usually spent on the first phase of development. Let’s hope they get paid overtime.
    Para já foi apenas um estudo para uma revista, a Automotive Engineer.
    Mas dado a onda de boas reacções, este projecto pode continuar a ser desenvolvido, onde a sua produção estaria a cargo de outros. Um pouco como o T25 do Gordon Murray!

    Retirando do artigo o principal:
    Teríamos um carro um pouco mais curto e largo que um Smart, mas com a capacidade de transportar 3+1 passageiros do iQ (que tem mais 40cm de comprimento)

    Ponto fulcral... estrutura space frame em aluminio.
    Para conter peso, limitaram o número de celulas de iões-litio a 100, com possibilidade de duplicar esse número para melhor autonomia.
    Seria apenas para trajectos muito curtos, com uma autonomia de aproximadamente 50km.
    A Lotus refere que este seria um 2º carro, havendo um veículo convencional para outras funções.
    A potência seria de 37KW (+- 50cv) e a velocidade máxima de 65mph (104km/h)

    Tal como o exterior, o interior também seria um mix de materiais compósitos

    #2
    Mais imagens relativas a este projecto

    LotusCityCar2015_6.jpg

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    LotusCityCar2015_8.jpg

    Fica a questão...
    Deverá a Lotus continuar a desenvolver este projecto e procurar interessados para a sua produção?

    Comentário


      #3
      Espero bem que de todos estes estudos que têm vindo a público de várias marcas haja algum que venha a ver a luz do dia.

      É que já me começa a parecer "muita parra e pouca uva" ...

      Comentário


        #4
        Lotus Engineering, e não Lotus Cars Tanto uma como outra empresa muito boas no que fazem. A Engineering costuma fazer os seus trabalhos para empresas externas e devem esperar que alguém "compre" este projecto. Eu espero que sim...

        Comentário


          #5
          sim, não fiz a distinção. Projecto criado pela Lotus Engineering para uma publicação de nome Automotive Engineering, hehe... mais óbvio que isto seria impossivel

          Comentário


            #6
            Continuo ser perceber a ideia do 3+1. Ou são 4 lugares ou 2. +1??? Em todos os carros dá para se puxar o banco do passageiro para a frente se o de trás estiver apertado. Não entendo onde está o conceito inovador nisso.

            Comentário

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