First, A 200 MPG VW, Then A 300 MPG Aptera
May 9, 2008
“So you’re excited about the 2010 Prius, with its modest mileage gains. Or maybe you really want a Chevy Volt, with a 40 mile all-electric range. 2010, as we’ve noted, is going to be a good year for green cars. But, well, this is ridiculous.
VW has been talking for a long time about their 1L concept, so called because it uses a measly 1 liter of gasoline to go 100 km. For us Americans, that translates to about 230 miles per gallon. Of course, the amazing mileage comes at a price. The car is tiny, more of a tobaggon than a car. The single passenger actually sits behind the driver, like in a small airplane.
The tiny engine will only get the car up to about 75 mph and, as such, VW doesn’t expect to sell a lot of them. Safety concerns might also keep the car from being a best seller. But, since it does have four wheels, it will have to meet all of the normal safety regulations for cars.
VW will continue to release details on the car, but they are firm that it will be produced by 2010. And, in terms of pure efficiency, its only real competitor will be the 300 MPG Aptera.”
May 9, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Actually, I’m all for this little VW. I would use it as sort of a permission to nag test. Any actor, politician, demonstrator or whatever who tries to tell us how much toilet paper to use or tries to measure our carbon footprints must first sign a document never to travel in a less efficient vehicle. I would love to see Oscar night with all those stars in their donated gowns crawling out of the backseat. I guess you could say I’m a glass-half-full kinda person.
I just saw another eco-friendly idea on the BEEB. Star cook Gordon Ramsay is trying to get Ggrdon Brown to outlaw all out-of-season fruits and vegies in GB–only local produce. Can’t the Sanity Squad have these folks committed?
May 13, 2008 at 3:30 pm
It will actually run on a .3 liter diesel engine not gas and can achieve 283 mpg.