tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post8167637451500000183..comments2023-09-30T07:47:01.849-07:00Comments on Neil Blanchard Designs: CarBEN Concept EV: An Open Source ProjectNeil Blanchardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12984405294365982958noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-37719739310123431992010-09-16T12:15:26.522-07:002010-09-16T12:15:26.522-07:00Hi Timo,
That might make sense -- I'll have t...Hi Timo,<br /><br />That might make sense -- I'll have to wait until I'm actually building it, before I decide. The vertical windows are quite low (see the latest images with the doors open, to get a good idea of their size), and the center mullion may not matter much down there. The long(er)windows in the hatch are much more usable for seeing out the back, and they really need the structural support in the middle, I think.<br /><br />Sincerely, NeilNeil Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984405294365982958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-32585857370642124982010-09-14T02:31:18.945-07:002010-09-14T02:31:18.945-07:00Maybe single backdoor instead of double-door? Rear...Maybe single backdoor instead of double-door? Rear visibility is important and that bar just middle of the door is a bad thing.<br /><br />Also in your drawings in top of the page it looks like there is a rather sharp corner from front lights to side-panel. You might need to smoothen that up.Timo Pietilähttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357080588942286249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-45254718433514345972010-09-12T03:57:28.525-07:002010-09-12T03:57:28.525-07:00Hi Luke,
Yes, the front three seats will fit peop...Hi Luke,<br /><br />Yes, the front three seats will fit people at least as tall as myself. Please note that with the staggered seating, the legroom is actually very flexible and even more room is available if you put your legs to the side.<br /><br />Sincerely, NeilNeil Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984405294365982958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-87551480683302866512010-09-11T14:43:54.292-07:002010-09-11T14:43:54.292-07:00I love knowing that I'll be able to fit in thi...I love knowing that I'll be able to fit in this at 6'3", since you're tall yourself. :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-66400914304182783362010-09-06T19:59:22.721-07:002010-09-06T19:59:22.721-07:00Here's my earlier blog post on video mirrors:
...Here's my earlier blog post on video mirrors:<br /><br />http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/2010/09/eyes-forward-video-mirrors-on-my-xa.html<br /><br />And a whole list of efficiencies for cars:<br /><br />http://neilblanchard.blogspot.com/2010/09/more-ways-for-auto-makers-to-build-more.html<br /><br />NeilNeil Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984405294365982958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-87260272994752947092010-09-06T19:53:42.480-07:002010-09-06T19:53:42.480-07:00Thanks for the comments, Timo and Nick!
The artic...Thanks for the comments, Timo and Nick!<br /><br />The articulated front wheel skirts are hinged from the body, so they won't affect the rolling resistance. Aero drag starts to be significant at ~35-40mph. The mechanism is fairly simple really, using a panel only for the part of the tire that protrudes out, pushing it with a "lazy" connection to the steering linkage.<br /><br />Check out the new images of the Mercedes Bionic/Boxfish car with the amazing low Cd of 0.095:<br /><br />http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v724/NeilBlanchard/CarBEN%20EV%20Concept/<br /><br />And yes you are right rolling resistance is also critical -- after I build the CarBŒN prototype, I hope to work on rigid, non-inflating tires/wheels for ultra low rolling resistance; and the suspension would need to be retuned. Also, if I could use regenerative shock absorbers, then having rigid tires would transmit much more motion to the suspension, and thereby regenerate more power.<br /><br />Several X-Prize cars and other low drag cars have the wiper vertically up the windshield. Because of the shape of the windshield, the only way to sweep it well meant the wiper had to be this way.<br /><br />And on the latest version (Mk 2.6) I have grafted in a actual windshield from the Smart ForTwo, so then the wipers could tuck down.<br /><br />I plan on using video cameras for mirrors, and if I am forced to use optical mirrors, they would be inboard of the windows and just have the glazing bulge out a bit. I am totally serious about have as low a drag as possible, and I am not going to build a uber-low drag car only to tack mirrors on the outside.<br /><br />The upper part of the opening comes from the large hatch door that hinges up and it also provides a bit of a roof in inclement weather. You would have to stoop/bend over a little more as you get closer to the front. This is obviously a compromise, to try and maintain lots of strength in a crash and keep the weight down as much as possible -- but if it is not workable, I would add a side door.<br /><br />Thanks again for your comments -- if you would like to see the SketchUp model for yourself (there is a free version of SU available from Google.com), I'd be happy to email it to you. I am going to be adding some of the features on the early Bionic/Boxfish model in those new pictures.<br /><br />Sincerely, NeilNeil Blanchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12984405294365982958noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-90441018848834171172010-09-05T00:23:13.163-07:002010-09-05T00:23:13.163-07:00Looks like the back of the car where the proposed ...Looks like the back of the car where the proposed door would be is only the height of half a man, so I assume getting in and walking along to your seat would be quite awkward. Your rear door idea might be a good one, but why not make a mock up of it from wood or polystyrene or something, just to check its actually practical. I'm imagining people awkwardly crawling along to find their seat.nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494515203971780193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-13612879872363489062010-09-04T15:57:42.141-07:002010-09-04T15:57:42.141-07:00You might also want to hide those windshield wiper...You might also want to hide those windshield wipers under the hood (all modern cars already do that) and add side mirrors (legislation) into initial design. That way you don't need to retrofit them in already designed framework in which case you might have more difficult time to get them as aerodynamic as possible.Timo Pietilähttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357080588942286249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2737780198586917506.post-79521991948244614512010-09-04T15:17:45.121-07:002010-09-04T15:17:45.121-07:00I don't think hiding front wheel helps you as ...I don't think hiding front wheel helps you as much in Cd as complexity of wheel turning structures weight increases rolling resistance. <br /><br />Rolling resistance applies to all speeds, straight or turning, while low Cd helps any significant amount only when car is going relatively fast and going fast means that tires are in line with the body. Just cover the tire itself with smooth hubcaps. For small citycar like this low weight is more important than excellent CdA.<br /><br />Also it looks like you have a tiny S-shaped curve between hood and windshield. Ideal shape for low Cd is a "droplet", which means that front of the car should be single smooth curve.Timo Pietilähttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06357080588942286249noreply@blogger.com