Here's an interesting one...100Mph and 100Mpg....Hybrid, Plug-in Hybrid, and All Electric models
Check out the videos on this bad boy in action.
And the concept:
The VentureOne
Revolutionary. Radical. Innovative. iPod Cool.
When true vision meets paradigm, paradigm always blinks first.
Introducing the VentureOne, a revolutionary 3-wheel, tilting, plug-in Hybrid vehicle. This unique 2-passenger flex-fuel Hybrid vehicle will achieve 100 miles per gallon with a top speed of over 100 mph.
And if that weren’t enough, imagine combining the performance feel of a sports car with the agility of a motorcycle. This is an exhilarating driving experience that can only be compared to flying a jet fighter two feet off the ground.
The VentureOne is a fully enclosed vehicle that is surrounded by a steel “safety cell” and other safety features typically found only in cars—things like side impact beams, driver airbag, rear bumper and engine shield.
While the same height and length as the MINI Cooper, the driver in the VentureOne sits as high off the road as a standard automobile. When combined with its 360° glass canopy effect, the VentureOne not only provides a driver with tremendous road visibility, but adds to a sense of overall driving confidence.
The VentureOne is a revolutionary new vision in transportation.
The VentureOne weighs approximately 1,200 pounds in prototype form, with an overall width of 48 inches, a length of 11' 8", and a 106 inch wheelbase. The engine is located in the rear of the vehicle at a low height. The passenger compartment and the front wheel tilt when cornering; however, the forces are aligned with the vertical axis of the driver’s body, resulting in the driver being pressed into the seat rather than pushed across it.
Although classified as a motorcycle according to the NHTSA (since it has three wheels), the VentureOne has an enclosed body. The reinforced roll-cage construction in combination with front-and-side-impact protection, and a highly efficient passenger restraint system, give the occupants a level of protection comparable to conventional cars — or statistically, 33 times the safety of a typical motorcycle.
Venture Vehicles plans to initially offer two propulsion packages for the VentureOne: the hybrid E50 and Q100, and all-electric Venture EV mode – with a wide range of accessories available for each.
All three classes will incorporate the patented Dynamic Vehicle Control system, or DVC™, developed by Carver Engineering, which allows the vehicle to tilt up to 45° side-to-side at a rate of 85° per second. All three will also feature ventilated disc brakes and measure 3.5 meters in overall length.
The vehicles’ propulsion system is of a series hybrid design. The system consists of a small internal combustion engine connected to a 15 – 20 kW generator, two in-wheel 25 kW electric motors, a four gallon fuel tank, and a 3 kWh Li-Ion battery pack. The system is able to take energy normally lost as heat due to braking and return it to the battery, increasing overall system efficiency.
All three models will exceed 100mpg, with speeds of over 100 mph, and breathtaking accelleration – a major breakthrough in the automotive industry.
Oh, and I contacted the developers of this vehicle to ask about availability and this was their reply:
Thank you very much for your note and your interest in Venture Vehicles.
While many of the specifics are still in development, including our retail representation program, our current plan is to launch initially in California in late 2008 or early 2009. We’ll then begin rolling out to other major US markets in 2010. (Our number one priority is to ensure we deliver a world-class vehicle and customer service organization.) The retail price of the Hybrid version will be under $20,000; the EV version around $23,000. While we are currently working with the appropriate state regulatory agencies, it appears that no special license will be required.
As we develop and finalize the various components of our overall strategy, we will keep you posted as things could certainly change. We also invite you to stay close to our Website, www.flytheroad.com and we'll be posting updates as well.
Again, our thanks for your interest in Venture Vehicles and look forward to staying in touch!
Rick Balsiger, President
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BALSIGER | Partners
Direct Line: 714. 389. 6075
eMail: rb [at] balsigerpartners.com