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Edison2 Electric Car Sets EPA Economy Record Of 350 MPGe

 
2,075 views Oct 12, 2011
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Edison2 Very Light Car, Progressive Automotive X-Prize winner.

Edison2 Very Light Car, Progressive Automotive X-Prize winner.

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The EPA's MPG equivalent (MPGe) ratings for electric cars aren't the simplest of things to understand, worked out through a series of different calculations.

When an electric car gets 350 MPGe to the more well-known 2012 Nissan Leaf's 99 MPGe rating though, you know it must be something special. That something special is the Edison2 electric car, first seen in non-electric form competing in the Automotive X-Prize.

You might not actually want to drive it but in EPA certified testing the Edison2 managed an equivalent of 347 miles per gallon in city driving and thanks to its ultra-aerodynamic shape, 352 MPGe highway. This equates to a range of 114 miles on its 10.5 kWh battery.

Also contributing to the Edison2's performance, known as the "Very Light Car" and powered by a 0.25-liter E85 ethanol engine at the X-Prize, is - perhaps not unexpectedly - a low weight of 1,140 pounds. The small battery helps, and also means a six hour recharge time on a standard 110-volt household outlet.

According to Consumer Reports, with the EPA's correction factors of cold weather, air conditioning use and higher highway speeds, the Edison2 could still achieve a 245 MPGe average.

The shape - ungainly to some - and covered wheels are there for the aerodynamic benefits and Edison2 is out to prove that aero and low weight are two key factors in improving the range of electric cars, as range cannot be increased on battery technology alone.

For the time being the Edison2's 350 MPGe is a record holder, but we're looking forward to the day when cars we want to drive are managing the same.

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Comments (14)

  1. Warren avatar Warren Posted: 10/12/2011 10:34am PDT

    Were you trying to be provocative by asking who would want one of these? The next generation will look back at us as total morons for pushing through the atmosphere at ridiculous speed in wheeled houses, using up precious fossilized sunshine. Whether we burn it directly, or run it through a power station first, it is still incredibly foolish.
     
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  2. CDspeed avatar CDspeed . Posted: 10/12/2011 6:45pm PDT

    No one can predict the future so you can't say this is what cars will look like. The consumer is the biggest factor in the evolution of automotive design, and the Edison2 is a nerd mobile, it looks like a science experiment because that's all they were thinking when they put it together.
     
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  3. fb_1001015277 avatar John Briggs Posted: 10/12/2011 10:35am PDT

    Looks awesome, I'd drive it. It beats more wars for oil.
     
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  4. fb_61206378 avatar Antony Ingram Posted: 10/12/2011 11:02am PDT

    Quite. I'm sure you can appreciate the design is an acquired taste, though!
     
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  5. fb_1001015277 avatar John Briggs Posted: 10/12/2011 12:32pm PDT

    Hey, I drive a Prius, I don't have any taste.
     
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  6. fb_100002544459353 avatar Ramon Leigh Posted: 10/12/2011 11:09am PDT

    The last (and only) war for oil required 100 hours to win and cost six casualties. That would be the number of occupants of this rolling death trap wiped out in the first two days. I'd rather fight more wars for oil. Much safer.
     
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  7. grendal avatar grendal johnson Posted: 10/12/2011 5:33pm PDT

    You're assumptions about this vehicle are erroneous. Do more research before you make such judgements.
     
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  8. fb_100002441833924 avatar George Parrott Posted: 10/12/2011 12:24pm PDT

    It might be possible to make this "crash safe" and still be "light." I saw this during the actual X Prize trials and in ICE format it sounded like a lawnmower, so the EV version would be a great improvement, and the totally closed passenger compartment needs AC/climate control, which that X-prize version did not have, and I wonder what this EV test model had in that regard?
     
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  9. James Davis avatar James Davis Posted: 10/12/2011 1:35pm PDT

    If they made the whole car out of carbon fiber like they do high speed race cars; a carbon fiber body and a carbon fiber frame can withstand 150 MPH impact and most often the driver walks away. Check out the Rockey Mountain Institute Engineering Department and carbon fiber bodies. When mass produced, carbon fiber is cheaper than plastic.
     
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  10. fb_1001015277 avatar John Briggs Posted: 10/12/2011 7:25pm PDT

    Actual Edison2 engineering staff is all from the racing world. Even the prototype is very safe.
     
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  11. James Davis avatar James Davis Posted: 10/12/2011 1:29pm PDT

    With that MPC, I can get use to its looks, as long as it has two seats and enough room for a couple bags of groceries. At least it doesn't look like a matchbox clown car. You got to admit that it has a nice design if you are use to airplanes and you will not loose it in the parking lot because its blending in with all the rest of the electric cars.
     
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  12. Warren avatar Warren Posted: 10/12/2011 3:43pm PDT

    "as long as it has two seats and enough room for a couple bags of groceries."

    Actually, it is a four seater. I see the ICE version sitting in the window next to a restaurant in town all the time.
     
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  13. fb_1175182390 avatar Eric Williams Posted: 10/13/2011 2:55pm PDT

    "114 miles on its 10.5 kWh" that is 10.85 miles per kWh! Before this car, I thought current technology electric cars could only max out around 4 to 5 miles per kWh (including my dream car Tesla Model S). Talk about rethinking what's possible Today. My family of 4 could drive our 10K annual miles, for < 1,000 kWh! At PA $0.15 kWh rate < $150 Year vs ~ $1,800 year for gas (20 mpg Car), sign me up! You could generate enough Annual Energy for this family of 4 car with 3 Solar Panels, talk about game changer.
     
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  14. fb_100000458268753 avatar Neil Blanchard Posted: 10/18/2011 10:01am PDT

    The picture is of the very first generation of the Very Light Car. The VLCe is built using the 3rd generation chassis, which you can see at their blog:

    http://www.edison2.com/blog/

    They actually are now designing the 4th generation car, which has an integrated front bumper rather than the pointed nose:

    http://www.edison2.com/blog/2011/1/11/what-have-we-changed.html

    Neil
     
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