DICE as an option

[Russ]

Hey guys and gals, Newbie here to the forum. There are three options I would like to see.The first one is a DICE (Diesel ICE). I know sometime in the near future, some company will come up with a 50 state certified clean diesel engine that can be installed in the power pod of the V-1 machine. If they can stuff a diesel in a Smart Fortwo, I don't see why they can't do the same in the V-1. I am truly a firm believer in the clean diesel tech. I think then the V-1 can tow a small motorcycle trailer for those long hauls or trips without suffering much loss of MPG. The second option is steering wheel that is cut off at the top, simular the BMW Clever 3 I think. That looked cool. I woulld also have stereo mounted controls on the steering wheel two. I am spoiled with my Nissan Titan. It has controls for both stereo and cruise on the steering wheel. Russ

[Russ]

In the last post I mentioned the V-1. My mistake. I meant the Venture One machine. OOPS! my bad. Russ

[MikeB]

Hiya Russ,

We've chatted a little bit with Ian about diesel, the efficiency is nice but there are some drawbacks to the idea. For example, the Aptera was originally spec'd to use a diesel, but they were unable to locate a small engine that met the latest emissions requirements for road use.

A trailer has been mentioned several times to Ian, he's going to investigate putting a receiver hitch on the rear frame. I own a really small trailer for my motorcycle (a Uni-go), and if my 600cc scooter can handle it for long trips then I'm sure the V1 could too.

The idea of a airplane-style yoke has also been discussed, and I think Ian likes the idea. Finding a commercially available yoke with an automotive airbag might be an issue, but I'm sure he's looking around for one.

[CelticFlyer]

I echo Russ' desire to see a yolk of some sort in the V1, but as MikeB said, the idea of getting one that will facilitate the incorporation of an air bag is the question. Is it something they could create from scratch? If so, how much would it impact the vehicle's delivery date?

When you speak of clean diesel, do you mean they wouldn't stink like diesels often do, or that they'd burn cleaner than ordinary diesels? Could you clarify that? I've heard diesels deliver more torque than standard ICEs, but is the gain really worth it in the V1?

[Russ]

Yes, clean diesel is referred to the new diesel engines that companies like Honda and Blue Tech are building now. I don't know if they have come to the states yet but the new clean diesel engines are suppose to be 50 state certified and still have the power and torque band like the old stinky and polluting diesels use to be. My John Deere tractor has the clean diesel engine that passes the Bin 5 Tier 2 standards which I think goes into law by 2009 or 2010. It doesn't smoke or stink like old engines use to do and the thing sips fuel. Someday if an engine could be found and installed in the new Venture one machine, it would eliminate all the batteries and motors and just have one source of power and diesels themselves are very reliable and dependable and you don't have to change the spark plugs because they aren't any in a diesel. Just glow plugs which don't require any changing unless they are bad. In the mean time hope they can get the hybrid tech down to a science to where it is reliable and they have some way of recycling the batteries when they go bad. That is my biggest down fall with hybrids. You have two sources of power which mean more things to go wrong and the batteries will have to be recycled or our landfills will be ful of them and we don't want to make the EPA mad at us. Russ

[CelticFlyer]

Thanks, Russ. I appreciate that information. I agree; simpler is better. Hybrid tech is interesting, but it would be better to focus on one means of propulsion rather than two. I suppose if batteries were more powerful and had a lower environmental impact, we could focus on electric motors alone. Some day, perhaps. But in the meantime, I'm all for a clean-running ICE or DICE as a sole means of power.