A New Forum about a New and Exciting Vehicle

[Derwin]

At the request of many fellow members, I have created this new forum dedicated EXCLUSIVELY for discussion relating to Revolution Motors and the Dagne EV. Please feel free to post your thoughts, create new threads, and make this an active forum filled with valuable information. I am hoping that we can generate a great deal of interest in this vehicle, and even have some officials at Revolution Motors join us. Here is a little glimpse of this company and product....


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SPECIFICATIONS:

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Dagne operates as a pure electric vehicle for 120 miles, and then switches to hybrid mode to provide extended driving range. Dagne can be fueled by any combination of gas, diesel, biodiesel, or ethanol.
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left> </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=left><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=5 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=center align=left width="50%">Electric Range:
</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left>120 miles<SUP>†</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Hybrid Range:</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left>600 miles<SUP>†</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Top Speed: </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left>120 mph</TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left width="50%">Fuel Economy:
</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left>150 mpg<SUP>†</SUP></TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left width="50%">0-60 mph in
</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left>5 seconds</TD></TR><TR><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left width="50%"><SUP>†</SUP>EPA combined city/hwy</TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 1px solid" vAlign=top align=left> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Price: Under $20,000

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="92%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=pageheading vAlign=top align=left height=35>Production</TD><TD vAlign=top align=left> </TD><TD vAlign=top align=left> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=bodytext vAlign=top align=left>The first Dagne models will be offered for sale from our Santa Barbara assembly site in mid-2011. A single-seat, open-air version (similar to the current prototype) will be offered in limited edition beginning in mid-2010. Sales will occur at local Revolution Motors sites where we manufacture and service your vehicle. Regional service will be provided by staff who will respond on call if you are not conveniently located near a Revolution Motors site.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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Prototype

Fabrication of the Dagne prototype began in January 2008, followed by the first test drives in June 2008. Development has proceeded smoothly and quickly. As expected, Dagne is really fun to drive!

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Origins

The name “Dagne” is adapted from the name of the heroine in Ayn Rand's novel "Atlas Shrugged", who, in her struggle to reconcile personal self interest with the greater good of the community, discovers that a path exists for each of us that serves both. “Dagne” is Norwegian in origin and means "new day".

[Derwin]

Here is an email I received from a Revolution Motors enthusiast that received an answer to some of his questions directly from the company. Here it is...



Dagne's lean range is +/- 45 degrees (90 degrees total). Dagne's lean is controlled through a combination of forced lean and countersteer, so her lean/turn rate is at least as fast as a motorcycle.

We have no plans to exclude purchase from any customer who makes the pilgrimage to Santa Barbara to purchase a Dagne (including the early edition). We will ask however, that all customers formally accept the limits in geographic coverage of our vehicle servicing infrastructure at the time of the vehicle purchase, with an understanding that we continually expand the service range to the best of our ability to match the geographic distribution of our customers.

[RAN]

WTG Derwin!
One more step in making FTRC THE source of info for all enclosed, tilting, hybrid, 3-wheeled enthusiasts!


We have no plans to exclude purchase from any customer who makes the pilgrimage to Santa Barbara to purchase a Dagne (including the early edition). We will ask however, that all customers formally accept the limits in geographic coverage of our vehicle servicing infrastructure at the time of the vehicle purchase, with an understanding that we continually expand the service range to the best of our ability to match the geographic distribution of our customers.

These guys are really making sense, and it shows they have confidence in their design :-{)]

[denisg]

The Dagne Vehicle is on my radar screen for my next purchase if VV doesn't start getting there act together. The joystick idea sound really good but I'd have to try it first. I just hope it has all the creature comfort
that the V-1 will have. I might contact them to see if I could try there prototype and make a long weekend of it, in a couple of months. It would be will worth the 4 hour drive from Modesto.
Derwin
Thanks for starting this thread.

[RoyEP3]

Awesome! Damnit VV, step it up! I'm still rooting for ya!

[Miracleman89]

Awesome! Damnit VV, step it up! I'm still rooting for ya!

^+1 my thoughts exactly!!

[Charles]

I know this goes without saying, but if anyone does get to have a face to face conversation with anyone at Revolution Motors please add the full details in this forum. Getting some pictures of the concepts (i.e. the skin over the frame) would be nice also.

Derwin, Thanks for the creation of this new forum.

[Jake]

This company seems a bit more grounded then VV. I am not partial. I am almost ready to plunk down money for a mini. I drove one the other day and it was a lot of fun. Not as much fun as I think the VV or this vehicle would be but I would like to have some sort of fun vehicle in this life time. I will research this one and if it is as good as it sounds then what ever comes out first I will buy. People here predicted that if VV waited to long someone else would beat them to the punch and it appears this vehicle would be able to do it.

[meckman1]

Starting a dedicated enthusiast forum for the dagne is a great idea! Looking forward to more posts.

[Necoras]

I e-mailed them and they said they should have a video up in about a month as they're still working on lean controls. Front airbags are a definite and they're doing feasibility studies on side curtain airbags. They seem really responsive, so I'm hopeful.

[beerbrewer]

Thanks for this, Derwin. Like some others, I've been in touch with Ben at Revolution. They seem to be responsive people, and they've already demonstrated motivation to bring the DAGNE to market; look how far they've come in 3/4 of a year. I'm ready to jump all over a DAGNE when it's ready to roll. After staying with VV for wayyyyy over a year, I'm discouraged by the lack of concern for their initial customer base. The Revolution people seem to be just the opposite. I'm cheering for them. And I love their concept.

Go get 'em, Revolution Motors!!

[westonlgray]

I like the concept. I am a bit worried over how much the 10 kWh battery is going to cost, but this is definitely a car that could be used over a wide range of uses. I can't wait to start seeing some specs on the ICE, what kind of control system they will have, etc.

I just hope that they have a way to put a heater in it. A/C would also be nice.

On the safety side, I would be just as happy if they put in decent side protection and a good 5 point harness... Keep the costs down.

I also would like to know about the tires they are going to use. I owned a CBR 600F3, and even if I drove well, I couldn't get the tires to last more than about 10,000 miles, and it was a lot lighter. Does anyone have much experience with cruiser and/or touring tires? What kind of mileage can we expect?

[timo2112]

Hi all ! I have had some e-mail from revolution motors and Yes they will have a/c and heat, they also posted an update ... details #2



We appreciate the continued interest in Dagne. Here are answers to several more questions folks have raised:

1 - Mechanical Braking: As correctly pointed out, vehicle regulations require a mechanical means to stop the vehicle (”electric motor” brakes are not good enough). Since Dagne has calipers/disk brakes on each wheel, she satisfies this regulation. Regulations do not require, however, that a mechanical connection exist between the driver input and the vehicle actuation (drive-by-wire and “drive-by-fluid” are already becoming the norm in the automotive industry). Dagne has redundant control connections between the joystick and vehicle actuators, similar to commercial aircraft. If any connection/component fails, the driver will retain full control of the vehicle, and will be alerted to the location of the failure for ease of repair.

2 - Joystick Origins: Dagne began as an engineer’s quest to design the ideal vehicle from the standpoint of efficiency, performance, and driving experience, without the restriction of current vehicle convention. The joystick was the natural choice for optimal comfort, ease-of-use, and safety.

3 - Joystick Training: Every Dagne customer will receive a brief training course on how to use the joystick. The course won’t take very long (at least compared to learning to drive a standard transmission) because the operation of the joystick is very intuitive.

4 - The Prototype: Due to budgetary constraints in the current phase of development, the current prototype has a simple lead-acid battery pack and a single rear DC motor, which serve the purpose of proving the concept and providing a test driving experience (primarily to raise funds for the company so we can take the next step in development). The specifications for the production vehicle are based on performance numbers of existing batteries, motors, and power electronics currently available to us, and a detailed computer simulation of vehicle performance which we have verified against existing production vehicles.

[RAN]

Thanks Timo, but I haven't seen this or the other update you posted here on the RM website. Where are they hiding them? :-{)]

[timo2112]

Hi ran , just go to the blogs ....2thumb:up

[westonlgray]

Timo, thanks for the good info. This vehicle is sounding better and better. It could be a good competition for my money in the next couple of years.

I like the thought they are putting into the maintenance of the vehicle. That could be essential if people from across the country buy them. It will be easy to diagnose and send repair parts via UPS.

[Necoras]

I've posted a question for them in the comments on their blog. I'm curious to see if they give answers as quickly to questions there as to e-mail. Either way, updates are great.

[RAN]

Dunno why but I'm not seeing any new updates on the RM site. The last one I see is The Joystick and replies from 9/14.

I did e-mail them and got a reply in a few days. :-{)]

[Necoras]

clear your cache

[RAN]

Didn't help. Still don't see anything since the joystick post from 9/14. I use Firefox, but I tried IE too, and see the same thing.

Found the problem... they have 2 websites: revmoto.ndic.com (the one I was on) and revolutionmotors.biz, which has all the updates. The sites look identical except for the updates.

[timo2112]

Hi "ran", are you looking on the right side of the blog forum - there is a bunch of buttons under the search button that are "recent posts" just click on any one of them... unless you have a problem with your browser
you should see them. =y:

[wrandyr]

Dagne wins the Most Imaginative Vehicle award at the IDKTechEx “Future of Electric Cars” conference.

This was published in one of Revolution Motors' hometown newspapers:
http://www.independent.com/news/2010/dec/28/revving-revolution/

[Mike kZ]

They want to have the first sell-able car by late 2012, that would be nice! :)