The first energy-autonomous vehicle

[jpak]

http://www.gizmag.com/go/6240/

October 2, 2006 There is no doubt that if you rated all the automotive companies in the world on their forward thinking and commitment to commercialising new concepts in sustainable mobility, Monaco-based Venturi would win by a country mile. The company which produced the world’s first available electric sportscar (see articles here here and here), recently announced it would partner with Intel to make energy sharing possible via the Venturi Fetish platform and now it has debuted the first energy-autonomous vehicle and despite its non-traditional appearance, production has already begun. The urban 3-seater electro-solar vehicle named the Eclectic goes well beyond anything previously offered by car manufacturers, being the first vehicle powered entirely by renewable energies, the first solar production vehicle and the first car that can be directly recharged with a personal wind turbine. A limited run of 200 vehicles will be available in June 2007 at a price of EUR24,000. The company is shooting for an even higher level of production from 2009 at an estimated base price of EUR15,000. Innovative and astonishing, Eclectic is much more than a simple vehicle ; it is a production and storage plant for renewable energies, either solar or wind based. Charging of these energies, which is intermittent in certain regions, can also be complemented by electrical recharging.

Given that the world’s largest automotive companies don’t feel at all constrained in creating outrageous chowcars, it’s testimony to the forward thinking of Venturi that the Eclectic is not just a show car but a production car – a manifestation of ideas the traditional companies appear to have not yet countenanced – this is the first autonomous production vehicle in the history of the automobile. Clearly its usage is going to be limited, and it will be restricted for daily driving in urban areas, but its low energy consumption make it the most economical environmental vehicle ever built.

Of decidedly original design, this is a vehicle that has no desire to look like other cars which depend on “black gold”: priority has been given to integration of the photovoltaic cells which compose its translucid roof.

Eclectic thus does not pass unnoticed in traffic: its elevated central driving position offers exceptional panoramic vision and considerable space, for both driver and passengers. Eclectic’s message is loud and clear: this is not an ordinary car, but an avant-garde way of getting around. Owning an Eclectic is also a personal commitment : it means changing one’s way of getting from one place to another by exchanging one’s role as a “consumer” for that of a “producer” and this, in the general interest.

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[unpossibles]

1. cool! K&R

although I will say that it looks like it wouldn't take a hit very well, so it would be kind of scary to drive.

Also, I think more could have been done to make it a bit more aesthetic - it's not bad, but reminds me of a covered wagon or a golf cart. I assume that part of the energy success is this vehicle's light weight, so you'd have certain limits as far as that goes, but it's definitely a cool car.

[IDemo]

2. This would more correctly be classified as a NEV

or 'neighborhood electric vehicle', suitable for trips around the retirement village or gated community, but probably not for street traffic, at just 31mph (50kph). Still, this looks like a good, forward looking company, and I'm sure they will have additional offerings.