Light Cars

[skatss]

There are researchers out there who are doing amazing things to try and get cars to run more efficiently. It seems that the cars running now are so inefficient that 90% of the energy used in a car is wasted! Only 1 to 3% of the energy used actually moves the car.

One place has actually used carbon plastics to make the skeleton of a new type of car. It is so light that the heaviest part can be lifted by one man. The manufacture of that car can also save energy in just putting it together in the first place.

The energy used to move this car is the amount of energy that is used to run the usual car's air conditioner!

I tell you, once it gets so bad out there that we all will accept the fact that we have to change the cars we use now, there are people finding ways to help the situation.

I actually feel a little optimistic about the future of cars now -- and I am not at all an optimistic person.

[skatss]

I was just wondering if the people here, people who are obviously interested in hybrid cars already, would you feel comfortable in a light car?

Or do you think that you'd feel as if anything that hit you that outweighed you by a couple of thousand pounds would flatten you? Even if it wouldn't happen, the cars are too strong for that to happen, would you still feel as if you would be too uncomfortable to drive a light car?

[Jeremy LA]

Yeah, actually even I would be very uncomfortable knowing that the semi-truck would hit my side. But then again, its in the driver that makes his travel and driving be free from harm. Be a smart driver, that is...!

[Agent Fred]

Sure, I would feel safe in a carbon fiber car. I have seen demonstrations of its relative strength, so I would not be afraid of crushing in an accident. However, my understanding is that the technology is currently so expensive, it will be awhile before we see it in normal cars.

[tom]

I would be concerned with a small car getting bashed by some big SUV.

Carbon fiber is great and also is very strong. The size of the car is more of a concern for me than the weight of the car.

[Agent Fred]

Originally Posted by tom

The size of the car is more of a concern for me than the weight of the car.

Size is irrelevant if the car can withstand impact without buckling and if the driver is properly belted. I don't mind a small car so long as I know it isn't made of paper . What I would be concerned with is that a heaver SUV will deliver a heavier impact than a lighter SUV, thus putting me in more danger!

[Ricardo]

I hope that as they improve the design and efficiency of these cars, they also improve the safety features of them, too.

How about the Smart cars that seat two? Has anyone here driven one of those?

I wonder how it feels driving on the freeway in one of those between big trucks.

[Agent Fred]

I have never driven a Smart car, but there's a dealership in my area and I'm keen to test driv one sometime. They're pretty cool looking.

[Uguis]

Originally Posted by Agent Fred

Sure, I would feel safe in a carbon fiber car. I have seen demonstrations of its relative strength, so I would not be afraid of crushing in an accident. However, my understanding is that the technology is currently so expensive, it will be awhile before we see it in normal cars.

Yeah, Carbon fiber car bodies are expensive and manufacturers are having a hrad time looking for the right quality of paint for it. The common paints are not well fitted for it.

[Agent Fred]

Originally Posted by Uguis

The common paints are not well fitted for it.

LOL! I love that one of the things holding up the development of this awesome technology is "we can't make it look pretty enough." Talk about messed up priorities!!!!!!!