It's not quite
310 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe), but even at 245 MPGe, the
Edison2 eVLC is certainly one of the most efficient vehicles to have ever completed EPA-accredited tests.
That's right, in tests conducted at Roush Laboratories, the electric version of the
X-Prize-winning Edison2 prototype Very Light Car (eVLC) returned a shocking 245 MPGe using the EPA-derived 5-cycle testing method. Compare that to
99 MPGe for the
Nissan Leaf.
No less impressive, in the same EPA-accredited tests, the four-passenger eVLC returned 114 miles of range on its small, 10.5-kWh battery and completely recharged in six hours from an ordinary 110-volt household outlet. If all plug-ins were this efficient, a widespread charging infrastructure would not be required.
Having beaten physics, the biggest hurdle for the Edison2 crew still lies ahead: convincing the world that its extremely lightweight (1,031 pounds) eVLC is safe to drive on public roads. So far, computer simulations show that meeting Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards is within the eVLC's reach, but actual crash testing, which is scheduled to begin in late 2011, will officially determine whether or not the eVLC's ride crumbles or remains intact. Click
here for more details on the Edison2 eVLC.
Continue reading Edison2 eVLC nabs shocking EPA rating of 245 MPGe
