Venturi's Eclectic solar / wind-powered car

Forget biodiesel and fuel cell-powered vehicles, how about a whip that doesn't require any fuel whatsoever? The Venturi Eclectic, touted as an "autonomous energy vehicle," gets its charge from wind gusts and 8.2 square feet of solar cells atop its roof. The four-person ride boasts a 22-horsepower purely electric engine, is powered by liquid-cooled NiMH batteries, and can reach a (yawn-inducing) top-end speed of nearly 32mph. While it's no Wrightspeed X1, the designers had "daily driver" in mind when the Ecletic was crafted, but considering it'll only roll 31 miles on a full charge, you best take the scenic (read: sunny) route to work if you're facing a long commute. The car does sport an option to recharge via AC power, should you face darker (and calmer) than expected conditions, but since it weighs just 772 pounds, a foursome shouldn't have too much trouble using the tried and true "push method" if worse comes to worst. Scheduled for production in June 2007, this oh-so-green automombile will run you €24,000 ($30,511) -- if you can manage to score one of the 200 that'll be built, that is.

[Via MobileMag]

[Nicole @ Apr 14th 2008 11:09AM]

Um.....why are you people bashin' on this fuel efficient car. You won't get hit by an 18 wheeler if you're paying attention on the freakin' road! This is the best possible car choice you could ever make!

I love the Venturi Eclectic! I'm gettin one!

[poor person @ Apr 30th 2008 2:23AM]

if the best that we the people can do is not perfict than we set sight on whats the easyest .as a poor man i hope thers someone how can stop the fate of the nation and come up with a car that dos not need battries but direct power to a eletric car engine that will be cooled by air which the car moves thought .solar power is a place to start dont stop at batteirs .we as pleople can put a man on the moon but we cant ride free of energy cost . solar pwored cars is the best way so keep up the good work.and maybe some day some one can find a way to make a solar car that you dont have to plug in a outlet. so there it is from a poor man.

[Cade @ Sep 30th 2006 6:27PM]

It's electric! doot doot doot doot doot doot doot doot doot.
(It's hard to carry a tune in text)

[LittleJoe @ Sep 30th 2006 6:44PM]

lol... classic

[JoAnn @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:50AM]

Congratulations! I had a dream about this car last night. Sure enough - Here it is . My Wind powered car had a windmill transformer that could be erected during the time it was in parking lot. Aquiring energy as it was parked. Great Idea for TEXAS. It blows like crazy here. This added energy would help you with your 31 mile problem. I also had a generator (where my radiator is) so while I am driving - I am making energy. I dreamed this all up. You have the prototype. If this helps - send me one. Good luck! JoAnn Gilbertson in Corpus Christi Texas. These are the cars for the "Babyboomer" meandering around retirement communities. Dont let anyone tell you - you cant. YOU CAN! 330 people turn 60 every second.

[Brian @ Sep 30th 2006 7:17PM]

It looks like an old fashioned car, like something Diamler released 100 years ago (but with a much stubbier front end).

[Rock Stone @ Sep 30th 2006 6:58PM]

Reminds me of the Flintstones car - maybe they should have the floorboards open so you can power it by running. Under 800 lbs is pretty light - that's motorcycle weight.

[Raider @ Sep 30th 2006 8:09PM]

That is fine.... until you get hit with an SUV that drives completely thru the car without even stopping. Or better yet, what happens when a collision happens between an 18 wheeler.

Yeah this little thing is to be city bound. But all kinds of accidents and vehicles of other sizes are city bound.

[John @ Oct 1st 2006 12:46PM]

It is roughly the same weight as a motorcycle, and open too. You don't see people in an uproar over the safety of motorcycles the same way as small cars. Why is that?

And it doesn't go fast enough to go on the highway. I'm quite sure it can be built safe at city speeds.

[Matt @ Sep 30th 2006 8:30PM]

"...a foursome shouldn't have too much trouble..."

looks like it only has seats to me so where does the 4th person sit? exactly they dont!!!

[funetik @ Sep 30th 2006 8:42PM]

If it had bucket seats and a fat motorbike engine, it would make a fun buggy.

It's totally impractical as it is. People would sit inside it when you leave it parked, maybe even vandalise your interior. Homeless people would sleep in it. The seats would be wet if it had been raining. It would be far too easy to get carjacked in this thing too, assuming anyone would want to steal it.

It might be useful for tours of large estates or a situation where a golfcart is normally used, but for real life.. nah.

[Bassnote @ Sep 30th 2006 9:25PM]

nice idea - shame it looks like something out of the flintstones though :( http://www.mathematik.uni-ulm.de/~s_mhasch/flintstone_car.jpg

[tekdroid @ Sep 30th 2006 9:13PM]

most confusing bit of that article:
-------
Wind power alone can drive the car 15km after a full day of charging.
How does this work?


Anyway, the fact that they are making a limited run of these says it all; they are not ready for maintream use. A completely sealed (secure) enclosure would be the bare minimum needed for this to be even considered a car replacement. That would add a lot of weight, though.

[John from Buffalo @ Sep 30th 2006 9:23PM]

Mr. Ford, meet your new Sun.

[LukeD @ Sep 30th 2006 10:21PM]

Screw that pussy car! Check this out!

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php?js_enabled=1

[Rob @ Oct 1st 2006 12:16AM]

It's so efficient because it's so sleek.

[wtf @ Sep 30th 2006 11:06PM]

What's with people dogging "concept" cars? Jealous that you didn't get to engineer/build it?

[Andir3.0 @ Oct 2nd 2006 8:45AM]

"What's with people dogging "concept" cars? Jealous that you didn't get to engineer/build it?"

...

Because it looks horrific. I would barely be seen driving this in a golf course, let alone on the city streets.

[Spiza @ Sep 30th 2006 11:45PM]

Why not make a golf cart with something like this first. People play a lot of golf when its sunny.

[Wun Chiou @ Oct 1st 2006 12:21AM]

It's nerd-hat powered!

http://www.motorauthority.com/wp-content/uploads/Small/Venturi/Eclectic/image3_dl.jpg

[nuguns101 @ Oct 1st 2006 1:33AM]

for all the people bashing this concept, you have to remember that it's just that; a concept! It's expected to be a bit unrealistic and lack things necessary in the real world, like seatbelts and real protection from car accidents

[Matt Hadder @ Oct 1st 2006 6:51AM]

GM's EV1 in early 2000's had nearly a 200 mile range and did Zero to 60mpg (100kph) in just over 6 seconds...
... it looks like we're slowly going backwards in technology here folks.

What they should do is put solar cells on hybrid car hoods/roofs and double (or triple) battery capacity (as an option) so you could drive to work on battery alone... let it charge in the sun (ambient or direct) all day in the parking lot, then drive home again for free.
Save the gas engine for the trips over 30-50+ miles.

[Matt @ Oct 1st 2006 9:19AM]

" 200 mile range and did Zero to 60mpg (100kph) in just over 6 seconds...


i didnt know mpg was a measurement for speed :]

[Mikael @ Oct 1st 2006 12:07PM]

iono, but i like the design. lots of open space

cheers

[Ellianth @ Oct 1st 2006 1:03PM]

I like how it has solar powered headlights for the night time. 8-).

[Raider @ Oct 1st 2006 4:07PM]

John,
I've seen plenty of accidents at "city speed" and a good amount of them take up some damage more than you think. I've seen fatal bus crashes at speeds of only 30 mph. And that doesn't necessarily mean that the car crashing into this thing isn't going any slower or faster. People tend to speed all the time, there are some streets where you can go up wards of 40 mph. Well how about you sit in that car while I hit it with an 18 wheeler, don't worry I will be going city speeds, 30-35 mph.
Sure it is the same weight as a motorcycle. But a motorcycle is not moving up to four people. So that point is mute at best.
Plus I never said anything about going on the highway.

[zoara @ Oct 3rd 2006 8:48AM]

Raider; moot.

[Troy @ Oct 1st 2006 10:32PM]

Ok.. well, hire a designer and this is beta so it will improve, but the concept is sweet, a no gas, disel, corn gas, hydrogencell, it just runs on it's on, this is what we need to be doing. Screw the oil and not quite right hybird cars, cut the lines and let me get to where I need to go. I'm all for it and support it and know it's an idea that will evolve to something very good. 2cents, no charge.. At least not in Florida ;)

[Baconboy317 @ May 19th 2007 2:22PM]

Doesn't it carry three passengers?

[chris @ Aug 21st 2007 4:25AM]

how long will it take to prepare

[capnmike @ Sep 6th 2007 10:46AM]

Most of the people bashing this seem to be guys who have a problem with their machismo...if you need a muscle-y car to show the babes how "masculine" you are, you are not masculine at all! (Probably one of those types that sneak around airport washrooms)

There is something to be said for the "open" concept being a negative...you couldn't leave anything at all in it, at least where I live, without it being stolen. Being paranoid about "safety" doesn't bother anyone who has ridden a motorcycle--these would be a LOT safer! With a 3-mile commute and my car sitting in the parking lot all day in the sun, I'd LOVE one of these, if I could afford it.

[dave mounce @ Sep 25th 2007 6:37PM]

Its really a shame when people bash a product because it doesn't fit in their box of what a "car" should be. Ease up a bit, you will find that there are a lot of neat things out there you are missing.

[Justin @ Oct 5th 2007 2:44AM]

I think the future (along with electric) will be air powered cars. The technology exists today. A tank of air will give you 2 hrs. run time. The motor is the size of a brake rotor! Imagine replacing the motor with dual air tanks and an air compressor and a big enough car battery. Would that be a perpetual drive car? The weight savings would be substantial.

[Taylor Baldwin @ Nov 12th 2007 7:37AM]

What the hell is this supposed to be? I'd rather have a cool car than save the planet. This makes a Gremlin look like a TA.

[Taylor @ Nov 12th 2007 7:42AM]

This is a car right? Because I'm having trouble telling if its just a very large tupperwear container with wheels. It's not like "global warming" is going to effect within our lifetime, why should we care? Plus, I mean- look at it, get my point?

[QuietRiot973 @ Nov 12th 2007 7:46AM]

Watch it melt.