Venturi readies the launch of its solar / wind-powered Eclectic vehicle

Leave it to the makers of the first "solar shuttle" to actually hit its production schedule, as Venturi Automobiles is officially readying its Eclectic vehicle for a June 2007 launch. The "world's first" commercially available autonomous vehicle sports a "stylish, urban design," room for three, and never needs to get friendly with an AC outlet (although it can, if necessary) or fuel pump. This puppy is powered and recharged completely by renewable energy, be it sunlight or wind, as it houses a bevy of NiMH (NIV-7) liquid-cooled batteries that can be juiced up from the 2.5 square meters of photovoltaic cells atop its roof or a set of wind turbines that can be fixed to the vehicle while parked. Right on target, the company plans to launch a "limited run" of 200 in June, which will be white in color and demand around €24,000 ($31,421). As the learning curve kicks in and production costs sink, the vehicle price should ring up closer to €15,000 ($19,638) when it goes full scale in 2009, while a "single-seat utilitarian version" will compliment the flagship unit sometime in the future. So if you're thinking about ditching the whole "fill your car up" thing, you may still have time to get in on the pre-orders now being accepted for the first 20, but if history proves anything, it's doubtful. [Warning: PDF link]

[Via AutoblogGreen]

[Matt B @ Dec 19th 2006 2:20PM]

Daddy, why are we slowing down again?

Cause a bird pooped on the roof again.

[Nick @ Dec 19th 2006 2:21PM]

Sweet...A solar powered beer cooler. I have always wanted one of those. I could program it to follow me around while tailgating.

[Cowboy Bob @ Dec 19th 2006 3:19PM]

aw hell yeah!

[Rick Lyon @ Dec 19th 2006 2:40PM]

Sucks on rainy days, cloudy days, windless days, so this is like a part time car? I mean the battery is dying down and the sun goes behind clouds? All for $30K? Or maybe $20k? LOL

[Rick Lyon @ Dec 19th 2006 2:40PM]

Wait, this is a $20k golf cart. No doors, windows, trunk, etc.

[Pinkerton @ Dec 19th 2006 2:53PM]

Yeah, but other ice cleaning machines don't have doors or windows... what? This isn't a Zamboni? Sorry.

[kOa7 @ Dec 19th 2006 2:51PM]

Can I ask a question. Just how environmentally friendly are these kinds of systems? I worry that the production and disposal costs (of all kinds) may make these not such a great deal. A case in point would be the wind up devices, like radios and lights. I am sure a lot of people purchased them "just in case," and now we have millions of them sitting on shelves doing nothing. Is there an overview of different battery techs with their long term environmental and financial costs?

[sharky @ Dec 19th 2006 3:14PM]

Now we're talking. And for those who are afraid of bird poop/clouds/etc. notice that it does ahve the ability to hook up to an AC outlet.

[mnugghuhx @ Dec 19th 2006 2:59PM]

would it not make sense to put a wind turbine facing the same direction as the cars wheels to maximize wind flow? it would increase drag, but also recharge the batteries, as long as the energy gained to energy lost ratio isn't 1 to 1 or less than its worth it. i love silly smart people

[ben @ Dec 19th 2006 9:45PM]

dude, what you have just describe is something known to "silly smart people" as a perpetual motion machine. whick currantly has not yet been invented and has been scientifically proven do defy the laws of physics. However, if you do come up with one you will surely be the richest man on the planet so keep me posted.
-silly smart person

[ChronoZaga @ Dec 19th 2006 3:34PM]

A good try, but I think the "plug-in hybrids" sound best right now. With a plug-in hybrid you get all the advantages of a petroleum engine, plus the added benifits of this thing...Well, except the solar panels and wind terbines, which sound more like science fantasy to me.

[doyouflip @ Dec 19th 2006 4:48PM]

Hmm, for a second, I thought "wind-powered" meant throw it in neutral and hoist the sales.

[michael @ Dec 19th 2006 7:30PM]

Its just too bad that solar cells aren't efficient enough to replace the energy it costs to create them in the first place, over the course of their lifetime.

[tekdroid @ Dec 19th 2006 10:34PM]

dunno, but maybe they are when you think of the reduction of wasting (inefficient) fuel to get somewhere, as opposed to just the electricity they produce themselves. Though it looks to me this would only make a great golf cart :)

[Alex @ Dec 19th 2006 7:38PM]

side impact rating? x_X

[Murc @ Dec 19th 2006 9:57PM]

Just curious how this puppy did on the ol crash test???

If Gore truely believes in Global Warming...he should sell is jet, and buy one of these.

[j.pickens @ Dec 20th 2006 3:49PM]

So, those solar cells would put out around 300 watts on a perfectly clear summer day for around 5 hours max. Thats 1.5kWh. Enough to drive around 1/4 mile with a VERY efficient drive system.
In New Jersey, you'd average the equivalent of about 70 of those days per year.
So, ignoring storage losses from the batteries, you'd be able to drive 18 miles per year. Over the 10 year life of the batteries, you'd drive 180 miles, or $100 per mile.
Cool!

[Nelg @ Dec 20th 2006 4:17AM]

!oil != renewable!
How did the writers get the idea that the Sun renews its fuel supplies? Get the terms right, or even talk about green fuel if you really want to use buzzwords.

I, in turn, could call sunpower endless energy, because, quite frankly, the Sun will last longer than humans.