Antro Solo gas-electric hybrid promises 150 mpg
By Donald Melanson 
posted June 24th 2008 2:02PM
posted June 24th 2008 2:02PM
While there's no word on any plans to enter it into the Automotive X-Prize, it looks like the Antro Solo gas-electric hybrid here would at least be able to hold its own against the competition, with it promising to hit upwards of 150 miles per gallon on the highway. That takes a slight dip to a still impressive 117 mpg in city driving though, while the car's top speed clocks in at a decent 87 miles per hour. To hit those numbers, the company took a couple of extra steps beyond the usual gas-electric hybrids, including putting some solar cells on the car's roof to help charge the battery, and some pedals on the inside to keep it juiced up when the sun goes down. The fact that the entire car weighs less than 600 pounds doesn't hurt either. As you might have guessed, however, the car is still a ways away from rolling off the production line, but the company says it expects to get it out the door by 2012, when you'll supposedly be able to pick one up for $18,000.
[Via Inhabitat]
[Via Inhabitat]
I HAVE JET POWERED ROLLER SKATES
UGLY UGLY UGLY.. other than that the mileage is great! But does it have to be so UGLY? What gives with the ugly car trends the last few years?
I hope the interior comes with a nice silk lining----looks like a coffin on wheels if some SUV rolls over you.
Its advances like this which are gonna change the automotive industry nad protect the planet, not little tiny baby steps the established car makers are pursuing. Still ugly as sin
So, where are the head lights?
They are there. look again...
This post-thread ftw.... :D
It looks like a plastic bubble casket. I guess when you are in a car wreck and die, they can bury you in it. Also, looks like something George Jestson would drive. When are American automakers going to get on the stick and stop producing gas burners all together?? No one needs to drive a truck unless you are hauling something. No one needs to drive an SUV. Get a mini van if you have a family, drive a smaller gas friendly car. COME ON American auto makers, get with it. American families can't feed their children because they are feeding their gas tanks.
This POC is simply a shell of carbon fober over a bicycle with a couple tyco electric motors and pedals to act as squirrel cages running a generator. It is made in Hungaria so that would be the first clue as to it's worthiness. In other words - don't get your hopes up on this one. Wait for the GM VOLT.
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/24/transportation-tuesday-antro-solo-gets-150mpg/
IT WEIGHS A MUCH AS A HONDA GOLDWING BUT HAS PROTECTION FROM THE ELEMENTS AND 150 MI PER GAL. NOT BAD NOT BAD AT ALL
$18,000 really isnt to bad.
The only thing is, this looks like its only going to fit me and an Eee sized laptop.
No way Im going to be able to move anything of size in it.
How do you fit a family of 5 or more in these things? I have 4 car seats - mandated by law - in my car. How do I do that in a Smart Car, Hybrid, etc.? I am all for conserving gas and going green, but at some point we have to deal with the realities of life.
If someone has bothered to read all the posts and finally got to this, i'm impressed.
I just threw in a K&N Air Filter into a 2000 Honda Odyssey, before this I got less than 450 km per tank, now I am over 500 km.
I haven't changed the way I drive at all, my engine oil is Castrol Syntec 5W-30 with a Fram XG Oil filter.
Oil & oil filter changes every 6000 kms, and I keep the tires at the recommended psi levels.
What I have been surprised not to see by vehicle converters is an all electric van, the whole back is practically a flat deck, and since the concept of seats that stow into the floor, what stops people from installing batteries into all that unused space?
The only items I have noticed are the alternative energy companies being bought, or simply running out of funding, before they can bring anything to the markets.
All you backyard modifiers need to create a international association and start converting any and all vehicles that can be converted.
you ignorant people. first who care about the look on this car if is going to be so helpfull and we will be lucky is this car is as cheap as they say. whith all the saving in gas probably we will still be able to buy some food at that time.
Looked ugly in picture until I saw these on another website. Car looks HOT!
http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/06/24/transportation-tuesday-antro-solo-gets-150mpg/
Hey, If a bird craps on your roof, do you lose solar power?
with all the hybrid and electrical cars companies are coming out with, they should start describing the mileage by miles per unit energy ie. miles/joule, miles/kW-hr, miles/btu. many power plants still use fossil fuels to create electricity
I guess there will be no time travel via flux capacitor on this thing.
This looks like the first step to the development on the R-Type R-9 series. Soon we rid ourselves from oil independence as we harness the power of our new Bydo embryo overlords.
Actually I am a little concerned because I average 500 miles on a tank of gas(10 gals) in my Prius and that is a big plus of not ever having to stop on long trips.
At 600 lbs., it'll be blown around on the highway. Will it seat 4 or 5? What about load carrying ability, say 3 suitcases? How does load weight affect mpg?
What we need is a decent auto that gets 50-60 mpg, not some toy that'll never be marketed. What we need is another fuel source other than petroleum....like hydrogen.
tom, hydrogen may be an alternative fuel but it is nt abundant in that form. it takes a significant amount of energy to remove hydrogen from another molecule such aswater. many times the energy to create the hydrogen comes from petroleum
I've always wondered why the people who are trying to develop electric cars don't use the idea of a replaceable battery packs rather than one that is hardwired into the vehicle. Having recharge stations where you drive in and a robotic (or some other mechanical device, as the battery packs would be extremely heavy) system would remove the depleted battery and plug in a charged battery and you would continue on your way. I know it would take a major investment in infrastructure to build these recharge stations but as oil becomes more expensive the break even point will shorten.
Hmm, this looks like a single seater, I wonder if the two seater version will be called the DUO.
By the way here is a link for a few dozen more photos
http://index.hu/gal/?dir=0806/tudomany/solo/
some inside pics as well.
Yup this is a single seater, though looks roomy as hell.
MY BAD!!! it's actually a 3 seater how weird, then I look at Hungary's census at it looks like most families only have 2.3 people per family so, I can understand, why a 4th seat would be useless.
If you let a fart the car will be blown off the road!
greg belter
I think the shape is ok but the front 'grille' colour is ugly.
It may not suit families of 5 carting luggage, but is it supposed to fit every possible passenger/luggage configuration? There are a lot of normal engine two-seaters out there. Hopefully technology will progress to where green cars pack more of a punch. This is another step down the road.
It looks aerodynamic enough to tolerate side winds. The wipers may be hidden.A small proportion of people drive in rough terrain, so I don't think that's a prohibitive factor if this car can't handle off-road or snow.
The lights are just above the blue grille, triangular on each side. (Or is it purple? I'm slightly colour blind - in which case the grille could be pretty - I wouldn't know :-)
I'd like to see an all silver and all black model.
(Re post above, birds pooping on the solar panel could be a problem if you never ever get out of the car to clean it off)
Pretty unique vehicle and it's good that in 2012 it will be available already.