Cars that move on three wheels
There is another style of car coming out in the alternative car market. It has been reported that it will not only be an electric car, but it will only have three wheels. The car will lean and slide around corners like a motorcycle. The company that created the design, Venture Vehicles, has said that it aims to commercialize the vehicle by 2009.
The steering of the car is the most important aspect, as the engineers had to combine the concept of a car with that of a motorcycle. Holland-based Carver invented steering technology design.
It has been reported that the steering will cost $20,000 for a hybrid version or $25,000 for a fully electric version. The vehicle seats two passengers and has an optional luggage container that attaches to the roof. The car will be able to become a convertible with the easy removal of the roof.
The three-wheeler will be called the Venture One. It will be ideal for high-traffic areas and tight-knit cities where space is an issue. The Venture One is just 40 inches wide and shorter than the average car, so parking hassles will be a thing of the past. Two Venture Ones will be able to fit in one parking space. However, the passengers do not sit next to each other, but rather motorcycle-style, one behind the other.
For the hybrid, which uses gasoline, the gas mileage is 120 miles per gallon. The electric version will easily go 120 miles before needing a charge. Though built for urban life, the car can also keep up on the highway, going from zero to 60 in five seconds.
The company is trying to capitalize on the green car market and is working with the battery maker’s A123 system on the design. They are also involved in loading a variety of safety features, to ensure that the vehicle still has some of the safety that a car offers.
Although the car can lean 25 degrees, it is nearly impossible to tip over, so passengers don’t have to worry about falling over, as they would on a motorcycle. The car looks like a tornado with its streamlined shape and sleek feel, yet this could be the next bold step forward in car evolution. The combination of motorcycles and automobiles in one compact machine has resulted in a possible green future perspective of the evolution of the automobile.