Check out this design study by David Fearnley, a graduate of the Transportation Design Course at Northumbria University. Christened the Eigne (ig-NUH? Ig-NEE? Eeen?), it’s an electric 3+1 sports car that uses electric motors at all four wheels and battery packs in the floor pan. According to Fearnley, the location of the batteries allows for a lower center of gravity, increased cooling for the electric goodies and increased seating capacity. No word on why he decided to go with the funky seating arrangement for his unpronounceable Lotus, but we’re down with the idea. With gas prices still high relative to disposable income, the odds are we’re going to see more and more electric cars popping up in the near future. Automakers like Lotus would do well to heed these types of studies. And put the Seven back into production. Ahem. [Carscoop]
Posted By: Zach Bowman |
Tags: Design Study Eigne Electric Electric Vehicle EV Green Lotus Lotus Eigne
[...] Lotus, a company known more for its racing prowess than its green cred, is partnering with a number of state organizations on the research and design of an engine capable of running off of multiple types of fuels. The goal is to have a single-cylinder research engine completed by January of next year that produces significantly less CO2 than current petrol engines do. Lotus plans to accomplish that by using a greater ratio of alcohol to gasoline than is currently allowable in engines. So what does that mean for the Fiendish? It’s possible that there may be a partially alcohol powered Lotus way down the line. It’s easy to make power with alcohol because it burns so much cooler than conventional fuels, and more power is always a good thing. [...]