PHEV DYI project

[S-G-Covin]

http://www.rqriley.com/xr3.htm

the guy who designed and built the prototype is a fairly well known entity in the alternative auto world. The XR-3 hybrid (no idea why the name except to make it sound kewl) is a DYI car with a kit in the planning stages. Its a dual powertrain vehicle, front wheels running on a 3 cylinder diesel engine and the rear wheel powered by an electric motor. The prototype boasts 225 MPG in dual power mode and 125MPG on the engine...and ofc zero MPG when run off the battery (range estimates 40 miles in full battery mode).

Biggest things I don't like about it:
1 body design. Looks ugly and a little unsafe, particularly the canopy. Roll this thing over and you're trapped.

Solution: the body is made of foam shell so, its easily possible to just make something that looks a dang sight better than what they built.

2 runs on a diesel tractor engine. Doesn't instill the idea of a performance car.

solution: I'm thinking one could stick a cruiser motorcycle engine in there (somewhere in the range of 80+- MPG) and have a very nice homebuilt PHEV that could both perform on the road and save at the pump.

3 theres a lot of outsourcing work going into the construction of the car, from what I read on forums devoted to it (plans are out and folks are building em).

solution: learn to MIG weld