Baldos II is the most fuel-efficient vehicle - A MUST SEE!

[M.D. Holloway]

Looks very different that your typical ultra high efficiency car!

Baldos II is the most fuel-efficient vehicle allowed for street–use in Sweden, ever. During a test-run in January 2010 it travelled the equivalent of 152,2 kilometers on one single liter of gasoline (0,657 l/100 km), which is about five times the distance of the most fuel-efficient cars sold in Sweden today.

Characteristics
Type: Minicar
Model: Unique
Registration number: DES 459
Owner: Luleå University of Technology
Approximate cost: € 30,000 excl./€ 300,000 incl. work

Width: 1250 mm
Length: 2650 mm
Height: 1250 mm
Kerb weight excluding driver’s weight: 155 kg
Number of seats: 1

Top speed: 35 km/h
Acceleration: 0-35 km/h in 3,2 s
Fuel consumption: 0,675 l/100 km road driving
Carbon dioxide emissions: 12g/km
Tank volume: 0,6 l

Drive train: Serial hybrid with internal combustion engine (ICE), double-layer capacitor and electric motor.
Fuel: Ethanol
ICE type: Fuji Imvac BF-25EI, four-stroke
ICE displacement: 25 cc
Maximum power: ICE 1 kW; Electric motor 600 W
Maximum torque: ICE 1 Nm; Electric motor 20 Nm
Transmission: No

Coach: Carbon fiber monocoque, divinycell sandwich
Tyres: Michelin 95/80 R16
Rims: Own-label aluminium
Brakes: Dual circuit hydraulic
Wheel suspension: Individual, double wishbone
Interior: Austere; hand gas, casual directional indicator controls, three-point seat belt (six-point during race), cellular display, advanced GPS system
Crashworthiness: Approved within its speed range by Swedish authorities

Fuel efficieny taken to a higher level
The remarkable fuel efficiency is a result of three major factors: the size and weight, the series hybrid drive train and efficient design choices.

When it comes to size, Baldos II is a minicar in the true sense of the word. Seen in profile it has about the same dimensions as a common bicycle, but still the characteristics of a fancy sports car. Both the size and the shape of the vehicle are designed to decrease wind-resistance, and weight, to a minimum. With its 155 kilos (driver excluded) it’s perhaps the lightest of all registered cars in Sweden. This plays a major role when it comes to fuel-efficiency; less weight carried means less fuel needed to carry it.

[tangerine911S]

Problem with cars like these is that if you're in an accident, you're toast. Pretty cool looking though. Nice to see some sporty design applied to this type of thing.

[RWebb]

I'd expect it to meet the Swedish safety stds. which IIRC are pretty high.

what DOES happen is that when a Carbon fiber monocoque is crashed, the CAR is toast - watch an F1 crash sometime - the energy is dissipated into mechanical work - destruction of the CF


thx for that post, Mike
not to say that a steel unibody would not be toast also

[M.D. Holloway]

but the Swedes drive more safe...

[pksystems]

Top speed 35km/h????

That isn't a car at all. Get a freaking bicycle, and you can do that. Reminds me of that cardboard 997 body on a bicycle..... What is the point?

[GH85Carrera]

OK I will be the first to say that photo just does not look real. I say April Fools!

Nice Photoshop work.

I could be wrong but I can't see tires and wheels like that on a super efficient car.

[sammyg2]

Cool, a car that costs 300,000 euros and has a top speed of 21 miles per hour. where do I sign up?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

OK I will be the first to say that photo just does not look real. I say April Fools!

Nice Photoshop work.

I could be wrong but I can't see tires and wheels like that on a super efficient car.

look at the back tire in the top photo. That tires' pretty skinny.







Still, 35km/h, that's pretty useless. I think I'd almost prefer a seguay(sp)

[M.D. Holloway]

Pop a lawnmower engine it...I just think it look pretty cool compared to other offers - true, you could run faster!

[TechnoViking]

I was wondering what that red thing was crumpled up under the front fender of my Expedition. Now I know.

[M.D. Holloway]

ya couldn't tell by the soft wimperings of a eurofag trying to escape before the 8ccs of fuel ignited and scorched his fancy pants...

[jyl]

Why is the driver wearing a full-face helmet? His top speed is 22 mph.

Why is the thing ostentatiously streamlined with racing stripes and hydraulic brakes? Its top speed is 22 mph.

Why does the thing have all that technology and no pedals? Just to go 22 mph?

I am very interested in EVs and all that, but honestly I'd get this and add an electric pedal assist motor. I think I could go 23 mph.



Or this, which comes as a DIY kit.

[cashflyer]

If my math is correct, 152 km per liter = approx 360 mpg.
Impressive.

What is the practicality of a one-seat deathmobile that travels 22mph?
Mopeds go faster and they are already a hazard on the road.


The photo reminds me of so many photoshopped Porsche images - but here is a website with many construction photos: Baldos 2009

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

OK I will be the first to say that photo just does not look real. I say April Fools!

Nice Photoshop work.

I could be wrong but I can't see tires and wheels like that on a super efficient car.

It may not be a fake, but it didn't take the design studio much work. Can you see a Boxster with a hardtop after the spin, dry and high heat in the dryer?

Swap in some Ferrari headlights and you're done.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by pksystems

Top speed 35km/h????

That isn't a car at all. Get a freaking bicycle, and you can do that. Reminds me of that cardboard 997 body on a bicycle..... What is the point?

ever ride a bike in winter in Sweden???


I agree it is butt ugly.

[sammyg2]

As a side note, back about 32 years ago I built a set of wheels for the Shimano entry into the human-powered championship race.

it was a recumbant with a fairly thin aero fiberglass shell and an aluminmium tube chassis. Not very light or high tech, certainly not compared to today's technology.

In that thing I could sustain over 30 mph for long periods of time, and could hit bursts of at least 45 mph.

[Geronimo '74]

Very eco friendly.... and ridiculous also...
I'll pass, thanks for trying tho

[gtc]

Originally Posted by jyl

Why is the driver wearing a full-face helmet? His top speed is 22 mph.

So that people won't recognize him.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

As a side note, back about 32 years ago I built a set of wheels for the Shimano entry into the human-powered championship race.

it was a recumbant with a fairly thin aero fiberglass shell and an aluminmium tube chassis. Not very light or high tech, certainly not compared to today's technology.

In that thing I could sustain over 30 mph for long periods of time, and could hit bursts of at least 45 mph.

Hmm, I wonder, weight is only really important when trying to change speed, so from a certain point of view, assuming you have the power (or gearing) to get a fairly heavy vehicle moving, wouldn't a heavier vehicle be better for this sort of test. You'd have more momentum/inertia, so once moving, the thing would be less likely to change speed (up or down) which would aid in economy?

I can see how it might be useful to build some sort of heavy flywheel into this sort of thing. The human powers the flywheel and the flywheel powers the vehicle?

[911pcars]

The equation changes a little when fuel prices escalate or if fuel becomes scarce.

Who's going to drive/ride a Seque in winter weather? Besides, I'd hate to be the one who rides one of these when the battery fails. Probably a warning exists though.

Who's going to risk driving a torpedo-shaped 2 foot high vehicle in traffic?

What's not to like about 300+ mpg? Who needs a 2+ ton SUV to shop at Trader Joes or go to the post office?

I can think of better ways to spend gas money. For example, on gas for the Porsche.

Sherwood