SEMA: Alé contending for Automotive X-Prize
The Alé from Fuel Vapor Technologies is the first actual entry for the Automotive X-Prize that we've come across. For those that need a refresher course, the X-Prize Foundation is the organization that got a private plane into orbit by dangling some big bucks at the end of a stick. The Automotive X-Prize will similarly offer a large amount of cash money for the car that can run the cleanest and longest on a tank of gas. While the rules haven't been finalized nor the amount of prize money announced, you can follow the Foundation's progress at its blog. The Alé has been designed with the Automotive X-Prize in mind, and as such the three-wheeler can achieve 92 mpg. But it's not one of those completely impractical MPG whores that sacrifices all performance and practicality for that kind of mileage. It does 0-60 in under 5 seconds, runs a 12.9 second quarter mile, and corners at 1.7g! The Alé is powered by a four cyinder gasoline engine that uses a patent-pending fuel vapor system that literally allows it to run on fumes. According to its inventor, George Parker, most gas engines run on an 14.7:1 to air to gasoline ratio. The Alé uses a ratio of over 20:1, allowing it to stretch the amount of miles it can extract from a good old gallon of go juice. It's also extremely slippery and weighs only 1,300 lbs. The Ale is a front-wheel drive car, meaning the two front wheels are very busy both powering and steering this mega mileage trike. Who knows how it handles or if its relatively outrageous claims are true, as it's trapped inside a crowded SEMA hall at the moment. Hopefully we'll hear more about the Alé in the coming days as the Automotive X-Prize challenge progresses.
Check out a full gallery of pics after the jump.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
autoinfo 12:27AM (1/27/2008)
I really like the look of the car but operating in a lean burn condition typically creates an unacceptable level of NOX in the exhaust. I am curious if there has been any independent verification of their claims relating to performance, economy or emissions. I have also found another company in Oregon called Vapor Fuel Technologies that has multiple patents on a vapor system that greatly increases fuel economy without the NOX problem. Their system has been verified by an independent test lab. You can check them out at http://www.vftllc.com
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autoinfo 5:18PM (1/23/2008)
I really like the look of the car but operating in a lean burn condition typically creates an unacceptable level of NOX in the exhaust. I am curious if there has been any independent verification of their claims relating to performance, economy or emissions. I have also found another company in Oregon called Vapor Fuel Technologies that has multiple patents on a vapor system that greatly increases fuel economy without the NOX problem. Their system has been verified by an independent test lab. You can check them out at http://www.vftllc.com
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DKB_SATX 1:23PM (11/01/2006)
While I agree that front-wheel drive is not ideal for all vehicles, it's misleading to say that "...the two front wheels are very busy both powering and steering this mega mileage trike." The front wheels are no "busier" than those on a Chevy Aveo or any of hundreds of other FWD production vehicles.
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Tiago do Vale 1:53PM (11/01/2006)
In a 3 wheeler with 2 front wheels, I'd say that this is the best solution: front engine and front-wheel drive.
Does is have only the driver seat, or a second one in tandem?
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regguy 2:01PM (11/01/2006)
Since it is described to have less than four wheels (tires) in contact with the ground, in the USA it is legally not a car but a motorcycle. The X-Prize folks can write the rules however they choose, but when they refer to "cars" on their website, to be fair, the winning vehicle should have to meet all emission and safety standards in effect for legal cars. The Ale could add a "duallie" to increase the tire contact count, but 3 means a motorcycle.
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Phil L. 2:21PM (11/01/2006)
The 20:1 air to gas ratio instead of a stoich mixture at 14.7:1 is interesting. As I understand it, stoich is the point at which the chemistry of burning fuel and air allows complete combustion.
What what's happening at 20:1? Theoretically, there's simply extra air that has no fuel to react with. How does pumping extra air increase efficiency?
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Yatrik 2:42PM (11/01/2006)
"MPG whores" lol.... so true.
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Brian 2:56PM (11/01/2006)
#4 i'm curious too... My first thought is that the low weight is the biggest factor with it high MPG numbers
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Mr_Oak 3:39PM (11/01/2006)
Engine displacement? Octane level? Shaft or chain drive?
I like the color, even if it does look like a piece of Samsonite luggage from behind.
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Toy Yoda 4:04PM (11/01/2006)
Phil L.
Perhaps it has to do with how many oxygen molecules are present for burning. True, for a given amount of carbon and hydrogen, you need an exact amount of oxygen for a complete burn, no more or less. But, to increase the number of oxygen atoms, means you increase the rate oxygen atoms that will collide with the fuel molecules. In effect, you increase the burn speed or the flame front.
Thus you get more "bang!" for the same amount of fuel. Therefore, you can decrease the amount of fuel you need to get the same amount of kick, if you can increase the the fuel oxygen ratio.
Does that sound plausible? I know I'm talking out of my ass. :)
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beaker 4:52PM (11/01/2006)
Toy Yoda,
That is essentially it. A typical IC engine only burns a small percentage of the gasoline that is in the combustion chamber (yes, you are losing gas out the tail pipe). The theory is the same as that behind turbo- & super-chargers. More oxygen means more combusted gas. It's also the whole reasoning behind fuel injectors: to optimize the spray of the gas so that it burns the most efficiently.
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Arthur 9:38PM (11/01/2006)
This thing looks like a cheap rip off of the Volkswagen 1 liter concept car from 2002. The exterior doesn't look half bad, but the interior looks like it was salvaged from a mid 80's Honda.
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tekdemon 4:39PM (11/02/2006)
I think a big part of the savings is from the weight. I mean if you took a 2002 Honda Civic HX (which had a lean-burn system that used a higher oxygen ratio than usual-but not quite this high) and somehow put it on a diet to shed half it's weight (it weighed like 2500 pounds) it'd pretty much be putting out mileage that was almost as good.
Maybe the vapor system gives a slight extra edge, but I'm fairly certain the fact that it's only 1300 pounds is also a big part of this.
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Tom Lee Mullins 3:55PM (11/05/2006)
It looks like a modern version of the Messerschmitt KR. IMO - it is really cool. It would be great if it was an affordable price (between 15,000 and 20,000 dollars). It would be an awesome commuter car.
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Phil Martin 8:45PM (10/07/2007)
The styling of the Alé with it's canopy, tandem seating and aerodynamic body styling is amazingly similar to tha of Jim Bede's creation, the Litestar which was later named the Pulse car. Called autocycles, the Litestars and Pulses were produced from 1985-1990. Many of those vehicles are still in use today with many more under restoration. See www.autocycles.org for additional information. The Alé also is strikingly similiar to the Jet Car, from Germany...http://www.jetcar.de/english/
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Rocket Dude 5:33PM (2/04/2007)
You guys are all on the right track with the above thoughts, with the exception of the idiot trying sell electronics, haha! Stochiometric only implies the ideal ratio of molecules for chemical mixing/reation. The real problem with gaining this level of efficiency is mostly dependent on the laws of thermodynamics and trying to complete all of the reactions/ignitions/transfers of energy.
Weight of the vehicle will play only a small role in the overall long term efficiency of the system (it plays a huge role if production costs) and it is factored into the friction exerted by the tires onto the ground..., therfore three contact points is 25% less than that of four. Once the vehicle is up to speed then there is a very slight advantage with the weight in the form of momentum(factor of mass and velocity)which would deter the affects of fluctuating wind impacts,...
Aerodynamics and thermodynamics are the biggest players in this design chess game. They will drive it much less than 60 miles an hour to maintain the least aerodynamic impact, and using that much air in the mixture will put him on the border between burning and detonating the mixture. Trying to control actual explosions within the cylinders is the challenge, if you only use gasoline. This in turn is seen in heat output, or thermal loss. If the standard IC engine can only achieve an efficiency of 15% there is alot of room for improvement. However the cost will be seen in the life expectancy of the engine, and therefore there is a trade-off between the cost of a rebuild every 50,000 miles verses the savings in fuel cost verses the emmisions put out by the car, verses the emmisions to manufacture the parts to repair the engine... This is the old "do loop" addiage.
My bet is that he is using the Honda engine, turbo charged it, has borderline detonation, and has a few other additives in the mixture that I'm not going to write about because I want to win the X-prize and I pray that the rules are very loose.
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Roland Tamaccio 10:18PM (11/10/2006)
... The 20 to one is usually a lean misfire (Smokey 101); however with a true vapor a clean combustion is possible. Basically it's a very lean mixture doing the job.
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Isaac Graff 8:35PM (11/22/2006)
I found it comical someone mentioned the similarities in the interior of this car and a honda, the seats ARE Honda seats!! i would recognize that pattern and recline controller pieces any where. They're most likely form a 88-91 Honda Prelude.
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Chris 12:54AM (12/05/2006)
Sell me the kits and I'll gladly become a dealer!
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Fred 3:37PM (1/04/2007)
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