In a concept similar to the Twike, a group of students from the
University of Bath unveiled the project that goes along with their dissertations–a micro car that runs on compressed
natural gas, gets the equivalent of 108 miles to the gallon, and can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour. They named
their three-wheeled two seater CLEVER,
for Compact Low Emissions Vehicle for Urban Transport.
While they’re not commonplace here in the States,
micro cars are gaining popularity in Europe, where gasoline costs twice to three times the amount that we pay. These
vehicles combine the sportiness of motorcycles with the comfort and safety of enclosed cars, and generally seat two
people. Ben Drew, one of the graduate students who helped designed the CLEVER, says that it’s fun to drive and handles
well.
Others working on the team included Drew’s partner, Matt Barker; Geraint Owen and other instructors at
the university; the European Union; and other partners including the Technische Universitaet Berlin, the Institut
Francais Du Petrole, and the Institut Fuer Verkehrswesen Universitaet Fure Bodenkultur. The project has been over three
years in development, and isn’t expected to be available for the public for at least another ten years. [Source: AP]