Concept Cars - Everything old is new again
“This auto show may be different from the past,” observes David Friedman, of the Union of Concerned Scientists’ Clean Vehicle Program. “It may actually be giving a real good glimpse for some of the consumers of what might be out on the road in the next few years.”
Most carmakers today display hybrid models, where conventional engines are coupled with electric batteries that are always getting smaller and lighter, thus increasing the possible range travelled by electric cars.
Some shows feature biofuel powered diesel, some show all-electric powered commuter cars, some hybrids, some feature a $100,000 electric roadster. It’s all over the place just like it was over 100 years ago when Henry Ford’s assembly line annihilated all his hand built competition and created the automobile age that is just now ending.
Is it a car or a super trike? The Alé two-seater has two wheels at the front, one at the back, carbonfibre bodywork, and is fitted with a turbocharged SOHC 1.5-litre Honda VTEC engine that makes over 175 horsepower. Zero to 100km/h takes just five seconds and top speed is limited to 225km/h.
Based in Canada, FuelVapor Technologies Inc developed the Alé concept as a high performance yet frugal, super low emissions vehicle . The company says the front-wheel-drive vehicle runs on fuel vapour rather than normal liquid petrol and is capable of doing about 30km/l. The company website says that while most petrol engines run a 14.7:1 air-to-fuel ratio, the Alé runs a ratio of over 20:1, without compromising on performance.
Tags: Ale, concept cars, trike, vapor fuel