A cross between a chopper, a compact and a UFO, the low-emission Clever car runs on compressed natural gas stored in two cylinders behind the passenger’s seat and gets a dizzying 108 m.p.g. (w/pics)
The three-wheeled, aluminum-framed Clever turns like a dream thanks to computer-controlled cornering and hydraulics. And even though its engine is good for the earth, this two-seater has plenty of pep; it can cruise at speeds up to 80 m.p.h.
The aim of the CLEVER project is to develop a new type of vehicle concept for urban use.
To this end, at the initiative of the Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Motor Vehicles, a European consortium was formed in 2002, which is funded under the 5th Framework Programme of the EU Commission.
The development is for a city vehicle for two people that requires very little space, weights very little, has very low consumption and therefore also very low emissions. The passive safety of this vehicle is comparable to that of a modern conventional small car. An enclosed body provides adequate comfort.
The smallest and most economical mass-produced vehicles (for example Smart Diesel) have an engine that developed 30 kW and a kerb weight of approx. 800 kg, combined with a front-end surface area of approx. 2.2 m2. Their CO2 emissions are around 100 g/km.
The CLEVER vehicle is designed to halve these values, in other words it should develop approx. 15 kW, have a kerb weight of 400 kg and a front-end surface area of approx. 1m2 with CO2 emissions of less than 60 g/km.
To achieve the emissions targets a CNG (compressed natural gas) engine is used and the body consists of a lightweight aluminium chassis with a plastic shell and the front-end surface area is reduced by a 1+1 seat constellation (one behind the other).
As a result of the low width of the vehicle (less than one metre), it has been designed to tilt as it corners so as to provide plenty of stability round bends and to provide a driving experience similar to a motorcycle.