Clever Car

"Three-Wheeled, Tilting Micro-Vehicle..."

The Clever Car - The engineers at Bath University introduced a project to build a three-wheeled, tilting micro-vehicle which is only a metre wide, has a top speed of 50mph, and runs on compressed natural gas.

The Clever (Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport) car is aimed at outwitting the Smart car, as a the fashionable and environmentally less damaging way of getting about town.

Though still in the research stage, the Clever car is being funded chiefly by the EU. Work is also being carried out by German, French and Austrian scientists.  Pictured is the first prototype.  If it goes into production, the vehicle - which will "combine the safety of a car with the manoeuvrability of a motorbike" - is budgeted to cost around $8,100.  

The Clever car can carry two people; one sitting behind the other.  The Clever is a cross between a car and a motorbike. It features a novel tilting action and is capable of speeds up to 50mph.  There is a strengthened metal frame to protect occupants against side impact. 

It is projected to cost 80% less to run than standard cars as it will be fueled by  compressed natural gas. You will be able to remove the carbon fibre gas tank and fill it up in a shop or even from your gas supply at home. Fuel consumption is predicted to be around 188 miles per gallon. There is a strengthened metal frame to protect occupants against side impact.

The Clever is different from previous attempts to create a small urban vehicle in that it is fully enclosed in a metal framework, is stylishly designed and is much safer. Its roof is as high as conventional cars,.

Matt Barker and Ben Drew, research officers from the University of Bath’s Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control, designed a novel tilting chassis concept to keep the vehicle stable in corners. The vehicle controls the amount of tilt automatically, unlike on a motorcycle where the rider controls how far to tilt the vehicle.

The hydraulic active tilt system is electronically controlled and keeps the vehicle upright at low speeds and allows car-like steering at high speeds. The work focuses on the simulation of the vehicle chassis and control of the hydraulic tilting system to give a good driver feel and safe, manoeuvrable vehicle.

The engine is manufactured by Rotax and is used in the BMW C1 scooter, but has an increased capacity of 218cc. The conversion to natural gas is being performed by Institute Francais du Petrole (IFP). The engine was selected because of its good volumetric efficiency and because it is technologically advanced for such a small engine.

The race to produce ever smaller, eco-friendly cars, capable of weaving through congested city traffic has taken another step forward with the Clever car.

High gas mileage hybrid cars are in demand....

     Clever car