Continental DC: Bentley Builds an Electric... Soapbox
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 05. 6.08
A small team composed of young apprentices at Bentley were given pretty much carte blanche, and this cute electric vehicle is what came out after many weekends and evenings of hard work. We doubt that regular Bentley customers would be interested, but it's still a cool project.
"With a positively gorgeous carbon fiber composite body riding on a four-wheel single-wishbone fixed suspension and 1 x 16-inch Michelin low-rolling-resistance tires, the Continental DC (as in Direct Current) moves under the power of a 24-volt electric motor (from a motorized wheelchair, in fact) producing 0.5 horsepower and 5.1 pound-feet of torque and juiced by a pair of 12-volt batteries."
The electric motor can bring the Continental DC's 265 lbs (without the driver) up to 40 mph (65 kph).
From here, the littlest Bentley and the Greenpower Team is set to compete in the upcoming Formula 24+ season, which consists of eight 90-minute endurance races, the last one at Goodwood. The series is sort of an IROC for EVs, requiring all competing cars to use identical 24-volt electric motors powered by two 12-volt batteries. Racers must be between the ages of 16 and 24.
We can hope that some of what has been learned during this project will find its way into the engineering of commercially available cars, even if Bentleys are not exactly known for their fuel efficiency.
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More About Bentley Greenpower Electric Soapbox
::Official Bentley Site
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Thats really not so impressive
I built cars just like that in high school that weighed only 160 lbs without driver, and had a smaller profile (probably not quite as aerodynamic and definitely not as shiny though) aluminum and Styrofoam made a great body, and extended aluminum made a great floor in the areas we needed it.
I don't know why they didn't use a three wheel system, as it cuts down on rolling resistance. One in back and two in front gives plenty of cornering stability, and no need for a rear differential.
Mike,
Did your slimmer, 160 lb car have a electric drive system and two 12 volt car batteries, a braking system capable of stopping the car from 40 mph in 25 meters, and two inches of energy absorbing foam in the sides? These are all required by the regulations of the Formula 24+ series.
Four wheels are also required, and the car will participate in endurance races on a road course. Three wheels my provide fine "stability" but wouldn't be good for handling balance (note you never see 3 wheeled race cars).
Great!
I'm going to video these events this year, so I'll see if I can get some shots and interviews with the team.