I on average spend over $200/month on gas and have to drive over 60 miles to work and back 5 days a week.

A car like this would save me a lot of money that could be going toward other more important things.

It's to bad that the design concept is so futuristic and won't be accepted by a vast majority of people and will thus make it short lived.

Although, if gas prices get bad enough people will probably buy it no matter how it looks.

Pedal-power eh? Perhaps you and your passengers should just ride bikes? The solar panels are a nice touch, but not for short trips, instead think of commuting, your car is parked outside (usually) for 8-10 hours baking in the sun while you're working, so put all the solar energy towards recharging your batteries.

Brent, I'd have to disagree with you on the part that the car "is so futuristic and won't be accepted by a vast majority".

People are followers and it will only take a few smart individuals to buy one and make it hip. The rest of the population will look on in envy for a couple of years and then run out and buy one too.

In 2010, prepare for a revolution of innovation in the auto industry!

If this car comes to market as planned and there isn't a better option to chose from, you can consider me a future buyer. The rest can follow my lead.

nobody in america is going to use pedal power, and if it has a gas powered engine then they are going to be way behind the times by the time this goes into production. They are allready looking at making a prius where it is mainly electric, with a gas backup, and they are going to do away with that completely as soon as they get a few more things worked out.
Solar is good, and might work well for the short trips, but unless this thing runs on fuel cell technology then its not thinking far enough ahead.

A LOT of people will be forced to use "pedal power." Those that can afford the increasingly expensive gas, will (as long as there is a supply of it). There will be those who can barely afford it and will cling to it as long as they can. The next strata will take the bus, until even that doesn't make economic sense (most buses run on diesel, and fares are taking off). The next strata, which will continuously grow, is those forced to bike/scooter, walk, or who knows, start looking at horses again. Ironic, huh: the Chinese will be motoring for quite a while and we will be riding bikes en masse like they used to. Thanks for shopping at Wal-Mart!

What simple mined rubes there are, people declaring that they are going to buy this vehicle that most likely will never reach production and even if it did they know nothing about the quality or how well it lives up to the grandiose claims made. They don't stop to think that this is if it did get produced would be made by a company with no experience in automobile manufacturing and probably no experience with any of the technologies needed to make this thing work.

When compared to other electric vehicles or hybrids, this vehicle is affordable. When compared to other high miles per gallon vehicles, it is a little on the high side but still rather affordable. What it really excels in is the cool car factor. :)

... the Hungarian white board eraser! Or at least that's what those chaps at Top Gear would say.

I hope it comes with decent air conditioning. The car (or.. er... whatever) seems like it would suit my job very well. I got lot's of sun here all year long, so much that it's suicidal to drive around without aircond.

The car of the future is going to be a lot different from what we have now, because it needs to be. It does not really matter what Americans think of pedal power or what the chaps at Top Gear will think it looks like. All that will matter is that there are people who need to get from A to B affordably.

And the technology shift is so big that we almost have to start from scratch. It's kinda sad when you think how much time and money and emotion has been wasted on the type of cars we drive today.

A car like this sounds great especially with the obesity problem in the US. I'm sure the pedals will be a benefit in the long run and is a great option to have. I also agree that better use of the solar panels would make the car better, but they have a couple years to take care of that. The only reason I can't see this car making it to the US would be that a car weighing only 600lbs can't possibly meet our safety standards especially with all the tanks on the road today. It's a great concept, but it will be a while before the US sees one.

Why can't they make these things look normal. 150 MPG or not that is one of the ugliest cars i've ever seen. Not to mention it probably won't pass US safety standards being carbon fiber.

I'm sure you can imagine the A/C motor would have to be just as powerful (or more) than the punt drive motor resulting in less than half the mileage. Imagine having 3 people "powering" the car sweating and heating up that car!

Read the article guys. I can't even get to work on a 10-15 mile charge. My job is 15 miles away and that's in stop and go traffic which will certainly wear on the battery. If you think I'm paying $20,000 to pedal to work you're sorely mistaken. I'd rather ride my $200 bicycle if I'll be pedaling.

Quite simply, you are not getting 150mpg. That's just a lie. Most of the miles you're getting are from a solar charged battery or pedaling. Since neither of those are fully dependable you'll be using the gas more than you think. the electric cars they made back in the 90s were better since they could make 50 mile trips. That would at least be enough to get the average person to and from work.

Apparently very clueless BobM wrote it:
"They don't stop to think that this is if it did get produced would be made by a company with no experience in automobile manufacturing and probably no experience with any of the technologies needed to make this thing work."

Ouch. Besides hosting lot of R&D centers Hungary also has Audi, Suzuki etc and Mercedes just announced that their first plant East of the Elba will be in Hungary (some $2B investment as I heard.) Besides they make buses for 50-60 years (also used to make motorbikes as I just checked), shipping all around the world including the US (and there's another US-based bus mfr in Hungary it seems.)
But hey, walk into the nearest Audi dealership and check *any* TT - it says Made in Hungary...
(At least I have yet to see coming them from somewhere else here, on the East Coast.)
The fact that they don't have their own brand doesn't mean anything and new technology will come from fresh minds, not from the Big 3, that's for sure. And the age of cheap oil has ended forever, no matter what clueless people think - world needs a radical shift, like this little suburban-inner city market concept from Hungary, not this stupid-ignorant cocky arrogance BobM represents.

So a co-worker and myself were just discussing yesterday how much better it would be if we could ride bikes on the highway to get to work.

For comfort we spoke of using recumbent bikes: http://www.bicycleman.com/recu...orpion.htm

Despite it's extreme reduction in our carbon footprint, it would also help make most of our lethargic workforce lose about 20 or 30 pounds in the first year alone. Plus we could get to work faster than sitting in 5-10 mph bumper to bumper traffic for over an hour.

Our main concern was not having a roof or place to store a change of clothes/suit. With this car both would be resolved.

Perfect.

It would be great if the Twike could be imported to the USA. It is very similar to the above.
http://images.google.com/image...ch Images
Google results for Twike.
http://www.twike.com/
The official Twike site. :)

Unless it can get certification as a motorcycle, I don't think that an ultra light car will be allowed to pass safety standards in the US. Europe makes many "Cardboard" cars that you can't get here.

I like the body style. If it was a 150 MPH car not a 150 MPG, I might get one.

Cool, it has a solar panel roof, it's 600 lbs, looks interesting, available 2012. After safety changes (air bags, crumple zones, side impact protection, active head restraint and other stuff the politicians mandate...) it'll be 1900 lbs and get 50 mpg. The Prius is looking like a good alternative now and it seems Toyota will continue to innovate and bury the competition.

I hope the more aero design also flows air over the sides too. Cross winds will really suck at even 30mph at that weight. Dealing with tractor trailers on highways would be virtually impossible.

In defense of these guys, they may actually be going the route of all electric DRIVE with a gasoline generator to supply the power. There's a lot of folks saying that's a far more efficient approach than the "true hybrid" approach where you have a gas drive and an electric drive (how much power do you lose to the elaborate transmission?). Not to mention easier on the engineering. Incidentally, that's the way diesel locomotives work.

I love this crap , anytime something good could happen the tipical amercain comes out.
Funny motorcycles are legal to drive , why shouldn't this be. I hope gas rockets to 10 a gallon so can listen to all you Yukon , suburbon boy and girls cry while I work on your auto. I think this is a great idea. And airbags and reenforcements wont make it wieght rocket 1,200 . Aprently you never worked on cars much less could even point out the engine in your own ride. Let us just be like we amrecains always are Greedy.
I welcome this car at lest they are trying , you here that GM,dodge,and ford.
yours truly and friendly ASE tech.

"Read the article guys. I can't even get to work on a 10-15 mile charge."

I disagree, and quite frankly unless you live in a country where you do not have any sunlight to give your car a charge while driving then you would not run into the issue of having to pedal.

"Ouch. Besides hosting lot of R&D centers Hungary also has Audi, Suzuki etc and Mercedes just announced that their first plant East of the Elba will be in Hungary (some $2B investment as I heard.) Besides they make buses for 50-60 years (also used to make motorbikes as I just checked), shipping all around the world including the US (and there's another US-based bus mfr in Hungary it seems.)
But hey, walk into the nearest Audi dealership and check *any* TT - it says Made in Hungary..."

And no where in the article did it mention that one of those companies would be producing this vehicle or be involved in it development and production. It is certain that if another big well known company was involved in this that it would be mentioned.

"And the age of cheap oil has ended forever"

Yes and liberals have helped that quite a bit and it is what they have always wanted, they have always been for taxing it heavily and restricting its production and refining in anyway that they could. A lot of the current price of petroleum is due to liberals and the nut jobs that make up the environmental movement.

"no matter what clueless people think - world needs a radical shift, like this little suburban-inner city market concept from Hungary, not this stupid-ignorant cocky arrogance BobM represents."

There is no doubt you are the stupid and ignorant one between the two of us, you lack the ability to objectively look something promised on the Internet and not realize that it is nothing more than vapor ware that is almost certain to never make it into production and certainty not be sold in the
US and most other countries or be even slightly a commercial success. But time will show who is right and reason says it will be me and this car is nothing more than a feel good pill for the idiots in the environmental religion.

And why do you lack that ability? Because you are an overemotional fool who no doubt gets excited about any story you read that makes grand promises of helping the environment or as you losers used to call it “Mother Earth”. I hope you are just some over emotional and hysterical bimbo because if you got a functioning pair of testicles you are an embarrassment.

"Funny motorcycles are legal to drive , why shouldn't this be."

That is why I said it would not be legal in the United States unless it was sold as a motorcycle. Motorcycles have much lower safety standards than cars or trucks.

It will sell quite well in Europe and Asia. It might do reasonably well in parts of the States. I can't picture people driving one of these cars in 115 degree heat.

I like the looks and the aerodynamics of the car. I think that a version with AC and a bigger engine could do well where I live.

Why do comments that are little more than a political rant make it through the admin filter?

Anyway, if everything they said about this car were true then it would be awesome. However, I doubt that they will be able to deliver on every claim about it.

Here is what I really do not get; criticizing the car on the grounds that it is not perfect. Obviously, pretty much anything has room for improvement. If it is not using hydrogen fuel cells, ultra safe, looks like a porsche, and whatever else somebody wants in a car then it is just worthless! If it gets 80mpg @ a 20k price point then it is an improvement on anything else out there.

And all this hoping gas rises to 10$ a gallon just so somebody can get the last laugh is beyond immature. People are losing their jobs due to high energy costs. Winning an internet argument is definately less important.

When carbon fiber fails, it fails suddenly and spectacularly

what an ugly car

what an ugly car

This is definitely what I need for my long work commute. It really needs to come out now.

The future cars will be high speed chariots of death made of plastic. Ever see the crash test videos?

I like it! Very nice looking ride. Need to put a trailer and generator on it and a window unit to keep you cool though! LOL
www.FireMe.to/udi

thats what i want.

I certainly wouldn't want you working on my car, you can barely spell, I doubt you could read manufacturer's instructions without consulting someone who knows proper English. And screw these people who are against this, this is awesome. If you want something that looks better you're going to lose aerodynamics. It looks awesome, anyone who says otherwise is a douche.

@Task: not everyone has to go 50 miles to work. Keep your opinions to yourself.

@Realist: your claims aren't realistic as it doesn't take 1300lbs to install A/C and all the safety features. You're an ignorant douche.

@Action Jackson: Aerodynamics, learn it; and carbon fiber is a lot stronger than steel.

@BobM: That's just ignorant.

@Anti-pedelers: People are riding bikes more often now and it's a very viable option.

@anti-solar: It's not there to be the only thing that's used, it's there to supplement the pedels and combustion engine. Plus, if you park it outside it'll keep the batteries charged, so no dead starts if you use the combustion engine by default.

I think that pretty much covers it.

Any post i type before 6:30 pm central time is done quickly on my iphone. Much less do i care if i miss spelled a few words WOW.Apparently you are a grammar Nazi. SO please fax me your PHD in english before making such a post. Plus Passenger Automobiles or Auto's as i call them for short, Have so many sensors in them and are highly Computer dependent. So all it takes is my snap-on ,which is a tool company like craftsman and Mac tools , OBD2 Diagnostic Computer to find the problem and get to fixing. Reading Automotive manufacturer's instruction if you need to that then 1 the is over a 99.9999999 percent chance you are not ASE certified or much less could even pass the test every 2 years
2 A person that doesn't know how to air up a tire much less so a Simple task like an Oil change lol.
I love technology like this and fully support it.
Only thing that sucks it seems. I will have to to learn to become an Electrician soon just to service future cars. Hell i modified my Kia spectra getting 67 miles per gallon right now 670-700 on 10 gallons of gas.
Once we get Fission on the way running or more people convert to total Solar, producing more Watt hours of energy than need to power hydrogen fuel cells that divide water into storage tanks. Then I'll be looking for hydrogen fuel cell Auto's. I only consume a mere 950kwh a month a total solar arry for my house only cost $23,000 with hydrogen cell plant. I am building or really ordering me a house soon. And i am going solar with grid tie in to sell back unused energy.
I am not doing this for Environmental reason but to save money. So i can spend more better items of enjoyment and save even more for my kid's education fund.
But i can't wait ot hear the DOT cry when they say OMG TAX TAX need more TAX people are buying less Gas,Let's out law these 150mpg cars i need my greedy 32 cent per gallon tax. Right now on est. $300,000,000 of Gas tax is being lost per month since in this year people been drive a small 1.2 percent less. Around 30-40 billion miles less per month.

Guess headlamps are missing as take just too much power. Also power anything, AC, or other things like BRAKE Lamps? seem to be out. yet it seems quite nice car, except on american frewways it'd get sucked under truck.

Signed:PHYSICIAN THOMAS STEWART VON DRASHEK M.D.

You can see one of the headlights lit up in the last picture, just to the left of the door.

sounds like an interesting car, but I really have to wonder about the pedal power. Exactly how fast and how far are people expected to pedal a 600 pound bike? You have to be in good physical shape just to manage a steady 20 mph on a regular bike, and even then you'd probably end up drenched in sweat!

Keep my opinions to myself? I live in a free country jackass and I'm just as entitled to my opinions as you are to yours. Obviously you can't read as I said I drive 15, not 50 miles to work. This car only gets 10 to 15 on a charge so it's not going to help me if I go to work before the sun is up or come home after the sun is down.

Either way you are clearly an antagonizer without the ability to formulate an intelligent post, or throughly read the posts made by others. Good luck with that.

Electric cars don't need to weigh 3000#s like combustible motor cars need to. These rules need to be at least somewhat relaxed for electric cars.

Those crash standards are really weighing down electric car innovation and allowing the terrorists to win.

I guess the government wants people to be forced to ride a "safer" tiny motorcycle or bicycle in the city.

I see at least 4X as many people this year riding around on motorcycles and mopeds in Seattle, I'm pretty sure they'd be much safer in this futuristic light car.

Maybe in 10-15 years the government could go the other way and make heavy cars illegal, instead of light ones.


I want one of these cars...:)

It can be extremely dangerous driving a light car in windy cities like Chicago. I remember back in the 80's a woman died because her Yugo was blown of a bridge in windy weather. I'll stick with a comfortably weighted car that will stick to the road on windy days. Evne smaller cars like the Toyota Yaris get blown around at high speeds on windy days. I can't imagine driving at 60mph in a 600lb car.

"This car only gets 10 to 15 on a charge so it's not going to help me if I go to work before the sun is up or come home after the sun is down."

The solar energy you get while driving is trivial. The point is you charge your car from your house overnight. When you get to work, your car gets most of it's charge from the sun while you work. Your drive home is almost free. Solar pays for the first 15 Miles, the rest you get 150 MPG.

If you drive 165 miles to work it will cost you around $4 in fuel.

how do they calculate the cost? cost of carbon fibers?
cost is that carbon fiber parts are labor intensive and will cost a lot. it can't be stamp out by machines and will require a lot of time to make it right . Also how can it pass crash test?
it's not like you are going to drive in backyard.
padel power? I work 50miles from home...
how do I padel there?
if car companies can make cheap light weight car and get away with it, won't they do that already? I bet toyota can sell 10 times more cars if they are 100mpg
compares to the next number 2 guy for the same cost.
it's a wishful thinking that this will solve our problem....
please remember there is a lot of free labor got into this $20000 car...
like people are not pay union rate with benifits.

I think people are getting it wrong, the pedals would be hooked up to a generator to power the engine, rather than actually pushing the car itself.

I'd definitely have one of these, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, with the little driving I have to do I'd barely need any gas at all

" The point is you charge your car from your house overnight."

Did you read the article? The battery is charged by SOLAR PANELS. Does the sun shine into your driveway overnight? There is no mention anywhere of this being a plug-in electric vehicle.

Also there is no claim that this car is getting 150mpg on gasoline alone. That is mileage when you combine the driving done on solar, battery, and gasoline altogether. The same way a hybrid is listed as 44mpg when some of the time it's running off battery power.

I would think the pedals would be for times when you run out of gas and charge. It might not be fun, but it would get you slowly back to the gas station.

Hope it gets produced as soon as possible. By the way, any of you guys tried converting car to run on water? Bought a guide from http://convertcartorunonwater.info , currently modifying my car. Looks great.

Margaret! You,re not peddling hard enough