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general question....
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=13286
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Author:  bevernon [ February 2, 2012, 1:34 am ]
Post subject:  general question....

all,
I am a new member to this group.

I have been contemplating building a vehicle for a few years now. I'm not sure which type of vehicle I want to build, but, it may not end up being a Locost 7. I am a tree hugger.... that said I'm interested in a high efficiency vehicle, and efficiency will guide my choice.

I am considering several different types of vehicles; a Locost, a replica of the VW XL-1 (probably the original tandem...) or perhaps the TREV (an electric tadpole trike type of thing).

If I decide not to go the Locost route, would you all consider it low class if I occasionally posted a question or two about general topics? You see, there are no groups that I can find that deal, in a meaningful way, with either the TREV or the XL-1. Also, this group seems to be very well established and to have a large number of knowledgable members.

Thanks....

BEVernon

Author:  horizenjob [ February 2, 2012, 2:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Welcome! Is 100 MPG good enough for you? I think that Jack McCornack's MAX is up around there. He uses a small turbo diesel and eventually built a body that looks like a Lola from early sixties. Lot's of stuff here for your interest.

Author:  GonzoRacer [ February 2, 2012, 7:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Howdy!
Welcome to the forum! I heard someone mention "low class" and thought y'all were talkin about me again... :shock:

There are several folks in here building trikes and such. I'm pretty sure one of the trike builders is aiming at hi-mpg, city commuting as opposed to a "sports" vehicle. And, like Horizenjob mentions, Jack has built the "Max" Locost, aiming at 100 mpg.

So, you're not the only-est one interested in that hi-mpg tree-huggin' kind of thing. Figure out what you wanna build, draw/buy some plans, and start a build log! When you have questions, folks will help out. Simple... :mrgreen:

:cheers:
See ya around-
JD Kemp

Author:  rx7locost [ February 2, 2012, 11:01 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Welcome to the group. Chassi are chassi. Welding is welding. Suspension be suspension. It makes no difference on what is propelling it down the road. We may not be able to help with the current (pardon the pun) electric technologies, but we can certainly add opinions. Lack of knowledge in any area does not prohibit many of us from offering opinions, sometimes to the point of sounding like fact. :cheers:

BTW, "Jack" can be found around here, or at Kineticvehicles.com. He is a moderator here, runs a small Locost parts business out in Oregon, is an engineer and tinkerer and writes a few paragraphs in Mother Earth News now and again about his vehicle, MAX.

I seem to recall at least one person here has made a 100% battery powered Locost.

I can recommend the first thing to do is to check your state registration requirements and insurance requirements. More than one of us have completed a several year build process only to find out that they can't get it licensed or economically insured because of "this" or "that". This research may help you decide your eventual path.

I am also thinking stages of my next build. That may never happen, but it is good to think, I think. I am considering a diesel or diesel/electric reverse trike at the moment, not really sure.

Author:  cheapracer [ February 2, 2012, 11:08 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

My big sister says if I tries harder I can make low class real soon but she says I'm still the best kisser of all the family too!

Author:  GonzoRacer [ February 2, 2012, 12:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

cheapracer wrote:
My big sister says if I tries harder I can make low class real soon but she says I'm still the best kisser of all the family too!


Cheap, are you SURE you're not from Mississippi??? :rofl:

[I am SOOO gonna get "hate mail" from MS...]

I currently (another "electric" pun) live about 3 miles from where I work. I've pondered a basic "commuter" vehicle, possibly electric. Never got past the pondering stage, but still thinking. Limited range with "cheap" batteries wouldn't be a big problem, and I could save enough in gas to buy better batteries, thus rendering myself still broke... Hmmmm....
:cheers:

Author:  bevernon [ February 2, 2012, 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Thanks for the encouragement.

As for the insurance question, I am trying to get this resolved before I begin. I came across GRUNDY in the forum FAQ and have sent them an email trying to get some idea on insurability. As I understand it, if I can use a donor I will have a much easier time getting insurance. Is that correct?

My potential builds are either a TREV (perhaps get a VIN number from a broken down motorcycle), the Locost, or possibly something that looks a lot like the original VW XL-1 high mileage concept car.

I won't be building anything until the insurance gets resolved. I'm ok with NYS registration, its not that hard to register it. So, insurance will be the show stopper. BTW I had given up doing a complete frame build some time ago due to insurance issues. I'm giving it another go.

Regards,
BEVERNON

Author:  Driven5 [ February 2, 2012, 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

rx7locost wrote:
I can recommend the first thing to do is to check your state registration requirements and insurance requirements. More than one of us have completed a several year build process only to find out that they can't get it licensed or economically insured because of "this" or "that". This research may help you decide your eventual path.
Agreed, this is a very important consideration to research...And is quite often where building a "replica" of an older "production" vehicle works to your significant advantage in many states.

And remember boys, this is a politics-free site...So we must remember to be sensitive to the proud traditions of Appalacian Americans. :mrgreen:

Author:  oldejack [ February 2, 2012, 12:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Here's a couple of links, both from members of the forum.
(just to whet your appetite of course)

http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=11384&hilit=electric+vehicle A diesel powered tadpole trike

http://www.szott.com/zot2/zot2.html An electric drive Lotus 23

Author:  cheapracer [ February 2, 2012, 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

GonzoRacer wrote:
Cheap, are you SURE you're not from Mississippi???


Hell no I'm not from Misissu, err Misisseep, err Missisup - ahh, I'm from Oz!

Author:  GonzoRacer [ February 2, 2012, 12:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

cheapracer wrote:
GonzoRacer wrote:
Cheap, are you SURE you're not from Mississippi???


Hell no I'm not from Misissu, err Misisseep, err Missisup - ahh, I'm from Oz!
Attachment:
LMAO.jpg
Good on ya, Mate!

Author:  JackMcCornack [ February 2, 2012, 11:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

bevernon wrote:
I am considering several different types of vehicles; a Locost, a replica of the VW XL-1 (probably the original tandem...) or perhaps the TREV...
Have you ever built a car before? If not, I'd suggest following a known path for your basic build and only do one thing radically new/different at a time. Seriously, if you're not Chip Foose or Randy Grubb, you're not going to build a VW XL1 replica (heck, even Volkswagen apparently can't build a VW XL1 replica, seeing as they've only built one of each iteration) and if you don't have a college (or Burt Rutan) behind you, you're not going to be bonding aluminum honeycomb to make a TREV chassis.
bevernon wrote:
...there are no groups that I can find that deal, in a meaningful way, with either the TREV or the XL-1
And hence the benefit of the Locost, which has instructions printed out in books and a strong and supportive community of builders.

The same attributes that make a fast Locost fast (light weight, small frontal area, and no power-wasting frills) can make a green Locost green. Mine cruises down the freeway at 100+ mpg, how efficient is efficient enough for you?

On the other hand, you can achieve 100+ mpg relatively easily with a 250cc motorcycle and some serious streamlining, so if building a car is more commitment than you're ready for right now, perhaps you could gain experience with a bike first. If you're considering several different types of vehicles, a motorcycle is one type to consider.

Author:  bevernon [ February 3, 2012, 2:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

Thanks again for the information. I still haven't heard back from GRUNDY on how to go about insuring a vehicle built on a scratch built frame. Nothing at all is going to happen until I find out how (and if) I can get some insurance.

My interest in XL-1 or TREV is based upon a desire to have an extremely efficient vehicle. If I did anything based on either of those vehicles it would be to get a vehicle that was light weight, had decent aerodynamics and so on. I had anticipated building the body using a fiberglass over foam approach. Another approach to the body is that taken by some boat-building about 40 years ago with the MI Speedball. He used bulkheads and skinned over with strips of mahogany. Kind of funny looking but it worked.

As for some of the very valid concerns raised.... I am working with a friend who has built a few cars so there is some experienced help available. If I had to use my skills alone, I would buy a Revel model and call it good.

I work with composites on a daily basis so I am very familiar with their limitations and advantages. I kind of doubt I could get time in the autoclave for a personal project though one guy I know did some midnight engineering and caught holy heck when the boss found out :)

All that aside, a 100 mpg locost certainly has a lot going for it in the efficiency department! Is this 100 mpg Locost the one that was entered in the XPrize?

Regards, BEVERNON

Author:  GonzoRacer [ February 3, 2012, 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

BEVernon said:
Quote:
building the body using a fiberglass over foam approach


Yo, BEV-

That's what I've been doing for the bodywork on my car. It's fairly simple, but not quick. Buy lots of sandpaper... :roll: For a good, informative read on the subject, try this spot- http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=8113 or the famous RQ Riley site that you probably already know about- http://www.rqriley.com/frp-foam.htm Lotsa good stuff on the Riley site, not just foam core info.

Quote:
If I had to use my skills alone, I would buy a Revel model and call it good.

:rofl: Don't believe it... You know more than you think you know. Make like a fancy tennis shoe, and "Just Do It". 8)

:cheers:
JDK

Author:  KB58 [ February 3, 2012, 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: general question....

bevernon wrote:
... Is this 100 mpg Locost the one that was entered in the XPrize?...

Yes it was.

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