A new approach to personal transportation? How often do we hear that promise? Well, Venture Vehicles might be delivering on the promise. As they put it: “The VentureOne: Revolutionary. Radical. Innovative. iPod Cool.” iPod Cool: Yeah, it really is. They’re developing a 2-passenger, flex-fuel hybrid vehicle with over 100 mpg capability. And, well, it look simply “iPod Cool” to drive.
 
The VentureOne combines the driving style of a motorcycle — leaning into a turn — with the stability of a car. Venture Vehicles is developing based on Carver Engineering’s “tilting three-vehicle vehicles“. When driving, carving through a turn, the rear section remains stable while the front section (with the passengers) tilt like a motorcycle, except that the car’s system works with the driver to ensure staibility through the turn (and for the coffee in the coffee holders.
 
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The VentureOne will come in several options, including an all-electric version and a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). And, that PHEV will be a series engine design. The system consists of a small internal combustion engine connected to a 15 – 20 kW generator, two in-wheel 25 kW electric motors, a four gallon fuel tank, and a 3 kWh Li-Ion battery pack.
 
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The VentureOne will fall between the cracks.Â
Since it has three wheels, the VentureOne is classified as a motorcycle. And while motorcycles must meet far fewer, and less stringent federal standards than those established for traditional automobiles, Venture Vehicles will be designing the VentureOne to meet, or exceed, Federal safety standards established for traditional automobiles.
Though technically “a motorcycleâ€, and as such, free from many of the safety and compliance regulations burdening passenger vehicle development, the Carver will come equipped with a full compliment of standard safety features, such as a driver’s airbag, side-impact rails, and a steel roll-cage
What does this mean, in addition? Well, for one, does this mean that anyone who wants to plunk down the $18k for a VentureOne will have to get a motorcycle license and, well, wear a helmet?Â
But, looking at the video of test runs … do you care. After all, it truly is iPod Cool …
Forget the music, this is what I want for my birthday!
6 responses so far ↓
Steve Caratzas // February 22, 2007 at 8:40 am |
Totally amazing in every way, and definitely iPod cool.
This more than makes up for the broken promise of personal jetpacks.
Doug Snodgrass // February 22, 2007 at 9:44 am |
Yow! I’m also smarting from the void in my life created by the absence of the James Bond jetpacks.
Bill Hobbs // February 22, 2007 at 1:22 pm |
It’s cool. Until you get hit by an SUV.
Ian Bruce // February 25, 2007 at 6:03 pm |
“When driving, carving through a turn, the rear section remains stable while the front section (with the passengers) tilt like a motorcycle, except that the car’s system works with the driver to ensure staibility through the turn (and for the coffee in the coffee holders.”
You’d be surprised how many people didn’t get this. Well done.
robohobo // February 28, 2007 at 11:14 pm |
So, how much? That is the $1M question.
The Hobo
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[...] of us will, evidently, be seriously interested in or able to move to a Venture One, plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), or any one of the new options coming down the pike. No, [...]