Electric Bentley Continental DC wins Greenpower race

Posted Tue Apr 29 2008 7:23 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Bentley has shown off its green credentials with a win in the Greenpower Corporate Challenge that took place at a race circuit in Goodwood over the weekend. Bentley’s entry in the challenge was the Continental DC (Direct Current), a small single-seater vehicle built out of carbon fiber and powered by a 24-volt motor.

The compact motor develops just 0.5hp and 7Nm (5.1lb-ft) of torque. This is enough to propel the vehicle to a top speed of 40mph over a range of about 80 miles on a single charge. Full carbon-fiber construction, from the 16in wheels to the monocoque body, ensures the vehicle weighs in at just 120kg. Trademark Bentley features include a chrome-finished grille and Alcantara trim.

Greenpower is a series of events that aims to promote greater interest in young people to follow careers in the fields of engineering and technology. This year’s event saw 25 teams take part, with 15 school entries and 10 company teams.

The car was in fact designed, engineered and built by a team of apprentices who now plan to enter it in the upcoming ‘F24+’ eco challenge. The series consists of eight 90-minute endurance race events which will culminate in a grand final at Goodwood in October.

Reader Comments

Tue Apr 29 2008 7:38 AM
chris says

great.. now all bentley needs to do is make it 15 times bigger and sell it to the public.

all the sarcasm aside, it's nice to know that they are actually working on stuff like this.
Tue Apr 29 2008 7:51 AM
bambam says

I want one like that to replace the go karts here. If i have a big bakyard, I'll make my own go kart race. LOL
think harder please. its Bentley, money is no problem.
Tue Apr 29 2008 8:16 AM
Alan says

errrr... with the driver's foot only cm away from the front, where's the crash protection? I know it's just a challenge, but they should at least adhere to real life design
Tue Apr 29 2008 10:31 AM
chris says

alan, if they made it road legal then it would only get a 3 mile range. and that car that was reported a while back with a 3000 mpg fuel econ would only get 300.

the point of an engineering challenge is to make a single minded device. not something that is going to do everything for everyone. This is where real science and engineering is done.

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