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Wind and solar powered Venturi Eclectic

Viknesh Vijayenthiran

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Vik is an Editor at High Gear Media and contributor for a number of sites within the High Gear Media network. He was a co-founder of Motor Authority... More

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Wind and solar powered Venturi Eclectic

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Sitting alongside its Fetish sibling on the Venturi display at the Paris Motor Show is the self powered Venturi Eclectic. Touted as an autonomous energy vehicle, the Eclectic can be powered independently of any natural energy reserves. It’s powered by a small 22hp (16kW), 50Nm electric motor, and is normally charged up by the 2.5 square metres of solar cells on its roof.

The Eclectic is designed as a daily-driver for urban areas and more closely resembles a golf buggy than an actual car. Designer Sacha Lakic describes the vehicle as a “modern, autonomous and intelligent automobile.” The beauty of the Eclectic is that when it stands still, it’s actually adding energy to its batteries. In regions where the sun doesn’t shine that often, the vehicle uses wind power to rotate a force wheel, which generates electricity topping up the battery.

Complete charge of the liquid cooled NIMH batteries provides a range of about 50km and allows the car to reach speeds of 50 km/h. Wind power alone can drive the car 15km after a full day of charging. If all else fails, owners can simply plug it into a mains unit at home. The four-seater Eclectic weighs just 350 kilograms and will go into production in June 2007 with a price tag of 24,000 euros. Initially, only 200 units will be made but if they prove popular a cheaper version will be produced starting from 2009.

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Comments (31)

BartMack Posted: 10/2/2006 12:50pm PDT

Is this from the set of "The Beverly Hillbillies In Space" -?

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SmokeyB Posted: 10/3/2006 5:35pm PDT

I'm really not impressed. 50km/h with a max range of 50km is not much. Especially for the price. If this is going to be successful it needs to be cheaper, or more powerful with a greater charge. That can easily be done for the price this vehicle is going for.

I like the wind power idea though. It really should be implimented to charge while the car is mopving though. a lot of wind can be captured while moving and that charge can be used to increase the 50km limit.

For now, I'll stick with my fossil-burning car

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WTF?!?!? Posted: 10/4/2006 12:09pm PDT

I agree with the comments above, looks like a futuristic beverly hillbillies car. The drag from the poor aerodynamics will probably cost you a few km/h nice idea.. just not practical. Although I'm sure every cheezy celeb fronting to care about the environment will most certainly get one.

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Tim Posted: 10/6/2006 12:28am PDT

Yeah sure it looks funny, and it's really not the most practical vehicle, but it's better than a moped. If you have a 10 mile round trip commute to work every day, there's probably enough 'natural' power out there that you'll never have to pay to commute to/from work, price of the car aside. As a mechanical engineering student, I've thought about the concept of a car that had a wind/solar power system. Now making the car look like this, maybe not. I do think though maybe people could change thier definition of what a car is. I've got an '05 Ford Focus ZX3 SES, nothing spectacular, but even with a car that size I don't use much of it on a day to day basis. I've got me and then a backpack and a laptop bag for school commute or work commute. Sometimes a passenger. I think for a good portion of the population, a small vehicle is all they need most of the time, an ideal second car. I'm glad to hear that the Mecedes smart car is on its way over here, although it's a bit pricey. I'm not an enviromentalist, and I've got nothing against big vehicles. I'd be nice to have a Cobra Mustang, [ok really I want a 1967 Shelby RC/AC Crobra replica with the supercharged 427]. But at the end of the day I just want a reasonable way to get from one point to another. If people can bum around town on a 50 CC Vespa/Honda scooter, what about a mini-car? At least you have a roof over your head.

the site link is my side dj biz, and i use a van to move all of my stuff around, except when i run my smaller sound package and skip the lighting, then i can cram it in my focus.

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ummmm.... Posted: 10/6/2006 1:13am PDT

24,000 euros and no doors.....I'll pass

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Skint student Posted: 10/6/2006 5:45pm PDT

I have a bike... nuff said

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Energy consultant Posted: 10/12/2006 9:22am PDT

We use a golf cart every day to get the kids to the bus. This is a very expensive upgrade to the golf cart, but it offers options for specific applications. I say keep designing and make it more applicable to other commuter requirements.

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diaa Posted: 11/12/2006 4:37pm PST

you have done the best you can....but i have a great improvment that will make it better .
how can we deal
diaa

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ibrahim Posted: 11/28/2006 2:36pm PST

www

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sid Posted: 11/30/2006 2:10am PST

this perfect for mass public transport to replace taxis or rickshaws in crowded/ polluted urban areas ..... no need to assume every vehicle designed is for ur personal ego-trip to the football stadium / shopping mall

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Anonymous Posted: 1/3/2007 5:26pm PST

The production of the first 200 automobiles will not see direct answers as it is probable that only the rich will experiment with these models, and that only in rich suburban areas. This will not give an idea of the true sales of this model unless it is produced in greater amounts and sold for a cheaper price. This, however, will be a risk...

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joe staples Posted: 1/13/2007 9:37pm PST

how arrow dynamic can thic cars body be made will they liet me make my idea ajustments to it , I see my proto type to the idea i have had for a long time . but ditent have the money to get it patten.

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LoNeSoMe_17 Posted: 2/2/2007 10:08am PST

WOW!!! People are really creative. But yet some are stupid at the same time...lmao

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liz Posted: 2/5/2007 9:50am PST

it looks really cool except u can only drive it in the warm weather
i would still buy it if it was less money

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marshall franzman Posted: 4/7/2007 5:08pm PDT

Ican see all the problems like; cold, hot ,doesnt go fast enough. I can see the good to the solar roof .I am an inventor myself I belive I have the answer. I am working with my patten attorney now for a utility patten. I now can get 33% better fuel economy with my 02 ford pickup and get the same fuel economy as a 4cyl mini van. It could do better than that if Ifind a way to regenerate from my brakes. I know it is out there. I'm not useing solor yet either I think solar will be used as a charge station instead of on vechicle, due to the extra weight you don't need to carry.I am looking for a investor to help me profect better what I already know. I'm not critizing what you have done either because it takes many trys before it gets right. People need to work together to get it done and not critize peoples hard work and money spent trying to get it right.

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Solar Wind Motors Posted: 4/17/2007 9:03pm PDT

Hello My name is Steven Van Houcke
The only future we should consider is a self generating electric Vehicle We have some important dicisions to make in the next little while.. Its for our children, grandchildren and generations to come. I have a design for the most energy efficient vehicle in the world today. www.solarwindmotors.com Enough talking and more action is required. The right solution to the problem is the only answer.
Steven Van Houcke
Solar Wind Motors

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Rhonda Goebel Posted: 5/19/2007 12:02pm PDT

I agree that we need to be very smart about how to get ourselves out of this hole we've dug for ourselves. Self-generating vehicles is the only answer. I'm looking for someone to convert an electric vehicle to run off solar and/or wind as primary source and plug in as backup. Please email referrals to rhondagoebel@yahoo.com.

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ALAN Posted: 8/18/2007 12:01pm PDT

tHIS CAR IS JUST ABOUT RIGHT ON BUT IT WOULD NEE D TO BE MORE COMPARTMENTLE TO BE MORE USEFULL FOR THE AVERAGE FAMILY TO USE OR FOR THE SOCCOR MOM TO USE FOR THE KIDS MAYBE IF THE MOTOR WERE A LITTLE MORE POWERFULL IT WOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE A MORE WEIGHT CAPACITY AS TO ALOW FOR SHOPPING AND SUCH AND WOULD BE MORE COST EFFICIENT THAN YOUR EVERY DAY CAR. THE SAVINGS IN FEUL COST ALONE WOULD MORE THAN OFFSET THE PRICE .BECAUSE YOU WOULDNT HAVE TO PAY AT THE PUMPS. AND ALSO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE MORE WEATHER FRIENDLY SO THAT THE CONSUMER WOULD HAVE A LITTLE MORE COMFORT FROM THE ELEMENTS LIKE HEAT AND COLD AND RAIN AND SNOW.

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Ashley Posted: 9/28/2007 3:39pm PDT

COOL

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Zach Posted: 2/9/2008 5:17am PST

c'est a very good idea but i agree avec le other guy, it would be better si le car could charge et roll at same time therefor would have a never ending range to roll. just like normal car le altinator charges the battery as it rides et le battery est still powering le car, why not impliment same technology.

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ben Posted: 2/29/2008 5:13pm PST

It might be slow, but my opinion is that this car would do so much good for the worlds atmosphere. And gas bills are completely eliminated. Though it's little size gives the impression of a futeristic golf cart...

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Chris DeSmit Posted: 4/10/2008 6:46pm PDT

I want something very much like this. I'm holding off buying another gas vehicle until I can get a solar powered electric vehicle at a price I can afford. Keep up the good work, and let me know when it's affordable.
Thanks,
Chris

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Christine Posted: 4/17/2008 4:36pm PDT

That's CRAZY KOOL!

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Christine Posted: 4/17/2008 4:36pm PDT

That's CRAZY KOOL! How did they come up with that? Wave of the future!

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ashley Posted: 5/4/2008 5:06pm PDT

I would love to have one because they save the world.

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kevin Posted: 5/29/2008 7:14pm PDT

A friend of mine and I have added some peel-n-stick SOLAR panels
to a reg. 36v golf cart LIMO ( seats 6 ) and it gives us enough roof top
space to charge the battery banks at a constant 5amps in direct
sun...we added a battery gauge and took it out in the sun in s. fla -
With the radio jamming, the solar roof we built was actually
still raises the level of the charge on the "battery " meter -
We named i t ICARUS and are now thinking of selling these -
I take it to PUBLIX with no gas and no electric being consumed.
What do you think the value of this SOLAR LIMO would be worth ?

kevin@e3fla.com

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Chris Posted: 6/14/2008 11:05pm PDT

What is wrong with having a wind powered car, with several small wind generator fans around the car? For slow speed (in town use) there would have to be some other form of power for the car. As for highway travel, every vehicle produces enough wind to move multiple fan generators placed around the vehicle.

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Daan Posted: 6/27/2008 3:07pm PDT

I.m interested in a manufacturing license.

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Kimo Posted: 12/10/2008 11:11am PST

I like the concept but it seems like it might have an application as a golf cart, I am not sure it is hiway worthy yet. I could definitely see a niche` for it in retirement villages and golf courses though or even on islands where the speed limits are low, look out this is the Cozumel cab of the future.
Kim

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Vitamins Posted: 12/8/2009 10:15pm PST

if the best that we the people can do is not perfict than we set sight on whats the easyest .as a poor man i hope thers someone how can stop the fate of the nation and come up with a car that dos not need battries but direct power to a eletric car engine that will be cooled by air which the car moves thought .solar power is a place to start dont stop at batteirs .we as pleople can put a man on the moon but we cant ride free of energy cost . solar pwored cars is the best way so keep up the good work.and maybe some day some one can find a way to make a solar car that you dont have to plug in a outlet. so there it is from a poor man.

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Acteon Posted: 5/11/2010 9:15am PDT

There are heat powered stove fans (see URL). If such a mechanism was placed on the hot metal of a car on a warm summer day and the turning fan were to turn a generator (as it does for a wind fan) it would be possible for the fan to recharge the batteries even when there is no wind.

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