Consumer prototype first drive!

 CBS Detroit 

Edison2 Unveils New Super-MPG Car At The Henry Ford

DEARBORN — Finally, a 21st Century car that really looks like it came from the 21st Century.

The venue was appropriate. The Henry Ford is a shrine to American innovation, and the Edison2 is packed with innovation from stem to stern.

Accomplishments

 

• Winner of the $5 million Mainstream class of the Automotive X Prize

• An internal combustion engine powered VLC in X Prize on-track testing achieved 110 MPGe (EPA combined)

• An electric VLC recorded 245 MPGe in the EPA 5-cycle test (combined) and 350 MPGe using X Prize metrics (Roush Laboratories)

• A VLC prototype with a Smart Car driveline achieved 89 MPG (highway), compared to 41 MPG for the Smart

• The VLC demonstrated the lowest drag ever recorded at the GM Aero Lab for a multi-passenger car (0.160 Cd)

• The VLC holds the best coastdown numbers ever achieved at Chrysler’s Chelsea Proving Grounds

• At the X Prize the VLC posted a peak lateral acceleration of 1.18g on a skid pad, the fastest speed through the double lane change, and shortest stopping distance (128 feet) from 60 – 0 (Consumers Union)

• Lowest GHG emissions of the X Prize at 82.6 g CO2/mile (Argonne National Lab)

• The X Prize one-cylinder 250 cc internal combustion engine met cold start emission standards (Roush)

• A 1060 lb. VLC, in a 40% Offset Frontal crash test, allowed only a 22g peak passenger compartment acceleration, well below the allowable limit of 70g (Center for Advanced Products Testing)

• The X Prize winning #98 is on permanent display at The Henry Ford museum, as part of the Driving America exhibit.