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Last Update 8/22/08
XR3 Hybrid Diesel / Electric Reverse Trike Kit (available now as a plans built vehicle with an estimated $15,000 'build it yourself' cost)
The new XR3 Hybrid by Robert Q. Riley Enterprises
Mr. Riley says this will be offered in kit form in the near future with a separate body kit and a frame kit to help speed construction, but there are no plans at this time to sell it as a complete ready to ride vehicle. Here's what he says about it:
"The XR3 Hybrid is a super-fuel-efficient two-passenger “personal mobility vehicle” (PMV) that achieves 125 MPG and performance like a conventional automobile. The design of the XR3 Hybrid focuses on existing technology and a vehicle “personality” that makes conserving energy a fun driving experience. It showcases the design ideas explored in Robert Q. Riley’s book, Alternative Cars in the 21st Century.
At just 1200 pounds, this high-performance design combines lightening-fast acceleration, a maximum speed of 85 mph, and fuel economy on the order of 125 mpg. Its clam-shell canopy and three-wheel platform boldly differentiates the XR3 from conventional passenger cars. The vehicle’s hybrid power system, turbocharged diesel engine, and low curb weight are the main ingredients of its 125 mpg+ fuel economy and excellent performance.
Acceleration equal to that of a conventional car and a maximum speed of 85 mph make the XR3 Hybrid equally at home on freeways and surface streets. Advanced safety features of a production XR3 Hybrid will include occupant protection and crash avoidance systems. Enabling technologies already exist, and nothing new has to be invented."
"The XR-3 is designed as a “plug-in hybrid.” This makes it possible to drive on battery power alone on trips of about 40 miles. In other words, on short trips you never have to turn on the diesel engine. And when both the diesel and the battery-electric systems are used together, and the car is driven conservatively, fuel economy increases to over 200-mpg. Fuel economy is about 125-mpg on diesel power alone.
Today’s hybrids are called “mild hybrids” or “charge-maintaining hybrids”. They use the electric system to help with acceleration. You can drive on battery power alone, but only for a short distance – around the block, for example. The battery pack is typically used to provide bursts of power for brief periods of acceleration. The combustion engine then recharges the battery between periods of acceleration. But fuel economy suffers while the battery is being recharged.
That’s why today’s hybrids do not provide much advantage in fuel economy over a well-designed conventional car.
In order to get the full benefits of a hybrid power system, you have to switch to a plug-in hybrid architecture like the XR-3.
Plug-ins will be the next generation of hybrid vehicles. A plug-in hybrid simply means that part or all of the vehicle’s energy is taken from the grid system where it is cleaner and less costly to produce.
Most of the world’s automakers are now working on plug-in hybrids."
"A simple three-position switch allows the driver to select between battery-only, diesel-only and hybrid driving modes.
The diesel engine can remain off for local trips, since power from the advanced lithium-ion battery pack gives the car a battery-only range of up to 40 miles."
Plans available now on DVD.
Here's a video about his design I found on the web -
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