Toasting Land Glider & Sunswift

Nissan has unveiled a futuristic two seater concept car – the zero-emission electric “Land Glider – that tilts when going around bends so drivers feel like they are gliding through the air, while “Sunswift IV” is lean, green and can run on less energy than it takes to power the family toaster, yet will reach speeds of up to 120km/h in the Global Green Challenge race from Darwin to Adelaide starting on 24 October.

Solar car ‘uses less power than toaster’

By Kelly Lane, AAP (7 October 2009):

The only NSW entry in Australia’s solar car race is a lean machine that can run on less energy than a toaster, University of NSW students say.

It’s lean, green and can run on less energy than it takes to power the family toaster.

Yet Sunswift IV will reach speeds of up to 120km/h when it races across Australia in the Global Green Challenge race from Darwin to Adelaide starting on October 24.

Students from the University of NSW solar racing team unveiled their hand-built carbon fibre three-wheeler in Sydney’s north on Wednesday morning – the only solar car entrant from NSW in the 3000km race.

About 60 team members spent more than 10,000 hours over 18 months designing and building the car, project manager Clara Mazzone told reporters.

“I think the most exciting thing is … the educational side of it, that none of these engineers have graduated yet, working out how to apply the knowledge they’re learning at uni and design and build a car from scratch, basically,” Ms Mazzone said.

Last-minute additions were made to the vehicle before the launch to meet RTA requirements.

“All the major mechanical components are in and working, all the absolutely necessary electrical components work. It’ll drive,” team leader Jono Pye said.

Fondly nicknamed IVy, the car has the same footprint as a small sedan but is half the height and weighs less than 150kg.

IVy is expected to run on 1.3 kilowatts of power from its solar array when travelling at a speed of 90km/h – compared with 1.8 kW needed to run a four-slice toaster, Mr Pye said.

It also has a battery that will run the car for five hours without sunlight.

“Everything is thought (of) to make it as efficient as possible, because the race that it’s built for is an endurance race more than anything,” Mr Pye said.

The students will take IVy from Sydney to Adelaide before the race and test-run her from Adelaide to Darwin.

They plan to stop at schools on the way to Adelaide from Sydney to showcase their project.

“We’re hoping just to get (children) excited about renewable energy, really, and the technologies we’re developing, to kind of inspire them to keep it going and show them what’s possible,” Mr Pye said.

“I think the most amazing thing about it is that a bunch of students have built a car that runs off the sun and can race from Darwin to Adelaide in four or five days,” he said.

“And it shows you, if we can do that, imagine what companies and governments can do if they really put their mind to it.”

Global Green Challenge for solar and eco-friendly vehicles that attracts competitors from around the world.

Source: www.drive.com.au

Nissan’s concept car ‘feels like flying’

The Age (9 October 2009):

Nissan has unveiled a futuristic concept car that tilts to the side when going around bends to make drivers feel like they are gliding through the air.

The zero-emission electric “Land Glider” seats two people – one in the front and one in the back.

Just 1.1 metres wide, it can easily squeeze into tight parking spaces and through narrow streets.

“In the past a car used to move only in a two dimensional way but the Land Glider can move in a three dimensional way,” said Nissan’s Ryusuke Hayashi, who is overseeing the project.

“Although you are driving on the road, you feel as if you are flying,” he said at a preview of the car on Thursday.

Inspired by motorbikes and glider aircraft, the four-wheel car has tilting wheels and moving fenders that enable it to lean by up to 17 degrees. Special sensors calculate the best tilt for negotiating a corner.

Instead of a steering wheel, it has airplane-style controls. With a cocoon-like cabin and a body designed to look like it is protected with armour, the Land Glider also aims to give motorists a sense of security.

The vehicle will be on display at this month’s Tokyo Motor Show – which opens to the public from October 24 to November 4 – along with the electric Leaf that Nissan plans to launch late next year.

Japan’s number three automaker will also display a chunky concept sports crossover, Qazana, that looks halfway between a tank and a beach buggy and aims to put some of the fun back into driving.

Source: www.news.theage.com.au