New urban microcar concept - European CLEVER project

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New urban microcar concept - IFP, partner of the European CLEVER project

27 April 2006

L'IFP a développé le moteur au gaz naturel du prototype de véhicule urbain de taille réduite présenté en avant première à l'Université de Bath, lundi dernier. Responsable de la partie motorisation du projet, l'IFP a apporté son expertise et ses compétences dans le développement de technologies moteurs adaptées au carburant gaz naturel. Développé dans le cadre du projet européen Clever, la version finale du véhicule est présentée sur le stand de l'IFP à l'International Vienna Motor Symposium, les 27 et 28 avril.

IFP developed the natural-gas engine of the urban microcar prototype previewed at the University of Bath last Monday. IFP, in charge of the project's propulsion system, contributed its expertise and skills in the development of natural-gas engine technologies. The final version of the vehicle, developed in the context of the European Clever project, is being presented on IFP's stand at the International Vienna Motor Symposium on 27 and 28 April.

Steered by the Technical University of Berlin, the Clever project involved ten German, Austrian, British, and French partners – industrial players, research centers, and universities. As part of the 5th Framework Program, the European Commission provided 2.2 million euros of the project's total budget of 3.35 million euros.

The Clever, a three-wheeled vehicle with tandem seating, is powered by a single-cylinder natural-gas engine. Its unloaded weight, 400kg, is half that of the smallest mass-produced cars now on the market. The performance of both the engine and the variable transmission delivers a top speed of 100 km/h and a rate of acceleration expected from an urban vehicle. CO₂ emissions are in the region of 60g/km, and the combined volume of the two removable tanks (2x6 liters at 250 bar) gives a range of at least 100km in the standardized European MVEG cycle.

The vehicle's narrow width (1 meter) is offset by a tilting cab, making it very stable when cornering, with handling similar to that of a motorcycle, but it is steered like a four-wheeled vehicle: the Clever has a conventional steering wheel.

Five demonstrators have been built, three for crash tests, one for the development stage, and a last, definitive vehicle. The partners plan to launch a Clever 2 project incorporating technological improvements, in particular a hybrid propulsion system, as a step towards industrial development of the concept.

The Clever concept is an interesting alternative approach to urban traffic problems, environmental constraints and energy diversification issues. IFP, active in several other natural-gas vehicle research programs, consolidates through this project, its position as a specialist in this type of engine, achieving emission and performance levels in line with the objectives.

For further information
>> www.clever-project.net

The partners of the Clever project

Technical University of Berlin (TUB) : Institut für Land- und Seeverkehr
Germany
www.kfz.tu-berlin.de | Page projet
Project coordination and management, safety aspects, crash tests.

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW)
Germany
www.bmwgroup.com
Technical leadership, styling, design, electrical system.
Production: chassis, interior, exterior, construction of the prototype.

Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd,
Great Britain
www.avontyres.com
Development and production of the tyres.

ARC Leichtmetall Kompetenzzentrum Ranshofen GmbH (LKR)
Austria
www.lkr.at
Production of light-alloy chassis

IFP
France
http://engines-fuels.ifp.fr
Development and production of the natural-gas engine

TAKATA-PETRI AG
Germany
www.takata-petri.com
Active safety systems and driver's airbag

University of Bath, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute for Power Transmission and Motion Control,
Great Britain
www.bath.ac.uk
Development of the tilting system, of the undercarriage, and of the transmission

Universität für Bodenkultur, Institut für Verkehrswesen
Austria
www.boku.ac.at/verkehr/
Market survey

WEH GmbH
Germany
www.weh.com
NGV tanks and filling system