The Automotive X Prize, a competition for 100 MPG vehicles has been announced and the Goodwin Young "Linc Volt" team has had its "letter of intent" to participate accepted. A qualifying race will be held in 2009 and the final race from California to Washington D.C. will take place in 2010.
Linc Volt is a 2.5 ton Lincoln Continental Mk IV convertible manufactured by Ford motors in 1959. At 19.5 feet long, it was the longest car of its era. A new series-hybrid system for powering the car is in the final stages of tuning and development. Testing is scheduled for March and April.
"Linc Volt" a film by Neil Young, is in production at Shakey Pictures, under the direction of Bernard Shakey, produced by L.A. Johnson. Filming has been ongoing over the past 6 months. No release date for the film has been announced.
More Pictures of Linc Volt:
Goodwin-Young Team Members
Johnathan Goodwin
Neil Young
Uli Kruger
L.A. Johnson
Elliot Roberts
We are proud to have these outstanding manufacturers, service providers,
and technologies associated with Linc Volt:
UQM Technologies' superior electric propulsion system and electric generator are integral parts of the Linc Volt system. With the UQM advantages of power density - small and light weight motors, extremely high efficiency, regenerative breaking, and precision control, Linc Volt's state of the art propulsion system is capable of moving the 2.5 ton cruiser at highway speeds with ease and efficiency.
Four Wheel Electric Car Revolutionizes Economical Driving
by Tim King, Salem-News.com
New laws make cheap, long-range, four wheel electric cars the hot ticket, and this busy Salem electric car dealership's new, high tech battery packs are even being used to power Neil Young's new LincVolt hybrid project.
(SALEM, Ore.) - There is a quiet revolution taking place on the streets of America. Gas prices are rising out of sight and into view comes the vision of the future: a conventional electric car that has four wheels, a realistic range, and a price tag of $10,500.
The use of the word Revolution here is both figurative and literal; because is the name of the new, four wheel electric car offered for sale at Electric Wheels in Salem, Oregon.
The fact that the car is manufactured in China means the price stays low, but it doesn't appear entirely Chinese. The car has an influence from Suzuki, a company noted for bringing us one of the smallest useful 4x4 vehicles; the Samurai.
The steering wheel and other aspects of the vehicle are adorned with the Suzuki "S" adding a somewhat familiar touch to this new age electric car.
The owner of Electric Wheels Inc., Larry Dye, is watching an industry take hold in America that represents real economical change for people hard pressed when it comes to coping with soaring gas prices.
It is no surprise that in his first few years of selling electric cars and motorcycles and scooters in his dealership on SE 12th Street in Salem, Larry Dye has seen frustrations rise over the simple cost of commuting to work.
This naturally drives people seeking an alternative to the pumps into his dealership, often seeking answers to questions they have never asked about the reality of driving a car without a traditional engine.
Dye explains that particularly when it comes to in town commuting, many people simply don't need a lot of room, and the amount of savings can be so dramatic that the cars pay for themselves in a relatively short amount of time after the costs of gasoline, deducted from a driver's budget, are calculated into the mix.
It takes a visionary to grab an idea and run with it before others are willing to, and it seems that Dye's ideas a few years ago were very much in line with the current needs of Americans.
He also brought something to the state and area that could have gone many places, and many see his refurbishment of an existing building into a brand new showroom and support facility for the various electric vehicles as a positive upgrade for this area of south Salem.
It is not uncommon for Dye to handle sales and requests from out of state residents in Washington, California and beyond. His first few years of business have seen one development after another in technology, laws, and outright popularity.
Another view of the Revolution electric car available at Electric Wheels Inc. on SE 12th Street in Salem, Oregon
The new four wheel car called the Revolution is a real advancement over previous models, and one reason is that is has an AC motor rather than a DC motor.
Dye says this is state of the art technology for electric cars and with this type of motor it has better ability at keeping its speed going up hills and better overall power and range. "I drove this one 15 miles the other day and it only dropped one volt, these will go sixty miles on a charge."
The car is governed to go only 25 MPH and it is officially registered as a "Low Speed Vehicle" and carries an identifying LS on the Oregon license plate. Apparently they have the capability of driving faster, but they are limited to 25 MPH by Oregon law.
He says the low speed vehicle classification does help with the car's insurance rate too. Even better, this four wheel electric car's buyer receives a federal and state tax rebate, and the federal government does not apply theirs to cars that are three wheelers, which are licensed as motorcycles.
You might be surprised at what is inside the car/ In addition to the standard ignition/steering wheel/accelerator pedal/brake pedal and turn signal arrangement, you have a two speed fan, emergency flashers and a place for a stereo.
Larry Dye lets people have radios installed after they purchase the car but it does accommodate a standard car stereo system.
Neil Young Connection As one of the leading electric dealers on the west coast, Larry Dye has the attention of electric vehicle and environmental leaders throughout the world.
When Neal Young needed an expert to convert a Lincoln Continental to electric power for his new "Linc Volt" project, his team needed the best battery system available.
They came to see Larry Dye at Electric Wheels in Salem, Oregon to help transform yesterday's American dream... into tomorrow's. Imagine a gas guzzler like a late 50's Lincoln blasting down the road without using a drop of conventional fuel, sparing bio diesel that's required to recharge the batteries. It sure doesn't add up to a car that could easily cost seventy dollars to fill when it is empty.
Neil Young's Lincoln is experiencing another mechanical rebirth, a conversion to bio diesel; another part of the evolutionary stage. The car is featured on CNN and apparently as a hybrid, they predict that the car will record a remarkable 100 MPG.
Finally, the four wheel electric that people have been asking for for so long has arrived and progress continues in all directions. Neil Young's LincVolt conversion helps move us through the evolution of this new frontier in transportation.
Neil Young's Linc Volt project is inspiring in that it takes a behemoth, gas guzzling automobile, and turns it into an economical hybrid electric car
A video version of this story is available on youtube.
Vision
Our goal is to inspire a generation by creating a clean automobile propulsion technology that serves the needs of the 21st Century and delivers performance that is a reflection of the driver's spirit. By creating this new power technology we hope to reduce the demand for petro-fuels enough to eliminate the need for war over energy supplies, thereby enhancing the security of the USA and other nations throughout the world.
Values
We want to build a zero emissions automobile that eliminates roadside re-fueling entirely, a safe powerful automobile that is comfortable and economic on both long trips and the commute to work, an automobile that can generate power to the home when it is parked, potentially creating an income stream for the owner.
Methods
By working with established technologies in new ways, with the best people and companies available in each field, and creating a film about the innovative re-powering of a 1959 Lincoln Continental convertible and its trip around the USA, we aim to publicize our story of innovation to make a major difference in the knowledge of, creation, and use of clean power in the 21st Century.
Obstacles
Obstacles like resistance to change, the need for economic rebalance created by change, and the limitations of existing infrastructure will be met with education and proof of a clean power technology system that provides economic savings for the owner, helps to save the planet, and enhances the security of the world.
Measures
We will know we have succeeded when we have one or more major companies building automobiles that use our technology or something similar, creating 0 emissions, while saving money for the owner. We will also know we have succeeded when the world's power generating plants start using our clean technology or another clean technology that delivers comparable results.
"This train has left the station.
There are those that have the opportunity to ride.
They may fall short of boarding.
However, the concept created along the way will be the product in the end."
- - jg
"Every step of the way, we have not been alone.
Things fall into place like there was a plan.
We have now come to see innovation we had never anticipated in all of our dreams, and we are still moving forward."
- - ny
"The main ingredient for working on this project is refusing to believe that some things are impossible."
- - uk
SCIENCE
Uli Kruger immigrated from Germany to Adelaide Australia in 1982 where he now lives with his wife and 2 children. He worked for nearly 20 years for an Australian University, designing and building specialized research equipment for the Physics department.
In all this time, Uli has also been an active researcher in the field of thermodynamics. He currently holds several patents in the field of efficiency enhancement technologies for Diesel engines, of which some are currently successfully commercialized through his company, AET (Alternative Engine Technologies).
His contribution to the project does not only stem from his own knowledge base but also from his ability to identify individual viable concepts and marry them together into a total outcome that is greater than the sum of it's parts.
Meyer Water Fuel Cell
Electric Wheels Inc.
JST Connectors
Clean Future
Rock-It Cargo
Java Technology
