Volkswagen 1-litre car
The Volkswagen 1-litre car, also known as the 1L[1] (see 2009 model below), is a two-person diesel hybrid concept car produced by Volkswagen. The 1-litre car was designed to be both roadworthy and practical, while being able to travel 100 km on 1 litre of diesel fuel (equivalent to 235 miles per U.S. gallon or 282 mpg Imperial)[2]. This stems from the International System of Units unit of fuel efficiency, which is the number of litres of fuel required to travel 100 kilometers. To achieve such economy, it is produced with lightweight materials, a streamlined body and an engine and transmission designed and tuned for economy. A prototype was displayed in 2002 and limited production of the VW 1L is expected to start in 2010. The car can go 161 km/h (100 mph) but at that speed only gets 1.36 l/100 km (208 mpg-imp; 173 mpg-US).
Size and aerodynamics
For aerodynamics, the car seats two in tandem, rather than side-by-side. There are no rear view mirrors and it instead uses cameras and electronic displays. The rear wheels are close together to allow a streamlined body. The total aerodynamic drag is very small because both the drag coefficient and the frontal area are small (see drag equation). The drag coefficient (Cd) is 0.159,[2] compared to 0.30 for typical cars.
The external dimensions of the car are 3.47 m (11.4 ft) long, 1.25 m (4.1 ft) wide and 1.0 m (3.3 ft) tall.
The car features an aircraft-style canopy, flat wheel covers and an underbelly cover to smooth the airflow. The engine cooling vents open only as needed.
There is 80 L (2.8 cu ft) of storage space.
Materials
For light weight, the car uses an unpainted carbon fibre skin over a magnesium-alloy subframe. Individual components have been designed for low weight, including engine, transmission, suspension, wheels (carbon fibre), brakes (aluminium), hubs (titanium), bearings (ceramic), interior, and so on. Empty vehicle weight is 290 kg (639 lb).
Engine and drive system
The engine is a one-cylinder 299 cc (18 cu in) diesel producing just 6.3 kW (8.4 hp), but the production version will use a 2-cylinder version with somewhat higher power and a mild hybrid design. It drives through a six-speed transmission that combines stick-shift mechanics, weight, and drive efficiency with automatic convenience and efficiency controls. There is no clutch pedal. The gear selection (forwards, reverse or neutral) is made using a switch on the right-hand side of the cockpit. The engine is switched off automatically during deceleration and stops, and auto-restarted when the acceleration pedal is pressed.
Fuel consumption and range
According to Volkswagen, fuel economy is 0.99 L/100 km (238 mpg-US). A 6.5 L (1.7 US gal) fuel tank gives a driving range of 650 km (404 mi). If diesel were $3 a gallon, the fuel to travel 400 miles would cost $5.
Safety
The body and frame are designed with crush/crumple zones and roll-over protection, and the tandem seating means large side crush zones. Volkswagen claims protection comparable to a GT racing car. The production version apparently has anti-lock brakes, airbags with pressure sensors, and stability control[3].
Production and price
Volkswagen approved a limited production by 2010.[1][4] The initial price is still unknown.
