The "3-Euro Car" achieves a distance of 100 km on just €3 worth of fuel by utilizing affordable and efficient liquid petroleum gas (LPG) as the fuel source. Fahrmitgas used their experience developing LPG systems for GM to convert the Chevrolet Matiz to autogas. They also equipped the car with low-rolling resistance tires, a lower stance and an auto start-stop system.
By American standards, this works out to $4.25 for just 62.24 miles, or a figure achievable by many efficient vehicles in the US. The difference? The cost for unleaded fuel or diesel fuel in Germany is above $6.50 per gallon, meaning a car would have to achieve better than 70 MPG to equal the cost savings of the little Matiz.
As mentioned, this is still just a concept car. In the press release below the company mentions they're exploring the possibility of production of the cheap vehicle. We're not betting mass production's in the cards, but the thought is nice.
The ‘3-Euro Car’: The fahrmitgas.de Concept Car Based on the Chevrolet Matiz Consumes Just Three Euros of Fuel per 100 KilometersIt sounds like a modern-day fairy tale: Drive a full 100 kilometers and spend just three Euros on fuel for doing so – and all in a vehicle that is also highly affordable. fahrmitgas.de, one of the leading designers and suppliers of model-specific autogas systems, have developed the ‘3-Euro’ concept car based on a Chevrolet Matiz. It runs on LPG autogas making it both especially fuel efficient and exemplary eco friendly.
As a systems supplier for Chevrolet in Germany fahrmitgas.de has decades of experience designing autogas systems for Chevrolet vehicles.
The three-cylinder gasoline engine with a displacement of 796 cc is the smallest in the Matiz model lineup. It is equipped with a fahrmitgas.de autogas system that can be ordered as special equipment from the Chevrolet options catalog.
In addition the fahrmitgas.de specialists have modified the alternative drive system in many details. Extensive bench tests were used to determine new parameters for the engine management system that adapts the concept car specifically to the special qualities of 111-octane autogas. Special emphasis was placed on optimizing power yield at medium engine speeds and more efficient operation close to a knock limit much higher than that of gasoline. Both measures result in significantly reduced fuel consumption.
Yet another fuel-saving feature is an automatic stop/start system that turns off the engine if the car is stopped for more than three seconds. A push of a button suffices to bring the engine back to life instantaneously.
On average, one out of every five time a car needs refueling, the entire tank will be used for overcoming the rolling resistance inherent in the tires. fahrmitgas.de equips the sub-compact with eco-friendly Hankook Optima 4S low-resistance tires. The Hankook Optima 4S is the only tire in the world quiet enough and with rolling resistance low enough to hold Germany’s eco seal, the “Blue Angel.”
The installation of HEARTBEAT Motors suspension springs lowers the ride height of the Chevrolet Matiz by some 30 millimeters, reducing both aerodynamic drag and fuel consumption.
Another important criterion for achieving ‘3-Euro Car’ status is the driver him- or herself. An auxiliary green-yellow-red display in the cockpit helps the driver to operate the ‘3-Euro Car’ at maximum efficiency.
The result speaks for itself: Three Euros worth of autogas can carry the fahrmitgas.de concept car over a distance of 100 kilometers. No other car can duplicate that feat. What’s even better: The optimized car is also more eco-friendly than its production counterpart. CO2 emissions drop by approximately 15 percent.
fahrmitgas.de is exploring the possibilities of turning the ‘3-Euro Car’ into a production vehicle. No sales price has been projected yet.
[Source: Fahrmitgas]
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