1000 bhp, Electric Rapide planned?
Discussion
Just saw this. Seems a bit odd, can't really imagine many wanting a grand tourer that can't go on grand tours? Before you get to stuff like the noise, batteries, weight etc.
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/rapide-s...
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/aston-martin/rapide-s...
I presume it is related to that grant. Could they not focus more on hybrid tech rather than full electric though?
Would you really not care about the noise? Probably up there with the most important things for me.
Jockman said:
Pretty sure EU rules are about to outlaw silent electric cars on the grounds that they are dangerous to the public. Some sort of noise will be a requirement.
Other than that I couldn't give a monkies how they are powered so long as they look stunning and remain wonderful to drive
They usually sound like a milk float don't they?Other than that I couldn't give a monkies how they are powered so long as they look stunning and remain wonderful to drive
Would you really not care about the noise? Probably up there with the most important things for me.
Jockman said:
Oh I love the noise but I'm just not bothered about the type of juice used.
Fair point. Just not sure how they could do that from an electric car.Listen to the Tesla for example: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9wVY4Omk0jA
Not sure why the obsession with electric when hydrogen seems to be a more sustainable solution and is more of an evolution. I was more encouraged with the hydrogen powered Rapide...
On a wider point, our national grid is barely set for current forecasted demand let alone a wholesale switch to mainly coal/gas powered electric.
'Advanced' electric cars like the Tesla use an old-as-the-hills locomotive motor powered by laptop batteries which are an eco disaster. So, if I was to get all eco-warrior principled then an electric motored Rapide is one car i definitely wouldn't buy. Seems to be fashion though.
Come to think of it, hydrogen powered cars are old tech as well.
On a wider point, our national grid is barely set for current forecasted demand let alone a wholesale switch to mainly coal/gas powered electric.
'Advanced' electric cars like the Tesla use an old-as-the-hills locomotive motor powered by laptop batteries which are an eco disaster. So, if I was to get all eco-warrior principled then an electric motored Rapide is one car i definitely wouldn't buy. Seems to be fashion though.
Come to think of it, hydrogen powered cars are old tech as well.
Reading Karl Franz's thread, I guess this is all down to average fleet emissions. I can see what Andy Palmer hopes for, but there's gotta be a better way than this old electric motor tech.
The electric motor thing reminds me of the push for diesels 25 years ago, before they worked out that they are killers for those of us that live in cities.
As Jockman points out I can also see why all-electric will cause road safety problems, driving in London (I would imagine in the countryside too) you rely on your ears as much as sight to perceive danger. All electric quietness will bring its own dangers to cyclists, pedestrians and other cars. A 1,000hp silent rocket on our roads...hmmm.
To make them safer, maybe manufacturers should be made to equip all electric cars with ice cream van sounds...or repeatedly state via loud speaker "WARNING ELECTRIC CAR COMING...WARNING..."
Starting to sound like a Luddite!
The electric motor thing reminds me of the push for diesels 25 years ago, before they worked out that they are killers for those of us that live in cities.
As Jockman points out I can also see why all-electric will cause road safety problems, driving in London (I would imagine in the countryside too) you rely on your ears as much as sight to perceive danger. All electric quietness will bring its own dangers to cyclists, pedestrians and other cars. A 1,000hp silent rocket on our roads...hmmm.
To make them safer, maybe manufacturers should be made to equip all electric cars with ice cream van sounds...or repeatedly state via loud speaker "WARNING ELECTRIC CAR COMING...WARNING..."
Starting to sound like a Luddite!
KarlFranz said:
Remember the Hindenburg?
I'm sure they could put the hydrogen in a bit of a stronger container than the Hindenburg! Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
George29 said:
I'm sure they could put the hydrogen in a bit of a stronger container than the Hindenburg!
Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
George, If you read my thread, you'll see why Palmer doesn't want to make it a hybrid.Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
George29 said:
I'm sure they could put the hydrogen in a bit of a stronger container than the Hindenburg!
Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
George, If you read my thread, you'll see why Palmer doesn't want to make it a hybrid.Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
KarlFranz said:
George, If you read my thread, you'll see why Palmer doesn't want to make it a hybrid.
I have read it, and I can't help but disagree with him. In my opinion, he will lose the 'soul' part he makes reference to if it's just a hybrid. How can you make an electric motor characterful? George29 said:
I have read it, and I can't help but disagree with him. In my opinion, he will lose the 'soul' part he makes reference to if it's just a hybrid. How can you make an electric motor characterful?
The way I see it is, go full electric on the Rapide and be able to keep the V12 or do a hybrid Rapide and have to downsize all the other engines in order to keep the fleet average at the same level.KarlFranz said:
The way I see it is, go full electric on the Rapide and be able to keep the V12 or do a hybrid Rapide and have to downsize all the other engines in order to keep the fleet average at the same level.
The Porsche 918 manages official figures of something around 90mpg and 70g/km. There is a Cayenne hybrid that manages 83mpg and 79g/km of CO2. Both of these have fairly big petrol engines which would never get the figures like that on their own. Realistically they won't get them in the real world either.
AM may as well make a hybrid V8 which still gives the power of the V12, sounds great, doesn't really boost the economy that much, but on all official tests gives low emissions readings. In my opinion anyway. Still offer a V12 option though.
An all electric car is outdated already. It's not practical either. What happens when someone wants to go on a cross continental tour in their Aston (a very real possibility). You're suddenly limited to a hundred or so miles per day. What happens when the battery pack degrades? Where does the electricity come from for it anyway? Is this taken into consideration in the tests?
KarlFranz said:
George29 said:
I'm sure they could put the hydrogen in a bit of a stronger container than the Hindenburg!
Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
George, If you read my thread, you'll see why Palmer doesn't want to make it a hybrid.Isn't there already some Honda that's powered by hydrogen? If that can be driven on the road surely it's passed all sorts of safety legislation, so it must be safe enough.
If they just want to reduce overall emissions, I think a hybrid system is more the way to go. Something like the one in the P1, where it can be used to drive electric only (so you get all your official figures really low), but also does that torque fill thingy to enhance the main engine.
https://www.astonmartin.com/en/live/news/2013/04/1...
Gassing Station | Aston Martin | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff