'We could get it built from a kit in high schools & TAFEs ...'
http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2014/02/17/3946517.htm?site=northcoast Plane engineer hopes electric car can revive auto industry By Margaret Burin 17 February, 2014 [images / ABC Local, Margaret Burin http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201402/r1238110_16389308.jpg Ballina aircraft engineer Howard Hughes has high hopes for the Australian car industry. He hopes to have an electric car prototype completed by the end of the year http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201402/r1238166_16391010.jpg The roadie - A computer-generated image of the roadie prototype design, which Howard plans to complete by the end of 2014 ] A New South Wales aircraft manufacturer is excited about the future of Australia's automotive sector, despite the death of the industry. Howard Hughes is developing an electric car. This time last week, those involved in the car industry were processing the heart-breaking news that Toyota planned to leave the country, putting an end to the nation's car manufacturing sector. But an engineer in Ballina on the New South Wales north coast is excited about its future. This three-wheeled vehicle has been in development for about four years. "It looks a little bit like a bike and from the front it looks a little like a car." "We've had to come to terms with battery technology, motor technology and of course all of the rules and regulations that govern motorcar design and construction." Howard hopes to release the refined prototype later this year. A large lithium iron battery will down the centre, its single rear wheel containing a motor. The concept is a carbon friendly vehicle that would be charged with energy generated by solar panels. Mr Hughes has a vision far bigger than the NSW north coast. He believes that if the design is kept relatively simple and proved to be viable, that small car manufacturers could pop up around regional Australia. "I think it's possible, vaguely possible, that you could see an industry spring up of boutique manufacturers like us where you might have a manufacturer in Ballina, there could be another one in Dubbo and Forbes and Parkes and so on. "If we could get our sort of car being built from a kit in perhaps high schools and TAFEs, with a lot of work we could see a rebirth of a very large number, of very small manufacturers." And according to Mr Hughes, there is no better time to do it. He says the company will attempt to complete the prototype as quickly as possible, which may enhance its ability to utilise car part manufacturers that will be affected by the closures of the Ford, Holden and Toyota plants. After his design has been completed, the biggest challenge lies ahead: convincing consumers. [© 2014 ABC] ... http://www.road-e.com.au/specs.html Road-e EV ... http://www.lightwing.com.au/otherproducts.html#roade Howard Hughes Engineering For all EVLN posts use: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/template/NamlServlet.jtp?macro=search_page&node=413529&query=evln&sort=date Here are today's archive-only EV posts: EVLN: Chauffeur company bets customers will want the quieter EV ride EVLN: Gates Carbon Drive @Custom eBike Showcase 3/14-16 Charlotte NC EVLN: Bill 2651 Mandates EVSE in HI Parking Lots w/ 100+ spaces EVLN: Koenigsegg is a huge fan of EVs & loves his Tesla-S EVLN: Leaf EV isn’t the answer, it’s too big (?) + EVLN: NASA wants better batteries for EVs {brucedp.150m.com} -- View this message in context: http://electric-vehicle-discussion-list.413529.n4.nabble.com/EVLN-Aussie-aircraft-engineer-Howard-Hughes-3wheel-Road-e-EV-kit-tp4668033.html Sent from the Electric Vehicle Discussion List mailing list archive at Nabble.com. _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org For EV drag racing discussion, please use NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
