At the present time, one of the biggest environmental concerns lies in global warming. It is already well established that the extreme changes in the earth’s temperature is caused by excessive carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, largely contributed by emissions of the cars and various vehicles that drive along the millions of highways across the planet. Because of this problem, there have now been alternative forms of powering cars, aside from fossil fuels. Hence, you witness the birth of bio-diesel, electric cars, and the combination, hybrid cars.

Hybrid cars are now the hottest trends in the motoring industry today. Though pricey, they serve a dual purpose because they help you save on fuel costs as well as help in cleaning up the environment. Basically, a hybrid car has an electric engine that runs after you plug it to a wall outlet and charge for a few hours. It also has a gasoline engine that starts to run when your battery charge is low. You typically get more miles per gallon on hybrid cars, which is why most car manufacturers today are in the process of developing new designs for hybrids.

Have you ever heard of a car that can run on 300 miles per gallon? Though it seems like a notion out of science fiction, it actually has become reality through the Aptera Typ-1. Developed by Steve Fambro, an engineer for California, this car’s inspiration was the designer’s intention of creating a road worthy car that is fuel efficient and comfortable. The Aptera Typ-1 made its debut nearing the close of the year 2007, and is a two-seater car with three wheels. As of 2008, it will become available for $30,000. Reservations started as early as November 2007.

The body of the Aptera Typ-1 is made of lightweight composite material, and it appears to be like a sleek spaceship that looks equally awesome as it cruises down the highway. The design is aerodynamic in nature, and the name was derived from Greek language, translating to wingless. The windows are laminated safety glass. The entire body of the Aptera Typ-1 weighs in at about 1480 pounds.

What other interesting specs does the Aptera Typ-1 have? This space age hybrid is not only lightweight, but can even reach top speeds of 95 miles per hour. As said before, it can go for 300 miles per gallon. You only need to charge it for four to six hours, and the full battery pack alone will allow you to drive for 100 miles.

Looking at the interior, you can view the speed, remaining fuel and battery life, and mileage on a digital screen, while two other screens display footage from video cameras mounted at the rear of the vehicle. This beats having to check your rearview mirror. Plus, there is a monitor for GPS and audio controls as well. Instead of floor shift, you get a small switch mounted between the seats labeled with Drive, Park, Reverse, and Neutral.

There are solar panels mounted on the roof, which help charge the battery as well as provide power for the air conditioning system of the Aptera Typ-1.

By: Kaung | ChitChat247.com | KMKBlog.com

Tagged in: Aptera Type-1