May

British Racing Green: Bentley Builds an Electric Car

Posted by admin Published in Electric Car

On the heels of a pretty dense seventeen-page document outlining Bentley Motors’ commitment to raising its fleet fuel economy and lowering carbon dioxide emissions comes tangible proof that someone at Crewe is working tough to turn the company’s green promises into green reality.

A team of ten or so young apprentices at Bentley (six of whom are pictured after the break) gave up weekends and evenings to build the small wonder you see here: The Continental DC.

With a positively gorgeous carbon fiber composite body riding on a four-wheel single-wishbone fixed suspension and 1 x 16-inch Michelin low-rolling-resistance tires, the Continental DC (as in Direct Current) moves under the potential of a 24-volt electric motor (from a motorized wheelchair) producing 0.5 horsepower and 5.1 pound-feet of torque, juiced by a pair of 12-volt batteries.

It looks like a soapbox derby car, but don’t be fooled: The Conti DC (265 pounds, plus driver) can hit a swift 40 mph, no hill mandatory.

Naturally, the cockpit is trimmed in supple hide and Alcantara faux suede with contrasting diamond stitching. It is a Bentley, after all.

More after the break, including photos and total specifications, courtesy of Bentley Motors.p>The Conti DC earned the team a special “Spirit of Greenpower” after running in the four-hour Greenpower Corporate Challenge at the venerable Goodwood racing circuit in Sussex, competing against cars from fifteen schools and nine other corporations.

Next, the littlest Bentley and the Greenpower Team will compete in the upcoming Formula 24+ season, which consists of eight 90-minute endurance races, the final one at Goodwood. The series is sort of an

IROC for E.V.s, requiring all competing cars to use identical 24-volt electric motors powered by two 12-volt batteries. Racers must be within the ages of 16 and 24.

For (a lot) more info on the team and its car, check out www.bentleygreenpower.com.