Shell reveals Gordon Murray 'Project M' low energy city car
Sat 23 April 2016
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Shell has unveiled a new lightweight vehicle prototype, by Gordon Murray Design. Entitled 'Project M' the car is designed for city driving and claims that it uses a third less energy in its lifetime than a typical city car.
The three seater concept car was designed with great attention to weight reduction and aerodynamics, similar to that found in Formula One racing. The purpose of Project M was to showcase a low-cost, low-carbon construction demonstrating a way to help keep increasingly crowded cities moving, while minimizing energy use and emissions.
The design is a collaboration between industry experts including F1 designer Gordon Murray, engine experts Geo Technology and Shell scientists who worked together to co-engineer the car’s body, engine and lubricant to minimize fuel use and CO2 emissions. The vehicle is a rethink of the Gordon Murray Design T.25 city car produced in 2010.
The car’s body is made with recycled carbon fibre. This helps to reduce its overall weight to 550 kilograms, while cutting the energy used in manufacturing by up to 45 per cent compared to a city car available today. According to Shell, the car tops off at speeds of 110 km/h but its peak performance is set at 50-60 km/h, perfect for city driving.
The car will be showcased at Shell's 'Make the Future London' exhibition at the end of June. The LowCVP's Annual Conference on 30 June at Here East on the Olympic Park in East London is supported by Make the Future London.
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