Remember the stainless steel DeLorian? Strapped down with a pile of junk, charged by the flux capacitor, it blasted Back to the Future.
Although pretty kewl in the heyday of the Chevette; the DeLorian was a cramped car with a poorly laid-out interior, powered by a Volvo V-6. The only thing I knew about capacitors in 1985 were these big metal cans that leaked oil in my grandfather’s broken tube radio set.
Finally, we have some working technology to move the fantasy of the flux capacitor
AFS Trinity, a company based in Bellevue, Washington is developing the Extreme Hybrid. The idea uses the benefits of li-ion batteries (light weight and high energy density) and ultracapacitors (small size and high power density).
Capacitors act like short term batteries, capable of storing large amounts of electric power and delivering it in short bursts. Think of the li-ion battery like a wet sponge where water slowly drains out when it hits the wall missing your younger brother and the ultracapacitor as a bucket filled with water that's waiting to throw at your older sister.
The capacitor, capable of delivering short power bursts to the electric motor, eliminates the need for a large gasoline engine.
A tiny gasoline engine and a battery plugged into a home wall socket at night means that the Extreme Hybrid will use very little gasoline. AFS says that the gasoline engine will not be needed for commutes of under 40 miles round trip. As an added benefit, the ultracapacitors promote long battery life by taking the brunt of electrical power surges.
How does 250 mpg sound?
http://www.afstrinity.com/extr-tech.html
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Dear Mr. Kuehnel,
I am writing regarding your blasphemous comments on the DeLorean in your article that ran in the Automotive section of the York Sunday News October 29th. Have you ever seen a DeLorean in person? Have you ever been seated in one? Have you done your homework? I'm guessing the answer to those three questions is "NO".
Although I can't correct your arrogance, I can relieve you of your ignorance....
The DeLorean interior was designed to comfortably fit John Z. DeLorean. He was 6'3" tall. It also seats me quite comfortably and let's just tactfully say that I am a fuller-figured woman. I have been in midsize sedans that have made me feel claustrophobic. A ride in a DeLorean is a pleasure and a privilege. My biggest complaint regarding the car is the lack of vanity mirror on the passenger's side visor. I also feel the sleek look would have been further enhanced by hidden windshield wipers which DeLorean did incorporate in other cars he was involved with producing. My husband owns two DeLoreans and he will attest to the fact that all the controls are within handy reach of the driver.
Mr. DeLorean was the founder of the DeLorean Motor Company and the man behind the dream. He was the Chief Engineer at Pontiac before he became the General Manager of Chevrolet. He was responsible for the introduction of the GTO and the Firebird. The GTO was the first of the 'muscle cars'. Admittedly, The DeLorean is considered by some to be underpowered. The preferred engine of the original design was a V-8. The usage of the V-6 made it more of an 'Executive's Car'..... or in my opinion a 'mid-life crisis toy'. The V-6 engine powers the lightweight vehicle along quite nicely. Keep in mind the speedometer only goes to 85 mph. Besides, something that cool should not whiz by someone so quickly that it cannot be observed and appreciated!
The car's design was in many ways ahead of it's time and even as 23-25 year old car, it looks and functions as 'modern car'. We take our cars to car shows and many people enjoy seeing it and comment that it is unique and special. As most cars, the proverbial bugs were still being worked out as production continued. But it carried many innovative features. The most obvious is the gull-wing doors. Though not the first car to have them, it is one of the many features I feel should have been carried on in mass production of modern vehicles. It only requires 12-14" to open the doors. In light of the increasingly narrowing parking spaces this would be a great feature in any car. The brushed stainless steel outer body is lightweight, rustproof, and paint-free (read environmentally friendly to manufacture). This too was a design element that I feel should have been carried forth by the major automobile manufacturers.
I feel Mr. DeLorean was a Mr. Tucker: A man of vision squelched before he could share all his potential. He was a talented and respected automobile legend. According to his daughter and business associates, he was working on a project at the time of his passing in March of 2005. And just for the record, he was never convicted of drug charges.
I do hope you'll share this letter with your readers and I hope also that you and your readers will take the time to visit some of the many local car shows. They are usually free to the visitors and of minimal cost to the entrants. Come out and enjoy seeing what is hiding in garages in York County ... you won't be disappointed.
Proud Wife of a DeLorean Owner,
Felecia A. M. Lundgren
Wow... thanks for the spirited response
Actually, I like the exterior shape of the car and stainless steel is the look of my kitchen. I will agree with you that the DeLorean was ahead of it’s time, the post is more of a retrospect of what was considered cutting edge in 1985 in comparison to now.
However, I never considered the interior design, in form and function, of 1980’s GM interiors as something to aspire to. The D had that flavor.
US manufactures are losing market share to other companies providing innovative technology to tackle fuel economy and a competitive global auto market. Sometimes reflecting on where the world was 25 years ago helps me to understand what is wrong now.
Enjoy your DeLorean. The niche cars are always fun to see in a sea of buzzing 4 cylinder things with wings and turbos.