Shell's city-car concept looks like it was designed for Ronald McDonald
Wondering what eco-friendly EV you're going to buy? Don't! Shell has come up with an efficient city-car concept that burns petroleum.
This squatty little number is a part of Shell oil's Project M. It was designed using Formula 1 technology and constructed from recycled carbon fiber. It was also designed to show that Shell is thinking about efficiency, I suppose.
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It has a top speed of 110 kilometers per hour (68 mph). However, at 70 km/h (43 mph), it can go 100 kilometers (62 miles) on just 2.6 liters (0.68 gallons) of gasoline, which is roughly equivalent to 91 miles per gallon. Arguably, that's not earth-shattering. However, for a non-hybrid, it's pretty impressive.
Of course, this thing being made by Shell, it also specially designed some lubricating engine oil that aids efficiency.
“You could build this car and drive it for around 100,000 kilometers before consuming the same energy it takes to make a typical SUV,” said engineer Bob Mainwaring, Shell’s Technology Manager for Innovation, who is leading the project.
Aside from its tiny stature and wacky jet-fighter cockpit-style door thingy, it also has cameras instead of rearview mirrors and a single windshield wiper. Frankly, though, with its odd shape and color scheme, it looks like it was designed for Ronald McDonald.
While it's nice to see Shell thinking about efficiency, I have long wondered why these oil companies don't just try to use their massive wealth to branch out into, say, battery tech. Just because you're pumping oil doesn't mean you can't also corner the EV market.
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Topics Cars
