Design Breakthrough

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Not long after my last post, I was doing small sideview thumbnail sketches of BRUTRUCK -- and made a breakthrough.

It was no more than an adjustment of fold lines and angles, but it transforms the look of the truck and heralds a refinement of almost every vehicle in the Tellurian Motors lineup. The truck has now outgrown its awkward stage...

I should be working on more digital images instead of trying to describe what I see in my head, as usual. Okay then; Expect at least one new image in the next post.


Phil Smith
November 26, 2007

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Truck U

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What the truck?

BRUTRUCK, the truck from Tellurian Motors.

This post will tell you why BRUTRUCK should become the template on which all other pickups are based. Ready?

ECONOMY

The most energy-efficient vehicles are electric -- so efficient that you can go 100 miles on a dollar's worth of energy. To put that in perspective, say your truck can go 20 miles on a gallon of gasoline (which isn't bad -- for a truck), and say you're lucky enough to find gasoline for $3/gallon. You just spent $15 to go 100 miles, and as fuel prices go up you'll spend more and more. Along the way you'll also need oil and filter changes. Now you're asking yourself why your truck isn't electric...

BRUTRUCK is built using simple materials and techniques. Although a few important components are quite expensive, the body and chassis require no tooling. A chassis jig will be the only unique piece of equipment necessary for BRUTRUCK production, meaning it could be assembled in any well-equipped shop anywhere in the world. This may be one of many models Tellurian Motors will offer, in various stages of completion, as 'component vehicles' -- or even as detailed plans. Build it yourself and save thousands.

RANGE

BRUTRUCK has a removable onboard generator, technically making it a series hybrid. The hybrid vehicles you can get from major manufacturers (including the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, scheduled to be ready for the 2009 model year) are parallel hybrids. The difference is that a series hybrid relies solely on its electric motor(s) for propulsion, and its motor (or fuel cell) is there only to generate electricity. Parallel hybrids are not designed for sustained operation on electric motors alone. While parallel hybrid vehicles are more fuel-efficient than conventional internal combustion vehicles, they do still consume fuel as a function of their operation, and do not perform well when converted to plug-in hybrids...

A plug-in hybrid is one that can operate as an electric vehicle. Some owners are converting their parallel hybrids into plug-ins -- but the weight of the extra batteries causes a decrease in performance as well as a decrease in efficiency. More powerful motors will solve one issue, but not the other. Since a series hybrid is essentially an electric vehicle already...

Short range and long charging times are what keep electric vehicles from being as useful as internal combustion (and hybrid) vehicles. Never mind that most drivers do not typically go beyond an electric's range on any given day -- they still want the ability to go farther with minimal fuss. A series hybrid would function much better as a plug-in than any converted parallel hybrid, and with 'normal' usage (plugging into a charging station every night) its driver would hardly ever fire up its generator.

VERSATILITY

What do you use your truck for? Do you ever haul or tow an electric generator? BRUTRUCK's battery packs are located under the bed, behind the cab and in front of the rear wheels. Under the hood is, you guessed it, a generator. If you really need to, you can remove it at a jobsite or camping area and leave it behind, running on battery power -- which is no big deal, because you're always running on battery power. You might normally leave it in place (so that you can recharge your battery pack while providing external power), but it's nice to have the option of removal -- especially if it needs servicing or replacement.

The generator could run on any number of fuels, but propane is recommended for its low emissions as well as its ready availability in small exchange tanks meant for outdoor grills and campers. Another 'clean' option is natural gas -- however NG isn't nearly as available, so unless you have a home fuelling station and don't plan to go too far, go with propane. Gasoline and diesel generators can be fuelled almost anywhere, but how truculent would you have to be to specify one for your BRUTRUCK?

Ideally, the generator fitted to your BRUTRUCK would use propane and external combustion to heat water into steam (in a 'lossless' system), which would propel a steam turbine. However these are not yet available, so the greater efficiency they will provide will have to wait. When the time comes, the most difficult part of your upgrade will be the expense. Once that's covered, simply slide the old one out and clamp the new one in.

The space normally occupied by a generator could also hold a fuel cell -- or another battery pack.

BRUTRUCK is capable of handling any of the tasks you'd throw at a conventional light-to-medium-duty pickup, and more. Powerful electric motors front and rear provide all-wheel-drive and instant torque. An adjustable airbag suspension keeps BRUTRUCK level under heavy loads, can help navigate over (and under) obstacles, and can be dropped down for easier cab access. Four-wheel steering allows extremely tight low-speed turns, and the rear wheels can be turned in the same direction as the fronts to 'crab' -- for parallel parking, as one example...

The BRUTRUCK's wheel wells are designed to easily accept the dimensions of Mattracks, bolt-on rubber tracks that take the place of wheels and tires. With these on, you can go almost anywhere...

RESCUE

Oh no! Your friends have forgotten to charge up before leaving the house, or have otherwise exceeded the range of their electric vehicle. Good thing they know someone with a BRUTRUCK, because otherwise they'd have to hire a tow. With your onboard generator, you can find your way to wherever they're stranded and give them a charge.

Or, you're out in the wilderness, four-wheeling with your buddies, and someone has gotten stuck. Of course they ask you to help -- your BRUTRUCK, with its batteries mounted low, provides a more stable winching platform than anything else out there. You did remember to order a winch, didn't you? Order two -- one on the front as usual, and one on the rear to help get your boat trailer in and out of the water...

STYLE

Ever see a truck, and have to take a second look before you know what it is? BRUTRUCK, like everything from Tellurian Motors, has that instantly-recognizable flat-panel style. It isn't easy manipulating angles, planes, and lines into visually pleasing forms -- without a single curve -- but we manage. One reason is to keep the manufacturing process simple, but it doesn't hurt to stand out from the crowd. Speaking of crowds, be prepared for them to gather everywhere you stop...

INVESTMENT

Electric vehicles are inherently more reliable than internal combustion vehicles, due to fewer moving parts. We at Tellurian Motors do not expect you to keep coming back to trade your vehicles in for newer ones. We'd much rather you drive them indefinitely, upgrading various components wherever necessary and/or desirable. Keep on truckin'.



Phil Smith
November 19, 2007

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Pinto II

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There was a time in my life when I drove a green car. It ran on regular gasoline (with lead substitute, where I could get it) and leaked (and burned) oil, so it wasn't 'green' in the eco-friendly sense, but it was green all right, inside and out.



I loved that Pinto. Some of you will never understand, but for me it was the perfect car. I was single, and in my twenties, and didn't have a lot of money to spend. I didn't mind having to replace the spark plugs every so often, because they were easy to get to. I didn't mind buying Castrol by the case, because it had a nice smell as my German-built 2.0-liter overhead cam 4 burned it.

The seats were comfortable, it was fun to drive, and believe it or not, the main reason I bought this '72 -- and the '73 I had before it -- was the styling.

During the 1973 model year, Ford and other American manufacturers started putting big ugly bumpers on their cars, due to legislation that would take effect in 1974. Even imports got them. Nowhere else in the world was there a requirement that vehicles be able to withstand a 5mph front or rear impact with no damage, but we were stuck with it. These bumpers ruined the looks of many cars, and since the majority of Pintos were fitted with them I can forgive those who remember the Pinto as being decidedly unpretty...


Enter the Pinto II. As described in an earlier post, it is a completely new car inspired by the original, done in the Tellurian Motors flat-panel style. It's also electric, so it will be 'green' even if you order yours in bare aluminum.

No images to share yet, unless you count the finger painting at the top of this post...



Phil Smith
November 7, 2007

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The Estate

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It's frustrating.

These images in my head -- I know I can never get them on paper or on a monitor screen the way I see them in my imagination...

And so, here I go again, describing a vehicle concept instead of offering images:

The Tellurian Estate

Mid-sized by 1970s standards, the Tellurian Estate would be considered a full-size "station wagon" today. Based largely on the Time Further Out, its seating capacity ranges from 5 to 8, the maximum being achieved with a front bench and a rear-facing third row for 2, both optional.

I'll stress again how much sense I think it makes to use a motor for each axle in electric passenger cars. With appropriate hardware and software, this gives you on-demand all-wheel-drive. Use a light foot, and you're cruising around in 'economy mode'. Punch it, and the other motor kicks in -- which also happens when the traction control system detects wheelspin. Both motors would always be employed for regenerative braking. Lockout switch disables the second motor ('valet mode')...

Should there be a problem with one motor, you'll be glad to have the second one to keep you moving.

The Tellurian Estate has a long nose, housing the battery packs up there to open up the rear for more passenger/cargo volume and provide a forward weight bias to offset passenger/cargo load. Handling will be at its best when you need it most, carrying many passengers or other precious cargo, weight balance then being closer to 50/50.

As the name implies, yes you can use this car on your country estate. On-demand all-wheel-drive and electropneumatic suspension give the Estate much more capability than a typical passenger car, allowing limited off-road use.

If you want to ride up high and tackle more challenging terrain, we offer the BRUTRUCK and EXOVAN.



Phil Smith
November 1, 2007

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