British Racing Green, indeed - AutoWeek Magazine
Bentley crew zaps competition
The Bentley apprentices with the "Spirit of Greenpower."
A team of young Bentley apprentices has proven for mother, God and company that despite working for a firm whose average
fuel economy peaks in single digits, it can be considered environmentally progressive.
Either that or these blokes are all on loan from parent Volkswagen.
That's the only answer for Bentley whisking away a special award for its
performance in the Greenpower Corporate Challenge held at the Goodwood Estate racetrack. The award, dubbed "Spirit of Greenpower," was given to the Bentley apprentice team that designed, engineered and built the electric-powered car entered in the event.
The Bentley Greenpower car, called Continental DC (for direct current), runs off a 24-volt motor supplied by two 12-volt batteries. The car also will compete in a full season of racing in the Formula 24+ series.
Designed for speed and efficiency, the single-seat Continental DC is made of carbon fiber and wears low-rolling-resistance tires.
Greenpower is a series of events meant to promote greater interest by young people in careers in the fields of engineering and technology. The 2008 Greenpower Corporate Challenge was the first race of the F24+ season. Twenty-five teams entered, made up of 15 school entries and 10 company teams.
The Bentley team achieved its goal of completing the four-hour race, despite some technical difficulties. The Bentley team won its award in recognition of team spirit, which showed when overcoming initial technical challenges.
The F24+ race season consists of eight 90-minute endurance-race events. The finals will culminate at Goodwood in October. British racetracks on the F24+ schedule include Dunsfold, Rockingham, Croft and Aintree.
The Bentley team is made up of nine company apprentices who are following a three- or four-year apprenticeship program at the factory in Crewe, England.
"It's fantastic that the apprentices are not only gaining the technical skills associated with building a car," said Margaret Cheshire, the human resources chief for Bentley, "but are also increasing their knowledge of other areas of the business such as finance, purchasing and public relations."
Greenpower team manager Tom Hodgson said, "In building the car, we pooled the expertise and resources from across the business to produce a project of which we're all proud. Having completed our first race, we now know what we have to do to be successful for the rest of the 2008 Greenpower season. The experience of developing a project from idea to race day was exhilarating."
Technical highlights of the Bentley Greenpower car
-- 24-volt motor delivers 0.5 hp and 5.1 lb-ft torque
-- Top speed of 40 mph (64 km/h)
-- Zero CO2 emissions.
Chassis and design:
-- Fixed carbon-fiber suspension; wishbones for maximum strength and minimum weight
-- Unique 1x16 carbon-fiber wheels fitted with Michelin low-rolling-resistance tires
-- Rear-grille matrix in chrome finish
-- Bentley Hide/Alcantara-trimmed interior
-- Specially built ECU to control motor/transmission
More information on the project is available at
Bentley Web - Green Power
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Model type: Single seater
Power type: 24-volt wheelchair motor
Installation: Transversely mounted, one-wheel drive
Power: 240 watts
Torque: 5.2 lb-ft
Power source: Two 12-volt lead-acid batteries
TRANSMISSION
Type: Continuous one-wheel drive
Gearbox: NuVinci continuously variable
Ratios: Infinitely variable between 0.5 under and 1.75 overdrive
SUSPENSION
Front and rear: Single-wishbone rigid suspension
STEERING
Type: Rack-and-pinion
Turns lock to lock: One
BRAKES
Rear: 6.4-inch ventilated disc (to single wheel)
Antilock in development
BODY & CHASSIS
Construction: Carbon-fiber monocoque
Length: 56.8 inches
Width, including mirrors: 40 inches
Weight: 264 pounds
Height: 20 inches
Wheelbase: 52 inches
Track, front and rear: 40 inches
Wheels: Custom-made 16-inch carbon fiber
Tires: Michelin Eco-Marathon specials
FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSIONS
Fuel consumption: Two hours per battery set
Carbon dioxide emissions: 0 g/km
EXTERIOR FEATURES
-- Bright chromed grille
-- Bentley wheel badge
INTERIOR FEATURES
-- Leather-trimmed steering wheel, seat, dashboard
-- Touch-screen driver information panel in development
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