High Technology, Intelligently Applied

Recently, Team ULV-3 selected the Lotus Evora platform as their 2010 Progressive Automotive X PRIZE competition vehicle to showcase our unique Multi-Fuel, High-Speed Diesel electric (HSDe) engine concepts and automotive designs in the new 2010 Lotus Evora platform. Team ULV-3 and Lotus share a strong, common philosophical DNA and history of working with industry leaders to improve the performance of existing technologies for the automotive, aeronautical, and motor sports industries, making this relationship a natural fit.

Created by an acknowledged world leader in lightweight chassis systems and automotive manufacturing techniques, the Lotus Evora provides the team with one of the most advanced chassis options available. We believe coupling our propulsion design concepts with the new Lotus Evora platform provides the most practical management approach to competing in a time constrained environment while meeting the 2010 Progressive Automotive X-Prize goal “to inspire a new generation of viable super efficient vehicles that will help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change.”

Our version of the Evora will be powered by a small displacement high-speed turbo-diesel engine capable of operating on both petroleum and bio based fuels. The Team’s engineering staff has made several unique and proprietary design changes to the internal engine components that dramatically reduce petroleum energy consumption through innovative combustion techniques, creative engine controls, and the capability of using multiple on-board fuel sources. These modifications are augmented by a common hybrid drive train modified with a small, low-voltage, AC electric motor that automatically assists the primary engine as required to maintain optimum fuel efficiency and overall performance under all driving conditions. A distributed lightweight energy storage system supplements internal combustion power while integrating with advanced technologies proven in Formula 1.