RECENT TRENDS IN AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING

RECENT TRENDS IN AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING

ABSTRACT

It is evident from the history of automobiles that the lust for passion, power, comfort, stability & safety has always dominated the trends in the developments of automobiles. No doubt that the concept of a three-wheeled platform for a car has also evolved from the same lust.

In fact, it is quite unorthodox to imagine a three wheeled platform for a car, because when we think of a three-wheeled platform, the first thing that comes into our mind is rickshaw & six seaters (Mini-door from Bajaj Tempo). But now, more & more three wheeled cars are burning the roads of developed western countries like America, Germany, U.K., Canada & many more on the list. This is because of its excellent handling characteristics, small size, much better fuel efficiency & most important of all, the pleasure of driving a motorbike & stability of a car.

A motorcycle will not easily overturn while taking turn, since while turning it leans into an angle necessary to stabilize the vehicle. Exactly the same concept is used in modern tilting cars using three wheeled platform which improves the rollover stability of the vehicle to a great extent.

This paper firstly introduces the concept of Tilting three wheeler (TTW). In succession the paper covers the details about the rollover stability of conventional non tilting & tilting three wheeler car. One separate chapter explains the TTW with only one leaning wheel. Finally a case study of a TTW “Project-32 SLALOM” is done which proves the worth of a tilting three wheeled platform. That is what attracted many giants in automobile industry like GM, Mercedes, Carver, Zedis etc to work on this new concept which will definitely bring the revolution in the field of automobile industry in recent future.

Introduction

The idea of smaller, energy-efficient vehicles for personal transportation seems to naturally introduce the three wheel platform. Opinions normally run either strongly against or strongly in favor of the three wheel layout. Advocates point to a mechanically simplified chassis, lower manufacturing costs, and superior handling characteristics. Opponents decry the three-wheeler's propensity to overturn. Both opinions have merit. Three-wheelers are lighter and less costly to manufacture. But when poorly designed or in the wrong application, a three wheel platform is the less forgiving layout. When correctly designed, however, a three wheel car can light new fires of enthusiasm under tired and routine driving experiences. And today's tilting three-wheelers, vehicles that lean into turns like motorcycles, point the way to a new category of personal transportation products of much lower mass, far greater fuel economy, and superior cornering power.

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