Professor Elam

 My friend Terry Box at Dallas News tests the Mitsubishi i-MiEV, which I am sure stands for something. Lithium ion batteries are the wave of the future, at least the only wave we can spot from the beach at this point. As Terry points out the charge cycle is still too short at 80-100 miles and too lengthy, it takes all night on 110 Volts. Still, there are lots of golf carts in daily use that cannot go that far. It is safe to assume batteries will improve. I would argue that this is not an improvement over a similar car with a one liter engine but that is no doubt the same horse versus horse less carriage argument from 110 years ago. Gasoline equates range and convenience, I do not see that changing any time soon. 

Prof Elam Comment

The design at left has its roots in the original Mini, introduced in England in the late 1950s. The idea was to maximize interior space in a small car. So the wheel, back then, were tiny and pushed to the four corners of the car. In this way the wheel wells did not intrude on the space. All the mechanicals were located up front, eliminating space for a driveline and differential in back. One can see the influence of wind tunnel design as in all the current high mileage efforts, cheat the wind. George Jetson I am sure would love it.