Students at the University of Bath in western England, who last month unveiled the prototype of the CLEVER (Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport), hope that it represents a greener future for transport.
The prototype showed the general design and technology of the vehicle rather than its actual, finished appearance.
It is small like a motorcycle, but safe like a car. It runs on natural gas instead of traditional oil-based gas. It also uses less fuel, what would be about 2.6 liters of traditional gas per 100km. Additionally, the car is easier to drive around corners because of a new technology developed by mechanical engineering students Matt Barker, 29, Ben Drew, 27, and their instructors.
The car is designed both for city streets and long-distance highway driving, and is capable of going up to 130 kilometers per hour.
``The goal was ... to combine the efficiency of a motorcycle with the comfort and safety of a car,'' said Drew.
The vehicle is the result of a three-year project funded by the European Union, motivated by a desire to limit pollution. And with the rising cost of fuel, the car's use of natural gas is one of its best parts.
``As fuel prices go up and up, people will look at how else they can get around,'' said Geraint Owen, a lecturer at the university who helped lead the team project.
Unfortunately for today's drivers, according to Ownen, the cars won't be for sale for at least 10 years, and that's only if its makers can find a company that wants to produce them. (AP)
英格蘭西方的巴斯大學學生上個月推出 CLEVER （都會運輸低污染小型車）原型，希望這種車輛可以代表交通運輸更環保的未來。
這款原型車展現的是整體設計與汽車科技，而非實際完工的外觀。
它和摩托車一樣小，但和汽車一樣安全。它以天然氣取代傳統汽油。它也使用較少的燃料，約等於每一百公里消耗 2.6 公升的傳統汽油。此外，由二十九歲機械工程系學生麥特．巴爾克、二十七歲的班．卓爾及其指導教授所研發的新科技，這種車轉彎時也較容易。
這款車子是專為城市街道與遠距公路駕駛而設計，每小時時速可高達一百三十公里。
卓爾說：「目的在於??將摩托車的效率與汽車的舒適及安全結合。」
這種車是歐盟贊助的一項污染減量三年計畫之成果。隨著油價不斷升高，使用天然氣是這種車最好的優點之一。
協助主導這個小組計畫的巴斯大學講師傑瑞特．歐文說：「當油價日益攀高，人們就會另謀他法。」
歐文指出，對現在的駕駛來說，不幸的是他們至少得等上十年才能看到這款車上市，除非創造者能找到願意生產這款車輛的企業。
（美聯社／翻譯：賴美君）
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