TVA Gazelle - 4-wheel tilting car/bike hybrid

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The TVA Gazelle tilting 4-wheeler concept

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The exceptionally stable dynamics and simple control system of the Gazelle platform open up the potential for an entirely new vehicle concept that's perfect for the new commuting age: narrow, light, enclosed, safe, exceptionally efficient, quick, agile little commuter vehicles that can seat a driver and passenger in a good degree of comfort, that require no helmets or safety clothing, that can be heated and cooled much more easily than a car, and with space for luggage.

Best of all, in terms of the Gazelle's commercial prospects, it's simple and cheap to manufacture, using easily available parts. James estimates that a simple commercial version, under the right manufacturing conditions, should cost no more than US$10,000, and that the Gazelle's fundamental design and dynamics advantages should make it an immediate seller in traffic-clogged countries through Asia and the subcontinent, with Western countries catching on down the track. "We don't think there's any point in manufacturing a vehicle that nobody can afford to buy," says James, "that won't solve any problems."

More than 100 miles per gallon - taking aim at the Automotive X-Prize

James is currently in the process of preparing a Gazelle prototype for an assault on the US$10 million Progressive Automotive X-Prize contest. The X-Prize competition will effectively be a race between a large number of alternative vehicles from around the world, with the added provision that if a vehicle fails to make at least 100mpg, or stay within very tight emissions and safety guidelines, it will be disqualified. All vehicles also need to be production-capable and priced to be attractive to the market.

James explains that the TVA approach is vastly different to the approaches of many major manufacturers, who he believes are throwing expensive technology at fundamentally flawed platforms in order to achieve the X-Prize goals; "Many of the other X-prize competitors are taking standard cars, and applying all this expensive technology to them to try to make them more efficient. I don't think that's the right way to go about it. We're going to try and prove that the internal combustion engine can do the job.

"The main focus for us is the efficiency of the fundamental vehicle form. The engine is less important, the platform can support hybrid or electric engines, but it's fundamentally more efficient than a standard automobile platform."

In order to prove this, the Gazelle will enter the X-prize with a largely standard single cylinder, fuel injected 350cc ATV motor. James expects a prototype to be ready for testing by December this year.

It's not often that a vehicle debuts with such revolutionary potential - let alone one that should be so affordable around the world. Phillip James and his colleagues at TVA should be very proud of their work, and we look forward to seeing the Gazelle take on the X-Prize field and moving towards production.

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