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Got a note from Dodgy pointing to this video of the Carver 3 wheeler. I keep writing about developments in the 3 wheel direction because some of them look interesting and some are far better engineered than others, the Carver being one of the good ones.
Whether you have the 2 wheels up front, the more usual arrangement, or in the back like the Carver, the tilting action is where a lot of work seems to be going now. If you don’t tilt, you’ll be spinning out a lot, even if the rear tire is wide since you have limited weight and only one tire out back (again, in the more common arrangement). Tilting gives you the shifting center of gravity and motorcycle like steering. The Carver, though, gives you the tilt up front to shift weight but the two wheels in the rear remains planted for traction and drive, which then brings in a somewhat sophisticated mechanism for joining the two sections and controlling tilt which is more steep as the speed increases, low speed sharp turns are relatively straight up.
The Carver looks like a fun drive, as he comments in the video, you get the feeling of a fighter plane tilting and carving into the turns. It’s not cheap but maybe if production increases, the price will come down a bit. How many people would buy one? With all of the alternative vehicles coming on to the market these days, maybe more than you think. One of the limitations of anything out of the mainstream is the concern by some that they will look foolish or weird if they buy one. Now you could park this in your driveway because it’s fun yet pass it off to the neighbors as fuel efficient and green. Actually, if you buy one your neighbors will probably turn green … with envy, because it’s so cool.
Thanks for the tip, Dodgy!
Link: Carver
Chris says
I love the hilarious comments at the end of that video. These guys are purely funny.
Highsider says
I rode one, feeling and bypassers attention are great, finish and weak engine are crap.
motoquest says
Cool gadget indeed! But rather expensive. If you want that sensation (as they say on the video) better buy a bike, it’s a lot cheaper and plenty of fun.
sfan says
“If you don’t tilt, you’ll be spinning out a lot, even if the rear tire is wide since you have limited weight and only one tire out back (again, in the more common arrangement). Tilting gives you the shifting center of gravity and motorcycle like steering.”
I stand to be corrected but I’m not sure I buy this. Other than perhaps the Aprilia Magnet (with tilting wheels but also a non-tilting, low center of gravity chassis) I do not see how a tilting 3-wheel necessarily provides better cornering than a non-tilting 3-wheeler. Most other tilting three wheelers, including the Carver, have the dreaded combination of high-CG and small tire patch. On a motorcycle, this is a fine compromise, because it also comes with low weight, relative simplicity and a variable CG by moving the rider’s weight. Most tilting 3-wheel designs give away these advantages.
For example the T-Rex advertises 2g without resorting to massive rubber. The Volkswagen GX3 provided 1.25g. Further, it will always be easier to have a greater tire patch if your wheels do not need to tilt. The Triazuma seems have recognized this, even with a bike-like CG. Plus, with a single rear wheel controlled power oversteer, important for peak cornering (and great fun), is much more possible for mere humans than it will ever be on a tilting 2 or 3 wheel cycle.
kneeslider says
Ever watch a car corner at high speed lifting the inside rear wheel? In the case of the Carver, if it did not tilt, the high CG would result in centrifugal force trying to tip the vehicle outward, lifting the inside rear wheel and probably tipping over as the early 3 wheel ATVs often did. Tilting into the turn lowers the CG decreasing the tendency to tip over, working somewhat the same as a rider shifting his weight, but in this case, keeping both rear tires planted maintaining traction. … At least that’s how I see it.
chris says
ummm, this thing obviously works. just watch the video. so really who cares if it’s the most efficient? it looks like loads of fun. and isn’t that the point of anything with wheels and an engine??? if it weren’t so stinking expensive, i’d buy one for myself AND my wife. it does have that advantage over a motorcycle. . .no special skill-set required. jump in, gas it, tilt it, smile. nice job.
GenWaylaid says
From the Carver website:
“The retail price for the North American market is yet to be determined. Considering the required re-engineering and transportation costs, the North American retail price is expected to approximate 45.000 USD for a basic model.
Regarding the launch of the Carver One in the North American market: provided adequate funding could be secured, we expect to be able to launch in mid-2007.”
http://www.carver-worldwide.com
I suspect that launch date is very optimistic and probably out of date, given that no U.S. dealers are listed on the website. Still, the purchase price is interesting, because it places the Carver up against the Lotus Elise.
Between the two, I personally would choose the Carver. It may not have the performance or the track capabilities of the Lotus, but it does have almost as much everyday utility and much more eccentricity. Motorcycle-like gas mileage doesn’t hurt, either.
I have to say, though, it will be a long time before I could actually afford either the Elise or the Carver so my opinions aren’t going to put any more of these things on the road.
Alejandro Martinez says
Sfan is correct that a tilting reverse trike is NOT superior in performance to a non-tilting reverse trike. No matter how much the carver tilts, it is limited to that dinky front tire with an extremely small tire patch. Having said that, the Carver’s purpose is not extreme performance, but extreme fun and it looks like it does deliver a fun experience.
By the way, the T-Rex can’t pull 2gs. They were using “Canadian” gs and someone called them on it. The GX3 does 1.25g, which is a world away from 2gs. Check the T-Rex site and they now only claim, over 1g!
coho says
Canadian Gs are metric, that’s why they’re so much smaller.
F451 says
I fell for this concept, hard, and in doing so contacted the manufacturers. They are very helpful, and obviously very enthusiastic about their product. There are some caveats for ownership in a climate where heat is an issue (there’s a lot of greenhouse in the Craver to contend with), but it would be a blast to own, use, and commute with on a daily basis. Highsider, I am sorry to learn the quality-control is a wee bit lacking; I hope they rectify the situation. For all those interested here is a response that Carver sent me to one of my inquires:
March 6, 2006
Dear Sir or Madam,
Dear Carver enthusiast,
We are pleased to announce the appointment of MKD USA LLC (‘MKD’) as our North American importer and distributor of the Carver One. MKD will be operating under the name of Carver North America. With nearly 40 years associated with cars and motor racing in Europe and the US, the Carver North America team is keen to share their Carver experience with you.
Carver North America will be moving into its new warehouse / assembly facility in late 2006. Until that time they share office space with a large local auto dealer in the Nashua, New Hampshire area. The team is currently setting up the US sales and service network to be fully ‘up and running’ by late 2006, when first deliveries are expected to start. Preliminary order deposits are being accepted and will be processed in order of receipt.
The Carver One is expected to make its first live appearance in the US at the New Hampshire International Speedway (Loudon, NH). A whole day has been set aside in early June when a select group of prospective customers will, along with the press, have the opportunity to experience the unique driving features of this vehicle on the infield road course. Further details about this event will be announced in due course.
For appointments to see the Carver One in person or to place your name on the reservation list please contact
Geoff Daly, General Manager
Carver North America
Phone: 603-318-5900 or 603-620-5678
Mobile/CELL: 603-318-5900
E-mail: info@carvernorthamerica.com
For your information: our website is has undergone a major redesign. It is still under development, but we didn’t want to keep you in suspense any longer. There is still functionality and content to add, but bear with us, we are working on it! In the dealer chapter you will find a dedicated US section where you can find all US specific information. It will be regularly updated with new information as it becomes available.
We are happy to have Geoff and his team on board! They, and we, look forward to hearing from you again!
Kind regards,
Saskia Broeckx
Marketing communications & PR manager
Carver Europe BV
Mijlweg 61 – 3316 BE Dordrecht – The Netherlands
Phone: 011 31 78 618 30 66 – Fax: 011 31 78 654 91 99
Mob: 011 31 6 20 60 53 24 – http://www.carver-europe.com
nobody says
Carver just went bankrupt.
Po Khamvongsa says
This could be the clue to the key question for all the Contenders of the Automotive X-Prize Competition as they are contemplating their final design consideration and their marketing potentials. And that final question is: why would anybody buy my car?
May this bankruptcy precedings also serve as a reminder to those same forward thinkers that nomatter how good you think your car is, you must focus and concentrate on the most important consideration: It is not 100mpg, nor 100mph, nor 0 emission, nor comfort and safety, and not even price.
The car buying and selling consideration has always been in the back of our mind, but we fail to set our priority straight in letting the heart overshadow the mind.
My simple message is: HIGH BANGS FOR BUCKS QUOTIENT SELLS CARS; LOW ONES DO NOT.
One final word to the Chinese: if you can not buy Hummer, how’s about a Carver? And make it at half the price.
From “PO”