Carver (automobile)

The Carver One is a three-wheeled vehicle manufacturer 2drive Germany GmbH & Co KG.

Description

The vehicle is a two-seater; the passenger sits behind the driver. It is 3.40 m long, 1.4 m high and 1.3 m wide and weighs 670 kg empty. The Carver is driven by a Daihatsu -16V four-cylinder engine with 659 cc and 50 kW and achieved according to the manufacturer a top speed of 170 km / h The time period for the acceleration to 100 km / h is indicated by 8.2 seconds.

The special feature of this vehicle is - in addition to the seat assembly - tilting technology: When cornering, the passenger cell tilts hydraulically depending on speed and curve radius in the curve, which should allow higher cornering speed. This is also supported by the active rear wheel steering. The angle of inclination is up to 45 °.

The Carver One can be driven in Europe with an ordinary car license. Decisive in this context is the Dutch homologation, which led to a Europe-wide approval. To allow the Carver One in any EU member state, a so-called COC paper is necessary, which confirms the homologation of the Carver. In countries outside of the EU there may be a difference schemes. The Carver One is taxed within the EU in general like a motorcycle or trike ( tricycle ).

The tilting is controlled by the so-called " Dynamic Vehicle Control " system. According to statements made by the inventor Carver Engineering BV allows the DVC technology driving stability in almost all situations. Due to the lack of lateral forces, the driving experience is the equivalent of driving a motorcycle or flying a plane without having to give up the comfort of a car. In the course of vehicle development, the DVC technology including the Californian company Persu Mobility in connection with the vehicle Persu hybrid was also licensed to third parties. According to statements of the liquidator ER Butin Bik However, this license was limited in time and is now extinct.

At the beginning of the Carver was manufactured in the domestic headquarters ' s- Gravendeel near Rotterdam by hand. The first production vehicle called the Carver One (planned: 500 cars / year) was produced by the British manufacturer Prodrive on behalf of Carver Europe BV. After unspecified dispute between the Dutch manufacturer Carver Europe BV and Prodrive assembly but was relocated to the company after ACUE About Lord ( Germany ).

In mid-2009, due to delivery problems and lack of orders due to the excessive, according to opinion of many observers, the product price of the last 59 000 EUR (base), reports the " Fly the Road Club Forum " of blocked bank accounts due to the insolvency of the company Carver Europe BV. A few months later it was officially announced that Carver Europe is in bankruptcy. According to press reports, parts of the DVC patent should still be in the hands of Carver Engineering, and thus not be affected by the insolvency. According to statements of the liquidator ER Butin Bik but this is not true. All patents and rights of the Carver One are presumably due to the insolvency of Carver Europe BV for sale.

Currently, there are about 200 vehicles worldwide in the hands of enthusiasts. Including event agencies and advertising companies.

Since August 2011, the Carver One is back as a new vehicle available. The production is carried out by hand on order ( build to order ). Result, the supply of original spare parts and repairs and service for the produced under the auspices of the Dutch Carver Group vehicles is secured.

Reception

Jeremy Clarkson says 2003 BBC 's Top Gear program:

"I have to say, absolutely hand on heart, that I've never had so much fun in a car, really and truthfully, and I do not think I'd ever tire of it. "

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