The Smart Car has undergone
extensive road testing with the SLS bonnets in situ, and has covered
a total of 2,382 miles. During
this time the car was subjected to:-
- Constant motorway speeds of 70mph
- Occasional speeds of 70mph+ when conditions
allowed!
- Journeys on A and B roads, and country lanes
in wet and muddy conditions
- Very wet and windy conditions on long journeys
- Dry and very hot weather conditions
- 2 journeys of 2¾ hours and one of 2½
hours without stopping
- One journey of 3 hours with only a 5 minute
fuel stop
- Parked outside for 2 weeks during extremely
hard frosts/sub-zero temperatures
A summary of the mileage covered is as follows:-
| 1st design of
new bonnet fitted |
March 2004 |
|
|
| 3T Seminar |
Telford |
18th March |
260 miles |
| Testing - 3T/Taeno offices |
Newbury/Ardington |
April |
195 miles |
| University of Portsmouth |
Portsmouth |
10th May |
115 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Stowmarket |
24th May |
172 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Norwich |
25th May |
187 miles |
| 3T Seminar |
Telford |
13th July |
260 miles |
 |
| |
|
TOTAL |
1,189 miles |
| |
|
|
|
| 2nd iteration
of design fitted |
1st October
2004 |
|
|
| Customer site visit |
Waterlooville |
4th October |
57 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Basildon |
5th October |
258 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Portsmouth |
8th October |
100 miles |
| Careers/SEEDA event |
Southampton |
11th October |
108 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Crewe |
13th October |
330 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Telford |
27th October |
281 miles |
| Taeno Roadshow |
Various |
15th November |
59 miles |
| University of Portsmouth |
Portsmouth |
20th December |
133 miles |
| 2005 |
|
|
|
| University of Portsmouth |
Portsmouth |
7th/8th Febuary |
93 miles |
| Customer site visit |
Chippenham |
1st April |
106 miles |
|
| |
|
TOTAL |
1,525 miles |
Results
Both of the re-designed bonnets remained on the
car for the duration of the journeys as detailed above. Whilst some
minor modifications were made during this time, the SLS components
remained completely intact and fully functional.
This not only validates the material for these conditions,
but also the integrity of 3T’s joining techniques. All joins
in this application are structural, due to the pre-determined fixing
points for the production panels being used for the prototype panels.
| |
| Smart Car being driven in everyday
conditions on open roads |
|
| |
| |
|
|
 |
| Smart Car after being parked outside
overnight in sub-zero conditions |
|
|
| Close-up of join in SLS front bonnet
after being driven over 1,000 miles |
|
|
Introduction
