Why can't

[Russ]

As being a new member to forum. I have a question about the V-1 when and if it ever comes to market. Why can't there be a ICE only version. It would seem that making a V-1 with an ICE in it, would be much easier to do than the complicated hybrid version, just to get the ball rolling. I understand about saving the planet and make something that has near zero emissions, but theres got to be a motorcycle or a snowmobile engine out on the market that could become CARB certified and get 40 plus miles to the gallon and still be a great CC (commuter / cruiser) machine. We have snowmobiles that are has 4 cycle engines that will push a sled up to 130 mph and I know the new Yamaha snowmobile 4 cycle engine has at least 125 hp which should be more than enough to push the V-1 up to 100 mph. I have seen those sleds and they are very quiet and clean. I just want something that is fun to ride like a motorcycle but the safety of a car and have the abilty to ride it in the rain without getting wet. Look at the Carver and it has 660cc size motor and will go over 100 mph. Again, lets get this fantastic and furturist machine certified and out on the market and then we can experiment around with hybrid and then EV versions. I for one will trust on any given day, fossil fuel engines over electric. Yes, the electric motor will one day replace the ICE but for now ask yourself this simple question, which would you trust flying 30,000 ft in the air, battery powered motor or a fossil fuel buring engines that have been proven for decades to be very dependable.

[rogwild]

Russ, there CAN be an ICE version; its called the Carver One, but Carver has not decided to bring it to the US. Venture Vehicles, according to earlier statements by Ian Bruce, only 'obtained' the rights to use the Caver's patented DVC tilting control for vehicles that are Electric or Hybrid powered in North and South America. Therefore Vv can NOT build nor market an ICE only version ANYWHERE. Nor can Vv sell their Electric/Hybrid vehicles in Europe or Asia.

[Miracleman89]

Russ- Welcome!! Rog nailed it. That is the current situation!

[Gary]

Russ, there CAN be an ICE version; its called the Carver One, but Carver has not decided to bring it to the US. Venture Vehicles, according to earlier statements by Ian Bruce, only 'obtained' the rights to use the Caver's patented DVC tilting control for vehicles that are Electric or Hybrid powered in North and South America. Therefore Vv can NOT build nor market an ICE only version ANYWHERE. Nor can Vv sell their Electric/Hybrid vehicles in Europe or Asia.
Dag.... "... and the rest of the story" as they say.

Thank you rogwild!

[RichDC]

It's called a Carver and they're available in Europe right now.

Venture's licensing agreement with Carver is to build Hybrid/electric vehicles only. And given the challenges of getting that off the ground, much less the challenge of making a simple post to update the enthusiasts on the project, any changes to that process would likely mean that the Venture NEVER gets to the market.

[Russ]

Well that really bites the big one. Having an agreement with some company that tells you that you can't build the V-1 with an ICE as the main power unit. What evens bites more is that Carver company has not brought their product over here to America and says no you can not build something that folks over will take to it like a bear on bowl of honey. If I have read correctly, their distributors is having some difficulty. I say get some motorcycle company like Honda get the freaking rights and build the machine with a HO motorcycle engine and then worry later about coming up with hybrid or EV version later. I 'll be 50 years old before this thing to life. I want to enjoy the ride before I die.

[Miracleman89]

Well it looks like if Carver can get their version here first they may just knock V1 out of the market!

[tugboatwilly]

I LOVE your moving logo MM

[Derwin]

TBW.... Where you been? Missed you, buddy!

Check out the "Limited Edition" Ian Bruce Bobblehead. We only have a limited supply available, so go get yours now!

Derwin

[Miracleman89]

Thanks TBW! RAN helped me get it together!

[tugboatwilly]

I was going to wait for the movie but I am sure a bobble head Ian would be the better investment of time. Any chance you are going to search out a supplier of dolls and V-1 cut outs?

[Derwin]

We are already looking into getting little models of the V1, and even a home-made cardboard V1. They were talking about this in some other thread.

Go over and play around with the Ian Bruce Bobblehead. I think you'll get a kick out of it!

Derwin

[Tim Hodgetts]

Hi Rogwild,

I can understand the situation that Carver did not licence their technology to a US firm so they built and sold in Europe, but they are ONLY hand building a few and selling them at somewhere around the $45,000 price. This means that virtually none of us will ever get to drive one, let alone own one and the benefits to the environment and road traffic wont be appreciated either.

Kind of short-sighted not to have a partner programme that allows a mass production model for such a huge marketplace. But then I've been down that road before.

[RAN]

Tim, it is sad that they have not gone into mass production with the Carver.
It may be that Venture Vehicles will one day cut a deal with them to sell the hybrid/electric V-1's in Europe. Maybe even under the Carver name?
Of course, that would be years away from now.

[Tim Hodgetts]

Guys,

This is such a shame. Going to go out this week and find me $200-300 million, apply to Carver for a licence, work with Ian and his team and then build a European/Asian version of the VV. That way, Carver get their licence fee's & royalties, VV gets royalites on their technology and designs and Europe/Asia can get their hands on these fantastic vehicles at an affordable price around the same time you will.

I live on an island crawling with millionaires & billionaires who are looking for ideas to invest in, so whilst I'm being ironic about this (to some extent) it would take me around 4 to 5 days to find the money but everything else would take ages!

[waboom]

As part of the licensing agreement for the tilting technology, Carver got a stake (percentage ownership) in Venture Vehicles. So what's good for the goose should be good for the gander, in this case. Once it proves successful in the US, I'm sure Carver will expand VV's license to cover the other side of the pond as well.

[Derwin]

As part of the licensing agreement for the tilting technology, Carver got a stake (percentage ownership) in Venture Vehicles.

Where did you read this? As far as I know, and all that has been published and made known about the deal between Venture Vehicles and Carver, there has never been a mention of this. What Ian has stated in the past, to the best of my recollection, is that Ian and Howard gave CASH to Carver for the license to use the tilting technology. It was a one time cash payment. Carver does NOT own any part of Venture Vehicles whatsoever.

Hey, if you have heard anything different, please share it here!

Derwin

[waboom]

I read it in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/business/smallbusiness/14cars.html?_r=2&oref=slogin) article from last November. It was one of the last media pieces I read about Venture Vehicles, yet it gave me more information about the company than I had gotten in any other article. The direct quote:

[Ian] and Mr. Levine traveled to Dordrecht, south of Rotterdam, where they signed a licensing agreement with Carver Engineering for a down payment of less than six figures, future payments, equity in the company and, eventually, royalty fees. In return, they obtained the North American and South American rights to sell the hybrid, electric and biofuel versions of a tilt-based car.
Among the gems in the article:


Ian wears Italian-made alligator-skin boots.
Ian used to be a graphics designer who once made brochures for major carmakers.
Howard Levine is a LA lawyer turned dot-com entrepreneur.
Ian is 50; Howard is 47.
Ian came up with the idea in 2005, when he was searching online for alternative-vehicle technologies and came across the phrase “tilt control technology.”
At the time of the article, they had 8 employees; one used to be a sales/marketing VP at Mazda and Chrysler, and one used to be a manager at a GM plant.
Ian & Howard readily admit they are not "gearheads", just entrepreneurs with an opportunity & a business plan.

[Russ]

Hummm? If the news article is correct, then a DICE would be option. Bio fuel = Bio diesel and so on. Now all we have to do is find a engine company like Cummins to see if they make a DICE that is small enough to fit in the power pod and is 50 state certified. Look at the 2009 VW Jetta TDI. It has a 50 state certified engine in it. Maybe Ian and Bruce should call up BLue Tec and see if they have something or could design something that size. Hey, it doesn't hurt to look and ask. A Dice would be much better in both power and torque and would not have a problem pulling a light weight motorcycle trailer. When it comes to the V-1 and a normal car, I don't think the auto industry has to worry that much, just the motorcycle industry. Especially the Honda 3 wheelers which I would not pay $35K for. Yes, I have seen them at a local dealer for that much and to me I would not even pay $25k. Maybe the V-1 but I have to wait and see. Just a thought.

Russ

[Derwin]

Waboom..... I offer my sincere apologies. o:o:p:s12 I DO remember reading that article last year, and I remembered the part about paying under six figures, and the royalty fees, but I completely forgot the part about "equity in the company."

Well, I guess Carver really DOES have a deep and abiding interest in the success of Venture Vehicles.

Derwin

[waboom]

Derwin - no apologies necessary - even my brain gets full sometimes!

The "alternative fuel" ICE has been mentioned before, in the FTR forums, with someone (Ian or MVR, can't remember which) mentioning it would be more geared toward racing.

Tim, guess this shows that the barrier to entry to get a Carver tech license is lower than you thought! I'm guessing if you went to them with a 250,000 euro check in hand they'd give you the rights for the EU version of the hybrid & electrical! Just 2 requests, if you end up doing it: 1) Go with the in-wheel electric motors, and 2) hire Lotus to do your design & engineering work - I'd love to see what they would come up with!

[CelticFlyer]

wel;co;m;e101)) Russ!

Although my "attendance" has dropped off somewhat since I first joined the Fly The Road Club, (extensive research into buying a new car being the culprit) I enjoy having a place where we enthusiasts can gather and banter around some ideas. Even sparring at times, the conversations here are very enlightening and stimulating. Great company, for sure. Derwin is a great host. So your notion of VV offering an ICE only version of the V1 is intriguing and a GREAT conversation starter. I look forward to hearing more from you in the months and years ahead!

[MVRacing]

The "alternative fuel" ICE has been mentioned before, in the FTR forums, with someone (Ian or MVR, can't remember which) mentioning it would be more geared toward racing.

Ian made reference to a limited edition ICE sport model to be used for racing in one of his early posts. Naturally, that caught my interest =y:

[waboom]

Aha! Thanks for the answer, MVR!

Russ, I actually owe you an apology - I was answering the "hijacked" question in the thread while completely ignoring the original question! I was by sheer accident that I included the info about the ICE version in my post answer. I'm glad I managed to get the answer to your question out there, even in my inadvertent manner!

[tugboatwilly]

Well.....you people are in deep dodo. They let me take the survey.
Jeez!!! Can you trust a company that doesn't filter the nut fringe out???;-}
On another note (as we seem to be regressing beond my wildest speculation) :
MVRacing is there any chance I can mate a Kuboto Vegie diesel to the auto trans in my '86 Cherokee? It won't tilt, but I can cut away a lot of stuff to get the weight down.

[Russ]

Waboom, no apologies necessary. I am like everyone else, guessing and wondering what is to come of the V-1 since we have not heard from Ian. All speculation, and no firm evidence yet of what is to come of this project. I have only been a member for a short time and I for one don't like to be kept in the dark about this project. At this stage of the game, I would rather see and ICE version first only to get the ball rolling. You get the product out on the market ASAP and then concentrate on the Hybrid and EV versions. If it is true that the V-1 will get 65 to 75 mpg, I will go for it. It is better than my 14 mpg Titan truck I have now. You see, new technology is just that. It new, untested in real life senario and very expensive. At least with the ICE version, everyone knows the reputation of ICEs and would be more leary of electric/ hybrid versions.
I have been against Hybrids since that came out but that is because I don't know much about them. Now I am slowly starting to like the idea, but still alittle hesitant on that type of power plant. Everytime I have to fill up my gas guzzler I want to hang someone or some company that controls the price of oil. Its a fact of life now but I am hoping someday we can tell the oil companies shove that oil somewhere because we don't need it anymore. My blood pressure is going back up so I will go for now.
IAN where in the ---- are you!!!! We need an update. Russ

[MVRacing]

.... is there any chance I can mate a Kuboto Vegie diesel to the auto trans in my '86 Cherokee?

Hey Tug,
Now that would be a project =y:r:o:f:l:2:2:1

[Jake]

Wow, there is something I didn't know. How can a company stop you from powering by an ICE to power a 3 wheeled vehicle. They are all over the street in every country now. There are three wheeled tilting scooters for sale not 5 miles from where I live. Harley tried to stop Japan from building V-twin lookalikes but they couldn't and now some of the bikes coming over are so close that it takes a double take from even a long time Harley rider to see it's not a Harley. Can't use an ICE because someone else used one to power a Carver seems crazy to me. Carver didn't invent the ICE. Personally, the ICE version was the one I wanted. I would go with a hybrid if there was no other choice. In any case as far as all the other stuff like cutouts, models, or pictures; once I have one in my garage then I'll buy the shirt.

[rogwild]

Jake, it is a condition of their current 'licensing agreement' (subject to change) with Carver to use the DVC 'tilting' control. Anyone can make a 3-wheeled ICE machine, like you said. But if Venture Vehicles wants to use the Caver's DVC system on a vehicle it must be Hybrid, EV, or Bio-fuel (according to the NYT article), and only be marketed in North and South America (according to Ian).