Title: Fortress frame CNG vehicle

Authors: B.J. Madden

Addresses: HOLT Value Associates, 300 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1400N, Chicago, IL 60606, USA

Abstract: Worldwide fatalities from vehicles exceed 500,000 annually and related serious injuries are an order of magnitude greater. This large-scale cost to society has been receiving less attention lately as the focus has shifted to alternative fuel vehicles that can reduce air pollution. A novel vehicle design is proposed that addresses both the major concerns for safety and for the environment. The design increases the weight and strength of a vehicle|s frame while using the frame to serve as a storage tank for compressed natural gas. In addition to the environmental benefits of this fuel, the added weight from the |fortress frame| surrounding the passengers would reduce deaths and injuries from high-speed crashes. Finally, the product liability problems of an unconventional vehicle design are analysed.

Keywords: environmental impact; fortress frame; compressed natural gas; CNG; product liability; alternative fuels; air pollution; vehicle design; vehicle safety; vehicle frame; frame design; frame weight; frame strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.1994.061917

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 1994 Vol.15 No.1/2, pp.216 - 222

Published online: 28 May 2014 *

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