The CLEVER (for "Compact Low Emission VEhicle for uRban transport") is a type of tilting three-wheeled car that was developed at the University of Bath. It is intended to fill a niche between true cars and motorcycles, retaining improved manoeuvrability in urban areas but without exposing the driver to the elements.
It measures only 1 m wide and has a maximum speed of approximately 50 mph. It runs on compressed natural gas, achieving a predicted 188 miles per gallon fuel efficiency. Its construction was completed Friday, April 21st, 2006 and is expected to be produced by automobile manufacturer BMW. According to Phillip James of Tilting Vehicle Australia, after testing BMW determined that the Clever control system developed by the University of BATH was unsafe and expressed an interest in licensing technology from Carver Europe.[1] As of August 2011, research into alternative tilt control strategies for the CLEVER vehicle is still on-going at the University of Bath.
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In crash tests conducted, it received a USNCAP 3-star safety rating (at 56 km/h).
The head and chest stresses on the driver were very good, and the head stresses on the passenger were also acceptable as a result of the energy-absorbing foam on the driver’s backrest.
The intrusion in the driver’s footwell was very low and posed no threat to the driver’s extremities. The vehicle cell suffered deformation in the forecast area, the driver’s door could be opened without any problems after the crash. The front wheel swinging arm collapsed and came loose because, to save time and money, a welded aluminium construction was used rather than a cast construction. This problem will not occur on the standard solution.[2]