EV design: Gull-wings... pros/cons?

[TylerDurden]

Some folks here are designing enclosed EVs and Hybrids. Are gull-wing doors in the mix?

They seem to be the rage in alt-vehicles, but I gotta wonder what the perceived/real benefits and deficits are:

Pro:
Stylish
Wide entry
Easily supported

Con:
Headknockers
Non or small opening windows
Weight v. Strength
Parking space needs?

Sure, I think they look cool... but are they practical?

 

[Drunkskunk]

Lambo Doors, FTW.

Or have them slide back like the doors on a postal jeep


Gull wings make me think of the red green show, were Red puts them on a Granada with duct tape

 

[Malcolm]

Pro: Simplicity of construction for DIY design, especially for a tandem two-seater. Lends itself well to traditional aircraft type construction using stringers and frames. Also easy to seal against water intrusion, by using a simple U-channel around the edge of the opening.

Example: http://www.cree.ch/

 

[TylerDurden]

Lambo Doors, FTW.

Sliders are good, but hard to make, I rekon. Plus, they gotta run on rails to... somewhere.

 

[TylerDurden]

Couple of things I see:

Wings work well on low profile bodies... when open, they won't stick out as far and if they hinge near the center, it allows partial entry from above.

 

[Ben]

Not so good if you roll it and land on the roof.

 

[John in CR]

Not so good if you roll it and land on the roof.

What % of accidents end up with the car upside down? I was already involved in one some 30 years ago, so I'm sure my odds are quite good for it to be of little concern. Let's compare these odds to bashed from the front, side or rear where the regular door won't open after the accident, and this argument against gull-wings probably becomes an argument for gull-wings.

John

 

[TylerDurden]

Last rollover I helped someone out of, was a sedan resting on its driver's side.

That aside, means of emergency egress would be good to integrate... It ain't likely that a custom shell will have tempered glass to bash out.