Michael Kanellos 06 01 09, 11:35 AM

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Lightweight Automaker Bright Wants Stimulus Too—$35M

Weight. It's the third fuel.

That's my meme for the day.

Bright Automotive, the automotive spin-out from the Rocky Mountain Institute, has applied for $35 million in grants under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, everyone's favorite piece of legislation. Like San Diego's Aptera, Bright is paying particular attention to weight, wind resistance and materials in the design of its car (see Aptera 2e Hits the Streets of San Francisco). Bright's car will weigh 3,200 pounds, or 1,500 pounds less than average competitors. By reducing wind resistance and weight, the company's engineers effectively are reducing the amount of work an electric engine will have to perform to get the car up to driving speeds, which in turn conserves battery power.

Aptera will make all-electrics, plug-in hybrids and gas cars, while Bright will make plug-in hybrids.

Despite the fact that both compaines will use less steel in their cars, you won't be driving the equivalent of of a Trabant, which had a shell made out of paper scraps. Aptera will employ high-grade carbons and other designer materials. Aptera, in fact, says it will pay people who can figure out a way to dent the shell of its car.

High volume production of the Idea will begin by the end of and by 2013 it wants to be at a run rate of 50,000 cars a year, according to CEO John Waters, who is not the person who directed Polyesther or Hairspray. (see Green Light post). The goal ultimately is a 100-mile per gallon car that the average American could buy.

The car will initially be aimed at fleet owners, who can more effectively capitalize on the savings that plug-ins can bring, and later be pitched to consumers. Fleet owners generally also worry less about having quick acceleration and a long driving range.