Gas Tank

[Karlo]

The Superlite Roadster kit comes with Aluminum gas tank that is fitted behind the seats. I do not have enough experience with fuel cells, what are the benefits?

[Fran Hall RCR]

A fuel cell is a collapsible bladder encased in a steel or aluminum tank.
This is full race or aircraft grade technology.
The issues are cost and longevity...very expensive

Bladders are only legal for 3-5 years from date of manufacture and must be tested or replaced ...they do leak.

What kind of fuel tank is on your production street vehicle???

Thin steel or even plastic....I would guess.

To be honest a cell should only be used of a governing body requires its use fro the rules...otherwise the negatives out weigh the positives almost everytime...
There are other considerations but this is a nutshell response.

[bolus]

Fuelsafe (www.fuelsafe.com) will build a fuel cell for my Atom at the cost of $3000. It will looses 10% fuel capacity as well.

The Atom's tend to have problems with the seems on the fuel tank breaking and leaking because of the vibration from the engine. But 3 grand was too much for me.

[Karlo]

Fuelsafe (www.fuelsafe.com (http://www.fuelsafe.com)) will build a fuel cell for my Atom at the cost of $3000. It will looses 10% fuel capacity as well.

The Atom's tend to have problems with the seems on the fuel tank breaking and leaking because of the vibration from the engine. But 3 grand was too much for me.

Bolus

What style and type of gas tank does the Atom have ---- Aluminum?

[bolus]

just a regular tank, no baffles, in-tank fuel pump

[#Rotor]

why would the tanks crack from engine vibrations. Is it also mounted straight onto the frame?

[bolus]

yes. Ariel has since increased the thickness of the metal they use.

[#Rotor]

The problem with Aluminum, it is prone to suffer from metal fatigue... it does not like vibrations at all, going thicker will just make it take a wee bit longer before it eventually cracks, They need to mount the tank on rubbers, same way you would mount the Radiator of the car, just a bit stronger to be able to carry the weight of the full tank.... I use nothing other than 304 Stainless steel, 1.6mm gauge on my tanks. a Little bit heavier maybe, but it's trouble-free for as long as the car exist. If I may ask, what is the actual size of your tanks? Mine is an effective 51.2l.

[bolus]

10 us gallons
http://bolus.shackspace.com/atom/Fuel_Tank.PDF

[Fran Hall RCR]

At RCR we build complete chassis from aluminum....if designed and engineered correctly aluminum is fine..
We use an aluminum tank ...rubber mounted and its 9.3 gallons

[#Rotor]

by all means, I'm not implying that Aluminum is not to be used.... it's a very good material to use for a gastank, just that as you mentioned, it must be done correctly...

:)