Green light for eco-car
30 Apr 2007 by Evoluted New Media
Motor racing, hardly an ecologically sound past time, until now that is. Scientists and engineers have developed an environmentally-friendly race car with a difference - its shell is made from hemp, the tyres made from potatoes and the brake pads made from cashew nut shells.
Motor racing, hardly an ecologically sound past time, until now that is. Scientists and engineers have developed an environmentally-friendly race car with a difference - its shell is made from hemp, the tyres made from potatoes and the brake pads made from cashew nut shells.
The team from The University of Warwick claim the car – Eco One, which runs entirely on bio-fuels and bio-lubricants – can achieve up to 150mph, given a long straight and a tailwind.
Ben Wood, project manager of the green racer, said: “We already have the shell, brake pads, fuel and tyres sorted. My aim is to end up with a race car that’s 95 per cent biodegradable or recyclable. If we can build a high-performance car that can virtually be grown from seed, just imagine what’s possible for the average family car.”
Eco One is getting its first public outing at the Sexy Green Car Show at the Eden Project where, from 30th March to 15th April, it will rub shoulders with green offerings from the biggest names in the motor industry worldwide.
“Almost everything on the car can be made out of biodegradable or recyclable materials. All the plastic components can be made from plants and, although the chassis has to be made from steel for strength, steel is a very recyclable material,” Said Wood.
