4 Amazing Feats by Green Powered Vehicles

Written by Alan Parker, an active blogger out of New York City whose writing covers green technology, the environment, and the great outdoors. You can follow him on Twitter @AGreenParker.

As oil supply dwindles and the price at the pump remains high, the search for effective, alternative sources to power automobiles becomes more and more crucial. Luckily, green power enthusiasts are accomplishing some incredible feats, highlighting the effectiveness and usability of many forms of renewable energy. From breaking speed records to crossing continents, these specially designed vehicles are showing that the power of alternative energy can effectively be harnessed to relieve the dependence on oil for transportation and improve the environment by eliminating harmful carbon emissions.

Breaking Speed Records

With the growing popularity of cars like the Toyota Prius and the Chevy Volt, the use of electricity to power cars is already becoming well integrated into our every day lives. Many, however, are not fully electric, but are hybrids that still rely on an internal combustion engine for some of their power. Students from Brigham Young University decided to design a car that would not only be completely powered by electric, but would also put to rest the stereotype that electric cars are weak and slow. Their car, Electric Blue, had a top speed of 175 miles per our, and an average top speed of 155.8 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, high enough to set the world land speed record for its class. The success of this project will hopefully help production electric vehicles become speedier and more powerful, and therefore more appealing, for residential use.

Cross-Continent by Wind

To show the power of wind as an energy source, a German team recently crossed the entire Australian continent in a vehicle completely powered by wind, and it only took them 18 days. The team set up a mobile wind turbine each night that recharged the car’s battery, giving it plenty of power for the following day’s journey. Also, when the winds were sufficiently strong enough, a kite was attached to the car, sending it down the road while conserving battery power. With the 3,000+ mile trip being completed in such a short amount of time, engineers have plenty of hope for wind power becoming a practical means of land vehicle propulsion in the near future.

Cross-Continent by Biofuel

The first ever land-based transantarctic expedition was recently completed, powered entirely by bio-fuel. The Bio-inspired Ice Vehicle (BIV), funded by Winston Wong, is the first bio-fueled vehicle to complete a transantarctic expedition, which it completed at the very end of 2010. It was not only designed to showcase the power of alternative energy, but was engineered to counter the harshest conditions that Antarctica is known for, all while leading a team of researchers across the continent.

100% Human Power

The human-powered car is an even more ambitious idea. Simply called the HumanCar, it takes advantage of a quick rowing motion by the drivers and passengers to charge its electric battery. It can reach speeds over 60 mph, and while currently developed for short-range commuter trips, newer models are planning to tackle cross-country journeys as well. Aside from its power source, the HumanCar has a number of other unique selling points. For starters, it is made of recycled material, and its chassis is designed to last 100 years, resulting in relatively low, if any, depreciation. The car’s design is also simple, allowing owners to easily swap out electric components to keep up with new technology advances.

When discussing the reasons behind the BIV and the daunting goal of crossing Antarctica, Winston Wong claimed they needed to “do something that people can take notice [of] and say this is the future, the future of human endeavor” so that we can preserve the planet. Clearly all of the teams above embodied the same message, choosing formidable trials to test their different forms of alternative energy. By combining together all of these progressive ideas, it’s very possible that someday gasoline may no longer be required for people to move around the planet.

IMAGE ATTRIBUTION: Some rights reserved by savs

About Guest Writer

How would you like to write for us? We accept quality posts of 500 words or more. You can include two links in your resource bio box. In addition, If you can prove that you are an established and recognized expert writer in the field then we are willing to pay for your articles.