The greenest racing-car in the world

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Eco One in pole position for 'green' race
25th July 2007

With tyres made from potatoes and capable of reaching 150mph, the Eco One is a real "high spud" racer. The sports car has been built by university experts in a bid to dispel popular perceptions that "green" motoring means dull little electric runarounds or filling your fuel tank with chip fat. The one-seater racing car - called Eco One - also boasts a body made from hemp and rape seed oil, and brake pads fashioned from ground down cashew nut shells. It runs on fuel made from fermented wheat and sugarbeat. But despite its unusual construction, for its size the car has as much pulling power as a Ferrari Enzo, not to mention that impressive top speed.

The academics at Warwick University behind the project hope cars made in such a way will one day be a regular sight on Grand Prix circuits and that their ideas will also be adopted by the mass automotive industry. Eco One was designed by Dr Kerry Kirwan, a researcher at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), the university's academic department which provides solutions to industry, and built by student Ben Wood over two months at a cost of £20,000. Dubbed the "greenest race car in the world", Eco One does 0-62mph in under four seconds and has an engine from a Triumph Daytona motorcycle. Interest in the car is such that it has been invited to go on display at the National Science Museum in London at the end of August.

Mr Wood, 23, said: "Almost everything on the car can be made from plants. 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. 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." Mr Wood, of Bishop Stortford, Hertfordshire, who is studying for his engineering doctorate at Warwick University, added: "I'm very excited and very satisfied, helping the environment is an important issue and is the whole point of the project."

Zoe Howard, head of communications for WMG, said: "The car demonstrates that not all eco cars have to be small and electric - they can be high performance too. We have been speaking to various people within the motor sports industry. There are a number of potential collaborators who seem keen on developing the technology further. The motor sports industry knows it's got to be greener, that is why we are working on these ideas. The concept is transferable into cars for the race track or the motorway. We researched the most technologically advanced sustainable materials available, and then used them wherever possible during construction. The main message is how cutting-edge technology is making high performance eco-friendly cars a reality, helping dispel the myth that 'green cars are slow and sluggish."

Eco One's steering wheel, seat and electrics are made from conventional materials. It has not been raced competitively because, the designers say, it's "in a class of its own" and ineligible to do so. They are now working on their next prototype which will be based on a Formula Ford car and therefore be able to compete. They hope eventually to produce a car that is 95 per cent biodegradable.

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excellent - I want a go...

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You sure this isn't a hoax?

Since when have GOODYEAR (as seen inprinted on the tires) been making products out of spuds?

The story goes from it being made from seeds / plants to being steel, engine from a motorcycle, steering wheel, seat and electrics...
That's hardly

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After a quick search, here's the official page from the Uni group that designed it

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/environment/ecoone/

It seems genuine enough, though it does say that the tyres are partly made from potato starch.

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I sent the guy an email to ask and got this reply...

'They tyres are actually available to the market and are made by Goodyear – how they are exactly made I don’t know, but they contain potato starch in place of some petrochemical derived oil for specific properties. I believe more info is available on their web page.

Regards
Dr Kerry Kirwan
International Automotive Research Centre
Warwick Manufacturing Group
University of Warwick
Coventry
UK

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The ultimate electric car that can outpace a Ferrari
15th August 2007

For drivers who want to be green but not boring, the new electric Lightning supercar could prove the ultimate eco-friendly boys' toy. This emission free 130mph sports car - which has a hint of Jaguar, Aston Martin and TVR styling - can outpace a Porsche 911 or a Ferrari 575 - sprinting from rest to 60mph in under four seconds. And though it will cost you a tingling £150,000, it is simply powered by 30 rechargeable batteries and doesn't use an ounce of fossil fuel.

The British-built two-seater 'Lightning' is fitted with four wheel-mounted motors that combine to power the car to 60 mph in under four seconds. It develops 700 brake-horse-power - equivalent to about seven Ford fiestas. The batteries have a range of 250 miles, take just 10 minutes to fully charge from home or on the road - thanks to 12ft cable which you simply plug into a socket. The rechargeable nine inch high batteries - a sophisticated version of those used on the traditional milk float - form a system that the makers say will last 12 years.

The car's super-clean credentials mean it is exempt from road tax and London congestion charges. Its designers claim the emission-free car could cost up to £10,000 less per year to run than a high-powered Audi RS4. And the interior even comes complete with its own optional sat nav system and a dock to plug in your iPod.

The Lightning supercar is the second high-performance electric car to go on the market after the Tesla Roadster, pictured above.

The Lightning, which is expected to be track tested later this year, began life as a petrol-driven vehicle so developers could come up with a suitable chassis. Designers at the Peterborough-based Lightning Car Company eventually settled on an aluminium honeycomb and a structure drawn from Formula One technology. The car is powered by four electric motors mounted in each of the hubs of the 20 inch wheels. All four motors are revolutionary 'Hi-Pa Drive' units developed by UK firm PML Flightlink Ltd.

Because there are no gears - or even a gear-stick - the electric power is instantaneous, allowing the phenomenal acceleration. The energy-efficient motors produce huge levels of torque - or 'pulling power' - but are still lightweight enough for a performance sports car. The Lightning will also feature an advanced 'regenerative energy system', where the car's batteries are recharged by lost friction energy captured when the ant-lock brakes are applied.

Similar technology will be adopted into Formula One from 2008 when so-called kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) become mandatory. The car also has traction control to stop skidding, electric doors and windows, and high-powered halogen headlamps. Inside, the driver will be swathed in an all-leather or leather and alcantara interior. There's also a two piece removeable hard top.

Lightning Car Company technical director Arthur Wolstenholme said: "Ten, or perhaps even five years ago, electric power was dismissed as a poor substitute for petrol, diesel or liquid petroleum gas (LPG). But the world has now moved on significantly. Electric motor and battery technologies have been developed that will enable the Lightning to demonstrate 700 bhp performance over a range that exceeds some of today's petrol performance cars.' He said:"The Lightning is intended to compete with premium market sport cars, but our electric power should outstrip the response rates, torque characteristics and driveability of most exotic performance super cars. Electric power has truly arrived in the performance market."

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Racing car fuelled by chocolate
By JAMIE PYATT

A BIZARRE new racing car that can hit speeds of 145mph has been unveiled — with a bodywork made out of VEGETABLES and which is fuelled by CHOCOLATE. Designers hope the environmentally-friendly technology used in their car will be adopted by Formula 1 teams such as McLaren and Ferrari.

The car, named ecoF3, has a steering wheel made of CARROTS, a body made of POTATOES and a seat made of SOY BEANS. It uses plant-oil based lubricants and a biodiesel engine capable of running on chocolate and vegetable oil. Vegetable fibres are mixed with resins to produce strong car parts to withstand impacts and the oils in the chocolate are refined to produce fuel. It is the first Formula 3 racing car designed and made from sustainable and renewable materials.

The WorldFirst team, from Warwick University, in Coventry, West Mids, hope racing chiefs will change the rules so they can compete in championship races next season. The engine fails to meet current regulations because of its unusual fuel. A team spokesman said: “We hope the Formula 1 teams will see that an environmentally friendly car is not necessarily a slow car. We expect our new materials to be used by the Formula 1 cars of the future.”

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This whole idea is excellent and I really hope it works. Their policy which is outlined at the end of the video is quite something - it will, no doubt, be trashed by many commentators as being socialist or even communist, which is an added bonus!

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