Green Car Made Of Potatoes and Cashew Shells runs 150Mph
26 July 2009 | Green Cars | No Comments
Even if it sounds impossible at first, there are cars in existence today that defy common conceptions. Eco One, the car seen in the picture, has tyres made of potatoes and brake pads out of ground cashew shells. The car body is compressed of hemp and rapeseed oil. Also, this “green wonder” is running on fuel created from wheat and sugar beet.
If you are thinking to yourself: OK, this sounds impressive but I guess it can’t run faster as my bicycle with all the green stuff in it, you are mistaken, because this machine can reach speeds up to 150mph(240km/h) !
This racing car was engineered by members of the Warwick University to disprove those who didn’t believe that this kind of performances can be reached by building vehicles out of green and renewable materials.
Eco One was a collaboration between the scientist Kerry Kirwan from Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG),who created the model and the student Ben Wood, which was assigned to build it. Building the car only lasted two months, but came at its price: £20,000.
The green car is powered by an engine from a Triumph Daytona motor-cycle and goes from 0-62mph(100km/h) in less then four seconds.
Ben Wood had this to say about the car: “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.”
Overall, this environmentally-friendly car, Eco One, is made 95% out of reusable or biodegradable materials, the other 5 percent represent the steering wheel, electric components and seat.
The success of the car made this marvellous machine, which runs on chocolate, possible. But will we live in a future where we no longer have to worry that our cars will harm the environment ? Well, only time can tell…
Tags: biodegradable, cashew shells, chocolate, Eco One, Environment, green, green car, green wonder, high-performance car, potatoes, reusable, Triumph Daytona motor-cycle