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View Full Version : Eco One - 150mph sports car made for and by the Earth


dutchmasterflex
07-26-2007, 01:11 PM
Comes with free tool!

http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/07/ecocarDM_468x348.jpg

This is the Eco One, a one-seater sports car that is green in more ways that you would imagine. Not only it runs on wheat and sugar beets at 150 mph, going from 0 to 62 mph in less than four seconds, but the bill of materials looks like a salad: potatoes, cashew nut shells, rape seed oil and hemp.

The $41,000 car sports car, built by student Ben King from a design by Dr Kerry Kirwan, a researcher at the Warwick Manufacturing Group, uses an engine from a Triumph Daytona motorbike. He built the Eco One in two months. "If we can build a high-performance car that can virtually be grown from seed, just imagine what is possible for the average family car," he said.

Eco One is 95 percent biodegradable or recyclable, although its steering-wheel, seat and electrics comprise conventional materials. All of the plastic components were made from plants, while the chassis is made from steel, an easily reusable metal.

The makers claim that there are people interested in developing the technology for motor racing. "We have been speaking to various-people within the motor sports industry," claimed a spokeswoman for the Warwick Manufacturing Group. "The motor sports industry knows it's got to be greener. And the concept is transferable into cars for the race track or the motorway."

If you're in London over the summer, the car will be on show at the National Science Museum from August 28-30.



http://gizmodo.com/assets/resources/2007/07/recipe250707_800x448.jpg

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/super-device/device-never-loses-your-cell-though-maybe-it-should-282691.php

Hmm.. is it me or do the potatoe based "less friction" tires seem like a bad idea when you suddenly need to hit the brakes for a high speed corner..

RC45
07-26-2007, 02:05 PM
Yet no mention of all the other plaent destroying chemicals and extra energy needed to produce the "clean" part sof the car.

Or mention of the thrid world slave labour used to gather the raw materials.

This "green" and "eco" movement is such a bucket of shit.

And the "do gooders" of the world just believe it all ;)

dutchmasterflex
07-26-2007, 02:09 PM
Haha.. well I agree with you on the energy used to produce the materials, but these are all ingredients we grow right here in the US.

FYI, the New York Times has ran alteast 2(to my knowledge) articles that poke fun of the idiots who choose to buy Toyota/Lexus hybrids.

martin100
07-26-2007, 02:11 PM
The color combination is totally hideous :roll:

Z3uS
07-26-2007, 11:33 PM
Reminded me the Atom when i first saw it :lol:

Mattk
07-26-2007, 11:41 PM
Goodyear makes tyres made from potato starch? And 35mpg is alright, but that fuel tank looks like it holds around one gallon only.

dutchmasterflex
07-27-2007, 02:30 AM
^ dude, you really think this car was made for long trips? let alone someone actually wanting to drive that long distance.

It's half of a freking Caterham.

A good effort, but like RC45 has pointed, lets see what the manufacturing costs and wastes are.

Mattk
07-27-2007, 10:42 AM
^ dude, you really think this car was made for long trips?

No. I was being facetious.

nthfinity
07-27-2007, 10:51 AM
my favorite part

Tires made from potato starch which has less friction.... E.G. less grip! hahahaha