The racing car made out of salad

  

When your mom told you that greens were good for you, she was telling the truth. Greens happen to be so good, you can even make a racing car out of the stuff. Eco One, the one-seater racing car built by Warwick University experts, managed to race at a speedy 150 mph, and that’s with a fuel made of fermented wheat and sugar beet.

Check out the materials used on this almost-edible roadster: Tires made of potato starch, body created from pulped hemp reinforced with resin and rape seed oil, brake pads made out of ground cashew nut shells, and oil made out of plants. The list of materials almost sound as if they came from a salad recipe.

Designed by Dr. Kerry Kirwan, a researcher from Warwick University, and assembled by Ben Wood, a student, the Eco One is just one among many industrial solutions created by Warwick University’s academic department, the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). The car was built at a budget of UK£ 20,000, or roughly US$ 40,000.

The car is powered by a Triumph Daytona motorcycle engine, which enabled the car to do 0-62 mph in under four seconds. Wood, who also created the materials for the Eco Car, said “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.”

WMG is now working on getting potential collaborators who may help them in developing the technology, and Zoe Howard, head of communications for WMG, said that they have spoken to many people within the sports industry. They managed to spot some individuals who were willing to give their help on the project. She added:

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. 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.

With Eco One being 95 percent biodegradable and recyclable, it’s safe to say that its very possible that the future of motoring can be greener and safer for the environment without having to cut down on its performance.

  

When your mom told you that greens were good for you, she was telling the truth. Greens happen to be so good, you can even make a racing car out of the stuff. Eco One, the one-seater racing car built by Warwick University experts, managed to race at a speedy 150 mph, and that’s with a fuel made of fermented wheat and sugar beet.

Check out the materials used on this almost-edible roadster: Tires made of potato starch, body created from pulped hemp reinforced with resin and rape seed oil, brake pads made out of ground cashew nut shells, and oil made out of plants. The list of materials almost sound as if they came from a salad recipe.

Designed by Dr. Kerry Kirwan, a researcher from Warwick University, and assembled by Ben Wood, a student, the Eco One is just one among many industrial solutions created by Warwick University’s academic department, the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG). The car was built at a budget of UK£ 20,000, or roughly US$ 40,000.

The car is powered by a Triumph Daytona motorcycle engine, which enabled the car to do 0-62 mph in under four seconds. Wood, who also created the materials for the Eco Car, said “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.”

WMG is now working on getting potential collaborators who may help them in developing the technology, and Zoe Howard, head of communications for WMG, said that they have spoken to many people within the sports industry. They managed to spot some individuals who were willing to give their help on the project. She added:

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. 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.

With Eco One being 95 percent biodegradable and recyclable, it’s safe to say that its very possible that the future of motoring can be greener and safer for the environment without having to cut down on its performance.