No power grid. No fuel. Zero CO2.
The Wind Explorer, a lightweight electric vehicle, was piloted by two from Albany on the Indian Ocean to Sydney in 18 days and set three new records during their 4,800 km trip. This is the first time a continent had been crossed by a vehicle powered by wind, the longest overall distance covered by an exclusively wind-powered land vehicle, and the longest distance covered in 36 hours.
The Wind Explorer was powered by lithium-ion batteries and recharged by a portable wind turbine whenever wind conditions permitted. The 200kg vehicle therefore only notched up electricity costs of around €10 for the entire trip.
Not only is it great to see how lightweight construction and lithium-ion technology can provide a response to the problem of global warming, but it has left many to wonder what this means for travel. Why invest in cabs that pollute the environment and are expensive when you can travel in a vehicle powered by wind.
The “Wind Explorer” project hopes to inspire ideas about limiting the bad effects of traffic on the environment – while staying mobile as well.
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