Green racing cars debut in London

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 08-31-2007 12:00

Tomorrow's racing cars are already here, on display, at London's Science Museum. These hot rods not only run on clean fuels, but are themselves bio-degradable.

On display at the museum are two environmentally friendly racing cars, which can reach speeds of up to 240 kilometers per hour.

What's more, these cars have been developed by students at two universities in the UK.

Ben Wood from Warwick University is one of the designers. It took his team of twelve people two months to finish the work.

Student of Warwick University, Ben Wood said, "All the metal components of the car are recyclable. The tires can be turned into things like pencil cases, various other bits and pieces, mouse mats.

The bodywork and the oil are biodegradable. The fuel is partly biodegradable as well. And the rest is recyclable."

The exhibition looks at ways in which motor racing can be held without the use of polluting diesel.

The designers say many of their environmentally friendly features will be available in ordinary cars in the next five years.

For now, though, the technology remains confined to the racetrack.

Dr. Greg Offer of Imperial College Lonon Dr. Greg Offer said, "The technology is already there. So every major auto manufacturer is making and has fuel-cell hybrid vehicle development programs. Companies like Daimler-Chrysler, they're making large numbers of fuel-cell vehicles, where large is tens or hundreds a year. But the key thing that we actually need now is actually people. So we need engineers who are trained in the electric power trains, fuel cells, hybrid systems. "

The organizers of the exhibit say they hope to inspire today's young engineers to create better, more efficient, cleaner and greener cars.

Editor:Yang Jie