Can a race car that runs on recyclables go Formula One?
British researchers have created a Formula 3 race car made out of the stuff commonly found in your compost bin.
According to researchers at the Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Center (WIMRC) at Warwick University in England the WorldFirst race car has hit speeds of 238 kilometers per hour (175 miles per hour).
Nevertheless, the car is pretty quick for a car made of recycled plastic, water, potato starch, carrot fibers and juice bottles. But that's just the beginning. The WorldFirst Racing project is aiming for the Formula One circuit in the future. Formula 3 racing is generally seen as a stepping stone to the Formula One circuit.
The big takeaway here is that engineers can make a car out of recycled materials that is actually something you'd want to drive.
Scientific American highlights the key points:
- Recycled carbon fiber was used for large parts of the car;
- Fibers from flax and hemp were used for simple parts used to improve aerodynamics;
- The steering wheel was made of a polymer derived from carrots and other root vegetables;
- The car runs on biodiesel and plant based lubricants;
- Other parts were carbon and fiberglass.
Overall, the WorldFirst Racing project is worth watching---especially for car buffs with a sustainability bent.
A few pictures to ponder...
At the test track:
And.
Here's a look at all the points where recyclables are used:
This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com