Eco Factor: Ecofriendly race car powered by hydrogen.
Earlier we told you about the Mazda KAAN and the Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero concept car, and here we have for you a new non-concept race car that derives all its power from the most abundant element of the universe – hydrogen. The car has been developed by researchers at the RMIT University, and it’s Australia’s first hydrogen-powered race car.
This zero-emission car has been designed to bid for the title of world’s fastest hydrogen-powered racer in 2009. Apart from aiming for the record, the car has been designed to demonstrate the power of clean fuels like hydrogen to the world. The car is powered by an internal combustion motorcycle engine that has been modified to run on hydrogen. With an ecofriendly engine in place, the car is expected to reach speeds in excess of 170km/h.
The Dark Side:
Car manufacturers have always been interested in cars that use hydrogen as fuel, as the only gas it emits is water vapor. However, hydrogen fueling stations are not as common as gasoline stations and powering a car with a gas comes with some fire hazards as well. Keeping these drawbacks in mind, we don’t expect your car to get a safe hydrogen engine in the near future.
Via: Science Alert
