Eco Factor: Fuel-efficient race car gets powered by bio-ethanol.
Delft University of Technology’s DUT Racing Team has unveiled their latest creation, the DUT09. Designed by a group of 60 students, the car features low fuel consumption and low emissions owing to its ultra-light carbon fiber construction. The car will be used to participate in the Formula Student competition for the ninth time in a row.
The DUT09 is expected to consume as much as 20% less fuel and the use of bio-ethanol as fuel will also give the team 10% of the total points, which are given if the construction and the car is sustainable and runs on green fuel. The team stated that this level of efficiency is due to the light weight of the car, which weighs just slightly more than 150kg. The car carries a self-supporting frame construction that weighs just 20kg, as it is made from carbon fiber. Other than the frame the driving shafts and the rims are all made from carbon fiber.
Besides its light weight, the DUT09 is powered by a single cylinder 450cc engine, which too is less than the total allowable capacity of 610cc. Powered by bio-fuel E-85, (85 percent bio-ethanol and 15 percent petrol), the car has a top speed of 160km/h, which the team stated to be nothing more than a specification as due to the turns in the track the car is expected to have an average speed of just 57km/h. Without pumping in a better engine, the car is still expected to go from 0-100km/h in just 4 seconds.
Via: Delft University of Technology [Press Release]
