After Hindenburg, it is a pretty safe bet to say that Zeppelins are a bit out of fashion and it would take some convincing to get people to step on board. But there is something so very magnetic about these seemingly magical giants floating effortlessly through the skies and the image becomes all the more pristine when you add the words ‘zero-emissions’ and ‘self-sustainable’. That is exactly what brilliant Belgian engineer Lieven Standaert has in mind when he tries to get the ball rolling on Aeromodeller II.
This innovative and stylish new Zeppelin intends to bring sustainable, green transportation to the airways of the world and with its wind-powered hydrogen generating engine, Aeromodeller II does restore some lost confidence in the Zeppelins. What makes Lieven’s design unique is the ability of Aeromodeller II to use wind-energy to generate hydrogen on board that will be subsequently used to drive its engines.
Also eliminating the cost for expensive hangers, Lieven’s design ensures that the giant in the skies never needs to land for refueling with its self-sustaining ‘green fuel’ mechanism. With low cost material skins that are less pressurized thanks to Aeromodeller’s sleek design and innovative new design that makes it more stable, Lieven is confident about the stability of his space-age ship.
Aeromodeller II is designed to be a more of a commuting vehicle with top speeds of 50 mph. Not much, but in the early morning and late evening rush hours, that will do pretty fine indeed. With a few docking towers and encouraging investors to take the design forward, the future of public commuting might well be here!
Via: Inhabitat
