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What’s next – Self Powered Cars

Self powered car

As we know it

The rise in the number of cars on the roads has meant a rise in carbon emissions and a decline in the reserves of oil, the most commonly used form of energy that drives our cars. With increase in the cost of fossil fuels, auto makers have started pushing clean electric cars as a zero emission way to commute. However, considering that even electricity generation isn’t always a clean affair, the idea of vehicles that are driven by it doesn’t seem to be entirely clean either. Moreover, these electron fueled vehicles aren’t that much in demand because of their slow speeds, long recharging times and a reduced operating range.

Need for change

While the major disadvantage of electric vehicles is their inability to recharge as quickly as conventional vehicles, the idea of self-powered cars that in someway or the other generate all the energy they need from renewable sources of energy seems ideal. Moreover, with a steep rise in fossil fuel prices, consumers are in need of technologies that help save money, with an added advantage of being environmentally friendly. This demand for affordable and clean vehicles is driving the thought of next-gen cars that will power themselves.

What’s Next

1. Bristol self-powered car

Bristol car concept

What’s new

Amarpreet Gill is the mastermind behind the Bristol car, which can harvest energy from the environment and redistribute it to other users. Sounds unrealistic! This energy can be used by you or can even be distributed to others. This is not a car that you can drive home from the dealership today, it’s just a concept that will surely alter the future of car designs. This car will create a relation between the user and the car.

What difference will it make

Piezoelectric and photovoltaic concepts are combined in the Bristol concept to create a special platform for tapping energy from natural sources. It’s like a magic car. You can drive and make your own energy. There is a tool which indicates how much energy is to be harvested on every journey by simply altering the piezoelectric components. With such cars you can protect the environment from pollution and also make profits from every journey.

2. Cars of the future to power themselves

Volvo car of the future

What’s new

This car could offer sustainable alternative to other ecofriendly motor solutions as it will be able to run solely on power generated from the composite material on its roof, bonnet or doors. Volvo and scientists at Imperial College London are working together to develop a new material for the cars that will be able to store and discharge electricity.This product is a super capacitor and takes only 15–20 seconds to get completely charged.The estimated cost of this project is about $4.6 million.

What difference will it make

The car would be much lighter then the existing hybrid cars and thus you will be able to drive for long distance. This technology might also be used in mobile phones in the future, due to which your mobile will not need a battery and will be as thin as a credit card. The prototype of the car consists of carbon fiber and glass fiber to store and discharge good amount of energy. It creates current like a normal battery when it is connected to a power supply. This car uses its own battery and doesn’t require any other source of energy.

3. Self-powered car having ‘Dot Tires’

Dot tires

What’s new

This amazing self-powered car is designed by Dongil Kim, this technology of the future uses the rotation of its own wheels to produce energy. The wheels of the car are wrapped with dot-like structures that convert kinetic energy into electricity as they hit the road. This clearly means more the speed of the car more will be the electricity produced. The body of the vehicle will be able to change its color according to the battery and speed.

What difference will it make

The rotation of wheels of the car generates kinetic energy which moves the car. The kinetic energy gets transferred to electricity generation system when the tire gets pressed inward because of the road surface. The faster the dot hits the road the more will be the amount of energy generated by this hybrid car. Basically the dots are responsible for generation of energy. With every kilometer you will be able to generate more and more energy.Dot tires are surely the future of the car industry, they will also contribute in protecting the environment.

4. Solar-N-Wind powered Eclectic vehicle by Venturi

Eclectic vehicle by Venturi

What’s new

The Venturi Automobiles’ Eclectic vehicle is not a simple electric vehicle, it is a revolution in the world of ecofriendly transportation. This vehicle banks on renewable sources of energy like solar energy and wind energy. This car will cost you around $31,421. This invention of the Monaco based Venturi is quite interesting even though the side impact protection is a bit neglected.

What difference will it make

This three-seater uses NiMH (NIV-7) liquid-cooled batteries. These batteries can be easily charged by using 2.5 square meters of photovoltaic cells located at the roof of the car. The car can also be charged during parking through the wind turbines fitted to the vehicle.

5. Solar and wind powered Lamborghini Countach EV offers a self-sufficient ride

Lamborghini Countach ev

What’s new

Flavio Adriani, the famous industrial designer has come up with a concept car Lamborghini Countach EV. This beast will run by electricity generated by wind and solar energy generators on-board. This car features photovoltaic modules toward the rear and two wind turbines under the hood of the car to generate sufficient energy to refuel the battery packs.

What difference will it make

This is an all-electric car that is set to change the trend of the hybrid cars. The motor located in the wheels gets charged by the batteries. The aerodynamic design and light weight materials will surely impress the speed lovers.

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