With the ‘Green’ revolution making its ’rounds’ across the world, many designers and fabricators have got busy making travel plans in Eco-friendly vehicles to show the practicality and usefulness of being green. Some of the journeys are on land while some others are on water, but all of them are filled with adventure and courage. Here are ten such adventurous journeys undertaken in Eco-friendly vehicles.
Two seater renewable energy vehicle
The Trev has entered into the round-the-world Zero race! It works on the supposition that all the fossil fuels are exhausted and ‘green’ energy is the only way to go. With a 300 kg mass, two seats and ample boot space, the car provides a quiet and clean drive with a top speed of 120 km/h and a range of 150 km per recharge. The tires, suspension and brakes have been built for maximum energy efficiency.
PlanetSolar: World’s Largest Solar Boat
Photovoltaic solar panels spread over an area of 500 square meters power this multi-hulled water craft which measures 31 meters in length and 15 meters in width. The boat needs only about 20 kW for its running while it generates about 103.4 kW through its panels. It has plans to make a global cruise which might take some time to complete at its average speed of 8 knots. (15 km/h). But knowing that it runs completely only on solar energy, it is a great achievement indeed.
Crossing the Pacific on a catamaran or recycled plastic bottles
In an outrageously adventurous move, a team of four scientists will set sail over the 12,000 nautical miles of the Pacific ocean, from San Francisco to Sydney in a boat that is made entirely out of plastic bottles! Over 20,000 plastic bottles have been injected with carbon dioxide to ensure that the boat stays on water. The ‘green’ message is very clear and the ‘Plastiki’ expedition is sure to grab worldwide attention as the scientists spend their voyage time in studying marine debris, coral bleaching and ocean acidification.
Across Britain in an electric car
The founder of Zero Carbon World, a charity to ensure a clean and green world, set an example for the rest of the world to follow by driving across the entire Great Britain in his completely electric car. He stopped just 6 times for getting a recharge and his Tesla Roadster completed the grueling journey of 894 miles at a top speed of 70 mph. The whole trip cost less than £20 for recharges – a savings of £108 if fossil fuels were used. All the recharges were done at public charging points.
Conquering Alaska to Argentina in an EV
As part of the Green Racing Endurance Challenge, a team from Britain traveled 16,156 miles from the Arctic to the southernmost tip of South America in just under 70 days! Their SRZero sports car powered by Li-ion batteries and a 400 bhp engine allows the car to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under seven seconds with a top speed of 124 mph. The car has a range of 250 miles. The fuel charges were just £3 a charge which means £3 for 250 miles!
Quikey â A four wheeled bike for a transcontinental adventure
Relying completely on GPS, an adventurous duo, Roger Chao and Megan Kerr, plan to pedal 12000 km from Europe through Russia to Asia in a four-wheeled bike that they have christened as the Quikey. They have themselves designed the Quikey with comfortable, back-supporting seats, excellent wheels and good brakes. They plan to lug around 450 kg of supplies along with them as they move through different communities and cultures.
5,000 km odyssey across Australia powered by wind
An engineer, Stefan Simmerer and German television host, Dirk Gion have achieved a 5,000 km trip in their Wind Explorer. This light-weight electric vehicle makes use of batteries that are recharged completely by wind power. Setting three world records along their 18 day adventure, the German duo completed the journey across the European continent, spending less than $15 on fuel! The vehicle also has kites that can be flown to better harness power in windy conditions.
Steamboat Willy glides across the Thames on pedal power
Steamboat Willy is a hovercraft made of Styrofoam, glass cloth and carbon fiber. It is powered entirely by human muscle! Pedaling it across the river Thames, a University of London flight group has opened up new vistas fro the development of green cruises. Though it will be some time before someone attempts to cross oceans on such hovercrafts, it is a good and positive beginning.
Riding across Australia on a solar-powered trike
The Energy Breakthrough Team from the Damascus College in Ballarat has come up with a solar-powered trike as the culmination of 11 years of hard work. It has now begun an expedition called ‘RodeRage’ which will attempt to complete a 3775 km ride under two weeks to spread awareness on climate change. The ride looks possible with the trike’s top speed of 110 km/h. It will be done through one hour shifts by the students who aim to raise $100,000 for the climate.
Solartaxi: Three-wheeler to journey the world powered by the sun
Another world-tour through a green vehicle is in the offing. Louis Palmer, a Swiss adventurer and designer, plans to do this journey in a solar taxi that will generate 30 percent of its energy needs through mounted solar panels. It will depend on the PV panels mounted on the roof in Plamer’s home for about 60 percent of the energy needs. The final 10 percent will be supplied through solar farms. This trip is being undertaken to educate people on global warming and to inspire them to take to non conventional sources of energy.
