Formula One racing is a fierce niche in the world of cars, but Mercedes-Benz wants to make that niche both fierce and emission-free. As part of the LA Auto Show's automobile Design Challenge, Mercedes has unveiled the Formula Zero Racer, their vision of the race car of 2025.
{digg}http://digg.com/autos/Mercedes_Unveils_Ultra_Weird_Wind_Powered_Car{/digg}The Formula Zero concept combines luxury, high speed and zero emissions for the ultimate future race car. The cutting edge vehicle features electric motors, regenerative braking, batteries charged by solar panels on the body and a wind turbine at the nose, and a high-tech sail.
Mercedes imagines that future racing won't be based on first place finishes. Teams will all be given the same amount of stored energy and will have to manage that energy with their speed. Winners will be judged on both elapsed time and energy efficiency.
Sounds like a great fantasy. I don't know if hardcore fans will get behind any racing that doesn't focus completely on speed, but I suppose there is an interest in overall driving performance in racing today. Maybe in 2025, a car's energy efficiency will be just as captivating.
via Inhabitat
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written by Joe, October 29, 2008
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written by Kris, October 30, 2008
Regardless, the fossil fuel engine truly is facing death; if not mainly from environmental pressure, then at least from finite resources.
I hope that many people jump on board this new, (more) renewable, style of performance racing. Even without the environmental benefits, it's so much more interesting!
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written by tussock, October 30, 2008
Though I imagine the vehicle has about as much chance of turning up as the track they show it racing on. Vertical loop indeed.
And yes, fans have always appreciated power over economy.
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written by Dejan, October 30, 2008
I am not a car race enthusiast, but this is something I would surely be interested in...
That would be races with bright tactical moves and even more clever decisions. A game, not only an ordinary race.
Use your brain, not your power...
www.transportation-logistics.net
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written by Clinch, October 30, 2008
The are other eco-friendly races out there as well, such as the numerous solar car races.
But while F1 cars seem neither eco nor practical (for the real world) they do perform a lot of research for their cars that does have more practical (and eco) applications, such as aerodynamics, lightweight materials, improving efficiency etc.
And in the end, this is just a silly looking concept car, and if people want zero-emissions racing to get the same amount of money invested in it as f1 racing, then they have to show the big companies and sponsors that people are just as interested in it.
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