A Swiss engineering team plans on driving 40,000kms (24,850miles) around the world without emitting a single gram of CO2. The ICARE Project is scheduled to start in May 2010 and finish in October 2011, covering 30 countries on four continents.
During the day the ICARE vehicle is charged using solar panels carried on the upper surface of a towed trailer. At night, when the sun goes down there is a deployable wind turbine to recharge the batteries through the night. The 450 cells on the solar panels will generate 1.8kW, and the wind turbine 1kW, which should be enough to charge the 15kWh batteries. There are also pedals that the drivers can use to provide about 20% of the power needed to propel ICARE.
ICARE has a top speed of 80kph (50mph) and weighs 330kg (728lbs). It is powered by a 5kW electric motor and has a 250km (155mile) range on a full battery charge.
The ICARE vehicle will be driven by two Swiss reporters and you can follow their progress at their website. They carbon neutral journey will start in Lausanne, Switzerland and passing through Rabat, Washington, San Francisco, Quito, Buenos Aires, Hong Kong, Bombay and Istanbul.
The ICARE Project is a non-profit charity and accepts donations.
Visit: www.projet-icare.ch
Show/Hide comment form
