With Mitsibushi, Nissan and Peugeot releasing their new electric cars, the i-Miev, the Leaf and the Ion, it seems everyone is talking about the impact these vehicles will have on our daily lives. The Government has even predicted that by the year 2015, over 100,000 of these cars will be sold in the UK alone. Obviously this will change our general habits, but how will it effect our Sport? Will we eventually see the Formula 1 Grand Prix run on completely electricity? Probably not for a while, but over 1,000 engineering students and tutors from all across Asia met up recently, to test their Eco-motors in the Shell-Eco Marathon, which was held at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia.
The concept was that the Oil giants, Shell, would pit the students against each-other in an opportunity for them to showcase their talents on the tracks. The aim of the task was to achieve most distance on lowest fuel level, with cars being registered into two categories. Prototype or Urban Concept.
The Cars then raced with either hydrogen fuel cells, solar power and plug-in batteries or internal combustion as the main energy source. Over the 10 mile course, drivers were forced to remain at 15mph for the duration. A vast range of different styles ad colours painted the grey tracks of Sepang, making a montage of space-age creation.
Though these cars may not necessarily be adequatley road-worthy, the ability that these students have shown may change the way in which we design and invisage our future vehicles.
The winners of the events were Team Luk Jao Mae Khlong Prapa from Thailand’s Dhurakil Pundit University.
These cars have come a long way since the first electric car race, which was held in Pau in 2005 and saw 12 state-of-the-art race one another in a Grand Prix style race. Luckily, though these newer and trendier Asian designs look more fun and space age, it is unlikely we will be driving something like this on our roads before 2015.
The New Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-Miev looks far more likely to be hitting our roads than these other electric vehicles.
Currently in this country, we have a scheme set up whereby you receive £5000 back from the Government for buying an Electric Car, which is apparently soon to be scrapped. Unfortunately this is a bit of a step backwards in terms of electrical progression, but with Councils planning on putting more power points in local areas and more big Car companies taking the initiative to invent cheaper ways of fuelling cars, perhaps the Government will re-assess where they stand with this newer policy.
