Happened across a really neat video by AeroVironment - purportedly written by
Paul MacCready, founder of the company.
It's a bit of a vision statement / resume of the company and explains their interest & motivation in developing ever more efficient means of transportation:
- including bicycles, (HPV & electric hybrid) ...
- human powered flight (record setting Gossamer Condor and Albatross)
- solar powered planes/flying wings
- record setting GM Sunraycer solar car (that averaged 68 km/h / 42 mph on 1 kW!)
- and of course the GM Impact, prototype of the late, lamented electric EV1
There are some great shots of the Sunraycer and Impact undergoing smoke testing in a windtunnel.
Cool bunch of ecomodders! Regardless of whether your reasons for being interested in efficiency align with theirs, you have to admit they've done some pretty astounding things.
Most of the stuff they've built would be in my "dream fleet" of vehicular toys (and not toys)!
