Wind Powered Car

[NeilBlanchard]

...Or traveling in the other direction, when the wind takes the cords across the other lane of traffic?

If you put the wind turbine (and/or solar panels) on your house and feed the grid whenever you can, you would better offset the charging you would do while not at your house?

[ai_vin]

Actually the title of this story should be "Electric car with portable wind turbine sets record"

For me a wind powered car moves because it has a sail; Fastest Wind Powered Car in the World Hits 126 MPH : TreeHugger or because the wind turbine is directly linked to the wheels; Wind-powered 'Ventomobile' Places First in Race and I know it sounds impossible but windmill cars can even outrun the wind; Wind-Powered Car Travels Downwind Faster Than the Wind | Autopia | Wired.com

[Frank Lee]

But it DID use direct "sail" power a good portion of the time.

[Odin]

Originally Posted by ai_vin

Actually the title of this story should be "Electric car with portable wind turbine sets record"

For me a wind powered car moves because it has a sail; Fastest Wind Powered Car in the World Hits 126 MPH : TreeHugger or because the wind turbine is directly linked to the wheels; Wind-powered 'Ventomobile' Places First in Race and I know it sounds impossible but windmill cars can even outrun the wind; Wind-Powered Car Travels Downwind Faster Than the Wind | Autopia | Wired.com

that last link is amazing!

[Christopher Jordan]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

these have more pics/vid clip and a few more details, all scattered about in several non-cohesive articles...

Kind of amusing how long it took before this pedal-power Dutch velomobile took to appear in another form.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by NeilBlanchard

...Or traveling in the other direction, when the wind takes the cords across the other lane of traffic?

You can keep the kite high enough that it wouldn't interfere with traffic going the other way.

As for leaving the wind turbine home, sure, except in the Australian Outback, and around here (northern Nevada) there are places that are not within reasonable battery range of a power outlet. So if I wanted to drive out to say the Toiyabe or Toquima Ranges for some hiking, I could hoist the kite leaving Fallon, sail into Austin with charged battery, drive to the trailhead (winding dirt) on that, and hoist the wind generator while I hike.