Eco Factor: Zero-emission prototype vehicle powered by electricity.
One of the major hurdles in the global adoption of electric cars is the time required to recharge onboard batteries. While some researchers are developing batteries that can either be swapped when depleted or recharge in a few minutes, a team of fourteen students from the University of Karlsruhe in Germany are following an entirely different approach. The team has come up with a prototype electric car that runs on electricity but doesn’t need a recharge.
Dubbed the e-Quickie, the electric car is powered by electricity beamed wirelessly by conducting paths on the ground. Receivers under the body of the vehicle take energy from the tracks through electromagnetic induction, which is later use to power the electrical hub drive. Weighing just 60kg, the all-electric vehicle features parts made from high-tech but lightweight materials. With a small electric battery that serves as a buffer, the vehicle is powered by a 2KW electric motor and can achieve a top speed of about 50kph.
With an electric engine, the car features zero tailpipe emissions. However, with induction not an efficient way to transfer electricity, we have to say that batteries are still a better way to power cars. To make such concepts practical we’ll need more efficient ways to beam electricity wirelessly from underground cables.
Via: AutoMotto
