The pill that turns gasoline into water?

Okay, it isn’t quite the legendary pill. It is a car capable of circumventing the globe on the equivalent of two gallons of gas. Also, the driver has to be a fairly small person, at least with the current model…

Publication Date:16-August-04
Source: Press Association Ltd

A car which could drive around the world using far less power than a light bulb has been hailed as the planet’s most efficient vehicle on wheels.

The dolphin-shaped car is powered by hydrogen and its only emission is water, with makers saying the innovation heralds a new age of clean, virtually silent road travel.

Their car is expected to need the equivalent of just two gallons of petrol to navigate the globe using 25 watts of power.

Known as the BOC Gh2ost, the car is being tested and built on the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It weighs under 40kg, meaning only a very small driver can use the Gh2ost at the moment.

But it is hoped that in the next 15 to 20 years, hydrogen powered vehicles could be used by mainstream motorists.

John Carolin, gas giant BOC’s global director for hydrogen energy, said: “It sounds unbelievable how little power is used to keep the BOC Gh2ost moving, but it demonstrates the impact of careful design and is a valuable lesson for car makers in the future. Hydrogen power could create a pollution and noise free environment and bring vital transport solutions to people in poorer parts of the world which is why this research is so important.”

Now Britain’s BOC Gh2ost car will attempt to break the mile per gallon world fuel efficiency record of 10,705 miles per gallon next week, during the Shell Eco Marathon at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Aberdeenshire.

Aberdeen-based company siGEN is managing the project and supplying the fuel cell technology that enables the car to run on hydrogen.

The car’s body shape has been crafted by racing car designer Hugo Spowers using carbon fibre and lightweight aluminium. Shetland Composites built the body using Formula 1 composite carbon fibre technology.

Dave McGrath, managing director of siGEN, said: “To stand a chance of taking the record the car has been built to be as light as possible and have minimum aerodynamic drag, yet be strong enough to bear the driver. The total weight of this car will be under 40kg – lighter that the front seats of an average family car.”

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