Pouring water on dirty fumes
by Tom Hughes in Your car on 26.08.08
Motorsport has seen the dawn of a new era.
In a sport which is known for power and the extremes of flashiness and consumption which go with it, speed is king.
However, there is something more important on the agenda of the Formula Zero championship which just had its inaugural race in Rotterdam (not exactly the Monaco, Japan, or Brazil of Formula One - but a start).
This new championship is designed to show off the future potential for hydrogen fuel cell technology, a way of generating power which produces no nasty fumes. The only by-product of Formula Zero racing is clean water.
Now, admittedly, the speeds are not exactly comparable at the moment.
Whereas F1 cars can get up above 200mph, you would struggle to break the speed limit on a residential road in one of the mean green go-karts which Formula Zero uses.
Having said that, the acceleration is allegedly quite something, with instantaneous speed bursts generated by the hi-tech cells. Sounds fun; like the instant gratification of using a mushroom in Nintendo’s Mario Kart.
As a signpost to the future of zero-emissions, it is all rather exciting.
Just don’t expect to see Lewis Hamilton driving one as he swings past Casino or Mirabeau anytime soon.
And even if you do fancy yourself as a Lewis Hamilton, be sure to check out our green driving tips.
Add your comment