Cars from Cashews! A Waste of Cashews?
While not being new news, this car is definitely worth writing about, especially given our recent visit to the LA Auto Show, which of course showcased some of the "green" and not-so-green cars coming down the road.
The Eco One, a project undertaken by the WMG, part of University of Warwick in England, had some pretty lofty green aspirations when it came to vehicle contruction, but they certainly pulled it off. Their goals are best left to Dr. Kerry Kirwan, their bio-materials expert, to describe:
"The concept for the Eco One project was simple: create a high-performance racing car that had a conscience. We researched the most technologically advanced sustainable materials available, and then used them wherever possible during construction."
While most auto manufacturers have tunnel-vision, focusing only on fuel as an environmental issue, the Eco One is green as a package deal. Sure, it runs entirely on biofuels, and its oil and lubricants are plant-based, but how about a shell made from hemp, cashew nut shell brake pads, and tires made partially with potato starch? (I'd be interested to know if you could actually eat the car in case of emergency.)