Finally – a green car which isn’t boring! Researchers at Warwick University in the UK have unveiled their new one-seater racing car. Dubbed the ‘Eco One’, it is one of the greenest, most eco-friendly cars around:

- The tyres are made partly from potato starch, chosen because it improves fuel economy be producing less friction on the road.
- The bodywork is made from pulped hemp injected with resin from rape seed oil
- The brake pads are made from cashew nuts – the shells are ground and blended to make a resin
- The fuel is a biofuel made from fermented wheat and sugar beet
- The oil is uses is plant-based.

(Source: the Daily Mail)
The stats for the car are pretty impressive in themselves – with a top speed of around 150mph and a 0-62 mph time of just under 4 seconds, it rivals most other sportscars on the roads. And the price tag is impressive too – a snip at just £20,000.

Dr Kerry Kirwan is the brains behind the design whilst student Ben Wood (pictured) built the car. “All the plastic components can be made from plants and although the chassis has to be made from steel for strength, steel is a very recyclable material,” Wood explained. “If we can build a high-performance car that can virtually be grown from seed, just imagine what’s possible for the average family car.”

The Eco One is 95% biodegradable or recyclable. Only the steering-wheel, seat and electrics are made of conventional materials. If you fancy taking a look at the car in the flesh, it will be on display between August 28-30 at London’s National Science Museum.

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