Richard Jenkins, the man who designed the vehicle that broke the land speed record for a wind powered vehicle, has claimed that just as Formula One technology has come to influence commercial car design, the technologies behind his record-breaking vehicle could herald a new era of environmentally friendly transport

The wind-powered Greenbird which recorded a top speed of 126.4mph uses design borrowed from aeronautical, sailing and wind technologies but with unique demands and adaptations:

 “In conventional vehicles, more power almost always equates to more speed. With land sailing, however, more wind does not necessarily mean more speed. Instead a design is required in which aerofoil lift (translated to forward thrust in a land-based craft) is maximised but, more importantly, drag is minimised. Greenbird tackles this problem by combining racing yacht, aeroplane and Formula 1 racing car concepts and technologies”

With out spelling out the exact details, Jenkins thinks that industry will at some point be able to reap the benefits from the innovations incorporated in the Greenbird.

While a wind vehicle for everyday use may be something for our children to look forward to current car owner hoping to optimize the performance of their vehicles will find the purchase of online car parts a sure way to spruce up their ride.

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