The current record for wind-powered vehicle’s land-speed record stands at 116.7-mph. This record was set almost a decade ago, but hopefully two very innovative Brits will break this limit and set a new goal. The Greenbird designed by Dale Vince of Ecotricity and engineer Richard Jenkins will make a go at the record on the dry salt flats at Lake LeFroy in Western Australia. Using aeronautical techniques and merging them with marine and Formula 1 technologies, the Greenbird epitomizes synchronicity of engineering and design. Banking on the ability of this wind-powered vehicle to touch 3 to 5 times the actual wind speed on land, Dale and Richard are prepping for the event.
Unlike the soft sail used in boats, the Greenbird utilizes a hard sail to maximize its wind thrust. The sails are in fact more or less like the aircraft wings, where the vertical sail facilitates forward motion and the horizontal wings bring stability. The light carbon composite structure should also make the difference. Only time will tell what is to be…. and if, even if this record is achieved, the future of wind-powered vehicles looks quite exciting and promising.
