Wind-powered vehicle
Encyclopedia
Wind-powered vehicles have traditionally been associated with seafaring vehicles that, until the advent of steam engine
s, relied primarily upon winds which were used to drive the sail
s of such vehicles to their destinations. In the Western world, such sail-based wind propulsion
on water persists in the modern day within primarily leisurely activities, such as sailing boats, sailing ship
s, yachting
, and windsurfing
. A special case is ice yachting
on ice-covered water.
Terrestrial sail-based wind propulsion in the form of land sailing
and land windsurfing
are also popular recreational activities.
Terrestrial and sea-going wind propulsion by use of kites as propulsion subassembly are also wind-powered vehicles. OceanKite, KiteShip, KitVes, are just a few contemporary examples of kite-based wind-powered vehicles. Kite buggy
ing is an ongoing WPV activity.
electric vehicle
s includes Ventomobile, Spirit of Amsterdam (1 & 2) and Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero, as well as the Greenbird, which currently holds a world record for fastest Wind powered vehicle.
The Ventomobile is a solely wind powered lightweight three wheeler
designed by University of Stuttgart
students. It won the first prize at the Racing Aeolus
held at Den Helder
, Netherlands
, in August 2008. At the Aeolus race, several universities from all over the world participate in race to build the best and fastest wind powered vehicle.
Matthias Schubert, Chief Technical Officer of the teams’ main sponsor REpower Systems AG, applauded the integration of the InVentus Ventomobile project into the coursework of the students: “The achievement of managing a big team over many months, and even making select construction tasks part of undergraduate teaching cannot be estimated highly enough! The enthusiasm the students show in renewable energies and the development of innovative solutions should serve the industry as an example for the development of new technologies."
. In 2009 & 2010 the Spirit of Amsterdam 1 and 2 won first prize at the Racing Aeolus
held in Denmark .
The Spirit of Amsterdam 2 is the second vehicle built by the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. It uses a wind turbine to capture the wind velocity and uses mechanical power to propel the vehicle against the wind. This vehicle is capable of driving 6.6 meters per second with a 10 meter per second wind. Next to its reduced weight, the main advantage is the onboard computer with its sophisticated control system. This specially designed computer is capable of automatically shifting gear in a fraction of a second, and by this the gears are always shifted to their most efficient position.
's Greenbird
vehicle, designed and piloted by Richard Jenkins, broke the land speed world record for a wind-powered vehicle in 2009.“Greenbird recorded a top speed of 126.4 mph (203.4 km/h), and sustained a speed of 126.2 mph (203.1 km/h) for the required time of three seconds, beating the previous, American held, record of 116 mph (186.7 km/h), set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location..
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
s, relied primarily upon winds which were used to drive the sail
Sail
A sail is any type of surface intended to move a vessel, vehicle or rotor by being placed in a wind—in essence a propulsion wing. Sails are used in sailing.-History of sails:...
s of such vehicles to their destinations. In the Western world, such sail-based wind propulsion
Marine propulsion
Marine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet...
on water persists in the modern day within primarily leisurely activities, such as sailing boats, sailing ship
Sailing ship
The term sailing ship is now used to refer to any large wind-powered vessel. In technical terms, a ship was a sailing vessel with a specific rig of at least three masts, square rigged on all of them, making the sailing adjective redundant. In popular usage "ship" became associated with all large...
s, yachting
Yachting
Yachting refers to recreational sailing or boating, the specific act of sailing or using other water vessels for sporting purposes.-Competitive sailing:...
, and windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
. A special case is ice yachting
Ice yachting
Ice yachting is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats, also called ice yachts. It is practiced in Austria, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Norway and Sweden, to some extent, and is very popular in the Netherlands and on the Gulf of Finland, but its highest development is in the United States and...
on ice-covered water.
Terrestrial sail-based wind propulsion in the form of land sailing
Land sailing
Land sailing, also known as sand yachting or land yachting, is the act of moving across land in a wheeled vehicle powered by wind through the use of a sail. The term comes from analogy with sailing. Historically, land sailing was used as a mode of transportation or recreation...
and land windsurfing
Land windsurfing
Land windsurfing is similar to windsurfing but performed on land. Boards with wheels and a mast base attachment are used. It is often called land boarding , streetsailing or dirt windsurfing....
are also popular recreational activities.
Terrestrial and sea-going wind propulsion by use of kites as propulsion subassembly are also wind-powered vehicles. OceanKite, KiteShip, KitVes, are just a few contemporary examples of kite-based wind-powered vehicles. Kite buggy
Kite buggy
A kite buggy is a light, purpose-built vehicle powered by a traction kite . It is single-seated and has one steerable front wheel and two fixed rear wheels. The driver sits in the seat located in the middle of the vehicle and accelerates and slows down by applying steering manoeuvres in...
ing is an ongoing WPV activity.
Wind-powered electric vehicles
Wind-powered electric vehicles primarily use wind-turbines installed at a strategic point of the vehicle, which are then converted into electric energy which causes the vehicle to propel. While they are not in mainstream use yet, many schools have begun building the new technology and research into their curriculums to teach students and to get them active in the subject. Sea-going electric propulsion where the electricity is derived from the kite subassembly is an ongoing activity by KitVes.On land
Terrestrial wind-poweredWind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
electric vehicle
Electric vehicle
An electric vehicle , also referred to as an electric drive vehicle, uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for propulsion...
s includes Ventomobile, Spirit of Amsterdam (1 & 2) and Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero, as well as the Greenbird, which currently holds a world record for fastest Wind powered vehicle.
Ventomobile
Three wheeler
A three wheeler is a vehicle with three wheels, either "human or people-powered vehicles" or motorized vehicles in the form of a motorcycle, All terrain vehicle or automobile. Other names for three-wheelers include Trikes, Tricars and Cyclecars...
designed by University of Stuttgart
University of Stuttgart
The University of Stuttgart is a university located in Stuttgart, Germany. It was founded in 1829 and is organized in 10 faculties....
students. It won the first prize at the Racing Aeolus
Racing Aeolus
During the summer of 2008 the first edition of Racing AEOLUS was organised in the Netherlands by ECN and the Foundation Wind Energy Events . The participants are students who were challenged to design and build a Wind Powered Vehicle that could drive against the wind, powered by a wind turbine.-...
held at Den Helder
Den Helder
Den Helder is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Den Helder occupies the northernmost point of the North Holland peninsula...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in August 2008. At the Aeolus race, several universities from all over the world participate in race to build the best and fastest wind powered vehicle.
Matthias Schubert, Chief Technical Officer of the teams’ main sponsor REpower Systems AG, applauded the integration of the InVentus Ventomobile project into the coursework of the students: “The achievement of managing a big team over many months, and even making select construction tasks part of undergraduate teaching cannot be estimated highly enough! The enthusiasm the students show in renewable energies and the development of innovative solutions should serve the industry as an example for the development of new technologies."
Spirit of Amsterdam
The Wind-powered vehicle "Spirit of Amsterdam 1" and "Spirit of Amsterdam 2" is, just like the Ventomobile, a WPV build by the Hogeschool van Amsterdam (University of Applied Science Amsterdam)Hogeschool van Amsterdam
The Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences , or Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, is one of the largest institutes for higher professional education in the Netherlands. The HvA mainly offers bachelor degree programmes, but also has a number of master degree programmes...
. In 2009 & 2010 the Spirit of Amsterdam 1 and 2 won first prize at the Racing Aeolus
Racing Aeolus
During the summer of 2008 the first edition of Racing AEOLUS was organised in the Netherlands by ECN and the Foundation Wind Energy Events . The participants are students who were challenged to design and build a Wind Powered Vehicle that could drive against the wind, powered by a wind turbine.-...
held in Denmark .
The Spirit of Amsterdam 2 is the second vehicle built by the Hogeschool van Amsterdam. It uses a wind turbine to capture the wind velocity and uses mechanical power to propel the vehicle against the wind. This vehicle is capable of driving 6.6 meters per second with a 10 meter per second wind. Next to its reduced weight, the main advantage is the onboard computer with its sophisticated control system. This specially designed computer is capable of automatically shifting gear in a fraction of a second, and by this the gears are always shifted to their most efficient position.
Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero
Unlike traditional racing, which focuses merely on the order of finish, Mercedes' new concept introduces energy efficiency as an integral part of the competition .The Formula Zero Racer is loaded with technology designed to extract the maximum thrust from the electric hub motors, aero-efficient solar skin and high-tech rigid sail .Greenbird
EcotricityEcotricity
Ecotricity is a green energy company based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, England specialising in selling and generating wind power. It is built on the principle of heavily reinvesting its profit in building more of its own windfarms.-History:...
's Greenbird
Greenbird
The Ecotricity Greenbird is a wind-powered vehicle that broke the land speed record for the fastest wind-powered vehicle at the dry Ivanpah Lake on March 26, 2009. It was built by the British engineer Richard Jenkins...
vehicle, designed and piloted by Richard Jenkins, broke the land speed world record for a wind-powered vehicle in 2009.“Greenbird recorded a top speed of 126.4 mph (203.4 km/h), and sustained a speed of 126.2 mph (203.1 km/h) for the required time of three seconds, beating the previous, American held, record of 116 mph (186.7 km/h), set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location..