If the forward-thinking ideas generated in the recent Create Tomorrowland XPrize Challenge, sponsored by XPrize in partnership with Disney, are any indicator, our automotive future will be bright.
XPrize is a nonprofit organization that regularly runs boundary-pushing competitions for adult scientists. This special kids-only challenge had six winners across broad topics, including housing, transportation, and general human endeavors. The winners had an opportunity to spend three weeks with mentors at the Disney creativity mentorship program.
In this video, Jake Fisher, director of Consumer Reports auto testing, and Amos Winter, professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, playfully weigh in on four of the Create Tomorrowland XPrize Challenge entrants’ conceptual ideas for fuel-efficient vehicles.
Photosynthetic-Fueled Car by Katrina, 14 years old
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Katrina’s idea harnessing the power of the sun and plants to create fuel for the cars of the future is an idea already in the works. Primarily being tested on military and commercial trucks in the form of diesel/algae blends, algae fuel is nearly a carbon-neutral fuel source because it removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Hopefully a commercially viable process of producing algae-based fuel will be readily available by the time Katrina learns to drive.
Air Compression Car by Jaden, 14 years old
Jaden’s progressive idea is for a car’s roof to harness the sun with solar panels that power a turbine motor. So far, car-mounted solar panels have solely been used on production cars for low-wattage features, such as infotainment systems, because the size of solar panels needed to capture enough energy to recharge a car are still too big. Futuristic (and failed) car company, Aptera, a former XPrize competitor, had plans for solar assistance on its high-efficiency three-wheel car. Other automakers, including Fisker, Ford, Mazda, and Toyota have also toyed with solar assistance.
Flying Car by Lila, 11 years old
The flying car has been a fantasy form of transportation since long before the Jetson’s aerocar. One company, Moller International, has for years been planning a gas-powered, spaceship-looking recreational vehicle that will be a combination boat, hovercraft, ATV, and snowmobile, but hasn’t been able to get off the ground. Massachusetts-based Terrafugia believes that the future of personal air transportation is near. That company is developing the Terrafugia TF-X, a semi-autonomous four-seat hybrid electric flying car. While still under development, Terrafugia is taking reservations for buyers, Lila!
Electric Fuel-Cell Scooter by Jason, 13 years old
Hydrogen-powered electric fuel-cell vehicles have been on the roads for about a decade now, albeit in very small numbers. Companies as diverse as General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota have been offering special leases on such cars. Fuel-cell vehicles are electric vehicles that produce their power onboard through a chemical reaction between the hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is a plentiful resource, but its storage and transportation solutions remain a challenge. Jason’s idea of using water to create hydrogen through electrolysis to power an engine is a forward-looking way of creating renewable energy. We’re not so sure about the flying part, though.
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