Eco Factor: Zero-emission car powered by electricity.
The decline in fossil fuel reserves has tempted car manufacturers to think about vehicles that are powered by electricity. However, electric vehicles use lithium batteries, the deposits of which are expected to fall short soon. Large deployment of the systems will only make cars more expensive, overcoming the cost benefits that come with electric cars.
The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology sees the solution in an electric vehicle that doesn’t make use of batteries. The removal of battery packs from the system lowers the weight of the car, which has benefits on its mileage. The car, dubbed OLEV (Online Electric Vehicle) remains connected to the power cables beneath the road, which provide it with adequate electricity to power the car’s motors.
The inventors claim that if half of the vehicles running on South Korean roads are replaced by OLEVs, the country could save around $3 billion USD annually by slashing down oil imports by 35 million barrels.
Via: AutoMotto/DesignBoom
