Recently in an online think tank the issue of wind powered cars came up? Yes I know what you are saying sounds like a lot of hot air right? Well sure, but in this online think tank anything goes and the members are serious about innovation and making it all work. One think tank member suggested specially designed cars with a radical new aerodynamic design and roads, which were giant tubes. Yet the reality of the situation is that we really cannot do that so another think tanker stated;

"I love the idea of a wind powered car, however the "Tube road" idea is not very cost effective unfortunately"

Indeed it is not practical to re-invent all the roads; although we could change some parts of them to help a little for instance;

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=6059abfaee0df7ed77c2cb3f0d1a8984&showtopic=1201

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?showtopic=1146

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=dd0975c3aadeb33202c7baaafb8ad14c&act=Print&client=printer&f=25&t=1147

But you are right it is highly impractical to build tube tunnels for our roads at this late stage in the game; it seems however that building a car, which drives on wind is not going to be so easy. Unless you thicken the air, increase the wind and/or modify the flow somehow? I guess the question is "How" and as you state indeed it would be the greatest gift to our civilization any innovator could deliver. I do recall a couple of Tri-bred concepts, which used solar, batteries and fuel cell or Solar, alternative fuel and batteries.

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=3186eaf25c226fa8aec790b8eb0dd270&showtopic=191

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=10288a8625b97b072b6561f4392d75b7&showtopic=191&st=0&#entry223

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=5818ba06b4638508d9cfbe2e7ad3e958&showtopic=1617

Why not a Quad-Bred Car? Have a few little weather wind speed windmills on top with the little ice-cream scoop style ends on them, which would constantly charge the battery. Also the top of the car could be solar cells to constantly charge. Then the batteries would be the latest from MIT and the solar cells the latest and greatest from Germany or Arizona State University Solar Research Centers? Could it actually be possible? Well what do you think now? Consider all this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Currently Lance is retired at age 40 and is running an Online Think Tank Forum while traveling North America. Perhaps considering something extremely challenging to do that will exercise his mind and utilize all his experiences, observations and skills. Any ideas?