The Naturmobil may be a contender for the title, ‘world’s greenest car’, but it is also one of the most bizarre vehicles ever created.
The car has a horse in place of a conventional engine, but rather than pulling the vehicle like a cart, the animal powers a treadmill.
Twenty gears help translate the horse’s movement into a top speed on 28mph. The treadmill also charges batteries which will power the vehicle if the horse needs a break.
The car’s inventor, Hadi Mirhejazi, claims to have used technology to make the horse comfortable including a water-cooled jacket, but at least one vet has concerns about the design.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Nobody can know the future of sustainable transport, but we are confident this will not be it.”
After failing to secure a future for the car, the designer is now offering the Naturmobil prototype, patent, and $100,000 patent as the prize in a competition.
What is the ETA?
The ETA is an ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products – including a specialised service for electric vehicles.
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