I recall seeing on the local TV news channel (in the metro Detroit area) during the mid-1970's a wind powered car going 60 mph. Until today I was unable to find information on this vehicle.
Most of us fight, not invite cross winds into our automotive concepts. Wind is the enemy, the villain to our perfectly conceived imaginary world of automotive aerodynamics.
The question: Was James L. Amick on to something, or was he chasing rainbows and unicorns?
Homepage
http://windmobile.net/
The craft below is the one I first discovered today while doing a Google image search on the term "A2" (for a logo design).
Maker Faire Detroit 2010: Amick A2 wind-assisted electric vehicle
Quote:
One of the makers we encountered setting up for the Maker Faire Detroit on Friday afternoon was Douglas Amick. Amick was unloading the A2, a three-wheeled, battery-powered, wind-assisted tandem-two-seater. The A2 was originally built by Amick's late father, James, who devised the aerodynamic arch on the rear of the vehicle. That element is claimed to help propel the vehicle forward in crosswinds.
Apparently, airflow coming in at an angle to the vehicle will swirl around as it passes through the arch, actually applying force to the A2's rear, giving it some boost. We'll have to check with some contacts with aerodynamic expertise on the veracity of this claim. Regardless, the Amick A2 is kind of cool-looking. Apparently, it originally had aluminum air batteries installed but they're no longer functional.
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