this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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hmmm
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so out in the utah salt flats they're always trying new and ridiculous looking things. There was a vehicle i remember seeing similar to this one:
the turbine was in the back and the wind provided all the motive force for the vehicle. and it worked! And the blades were not contained so it could chop the fuck out of something that got too close, absolute deathtrap. but powered by wind alone so if you had the right geography, like you live in wyoming or something you got a free ride. pop class 2 electric hub motor on that for windless days, fix the deathtrap part and you have an ideal vehicle if you ask me.
I'm willing to bet it would've been more efficient (but less maneuverable/flexible in its direction of travel) with a sail, just because that would avoid the electric conversion losses.
there were no electric conversions. it just went fan to wheel. it was a really neat vehicle. i think the dude died because he fell backward into the fan. i can't remember, just that's what my anxiety told me was going to happen eventually. i think it could get up to 60mph. it could go faster than the wind and travel into the wind also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyQwgBAaBag
YES THAT ONE they have a museum of propellor cars somewhere but i can't remember where