Juhas Sipilä’s El Kamina is the type of car I would imagine the pioneers driving. The El Kamina (the stove) is a modified Chevy El Camino built to run on wood.
The El Kamina has been modified to run off a woodgas engine. Woodgas engines burn wood to create a gas that can power a modified internal combustion engine. The El Kamina can travel 125 miles on 175 pounds of wood, with the car itself able to carry around enough wood to complete an 800-mile trip. While the El Kamina is the sleekest vehicle around, you've got to love its eco-friendly design (wood is a renewable resource, after all).
While I don't think woodgas engines will help us kick our dependency to gasoline, they are pretty cool to see, especially when mounted in the bed of an American icon like the Chevrolet El Camino.
Wood-Burning Classic Cars
The El Kamina Will Have You Raiding the Forest for Fuel
Trend Themes
1. Woodgas Engines for Vehicles - There is an opportunity to develop more cars with woodgas engine technology to provide a more eco-friendly transportation alternative, especially in areas with abundant forest resources.
2. Renewable Energy in Transportation - There is an opportunity to create more vehicles that run on renewable energy sources such as wood, which can be a more sustainable alternative to gasoline-powered cars.
3. Eco-friendly Car Modification - There is an opportunity to modify existing cars to be more eco-friendly by adding woodgas engines, or engines that run on other renewable resources.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive Industry - The automotive industry has an opportunity to develop more eco-friendly alternatives to traditional gasoline-powered cars.
2. Renewable Energy Industry - The renewable energy industry has an opportunity to contribute to the development of eco-friendly transportation by providing alternative energy sources, such as wood, for cars.
3. Car Modification Industry - The car modification industry has an opportunity to capitalize on the trend by offering eco-friendly modifications to existing cars that reduce their environmental impact.