Hot Air?

As the 12th Beijing Auto Show kicks off this week, a record 1,125 vehicles will be on display from carmakers. But one model that won’t be in the exhibition hall is made by Tang Zhenping, a farmer from the suburbs of Beijing. According to the Beijing Evening News he has built a wind-powered sports car capable of travelling at 140km per hour. The inventor says he spent Rmb10,000 and laboured for three months to come up with his homemade design. Tang follows in a long-line of rural inventors that are building everything from robots (see WiC59) to submarines. His wind-powered vehicle comes with a battery too, although Tang says he ran out of money to add a roof. If he can gather more capital, Tang’s next priority is to add two solar panels to the back, to complement the car’s green credentials. The inventor says that he hopes a car firm takes an interest and upgrades his idea. Time to move over, Elon Musk perhaps…

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