A team of undergraduate students at the Boise State University have conceptualized, designed and driven the fastest vehicle fuelled by vegetable oil. The vehicle, known as Greenspeed, is to be showcased at the Washington Auto Show being held from Jan. 26 - Feb. 5 in Washington, D.C.
The world’s fastest vegetable oil-fueled vehicle – conceived, built and driven by a team of Boise State University undergraduate students dubbed Greenspeed – will be on display Jan. 26-Feb. 5 at the Washington Auto Show in Washington, D.C.
At a Southern California Timing Association race held in November on El Mirage in the Mojave Desert, the ‘Greenspeed’ set a record of 139 mph for vegetable oil-fueled vehicles. The race broke the previous record of 109 mph. The vehicle recorded a speed of 155 mph in another run held on the following day, breaking its own record.
The Greenspeed team includes Dave Schenker, Adrian Rothenbuhler, Jenny Kniss, Patrick Johnston, Ken Fukumoto, Mike Van Kirk and Seth Fueurborn. Schenker is the founder and leader of the club. He also drove the truck during the record-setting runs.
The Greenspeed is a modified 1998 Cheverolet S-10 pick-up truck running on vegetable oil. In further attempts, the team aims to break the 215-mph record set by petroleum-fueled trucks. They intend to perform this attempt in Utah at the Bonneville Salt Flats during the summer.
Bob Kustra, the Boise State President, stated that the invitation for the Greenspeed to the Washington Auto Show was an honor. It showed the team’s engineering skills, spirit and perseverance in building the $125,000 modified Greenspeed truck, he said. He presented the Boise State University’s Trailblazer award to the team.
The Washington Auto Show will highlight the Greenspeed truck, the team and their achievement as part of its “Safety and Sustainability in Motion” theme.