Bus Uses Real Life Horse-Power
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 09. 4.07
A Dubai-based company called Fleethorse has designed several horse-powered vehicles, including the NaturBus above. The range is powered by horses running on a treadmill, supplemented with electric motors, and they claim that it's the greenest transportation possible. I really hope that this is a hoax.
The conveyor belt apparently starts to move, which encourages the horses to start walking. That walking movement is then harnessed to power the vehicle. The electric motors would be used when going up hill in order to avoid any undue strain on the animals. The waste product is of course, excrement, which is collected at the back of the belt as it drops off. Have a look after the link for the weirdest marketing video you are ever likely to see.
The problem is though, that horses aren't convenient enough to use as a power source. They require a huge amount of looking after. If you have to keep two or three horses in order to power your vehicle, then you may as well just ride one of the horses - it's more efficient, you don't have to buy an expensive vehicle and it's probably more fun for you and the horse. ::Fleethorse via ::Auto Blog Green
Thats the most outrages thing ive ever seen! The horse powering the vehicle consumes more energy then its worth! What were they thinking?!
After the success of this model, a cheetah-powered sport coupe will be available.
I love it when people actually design the things that everyone thinks of but dismisses as stupid!
That video is awesome, the horse doesn't even have to change direction when you reverse into your garage!
plain stupid.This has nothing to do with "green" or even efficient. Is a waste of energy, material and space. Next, they will use ponies to make it "green-er" and why not, cute-er.
Judging by the number of people sitting on top, using four horses to carry a dozen or so people is more efficient than having a dozen horses carrying those people. And it captures the waste and it requires less skill to operate than a cart or wagon.
The only real problem I see is that the greenhouse the horses are kept in would get very hot in the sun.
And what happens when you slam on the brakes?
Geesh, forget the horses...just get the passengers on the treadmill. :)
I'd like to see a low-cost, entry level version, perhaps powered by an ass.
it's not that surprising.. and it's not that outrageous. Just out of the norm. Remember those times people used horses to pull carriages for transportation? We still have them.. but they're rare, very.
Ahem... talk about putting the cart before the horse.
HAHAHAHA thats precious
My dog totally eats it every time I stop and go, or turn. The horse would never make it with my driving. A plain and simple joke. Very entertaining, though.
It's like a motor home for the Flintstones.
This is too funny. The car replaced the horse partly because of the reduction in pollution. Cars don't poop on the street. Can you just imagine rush hour with horses. And it is claimed that cow farts are causing green house gasses. what a feild day we could have with Horse farts. Wait until the EPA gets done with horses. Would a Clidesdale be an SUV horse?
Why doesnt he just ride the horse.
OR just let the horse tow the plastic toy.
What a waste of time
thats so funny. couldnt help but laugh
i would hate to think that someone would invest into this idea if they actually tired to make it
It took me a while to stop laughing long enough to write this. The sound effects alone are classic! On a half way serious note, keep in mind this is from a super wealthy oil rich nation with only one thing in mind, ANYTHING BUT THE ELECTRIC VEHICLE ! That message shouts load and clear through this bad joke. Imagine the time and money wasted producing this animation. They probably could have contributed to the invention of the ultra capacitor or refined the Lithium Ion battery.
At least it gives us a laugh, and a reminder. Move forward in our "quite revolt" and trash the polluting ICE once and for all. I won’t be long now. We will be driving Tesla’s and Phoenix SUT’s with bumper stickers that say, “LOOK, NO GAS TANK, AND NO TAILPIPE!” Makes me want to puke every time I fill my gas tank knowing that I am arming the very nations that want to destroy us. Currently we give them a billion dollars a day. It won’t be long now, the cat’s out of the bag, or should I say, the horse.