This is Earthrace the fastest biodiesel powerboat. On March 1, 2008 it will star in Valencia, Spain on an attempt to set a new world record for a powerboat to circumnavigate the globe. The standing record was set by a team from UK, it took them 74 days, 23 hours and 53 minutes to go around the globe. Earthrace by running on exclusively 100% Biodiesel fuel, and with a net zero carbon footprint, this not-for-profit project aims to promote awareness of the environment and the sustainable use of resources.
The top speed is 40 knots or 46 mph. The boat is built from 40mm of Diab foam core, sandwiched on the inside between three layers of carbon, making it very strong and light.
Biodiesel is a great fuel. However, until either the world’s population problem is solved, it can only ever be a niche fuel (for things like marine work) because it requires too much biomass. Currently most biofuel comes from waste cooking oil. When that small resource runs out, it will require fuel cropping like any other bio fuel, and fuel cropping is already raising the cost of food to the poor.
I saw this down in Key West one time, very neat boat.
it looks snazzy and it’s good for the environment!
I would much rather see an electric boat powered by solar and wind, the technology is there. This boat is doomed!