Let's get this straight right off the bat: this is not a green car. But, since we've shown you Jay Leno's EcoJet, we thought that you might like to take a look at something along those same lines... only much, much cheaper! Like Leno's EcoJet, which is based on the underpinnings of a modern Corvette, the Bradley GT is a kit car based on the running gear of the ubiquitous Volkswagen Beetle. In the case of this one on eBay, though, that original air-cooled horizontally-opposed four cylinder is no longer present. In its place happens to be a jet turbine engine from Boeing. Of course, if the new owner would like to be a bit more environmentally conscious, jet turbines run just dandy on biodiesel...

Related:

• Jay Leno cracks corn jokes but his jet-powered sports car runs on biodiesel
• Have you been following the progress on Jay Leno's EcoJet?

[Source: eBay Motors]

Here is the latest video from Jay Leno's Garage about the ongoing work on the EcoJet. As the video begins, we see that the biodiesel-running jet turbine is hooked up to a custom-made aluminum gearbox and step-down gear reduction unit which was formed in Jay's shop on a CNC machine. We go on to see some of the Corvette underpinnings that make up the chassis. We can clearly see the Corvette transaxle at the rear of the car, which allows for better weight distribution in a front-engine car. This being a mid-engined car, most of the weight will already be behind the driver. It turns out that the plan to use carbon fiber for the interior was too expensive, even for Jay and General Motors, so instead they formed it out of an aluminum honeycomb. Next you can see the seat which was molded out of fiberglass. The next segment of the video shows some hand-pounded aluminum inner fenders. These shots show the Corvette-sourced suspension pieces as well, which we also saw a bit earlier in the video. Jay then shows off some of the detail work which is going into the car and figures that in a year it will be unfinished but driveable.

So, what makes this car show up on our green-themed auto site? Admittedly, the car will use plenty of fuel, but that fuel will be biodiesel. Being that this car is not likely to be driven all that often, hopefully the eco-fuel will be used in scant quantities and then mostly to show people just what biofuels can do. A car like this is bound to get plenty of attention, and hopefully some of that attention will be transferred to the alternative fuel source.

Related:

• Jay Leno cracks corn jokes but his jet-powered sports car runs on biodiesel

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Ducted fans are an efficient way to power flying vehicles, but the devices remain largely unproduced because of problems with the control and reliability of their mechanisms. Most flying machines suffer from teething pains like this when they are still in their infancy. Jet turbines are a relatively new technology compared with many other combustion engines, but they see wide use because of their reliability and very high power output, despite not being terribly fuel efficient. Likewise, despite being difficult to control without complex computer controls, helicopters have proven popular due to their unique maneuverability. But, what if this same maneuverability were capable in a much more efficient package? This is what Rafi Yoeli is working on with his unmanned flying ambulance. Besides the efficiency of the ducted fan arrangement, the machine is a very efficient way to remove injured people from remote locations. Still, I don't expect to see anything like this any sooner that I expect to see the Moller flying car.

[Source: Popular Science]

I don't know anything about the Sinclair C5. I had never even heard of the machine until today, but here is what I have figured out: three wheels, 12 volt electric power, about 15 miles per hour. Looks a bit odd, and not very comfortable. But, judging from the specifications, I don't think it was intended for long-distance travel anyway. I know what you're thinking: why not mount a jet engine on it, right? Yeah, thought so.

That is exactly what one man decided to do: replace the electric drive system with a jet turbine engine, instantly raising the top speed of the machine from 15 miles per hour to 100. Street legal? I hope not! But, it just goes to show you what an enterprising person can do with enough time on his hands and a big enough helmet. What's next? How about a jet engine tricycle... or a Radio Flyer? Too cool! Remember, jet engines can run on many different fuels; but somehow I don't think that makes this vehicle green. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: green jet powered tricycles are neither green nor jets. Discuss.

[Source: Jet Power via Visor Down]

Dennis Bushnell is the chief scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia, so what he says should probably be given some credence. Bushnell is saying that we could be powering aircraft with biomass from saltwater plants, or halophytes, grown in the desert.

Bushnell said, "This is far from evolutionary, it's just outside people's radar screens and the usual human reaction to this is to say that it's impossible, what's nice about biofuel is that it can use the existing infrastructure used by the oil companies and can be available much sooner than hydrogen, which would require changes to infrastructure and is, therefore, much further into the future."

There are some obvious benefits of biofuels over petroleum-based fuels, among them is sustainability, but another benefit is clear in this strategy: freshwater is not necessary when using halophytes, making the water to irrigate them rather easy to come by.

GE Aviation manager of advanced combustor engineering Timothy Held agrees partly with Bushnell, saying, "It seems plausible that some amount of suitable fuel could be made available for testing purposes in the five-year timeframe."

The article also says that General Electric is following developments in this area "with interest", as is an unidentified oil company.

[Source: Flight Global via Eco Sherpa via Treehugger]