SJSU Students Working On Exhaust-Free Concept Car

CBS-San Jose, 4/3/07

By Len Ramirez

Students at San Jose State University are developing a car that could someday run exhaust-free on electric, solar, and human power.

The Zem -- a concept for a true zero-emissions vehicle -- just may be the first in the world to bring human, electric and solar power together in a snappy design that can theoretically run forever.

"The goal is to have a low-consumption electric vehicle that can be charged with solar panels, or by pedaling it. So if the kids are acting up, you can tell them to go charge up the car," said San Jose State engineering student Scott Cassell.

The students' three-wheeled prototype vehicle can go 35 miles an hour on fully charged batteries, or as fast as you can pedal.

The real innovation is the Zem's transmission, which smoothly integrates pedal, battery, and solar power. It just won a $15,000 first prize at a national college business plan competition at Purdue University.

"They've taken a look at all the possibilities, married them together, and they've come up with something that quite frankly just works," said Richard Okumoto, a mentor to the students.

The next step is to build a four-wheeled utility vehicle with two pedaling seats and solar energy cells built right into the bodywork.

Students see the car as a low-cost solution to problems of energy, pollution, and utility -- especially for countries like China.

"They want to use vehicles. They want the utility so they can increase their consumer-based market, but they can't do that on scooters and bicycles. So they have to either do that on cars or something else, and this is the something else," Cassell said.