Further development

Containerisation

The basic element of the vehicle is the frame. We think that a standard frame should suit rigid axles from 1.5 tons to 5 tons. By designing a frame shorter than 4.0 meters, it is possible to make the vehicle in a „knock down“ version suited for ISO container transport. This would make it possible to load as much as 16 complete vehicles into two 20´ or one 40´ ISO container.

The assembly time for a „knock down“ version will be a couple of hours for two men.

This will be beneficial for rapid deployment to any part of the world in case of relief transport. Likewise, the production of vehicles can be done anywhere with small transport and storage costs.

It is possible to load as much as 66 frames into one 40´ ISO container for local production anywhere. The frames can be shipped for fitting of components suited to various customers. The components (engines, rigid axles, tires) can be recycled parts or new.

Biofuel

Together with firm DAJOLKA, Denmark, www.dajolka.dk, we have developed a simple conversion of diesel engines to a two- tank system for diesel and Pure Plant Oil (PPO). (PPO is the basic oil product pressed from oil plants as e.g. Rape seed and Jatropha Curcas seed). The system can be used for both air cooled as well as conventional diesel engines. The system comprises only one heat exchanger and two three-way valves that can be hand operated. The two valves are operated with a slight time delay for flushing the fuel system when shifting from one fuel mode to the other.

By using an insulated open container inserted in the PPO tank it is possible to have automatic venting also of the PPO fuel line.

Exchange from tires to individual belts

The geometry of the vehicle favours use of individual belts, as the rear axle is trailing the front axle with precision. Both axles are working in the direction of travel, thus there will be no sideways forces trying to twist off the belts. It is easy to interchange between single tires, twins and individual belts. There are now a number of producers of belts suited for the GT. These are made for agriculture, forestry and construction and gives a very low soil compaction and excellent traction. (As an example see www.mattracks.com, www.westtrack.nl).

Electric drive

The basic concept has a patented internal mechanical drive train (Patents in Canada, USA, Europe and The East African Patent Union)

However, the system is also well suited for hydraulic drive. One prototype is built with hydraulic drive and remote control.

With electric drive with motors directly in the hubs of the wheels, the vehicle will have tremendous terrain capabilities as the free height under the vehicle will be extreme. With hybrid drive and free location of engine/ generator it is possible to make a free flat loading area over the whole length of the vehicle.

The wheels / individual belts on the same side of the vehicle travels the exact same distance which makes the electric steering easy.

With regenerative braking it will be very fuel efficient to transport e.g. timber from high laying areas.

With electric drive a shade for the vehicle could be combined with solar panels. The present vehicle covers about 8 sqm area.

Payload to Wehicle Weight Ratio

The vehicle is lightweight as a terrain vehicle. The basic idea is that a strong frame with hardly any torsion will use the shifting of the payload to give maximum traction to the wheels / belts. Some comparisons with other terrain transporters are given on the home page www.greentrac.org.

First Prize in World Bank contest Developing Marketplace 2006

The vehicle concept won a first prize in the World Bank contest Developing Marketplace 2006. There were 2500 entries from all over the world to the competition.

The proposal was a joint venture of Senior Economist Boris Utria, World Bank, Professor Vijay Modi, Millenium Village, Columbia University, New York, World Bank project PROGEDE, Senegal and Professor Herman Qvam, University for Life Sciences and Svein Olaf Lie, GreenTrac, Norway.