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Sun-blessed car pulls in the crowds
THE first solar-powered vehicle to be licensed for the United Kingdom's roads was showcased in York amid attempts to curb harmful carbon emissions and halt global warming.
Anthony Law returned to the city's Bootham School, where he had been a pupil up until 2004, to show students the prototype of the futuristic solar-electric racing car, which is called Affinity and has a top speed of 50mph.
Mr Law, 22, who is from York and is studying engineering at Cambridge University, has joined the Eco-Racing team, a group of students aiming to build a green-powered racing car to take part in the World Solar Challenge in 2009.
He said: "We hope that by showing young people our solar car, with its exciting and futuristic design, we can educate and inspire them about environmental issues and sustainable technologies.
"I'm delighted to be able to bring Affinity to Bootham School and I hope that the pupils here will be inspired to go on to study engineering at university, in the same way that I was inspired during my time here.
"It's crucial that young people realise that engineering isn't all about spanners and greasy overalls, but that, even as a student, you can be developing new technologies that really are at the cutting-edge of what's currently possible.
"Our solar-powered car shows that sustainable transport can be glamorous - not only does Affinity have infinite range and zero emissions, but it also looks amazing."
The prototype stopped off in York while on a journey from Land's End to John O'Groats as part of the team's outreach activities, which will include stop-offs at schools to showcase their work.
It is hoped that the venture will also highlight the need for more environmentally-friendly modes of transport as traffic on the nation's roads currently contributes more than 20 per cent of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions.
Mr Law will be taking on the role of the team manager for Cambridge University's Eco-Racing squad, and they will be developing a completely new car to race in the World Solar Challenge in Australia in October next year.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
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