I remember when I first heard about car modification. I was watching the movie Clerks, and heard the customer ask about Mini Trucker Magazine. I was boggled, what was a mini-truck anyway? It turns out, there is a wide world of people who love their cars, and people who can improve their cars one piece at a time.
Today, a group of men and women have updated the whole concept with a sustainability twist in Ecomodding. Ecomodders tinker with and change their cars with an eye for fuel economy instead of speed.
Ecomodders are known for starting with small cars – think Toyota Camry or Geo Metro. The process normally starts with some improvements to aerodynamics, then perhaps a conversion to run on plug-in electricity along with gas. From there, the sky is the limit. Perhaps a home ethanol still.
The best thing about it is that anyone with a little bit of either experience or brains can start this hobby with a handful of tools, so owning a sustainable car is not limited to those who can afford the price tag on a new Prius.
I’ve got a 10 year old Ford Escort. It does well on gas, but I’m certain I could do better. And I don’t mind (at all) it looking like an art-car. I wonder where is a good place to start?
sustainabilityenergy 