Greenfleet Technology Trial

AURORA 101 AND MATE 'TREV' JOIN IN GREENFLEET'S TECHNOLOGY TRIAL

28 March, 2006

It was the turn of the automobiles to receive due attention following the super successful Commonwealth Games staged in Melbourne. Greenfleet led the way, in advance of the 4 day Melbourne Grand Prix carnival, by organising its inaugural 'Technology Trial' for vehicles about to hit the Australian market featuring fuel sipping technologies.

By way of demonstrating an even more efficient future Greenfleet invited the Melbourne based Aurora 101 solar car and the Adelaide based 2 seat electric car 'Trev' to the starting line and to the celebration dinner that evening.

BMW 530D Aurora 101 with the 'Trev' team
BMW's luxury sipper the 530D awaits the start of the Technology Trial Aurora 101 with the 'Trev' team
Trev just itching to go
Trev just itching to go

Fourteen outstanding vehicles passed through the starting arch set up at the entrance to Melbourne Zoo for their 200 kilometre trial to Healesville and back. Even if the drive was a chore the RACV meals of the day were superb for the group of journalists and auto company representatives participating.

Greenfleet patron Peter Brock
Greenfleet patron Peter Brock

Greenfleet patron, the legendary motor racing driver Peter Brock, did best in a 1.9 litre Diesel model Holden Astra recording 4.35 l/100km over the course. In fact the whole fleet of diesel powered entrants recorded excellent fuel economy and better than their petrol equivalents.

The most advanced technology was demonstrated by the Hydrogen fuel cell bus from Perth, Western Australia. This machine is part of the world-wide Daimler Chrysler bus trial program named HyFLEET. This program is gaining real world information and experience through bus fleets into the daily operation of hydrogen supply and normal usage.

On Thursday, 30 March, Greenfleet hosted the HyFLEET program executives at a special leader's forum to give first hand information about the progress of hydrogen fuel cell technology. Both Peter Pudney and David Fewchuk of the Aurora team were in attendance at this special function.

Sara Gipton of Greenfleet at the Leaders's Dinner David Lamb of CSIRO at the Leader's Dinner
Sara Gipton of Greenfleet at the Leaders's Dinner David Lamb of CSIRO at the Leader's Dinner