Horse-Powered Vehicle Turns Heads

Horse-Powered Vehicle Turns Heads LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Iranian engineer Abdolhadi Mirhejazi has literally put the cart before the horse with his motor-less all-weather 1 hp invention the Naturmobil     Mirhejazi runs a company specializing in agricultural machinery and was inspired to design the unique horse-powered vehicle because of his concern for the environment But he says it could be a great business promotional tool     The eye-catching machine always draws a large audience making it an ideal advertising tool     The 2-passenger 6-wheeled unit has a transparent body made from polycarbonate and separate cabins for the horse and driver A fiberglass treadmill is located behind the driver When empty the unit weighs 660 lbs      You lead the horse onto the conveyor belt through a door at the back When the driver is in his seat a pneumatic system lifts the front of the treadmill slightly It starts to move and the horse instinctively begins walking he says The power of his walking activates a 36-gear gearbox Thanks to lightweight construction and complex leverage Naturmobil cruises at about 12 mph with a top speed of about 50 mph     To ensure the horse s comfort Mirhejazi included food and water holders and an advanced suspension system with shock absorbers under the conveyor belt to reduce impact on the horse s leg joints A ventilation system keeps the horse cool     Mirhejazi says the system produces enough excess energy to charge a small battery This electrical system powers the vehicle s lights as well as a digital display where the driver can monitor the horse s condition     Sensors record the animal s body temperature and heart rate and if it gets too warm or tired an electronic switch automatically shuts off the treadmill and transfers the unit s power over to a small DC motor that will run the vehicle long enough to stop at a convenient place for the horse to rest     In addition the system can power two LCD screens for displaying advertising on the sides of the unit     The animal s waste is collected automatically into a receptacle so roads don t get dirtied      It took me 26 months to build the vehicle in my workshop in Tehran and I have patented it Mirhejazi says I demonstrated the Naturmobil at the Invention Exhibition in Geneva Switzerland where I won a gold and silver medal     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Fleethorse Naturmobil Box 214849 Dubai United Arab Emirates ph 011 971 4 3448340 or 011 971 50 358 5343; info@fleethorse net; www fleethorse com

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