You can see a review of the event at http://open4energy.com

Look to the right – article is titled Downwind Faster Than the Wind

Not only is it possible, but I had my hands on a model of the principle – working on a treadmill – actually going faster than the belt.

As I wrote: I began to understand better – how something could go directly downwind faster than the wind – when I realized that the question was not about wind speed, but rather one of conversion of kinetic energy potential. In this case using a propeller to convert the energy potential in a volume of air moving at a speed (wind) into a force that could be applied to wheels.

I do hope that some of our readers will look further and see the potential for energy efficiency – and think about energy saving.

Yes, kind of like the moon landing hoax. What a hoot!

>>So, if you can go faster than the wind then this should operate just fine on a calm day.

I have no doubt that wind powered vehicles work just fine on calm days – in your world. In ours – not so much.

>> what are you getting out of all this work? Very lame.

Ahhh – you’re worried we’re working to hard for nothing. That’s sweet.

No

HaHaHa says: “Just give it a push and start the propeller, from then on you have a head wind just like your faster than the wind situation.”

No true wind -> apparent headwind = ground speed at the wheels.

This not same as downwind faster than the wind where

apparent headwind < ground speed at the wheels.

HaHaHa says: "Very lame"

Actually it is very cool, because it makes overzealous skeptics who argue against it look foolish. It demonstrates that many of the internet skeptics are not much better at physics than actual crackpots, and argue from pure intuition.

So, if you can go faster than the wind then this should operate just fine on a calm day. Just give it a push and start the propeller, from then on you have a head wind just like your faster than the wind situation.

Again, what are you getting out of all this work?

Very lame.

Three phases:
1. Slower than wind speed (relative wind coming from behind)
2. At wind speed (no relative wind)
3. Faster than wind speed (relative wind from in front)

1. At first, the prop is acting like a sail on a boat running downwind – the wind pushes on it, and moves the vehicle forward. Because the vehicle moves forward, the wheels turn the prop, actually increasing forward speed a fraction. As the cart gets faster, the prop moves faster, and is actually beginning to propel the cart. The faster the cart goes, the greater effect the prop has as a propelling force.
So to start with, the wind pushes the cart forward, but then the turning wheels drive the prop, which then pulls the cart forward. The wind is needed here to offset the inefficiency. At this stage the wheels are driving the prop, which then pulls the cart forward, helped by a pushing wind, until it reaches wind speed.

2. When the cart is going the same speed as the wind, then the wind is no longer pushing. However, the wheels are spinning at say 15mph. This drives the prop. The prop is then like an aircraft standing still, and it will pull the cart forward through the apparently still air – just like an aircraft can move forward from rest. The propulsion is supplied by the momentum of the wheels only at this point. If the cart is light enough, and the ratio worked out nicely, then the cart continues to accelerate. This is only possible because of the wind – creating a no airspeed yet fast groundspeed situation that allows the wheels to drive the prop.
In this stage, the wheels are driving the prop, and it is the prop that is providing the forward acceleration. This phase only lasts a short while until…

3. Once there is a headwind, then the prop stops acting as the propulsion, and instead acts as a windmill. The wind moves the prop, which then turns the wheels. More forward speed = more apparent wind to windmill the prop to drive the wheels = more forward speed. And the whole thing happily accelerates until it reaches its efficiency limits.

The cool thing about this is how the prop and wheels interact. At first the prop is being pushed, then it’s the wheels driving the prop, then the wind driving the prop that then drives the wheels.

The amazing thing is they got the ratio, efficiency, and managed to get it rolling in the first place.

Well done!

The answer is gear ratio between propeller and wheels, meaning they’re trading torque (weight of the car) for velocity.

Yes, thank you, I now, I’m exceptional.