As more and more bands set out to reduce their carbon footprints, Neil Young is taking his green action to the next level. In an effort to "repower the American Dream, the iconic Canadian songwriter has founded a company called Linc Volt Technology to promote the conversion of existing cars into vehicles that run on alternative energy.
And hes not talking about doing this with just little boxy numbers either but with the ancient gas-guzzlers of yesteryear, such as his 1959 Lincoln Continental. Young recently pulled together a team to turn his 20-foot-long, 5,000-pound behemoth into a vehicle that will run on natural gas, electricity or some other form of clean energy.
His goal is to inspire others to retrofit their existing cars big or small and increase their fuel efficiency, reducing both the carbon footprint left by manufacturing and driving.
"All we're doing is showing that you can run a car like this at 100 miles per gallon or more," Young recently told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Our main focus is on developing the technology. We can tell people how to do it. Or we can do it for you."
With his new hybrid Lincoln, which hes dubbed the Linc Volt, the 62-year-old musician hopes to win the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, a $10-million challenge to develop a vehicle that can get 100 miles per gallon or better by 2009.
But as Young told a Sun Microsystems event in May, this isnt really about winning some fancy trophy. "Were not in the race against other contestants; were in a race against time, he said. "Were not in this to win the X Prize. I am focused on a goal, and its an audacious goal: to eliminate roadside refuelling.
Young plans to release a film about his road to a greener future, also called Linc Volt, shortly. It is currently in production at Shakey Pictures but no release date for the film has been announced.
To learn more about the Linc Volt project, you can visit the website or view Youngs recently erected Linc Volt YouTube channel.
Neil Young discussing Linc Volt on Letterman
And hes not talking about doing this with just little boxy numbers either but with the ancient gas-guzzlers of yesteryear, such as his 1959 Lincoln Continental. Young recently pulled together a team to turn his 20-foot-long, 5,000-pound behemoth into a vehicle that will run on natural gas, electricity or some other form of clean energy.
His goal is to inspire others to retrofit their existing cars big or small and increase their fuel efficiency, reducing both the carbon footprint left by manufacturing and driving.
"All we're doing is showing that you can run a car like this at 100 miles per gallon or more," Young recently told the San Francisco Chronicle. "Our main focus is on developing the technology. We can tell people how to do it. Or we can do it for you."
With his new hybrid Lincoln, which hes dubbed the Linc Volt, the 62-year-old musician hopes to win the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, a $10-million challenge to develop a vehicle that can get 100 miles per gallon or better by 2009.
But as Young told a Sun Microsystems event in May, this isnt really about winning some fancy trophy. "Were not in the race against other contestants; were in a race against time, he said. "Were not in this to win the X Prize. I am focused on a goal, and its an audacious goal: to eliminate roadside refuelling.
Young plans to release a film about his road to a greener future, also called Linc Volt, shortly. It is currently in production at Shakey Pictures but no release date for the film has been announced.
To learn more about the Linc Volt project, you can visit the website or view Youngs recently erected Linc Volt YouTube channel.
Neil Young discussing Linc Volt on Letterman
