Kieron Bradley gained experience designing formula 1 race car chassis before he took the lead on the CIV (Concept Ice Vehicle) built as a manned scout rover for a trans-Antarctic expedition. Andrew Regan, expedition leader, states, "If you can run bio-fuels successfully in the most harsh and extreme environment in the world, then there is no reason why you can’t use them to get to the supermarket!”

The engine of the CIV is a supercharged BMW 1150 that has been adapted to run on biofuel. The propulsion system is via propeller and the 800lb vehicle has a top speed of 84mph.

This CIV is a cross between and Ultralight and a snowmobile. The machine comes equipped with an Ice Penetrating Radar (IPR) that scans for weakness in the substrate that might threaten the following expedition. There is room for little else besides the pilot as this is meant to be a scout, and if necessary, man hauled over nasty terrain.

Lotus has been on the cutting edge of alternative energy vehicles. The Omnivore and Eco-Elise are two gorgeous machines spewed forth from the minds over at Lotus so far. However, the Moon Regan expedition is bringing alternative vehicles to new corners of the planet in the name of science and the environment.

The Andrew Moon-Andrew Regan expedition team will cross the great continent using state-of-the-art bio-fuelled vehicle technology and cutting-edge communications equipment to raise awareness of how Antarctica’s fate affects the whole environment.

The explorers will cross the continent by vehicle to:

• demonstrate how using wheeled vehicles in the Antarctic can work more efficiently
• demonstrate the efficiency of bio-fuels
• educate the world about climate change
• inspire more children to learn about the importance of the polar regions

Check out the expedition website and learn more about Regan and Moon.