Source The Daily Telegraph
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/main.jhtml?xml=/motoring/2002/02/01/emnha\
m02.xml&sSheet=/

The hamster alternative
(Filed: 02/02/2002)
Click for cute little picture of purple vehicle:
http://portal.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/graphics/2002/02/01/emnham02.jpg

Where else could you find a hamster-powered car that looks like a
ladybird than at Toyota's annual Idea Olympics? The Japanese
automotive giant holds the event every year to showcase the
technological talents of its employees in a fun way, and this year's
competition was also open to the public.

Brake hamster power: the Toyota concept

The Hamster Car won the dream car contest for school and university
students. Its name derives from a novel propulsion system, whereby
the energy provided by hamsters running in a wheel is amplified to
power electric motors. Although it's designed to look like a
ladybird, with windows where the spots would normally be, it is
bright pink.

Other, slightly more practical, entries included a go-anywhere
wheelchair and an egg-shaped, people-carrying robot that can find its
own way home.