The Nutmobile, the peanut-shaped traveling ambassador for the Planters brand, is going green. Its newest iteration runs on biodiesel and has a wind turbine, solar panels, LED interior lighting, recycled parts and wood floors reclaimed from a 19th century Pennsylvania barn. It will make its public debut at the Global Green Oscars preparty in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The new Nutmobile is based on a 2011 Isuzu NPR box truck. According to James Riseborough, chief creative officer of the Massachusetts-based builder Turtle Transit, the whimsical, 11,000-pound vehicle’s fiberglass peanut body is held in place with an underlying steel frame. The cab accommodates three people, with additional room for Mr. Peanut to poke out of a midships ceiling hatch and salute during processions.
The Nutmobile’s unmodified diesel engine will run on up to 20 percent biodiesel fuel and return 10 to 15 miles per gallon, Mr. Riseborough said. Energy captured and converted by the wind turbine and solar panel drive an alternator that recharges batteries for the vehicle’s interior lighting and sound system.
The new Nutmobile will be on its national tour from March through the end of summer.
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