New technologies catch eyes at Colombian environmental fair

Zero emission vehicles and water saving mechanisms were just some of the innovations presented at an environmental fair this week held here in the Colombian capital.

The 5th International Environmental Trade Fair (FIMA), which closed on Saturday, invited important multinationals and promising start-ups to present how they seek to minimize human impact on the planet.

One of the main attractions this year was the Eolo, a hybrid car, which draws 70 percent of its energy from wind resistance, due to an on-board wind energy generation system that turns wind resistance into electricity.

This project is in the final stages of development and its team was at FIMA to seek backers to boost its commercialization.

The prototype could reach 120 km per hour and could drive up to 100 km on a single charge, Ruth Aleida Garzon, a member of the Eolo team, told Xinhua.

She said the team hopes to have the first car fully manufactured in Colombia within five years.

Another segment of FIMA was about ecology and recycling, where Colombian company Eficiencia y Desarrollo END has been importing technologies from Asia, including new types of lavatories and tyre recycling solutions.

The company sells in Colombia toilets with sensors and which use less than two liters of water per flush, said a salesman Alejandro Salas.

"All our equipment is imported, we search for the best quality and we show people what advanced technologies can be found in China," he said.

FIMA also saw 3,500 young Colombians from around the country debate their respective state policies for the environment, while President Juan Manuel Santos closed the event on Saturday night. Endi