Scientists at Shanghai Jiaotong University have discovered that the popular golden cats known as Maneki Neko could provide an environmentally-friendly solution to the city's power supplies problems. The beckoning golden cats can be seen in many shop windows and houses around the city, and are reputed to bring wealth to their owners.

Charlie Coloumb, who is leading the international team at Jiaotong University, explained to our reporter that the magic flapping arm of the cats could be used to generate electricity. "We are unsure exactly how the cats manage to keep their arms flapping up and down, up and down, 24 hour a day: but when we observed this, we were confident we could harness the motion as a power source."

The scientists hope to create a network of up to 10,000 Maneki Neko cats to power the city. An enormous cat is also under construction in Minhang District, and is expected to be completed before the 2010 World Expo.

A magnetic levitation railway between Shanghai and Hangzhou will see giant cats replacing trains in an attempt to cut costs. The maglev project has been in the works for a decade, with an estimated price tag of 35 billion RMB, but was shelved earlier this year after environmental and cost concerns.

It is thought that using 15-tonne genetically modified cats is likely to ease the fears of environmental protestors, while also reducing the cost to a whisker under 20 billion RMB.

The first cat, nicknamed Chairman Miao, is likely to begin operation in 2011.


©上海杭州大猫磁浮交通发展有限公司 (image copyright Shanghai-Hangzhou Large Feline Maglev Transportation Development Co., Ltd.)