Carbon Fiber
It’s no secret that as gas prices soar and battery technology evolves, electric bikes are fast becoming the next big two-wheeled thing. That trend is clearly evidenced by the strong showing ebikes are making at this year’s Eurobike trade show, currently taking place in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Over the next several days, we’ll be showing you a few examples that we’ve spotted at the show, but to start things off... well, let’s kick out the jams and go with the “Oh come on, you can’t be serious” ebike. It called the BlackTrail, and with a top speed of 100 km/h (62 mph), it’s officially the world’s fastest commercially-available electric bicycle – and probably the most awesome-looking, to boot. Read More
Carbon Fiber is unquestionably a wonder substance, being used to construct the world’s fastest and most expensive race cars and bikes, not to mention a host of other items where light weight, strength and stiffness are more important than cost. So when we first saw the pics of the Dyson D26 Carbon Fibre vacuum, we figured it was a lightweight vacuum cleaner – no, the wonder substance is actually used for its anti-static qualities and is used in the fibres on the brushbar and is claimed to be a significant improvement in picking up fine dust particles and allergens. Read More
If you're into windsurfing, you'll most likely be familiar with the NeilPryde brand. Now the company is taking a step in another direction by diving into the high-performance road bicycle market. Designed in partnership with BMW's DesignworksUSA, the result is a highly aerodynamic machine developed from extensive wind-tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamic modeling that makes use of complex – and very distinctive – aerofoil cross-sections in the carbon fiber frame and forks, while weighing in at as little as 6.75 kg. Slick in more than just looks! Read More
Billed as the "first new Amphibian design in 60 years," the Privateer incorporates lightweight carbon fiber composite construction, a shrouded rear-mounted propeller, unique float layout and a lower center of gravity with the aim of optimizing safety for both water and land operations. Created by aviation enthusiast and entrepreneur John A. Meekins along with partner and aircraft engineer Bill Husa, we spied the design on show at AirVenture 2010. A prototype is currently under construction and it's expected to be in the air next year. Read More
The purpose of the Automotive X PRIZE is to stimulate development of real-world, practical environmentally-friendly vehicles and the resulting designs make for a wildly varied collection. Of the 12 vehicles currently left in the competition, some look like they rolled straight out of Blade Runner while others – like the RaceAbout – would hardly raise an eyebrow in today's car showrooms. But despite its mainstream looks, this thing definitely makes a strong visual – and technological – statement. Read More
Rather than make do with an iPad or wait for other manufacturers to create the desired "Windows 7 touchscreen tablet with a large screen that could handle HD video and wasn't too thick or power hungry," Justin Campana decided to try and create his own. The process involved breaking open an MSI X320 notebook, overlaying a touchscreen interface and creating custom carbon fiber casing to house the new 13.4 inch high definition LED backlit touchscreen tablet with accelerometer and SSD storage. Read More
Scientists at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology have devised a carbon fiber fabrication process that they say is considerably quicker and easier than the conventional method. Traditionally, carbon fiber products are made by lining a form with carbon fiber matting, saturating the matting with liquid resin, repeating this process for several layers, plastic-bagging the whole works and pumping all the air out, then baking it in an oven. The Fraunhofer process does away with the matting, liquid resin, vacuum-bagging and oven, and will hopefully make carbon fiber more abundant and thus more affordable. Read More
Serious mountain bikers are always looking for a competitive edge. Often, that can mean extracting every ounce of energy from their bodies and their equipment. Danish high-end mountain bike builder Pronghorn has designed a bike frame the company calls its Anti-Power-Loss-System (APLS) where the rear shock absorber is mounted on the top tube. This, says the company, better utilizes the rider’s energy by delivering power more efficiently to the back wheel when the rider needs it - climbing uphill or negotiating technical courses - while performing like a full suspension model on the downslope. Read More
To celebrate the success of its V12 Vantage Aston Martin has debuted a Carbon Black Edition at this year’s Geneva Auto Show. Additionally, to commemorate Dr. Ulrich Bez’s 10th year as Chief Executive of the company, a DBS UB-2010 edition was unveiled along with a new Works Service Tailored service. The new service offers customers of both new and existing Aston Martins personal tailored options focusing on customizing color and materials to customer’s personal tastes. Read More
Gizmag talks to the men behind the Revenge Verde Supercar
The Revenge Verde is an American-made supercar using “the best of the best” parts sourced from a range of supercar manufacturers. The mid-engined Verde offers three drive chain and power train options, including an HP2g V8 engine that runs on E-85 ethanol fuel and produces 400hp, goes from 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds with a top speed of 200mph+, while achieving an amazing 100mpg. We had a chance to chat with Peter Collorafi, the CEO/President of Revenge Design Inc, as well as Doug Pelmear, CEO of HP2g to find out more about the car's development. Check out in our video after the jump. Read More
