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Electric
SOHH: Solar human hybrid transport for the whole family (and the dog)
By Paul Ridden
02:36 June 19, 2009 PDT
If the words "human hybrid" conjure terrifying images of Christian Bale battling it out against Skynet and a league of Terminators then the Solar Human Hybrid Project (SOHH for short) might come as a bit of light relief. It's a one of a kind, great-looking 4-wheeler where the power comes courtesy of the harmonization of solar energy and a good old-fashioned lower body workout. There's an iPod dock, a GPS navigation system, a cargo area and even a platform especially for the dog. It's definitely a worthy contender for the crown of coolest green transportation around. Oh, and it's also a school project. Read More
Husqvarna's electric Panthera Leo concept ride-on mower
By Loz Blain
16:17 June 18, 2009 PDT
Just when you thought that wildly overdone, highfalutin concept vehicles were the sole preserve of the automotive market, Husqvarna has dropped a lawnmowing bomb with its majestically named Panthera Leo concept ride-on mower. Using five inbuilt electric engines, it lets you quietly go about your lawn maintenance in the knowledge that you've brought a Gatling gun to a knife fight. Three individually suspended cutting heads can be spaced to your liking, there's an LCD dashboard with speed, cutting height, width and battery maintenance readouts and an object collision avoidance system - and it can rotate completely on the spot for total mowing precision. Read More
Elmoto: Stylish and economical electric biking in one lightweight package
By Paul Ridden
20:50 June 15, 2009 PDT
So what's so special about the new Elmoto HR-2 electric bike? With so many other green transport choices around, why opt for this one? Promising all of the convenient practicality of a bicycle and some of the power and comfort of a small scooter, the HR-2 tips the scales at a svelte 45kg (99lbs) with the help of a strong aluminum frame. The patented 2kW electronic brushless, gearless drive attached to the rear wheel and state-of-the-art battery technology offer an impressive 65 - 70km (40 - 45 miles) of riding between charges and a top speed or 45kmh (30mph)... and no corners have been cut in the style department. Read More
Study exposes transport's hidden impact on the environment
By Darren Quick
02:29 June 15, 2009 PDT
By looking at the environmental impact of passenger transport – whether it be trains, planes or automobiles – beyond the exhaust fumes spewing from its collective tail pipe, researchers in the United States have discovered a significant spike in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. By taking into account transport support systems – which includes sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, as well as the construction and maintenance of infrastructure – researchers at the University of California hope to provide a more detailed view for transport planners and policy makers. And produce a better outcome for the environment. Read More
The Cube models all-purpose vehicle to a T
By Paul Best
21:26 June 14, 2009 PDT
Industrial designer Carlos Mendez adopts a simple philosophy to his work – to make the world a better place. It was with this in mind that the honors graduate from California’s Art Center College of Design came up with his own 21st-century remodeling of the Ford Model T – the Mendez Cube. Read More
Thinnest superconducting metal ever may have wide application
00:57 June 10, 2009 PDT
Scientists at the University of Texas have developed a superconducting sheet of lead only two atoms thick, a remarkably pliable nanomaterial that could help lead to new breakthroughs in electricity generation and computer processing speeds. Read More
The eco-switch saves energy – including your own
By Karen Sprey
01:10 June 8, 2009 PDT
We all know we should turn off appliances at the wall to reduce fire risk as well as our carbon emissions, but the truth is most of us can't be bothered or think to flick the switch. The eco-switch could be the answer: it’s a simple and inexpensive energy-saving device that lets you relocate the power point switch to a more convenient spot where you can turn multiple appliances on and off – with the flick of a single switch. Read More
Tesla delivers 500th Roadster EV
By David Greig
21:09 June 3, 2009 PDT
Tesla Motors has delivered its 500th Roadster to New Jersey Philanthropist Martin Tuchman. The fledgling electric car company - 10 percent of which was acquired by Daimler last month - also has 1000 reservations for its Model S electric sedan and plans to roll into Europe this year, opening showrooms in London, Monaco and Munich, as well as Seattle, Miami, Washington, Chicago and a second New York store in the Chelsea Art District. Read More
Falx Air unveils new Hybrid Coaxial UAV helicopter design
By David Greig
01:00 May 28, 2009 PDT
UK based Falx Air has just released the final design overview of its Hybrid Electric Coaxial Helicopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Sharing the same eco-friendly and fuel-saving goals as the company's previous hybrid designs - most notably its solar-hybrid tilt rotor aircraft - the new UAV platform is based on the latest fast charge battery systems developed in the USA and could be configured as a logistical transport for light cargo up to 70kg as well as for long endurance surveillance. Read More
Electric concept vehicle in the clear
By Paul Best
19:41 May 26, 2009 PDT
Smaller car = less weight = less energy to get from A to B. It's a simple equation that's well understood by those looking to design the car of tomorrow. Among them is industrial designer Alan Kravchenko, who caught our eye with this clean-lined concept for a compact urban commuter dubbed the Peugeot Clear. Read More
The race to build the world's biggest solar power plant heats up
By David Greig
17:42 May 25, 2009 PDT
The race to build the world’s largest solar power plant continues with Arizona Public Service and Starwood Energy Group Global LLC unveiling plans for a 290-megawatt concentrating solar plant in the Harquahala Valley, 75 miles west of Phoenix. As one of the largest solar plants in the world Starwood Solar I will produce enough electricity to power more than 73,000 homes and is scheduled for completion by 2013. Read More
Powerbrella: the solar-powered umbrella that recharges the batteries
By Darren Quick
00:46 May 25, 2009 PDT
A retractable alfresco umbrella that converts sunlight into electricity to charge laptops, mobile phones, iPods or any other portable device that might be used relaxing or working outdoors is in development following a partnership between Skyshades, a supplier of shade structures, and Konarka Technologies, the developer of Power Plastic. Read More
Air-fueled battery boosts capacity tenfold
By Darren Quick
22:52 May 20, 2009 PDT
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the preferred power storage technology for the vast majority of portable devices, such as cell phones, laptop computers and MP3 players. They have also made their way into electric cars, but even with recent developments making them more effective, storage capacity continues to remain a problem. Now researchers at the University of St Andrews, with associates at Strathclyde and Newcastle, have developed a new type of air-fueled battery that could provide up to 10 times the energy storage of existing designs, paving the way for a new generation of electric cars and portable devices. Read More
Putting the squeeze on crystals could see an end to computer boot stages
By Darren Quick
01:36 May 15, 2009 PDT
Nobody likes staring at a screen while they wait for their computer to boot up. Sure, you can spend those few minutes making a cup of coffee or ferreting the dirt out from under your fingernails, but if you’re raring to go those few minutes can be a frustrating waste of time. This could soon be a thing of the past however, thanks to a clever materials science technique that may allow a new class of electronic devices that remember their last state, even after power is turned off. Read More
Powabyke tackles record breaking 1655-mile trek
By Karen Sprey
05:45 May 14, 2009 PDT
As you read this, 66-year-old Briton Eddie Sedgemore is powering his way all over the UK mainland, a 1,655-mile journey on a Powabyke X-byke electric bicycle to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. The Powabyke is a regular looking bike that has a 250 watt motor which slots into the water bottle holder and weighs only 2.5kg, allowing riders to coast along at a steady 15mph (add another 10mph in pedal assist mode). Read More
Green projects take off at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
By David Greig
19:37 May 13, 2009 PDT
Airports are windy places and it seems logical to harness this power to reduce operating costs and boost green credentials. In line with this, the environmentally minded Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) has recently installed 10 wind-powered electricity generators and purchased an electric-powered utility vehicle for use at the airport. Read More
The highly-desirable 1000 watt Limited Edition TidalForce M-750 x2.0 electric fold-up bike
By Mike Hanlon
18:11 May 12, 2009 PDT
Military-funded projects often pave the way for a much better consumer product, and although the original DARPA funding of the development of the Tactical Electric No Signature (TENS) Mountain bike for Marines and paratroopers is now over a decade old, hold onto your hats folks, because the design has been upgraded and will be sold in limited quantities with a 1000 watt propulsion system. The TidalForce M-750 x2.0 is based around the commercially available (and ingenious) Montague Paratrooper folding bike but has a top speed of over 30 mph and range on a single charge is 25 - 28 miles, using the electric power only. The E+ advanced propulsion system features nine forward power modes, nine resistance (exercise) modes, cruise control and anti-theft. It folds to 3 x 3 ft, so it fits in the boot, and the componentry is first class with RockShox Tora 302 Forks, Shimano XTR brakes, FSA Gossamer 30/38/52 tooth crank set, Crane Creek Thudbuster ST seat suspension and a WTB Speed-V Seat. Like we said - highly-desirable. Read More
New multi-speed Electric Vehicle transmission improves EV performance and range
By Mike Hanlon
16:08 May 12, 2009 PDT
The Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) opens in Norway today and will see the official unveiling of a novel multi-speed electric vehicle gearbox by transmission specialist Vocis. Simulations show that a two-speed configuration could reduce the battery energy consumed by 5-10 percent over the industry-standard New European Drive Cycle, without any significant increase in overall cost or packaging volume, as well as extending battery life and providing the potential to substantially downsize the powertrain and battery pack. Read More
Gruber Assist electrifies just about any bicycle
By Darren Quick
01:41 May 5, 2009 PDT
There’s a few reasons why cycling has remained a popular form of transport for over a century. It’s cheap, keeps you fit, is environmentally friendly and it’s fun - usually. Unfortunately it can get a little less fun when you hit a steep hill or have neglected your fitness for a while. This is where electric assist devices such as the Gruber Assist can come in handy. It still lets you do most of the work, but helps to make the job that little bit easier. Whereas electric bikes such as the E+, the eneloop and the Gocycle require the purchase of a complete bike to get some electric assistance, the Gruber Assist can be retrofitted to practically any bicycle provided it has a seat tube with an inner diameter of 31.6mm. Read More
World's largest Solar Power Tower Plant now on-line
By Paul Evans
18:33 May 1, 2009 PDT
Made up of more than 1200 mirrored heliostats surrounding a huge 54 story high tower, the world's largest solar power tower plant is now on-line near Seville in Spain. Developed by Spanish engineering company Abengoa, the PS20 plant generates 20 megawatts of electricity, enough to supply 10,000 homes. Concentrating solar thermal technology has been used in desert areas in Spain and the southwest U.S. for decades and is seeing a resurgence as utilities seek to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Read More
Scarpar's 60kmh all-terrain twin-tracked Powerboard
By Loz Blain
17:02 April 26, 2009 PDT
It's rare that you see a whole new segment open up in personal mobility - and this one looks like an absolute cracker. The Scarpar Powerboard is an off-road powered skateboard capable of taking on pretty much any terrain other than water. An electric or 4-stroke petrol engine powers two articulated tank-style tracks up to a terrifying 60kmh, using a hand control for acceleration and braking. Mud, grass, sand, snow - the Scarpar is capable of driving over just about anything, including rock piles and even fallen logs. Calling venture capitalists - get this thing to market! Read More
Researchers developing portable E-Bomb
By Paul Evans
23:24 April 22, 2009 PDT
High-power microwave (HPM) bombs that use an enormous electromagnetic radio pulse to disable computers, electronics, vehicles, guided missiles and communications while leaving people and structures unharmed have been under investigation in research labs for a number of years. Until recently these weapons have been impractically large at over 3.5 meters long, but researchers at Texas Tech University have now built a self powered device with U.S. Army funding that measures 15 cm in diameter and only 1.5 meters long, making it small enough to be considered portable. Read More
New virus-built battery could power cars, electronic devices
By Darren Quick
22:22 April 22, 2009 PDT
Be they biological or computer, viruses generally get a pretty bad rap - what with their reputation for infection, reproduction and disease it’s not surprising that their name is actually Latin for toxin or poison. But it's not all bad press - for example geneticists harness viruses to further the study of cell biology and they also hold much potential in the emerging field of nanotechnology where their size, shape and well-defined chemical structure has led to them being used as templates for organizing materials on the nanoscale. Now MIT researchers have turned viruses to the task of building a battery – and they’ve succeeded. Read More
Subaru Stella EV specification upgraded for production
By Mike Hanlon
00:36 April 17, 2009 PDT
Subaru has announced an upgraded specification for its plug-in STELLA electric car which will be launched in Japan mid-year. Power has been increased by seven Kilowatts to 47 kW, torque is up 20 Newton metres to 170 Nm and 50 kilograms has been cut from the weight of the vehicle. The sophisticated lithium ion battery pack is smaller and the energy output management refined, though no price has yet been announced. Read More
US$70,000 pedal-powered submarine for two
By Darren Quick
21:36 April 16, 2009 PDT
For most of us, the world deep below the ocean’s surface remains a place we have only had the pleasure to experience vicariously, primarily through watching nature documentaries. It's not as if we can just hop in a submarine and go take a look. Well, perhaps we can, if a Russian company's plan to market a two-seater submarine driven by pedal power to the tourist industry is successful. The new underwater vehicle (UV) from Marine Innovation Technologies (MIT) will not only be cheaper to buy and run than existing submersibles, it will be simpler to operate, requiring no special training or expertise. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
