Articles tagged with "Solar"
Ford's diesel-electric hybrid Reflex Concept features solar panelling
January 8, 2006 Concept cars are designed to showcase technological capability and to test market opinion. As such, the Ford Reflex concept car shown to the media for the first time today scores maximum points on both counts. The subcompact-sized Reflex is a technological showcase with its advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine, a liberal sprinkling of solar panels and advanced safety features as inflatable safety belts. More importantly, the advanced diesel-electric hybrid engine and new-generation lithium-ion batteries help deliver up to 65 miles per gallon, offering guilt free performance. (read more...)
World’s First Integrated Solar Backpack By O’neill
O’Neill Europe continus to push the boundaries of what it calls “boardsport orientated wearable electronics.” The company’s new line consists of three technologically advanced items of snow apparel: The world’s first Integrated Solar Backpack with communication and entertainment functionalities, an Entertainment Backpack and the second-generation Communication & Entertainment Jacket (formerly known as the HUB). All products in the O’Neill H2 series have been developed for use in conjunction with Apple’s iPod MP3 player. The solar communication and entertainment backpack constitutes the most significant addition to the O’Neill wearable electronics line. Designed for the long haul, the solar backpack incorporates two flexible solar panels and a Bluetooth module. Both backpacks make tune selection hassle free via specially developed entertainment functionality. (read more...)
Preparations for round-the-world solar-powered flight
November 8, 2005 Humans have now spent more than a 100 years under the spell of powered flight, regularly achieving milestones previously thought impossible and developing faster, bigger, deadlier, and more efficient aircraft in which to take to the skies. The challenges show no sign of abating as the second century of aviation begins, not just in terms of sheer human endeavour, but in respect to critical questions of environmental sustainability and renewable energy. The team that accomplished the first ever non-stop round-the-world flight in a balloon back in 1999 is embarking on a new project that will take see it repeat the journey - but this time it's in a solar-powered aircraft. Bertrand Piccard along with Andre Borschberg (an engineer and pilot and the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology (EPFL) and Brian Jones (who co-piloted on the Breitling Orbiter 3 on its record round-the-world flight) are aiming to complete a full night in the air during the first 36 hour solar-powered round-the-world flight during 2009. (read more...)
Dutch Nuon Team takes Solar Challenge for third time
October 3, 2005 As expected, the Dutch Nuon Solar Team has smashed its own world record for driving a solar car from Darwin to Adelaide in this year’s Panasonic World Solar Challenge. Nuon’s car, Nuna 3, reached the finish line at Angle Vale, north of Adelaide after a 3021 kilometre journey with a winning time of 29 hours 11 minutes and an average speed of 102.75 km/h. This stripped almost two hours from its previous 2003 world mark of 30 hours 54 minutes and broke the 100 km/h average speed barrier for the first time. It is the third consecutive time the Dutch team from the University of Delft has been first to Adelaide in world record time. Australian car Aurora was second, beating its 2003 challenge time by four minutes, and finishing with an average speed of 92.03 km/h. The third-placed University of Michigan’s Momentum finished with an official time of 33 hours 18 minutes (90.03 km/h) with Japan’s Sky Ace Tiga close behind at 33 hours 45 minutes (88.84 km/h). Formosun from Taiwan University finished fifth with 36 hrs 01min (83.2 km/h). (read more...)
Solar-powered handbag lights up inside and charges your cell phone
September 27, 2005 Time waits for no-one and no object - the ever-quickening march of progress looks set to reinvent the humble handbag by adding solar power and an electroluminescent lining which lights up when unzipped. It also has a battery which can store the power eeked from the solar system and hence it can charge mobile phones and and other personal electronic devices. The handbag, called Sun Trap, uses a solar cell to trap energy from sunlight, storing it in the bag’s internal battery. When the bag is unzipped, the lining, powered by the battery and made from an electroluminescent material similar to that found in mobile phones, lights up helping them to find items lurking at the very bottom - for example, house keys. The lining goes dark automatically as the zip is closed or switches off after 15 seconds to conserve battery if the bag is accidentally left open. (read more...)
How to convert an electric scooter to a solar scooter
August 18, 2005 Primary producer Donald Dunklee has been watching the power grid slowly but surely failing, while the world demand for fossil fuel is slowly overpowering the world supply, driving prices skyward. It made him determined to "get off the drip" and build street-legal, affordable, dependable, sun-charged transport for his daily 5 mile commute. His solar powered motorcycle has not been plugged into the factory charger since April 15, 2005 and it’s now travelled over 700 miles since then. We guess he made it - this is Donald's story, as told by Donald. (read more...)
World’s largest solar facility proposed - 20,000-dish array, 4,500-acre and 850 MW
August 13, 2005 Edison International subsidiary Southern California Edison (SCE), the nation’s leading purchaser of renewable energy, and Stirling Energy Systems have announced an agreement that could result in construction of a massive, 4,500-acre solar generating station in Southern California. When completed, the proposed power station would be the world’s largest solar facility, capable of producing more electricity than all other U.S. solar projects combined. The 20-year power purchase agreement signed this week, which is subject to California Public Utilities Commission approval, calls for development of a 500-megawatt (MW) solar project 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles using innovative Stirling dish technology. The agreement includes an option to expand the project to 850 MW. Initially, Stirling would build a one-MW test facility using 40 of the company’s 37-foot-diameter dish assemblies. Subsequently, a 20,000-dish array would be constructed near Victorville, Calif., during a four-year period. (read more...)
Lightweight fold-up solar charger for AA Batteries
August 3, 2005 Thanks to the proliferation of handheld devices, the population’s battery addiction is growing at an alarming rate while we await fuel cells or some other way of keeping our MP3s, handhelds and PVRs working within our lifestyle needs. Rechargeable batteries make a lot of sense in the meantime, and now a new fold-up solar charger might make life a little easier for at least some of us. The PowerFilm AA Foldable solar charger is ultra lightweight, thin, and recharges batteries in a highly effective manner in varying sunlight conditions while optimising charging time and protecting batteries from over-charging. It recharges 2 AA rechargeable (NiMH or NiCad) batteries in four hours or four batteries in eight hours, weighs less than 4 extra batteries and folds to pocket size. The military version is already on the market and reportedly a big favourite with soldiers in remote locations. (read more...)
Countdown to the launch of solar sailed spacecraft
June 19, 2005 If you feel like being part of an ambitious scientific adventure over the next few days, spend a few minutes at the Planetary Society web site watching the lead up to the launch on June 21 of the first solar sail spacecraft, Cosmos 1. Solar sails power a spacecraft by the pressure of light particles from the Sun –there is no engine. This technology enables the spacecraft to keep accelerating over almost unlimited distances, and is the only technology now in existence that might one day take us to the stars. It’s not government funded but sponsored by Cosmos Studios, and supported by Members of The Planetary Society from all over the world. The spacecraft will be launched from a submerged Russian submarine in the Barents Sea and carried into orbit in a converted ICBM left over from the old Soviet arsenal. The aim of the mission is to demonstrate the feasibility of Solar Sail flight. There’s a live blog counting down the happenings and preparation all over the world for this momentous event and it is indeed very exciting stuff. The Planetary Society is the largest non-profit, non-governmental space advocacy group on Earth and we wish it the very best of luck in this grand endeavour. (read more...)
Solar Daypacks recharge personal electronics on the go
April 30, 2005 If there’s a massive winner in the low margin, high R&D personal electronics revolution it has been the battery companies that have supplied the electricity that powers the myriad devices we schlep around. Now, like everyone else in the convergence mix, there are new technologies that will potentially disintermediate the battery companies. Juice Bags is a line of urban daypacks that integrate high-efficiency solar panels in carrying cases to convert sunshine into electricity. The bags offer greater mobility and time between recharging – great for those who sometimes go for days before they see another powerpoint. (read more...)
Solar Powered Jacket from SCOTTeVEST
One of the most remarkable debuts at the 2004 CES was the a solar power jacket prototype designed to allow wearers to carry, connect and charge their portable digital devices. Developed jointly by ICP Solar Technologies and Technology Enabled Clothing company SCOTTeVEST, the solar jacket will go on sale in February 2004 in several models with prices varying from US$200 and US$400. (read more...)
Flexible solar panel goes wherever you do
This go-anywhere solar charger uses flexible, non-breakable solar cells to provide power to batteries, GPS units, mobile phones and other portable electronic devices in any location where the sun shines. (read more...)
World record falls in Solar Challenge
Friday October 24, 2003: The Dutch Nuon Solar Team has broken its World Solar Challenge record by driving a solar powered car from Darwin to Adelaide at an average speed of 97 kmh. (read more...)
Enviromission Solar Project
An Australian plan to construct the world's first large-scale solar thermal power station is taking shape at Barooga, 23km northeast of Mildura. The first 200MW power station in the 'Solar Mission' project will produce enough electricity to power 200,000 households... (read more...)
Solar Challenge car to form basis of Ultra-commuter
The UltraCommuter concept is an ultra-light weight, solar powered commuter vehicle specifically designed to meet Australian urban transport requirements. (read more...)
Flexible Cells to expand Solar Energy applications
Building facades, roof tiles and car bonnets could soon incorporate colourful, pliable solar panels to supplement their conventional power sources. (read more...)
Innovative design gives Eclisse the solar edge
Using a unique ring-shaped solar cell that sits underneath the covered glass - instead of beneath the dial as in most designs -the Eclisse watch never needs a battery change and offers six months power reserve once fully charged (read more...)
