How to commute green and smart with style

The next time you’re in a traffic jam, don’t loose your mind. With this cool new folding electric bike you can arrive at time, being a good planet citizen and not badly sweat.

New York City based Industrial designer Manuel Saez has just won two major design awards with a little guy that can solve the problem of many city dwellers, while helping them to make a better world.

The CMYK Elektric Bike is a small folding electric bike that allows people to ride the shorts distances between home/office/school to the public transportation station without much effort and then carry it into the indoor spaces.

The product has just won the 1st prize in the Spark Design Awards –a international design contest with experts in design as a jury- and has reached the 2nd place in the 2009 People’s Design Award at the Cooper-Hewitt National Museum with an overwhelming support from people from all around the world, showing the sex-appeal that the product has both in experts and in the public.

The electric motor can push you forward during 1 hour and then you can re-charge the battery as a laptop. The lightweight and the small size are differential features, since the rest of the e-bikes in the market are too big to be carried out comfortably in the subway or in the bus.

Manuel Saez, the Argentinean origin designer, former Design Director of Humanscale is now leading his own design consultancy where he has enlisted an eclectic group of young talented people from all over the world, from places such as Turkey, China, Brazil, Barcelona and Brooklyn. The team is very proud working in a project that allows them to help to make a greener world through design.

As the National Bicycle Dealers Association says in the U.S. Industry Overview 2008 “national trends related to the green movement, environmental sustainability, the need to address health problems related to inactivity, and higher gas prices bode well for the future of human-powered transportation”.

In the other hand the Electric Bikes Worldwide Report says “the 170K units of electric bikes to be sold in the US in 2009 are forecasted to growth up 194% to 500K in 2011”.

Therefore good commercial future is promised to the company that is currently working in the design and development of two new innovative electric models for different segments to follow up the first model.

For more information, see the following links:

http://www.manuelsaez.com/

http://www.sparkawards.com/

http://peoplesdesignaward.cooperhewitt.org/2009/

http://nbda.com/articles/u.s.-bicycle-market-2008-pg196.htm

http://www.ebwr.com/

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at Commuting to Work with a Folding Electric Bike.

One of the most popular Hybrid cars on the market is the Toyota Prius.  Compact and economical, it’s starting price is listed as just $22,400, putting it within the realms of reality for the everyday, albeit environmentally-conscious, individual.

The third generation of Toyota Prius, the 2010 model, has EPA ratings of 51 mpg in the city, and 49 mpg on the highway.  That’s pretty good even for a hybrid, and is a step up from earlier Toyota Prius models.

But a new pricing structure is lined up for this hybrid, and the Toyota Prius I, II, III, IV, and V are reportedly already available.

The lowest cost version is the Toyota Prius I, which should run for around $21,000, while the Prius V starts at $27,670.

It gets better though.  A solar roof package is available for the Toyota Prius II, III, and IV Models – but not for the V.

The solar roof system costs between $3,600 and $4,500, and uses solar energy to supplement the vehicle’s power and get even better mileage.  This package also includes a solar-powered ventilation system, a navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, and remote-control AC (for those of us who just can’t be bothered to lean forward and turn the knob?)

With this new combination of hybrid technology and solar power, a whole new range of fuel efficiency may be possible.  The solar powered version is said to make mileages of up to 70 mpg possible under ideal circumstances.

If you live or often travel in a sunny climate, the solar roof might go a long ways in reducing your gas bill and carbon emissions.

Under some (somewhat theoretical) circumstances, the driver of a solar-powered Toyota Prius might never need to buy gas at all.

But at the very least, a driver of a solar powered Prius who uses the vehicle’s eco settings and follows basic speed guidelines can expect to stop for gas far less often – so infrequently, in fact, that he should take care not to forget to stop for gas at all.

Sources:

Toyota Beefs Up Hybrid Leader Prius

Toyota Prius

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at Toyota Prius Goes Solar.

Zero to 60MPH in 6.5 seconds, a sleek design that’s compact but stylish and plenty of torque – no, we’re not talking about the newest Porsche. This is the Daimler Smart Ed, a zero emissions, super eco-friendly smart car.

The Smart Ed features a range of 71 miles using a Tesla provided 14 Kwh lithium-ion battery, while the cars 30kW electric motor pushes out an impressive 120 Newton metres of torque.

Originally the Smart Ed was set for an Early 2010 release, now Daimler has announced that their Hambach, France plant will have them ready to go by November 2009.

Unfortunately due to extensive testing that still needs to be completed throughout European cities they won’t be readily “available to anyone interested” until 2012. Of course by 2012 I’m pretty sure 71 miles on a single charge will seem ridiculously out of touch with current models available at that time.

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at Daimler Chrysler To Release Emission Free Smart Car.

Come Friday the world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano, will hit the roads in India. The astoundingly cheap Nano is priced to sell at around $2,500 US, a price most of the middle-class in India can afford. Head of Tatan Motors, Ratan Tata, predicts the car will revolutionize travel in India, getting millions of Indian middle-class off dangerous motorcycles and into cars.

The Nano's Interior

Keep in mind, however, for only $2,500 you don’t get too many features: no power steering, no ABS, only one side mirror, and it tops out at about 65 mph.  On the other hand, there is a feature those of us concerned about global warming might like. The car averages 45 mpg in the city and 75 mpg on the highway. Those aren’t bad numbers.

Yet, the possibly huge influx of cars this price tag represents around the world makes the environmental impact of the Nano look a little less positive. We are talking about MILLIONS of new cars. No matter how low the mpg’s, that will definitely add to already treacherous CO2 levels. Aren’t we supposed to be discouraging car purchases?

But then again, what can we say when the US is recklessly irresponsible in its gasoline consumption and automobile driving. Not to mention, the Nano presents the possibility of literally millions of people previously unable to afford cars getting behind the wheel at a relatively friendly mpg and GHG level. And this alone could beneficially stimulate the Indian economy in countless ways, resulting in the financial stability necessary to support more responsible environmental practices in a notoriously dirty country. Better small, green cars than SUVs, right?

What do you think? World’s cheapest care, boon or bust for environment?

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at The World’s Cheapest Car, Tata Nano: Boon or Bust for Environment?.

Could there be a more fun way to travel than being suspended from a two passenger vehicle 15-20 feet above the ground, while being transported throughout the city? Okay if you’re afraid of heights maybe it’s not the best way to travel, but it could be one of the most environmentally efficient rides you’ll ever take.

SkyTran has announced a system that allows users to travel in two-passenger cars on a system comprised on passive magnets. Since the tracks themselves will provide the power to the transport units they will require no moving parts or engines, which will let them come in at under 1000 pounds per transporter and will therefore require very little energy to run.

The system would be built with two tracks that run parallel to one another, while a separate track underneath those lines would allow track cars to emerge and slow down for users to board. They would then return to the upper tracks and proceed at full speeds.

SkyTran is claiming that the system would cost $10 million per mile of track, a number far below the nearly $40 million per mile needed for light rail and $50 million per mile required for interstate highway construction.

The system seems great, but it does bring to mind the Simpsons Monorail Episode and given the lack of interest in these types of systems in the past the SkyTran may soon go the way of the monorail.

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at SkyTran Personal Magnetic Transport Could Revolutionize City Wide Travel.

Electric transportation grows more popular every day and infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the modest demand of electrically powered cars and bikes: an outlet with simple billing.  Even with great advances in charge times and range, most electric car users are forced to return home before running out of juice.   A lack of proper infrastructure has many causes: disinterested or straightly opposed gas stations; lack of standardized equipment; uncertainty about the future of electric.  However, serious market competition and consumer demand is being noticed and many spoils shall be awarded to the pioneers of not only the vehicular design, but sustainable infrastructure.

Earlier this year, someone finally broke through with a well designed solution and, more importantly, a serious business plan. The tool for monitoring and invoicing electricity drawn from charging a vehicle isn’t exactly revolutionary, in fact it’s taken far too long to arrive in the opinion of most green consumers. However, the design unveiled at the Norwegian zero-emissions exhibition, EVS 24, earlier this year certainly seems to be leading the pack in electricity station technologies. The EBConnect arrives via British company Elektromotive. It will be able to identify a customer, meter the energy consumed and bill customers accounts accordingly and accurately.  The monitoring and billing device is set to be installed alongside pre-existing charging stations across the UK, making the already verdant British landscape even greener.

Elektromotive’s EBConnect software manages sophisticated two-way communication between a vehicle (via the EBConnect) and a central data center. The system provides a variety of payment methods to best suite any customer.   Elektrobay accounts are a personalized system of credit and debit a regular customer may keep preloaded.  The customer can choose instead to have the amount automatically charged to his or her utility bill or may even pay via an SMS and have the charge placed on a cell phone bill.

The EBConnect also offers advancements in the actual charging technology.  Not only is the charging station fully compatible with both fully electric and hybrid cars, but it also charges better.  Elektromotive’s Three-Phase ‘Fast Charge’ Elektrobay prototype uses a power supply of 32 amps, which reduces charging times significantly.  This may be one of the most important steps in advancing the popularity and utility of electric cars.  Even the best charge times currently sit in the 30 min range, which is great when charging at home between errands, but is unacceptable for long-distance driving.  Advancements in automotive and charging station technologies will work hand in hand to defeat this obstacle in the near future and Elektromotive is at the height of the forthcoming wave.

The EBConnect is not limited to the UK alone. Elektromotive also exports Elektrobays to Sweden, Holland, Germany and Ireland with many more international contracts in the works. They have recently even secured a contract in the Middle East according to an Elektromotive press release.   The release states “King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), a new graduate-level research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, will use the Elektrobay charging points for recharging the 150 new electric vehicles that will transport staff and pupils around the campus.”

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at Finally, The First Billing System For Charging Electric Vehicles.

It’s going be hard for Ford, Cadillac and other SUV manufacturers to tout their 18mpg “Green” vehicles in commercials and in print ads once the Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv hits the roadways. A vehicle that can handle 431 miles on a single 6 kilogram tank of H2. A number equal to 68.3 miles/kg when compared to miles per gallon.

According to AutoblogGreen, “Toyota representatives and others drove two FCHV-advs from Torrance to San Diego and back, a 331.5 mile trip, and then calculated how much H2 was left in the 10,000 psi tank.”

It was also announced by a Toyota representative that the company plans on bringing a durable fuel cell vehicle to market by 2015. That’s not even the best news, there are claims that the vehicle will be priced “shockingly low” for consumers.

Currently tests are still underway in California, which means fuel economy may increase at an even greater rate before Toyota releases their first H2 capable automobiles.

So just remember, when commercials are touting 18 miles per gallon SUV’s their about 4 times behind the fold, not to mention the government calls 18mpg vehicles “Clunkers” in their new “CARS” program.

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at Toyota Highlander FCHV-adv: Travel 431 Miles On A Single Tank of H2..

The Mercedes SLS AMG isn’t your mom or dads electric car. Instead it’s a high profile sports car with a V-8 engine that offers zero-emissions and enough power to get even the biggest sports car enthusiast drooling.

The SLS AMG offers a high voltage lithium-ion battery pack that’s so supercharged that it requires its own liquid-cooling system. The car is also powered by four batteries that are located near the vehicles wheel hub motors to provide the full power needed by the vehicle, while also holding down the cars unsprung weight with one transmission per axle.

The SLS AMG doesn’t give up the power required to be classified as a super car. This Mercedes includes 571 horsepower output with an impressive 479 lbs-ft of torgue.

No word yet on pricing which isn’t surprising considering the vehicle isn’t expected until possibly 2015. What I can tell you is that the AMG is expected to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph in 4 seconds, not bad for a supped up car attached to a bunch of batteries and cooled by a specialized cooling system. Not to mention you don’t end up with that burning oil smell when you finally slow down.

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at This isn’t just an electric car. . ..

Nissan has finally gone 100% green electric with their newest automobile the Nissan Leaf. I understand that leafs are in fact green, however the name is rather uninspiring given the capabilities of the actual vehicle.

The Leaf can travel 100 miles on a single charge, offers zero-emissions of CO2 and can fully charge in a rather quick seven hours.

For drivers who need an even faster charge cycle, Nissan is also promising a “quick charge” mode that can put the cars battery at 80% complete in just 30 quick minutes.

The actual vehicle looks quite similar to the Volkwagen Beatle line with a modified hatch back design to set it apart. In my opinion, it’s got a retro meets future vibe that I rather enjoy.

Nissan is expected to start selling the Leaf at the end of 2010, of course by that point the Toyota Prius will probably be getting 3 times the mileage, either way it’s a step in the right direction for the foreign car manufacturer.

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at 100% electric with the Nissan Leaf.

Toyota has launched a unique buzz marketing campaign to attract attention to the launch of the newest model of the 2010 Prius, setting up a bizarre display of giant flowers in the middle of Boston’s Prudential Square.  So what is the point?  What do flowers have to do with the Prius?

The 18 foot bright-colored flowers, which sprout up from benches big enough to seat 10 people, turn out to be more than just colorful seating.  The flower petals themselves are actually solar cells, and the intent of these strange sculptures, which look like something out of Alice in Wonderland, are to provide free electricity for cell phones and laptops.   The benches are even outfitted with free Wi-Fi.

So far, the giant artificial daisies have been set up temporarily in Boston. In a few days, they will be moved across the country and placed in other major cities, including New York, Chicago, Seattle, and LA.
People seem to be reacting well to this campaign, and it is drawing a lot of attention in Prius’ tech savvy market base, a collection of consumers who respond well to buzz marketing. 

Toyota calls their flower-benches a harmonic relationship “between man, nature, and machine,” a creative tag-line also used to describe the third generation Prius itself.

At 50 mpg, the 2010 model Prius is the most efficient model introduced thus far.  It also features a solar panel powered ventilation system, which explains the solar marketing gimmicks, and improved aerodynamics, achieving the lowest drag coefficient of any high-production car, ever.  A bigger battery and electric motor allows more energy to be generated when braking and a Power Split Device allows more power generation and recharging during freeway driving.

Toyota has proven once again to have a great sense for their customers and an innovative spirit

This article was first published on Green Gadget Blog. To continue reading, please view the original post at How do giant flowers sell a Prius?.