Category Archives: Transport
This will fan your appetite – for both the field of motor cars and also food. The Warwick Innovative Manufacturing Research Centre has come up with the WorldFirst F3 race car that is made up of potatoes, steering wheel made of carrots and, the best part, fueled by chocolate. This green formula one racing car is ‘designed and made from sustainable and renewable materials, putting the world first by effectively managing the planet’s resources’. The car also uses other materials like a seat made of soybeans, plant-oil based lubricants and a biodiesel engine capable of running on chocolate and vegetable oil.
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Hummer is all set to put all an end to its non-eco-friendly image. Known as a gas guzzling beast, the Hummer H3 is going in for a green makeover. FEV and Raser Technologies have teamed up to unveil a HUMMER plug-in hybrid. The Hummer H3 Range-Extended Electric Vehicle (ReEV) will be the first vehicle equipped with Raser’s range-extended electric vehicle technology based on a full-sized SUV. It is designed to render more than 40 miles per day with an efficiency of more than 100 mpg. Raser’s 200 kW traction motor along with a 4-speed automatic transmission will provide the necessary thrust. The green beast will be unveiled at the upcoming 2009 SAE World Congress, Detroit.
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The Honda FCX Clarity drives away with a green crown of 2009 World Green Car. Winning against 22 other green cars nominated from all over the world, the FCX Clarity promises zero emission drive powered by renewable fuel cells. Not compromising on style too, this green sedan from Honda wins hearts with its sleek form too. It gets it thrust by an electric motor that feeds on the on-board fuel cell stack. FCX Clarity leaves no carbon footprint behind as only water is discharged. Its fuel efficiency is up to three times that of a modern gasoline-powered automobile and two times that of a gasoline-powered hybrid vehicle. Such an award adds up as one more green feather in Honda’s hat and boosts its image of being an environment leader in the area of alternative fuels and hydrogen-powered fuel cell technology.
[Honda]
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Bethany readies to roll out of the gates of Cambridge University to race in the World Solar Challenge from Darwin to Adelaide (more than 3,000km), Australia. Though the name Bethany may conjure up an image of some demure female, it’s actually is a solar powered racing beast. Weighing just 170kg, the green car can cruise at 60 mph, by feeding on the same amount of energy as a conventional hairdryer. (That’s some girly connection now.) Decked up with high-efficiency silicon cells, Bethany is capable of running at 50 times less power than a normal petrol-fuelled vehicle. It is also fitted with regenerative braking systems that recharge the car’s batteries when brakes are applied. Using computer simulation software, the £200,000 (about $300,000) car’s aerodynamics, rolling resistance, weight and electrical efficiency have been optimized to minimize its energy requirements.
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What does P.U.M.A stand for? Well it is expanded to Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility vehicle. And this is the latest project by General Motors. They have teamed up with Segway Inc to shape up this prototype two-seat electric vehicle. All set to show its true colors in New York, this petite electric vehicle promises outstanding performance for an affordable price. This upright two-wheeler can accommodate two people and also comes with a windshield to protect from wind, rain, sun and pollution too. P.U.M.A also boasts of a top speed of 35 miles per hour and a range of 35 miles with its small lithium-ion batteries. Roll over for more images of this two-wheeled Segway PT look-alike with a hood……..
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If speed is not all that you seek especially on blue waters, then take a look at the world’s first wave powered boat for a green sail. Dubbed, Suntory Mermaid II, this high tech boat utilizes the wave power to move over the same, waves, with ease. It also soaks solar energy to juice up all the on-board equipment. Touted to be the most advanced eco-friendly boat, Suntory Mermaid II, was developed by Hiroshi Terao of Tokai University. It works like this – wave energy is used to create propulsive power so that two fins underneath start moving to set the ship sailing. Shaped out of thin recycled aluminum, the boat can sail with an onboard engine too, if needed, but the whole idea to design such an eco-friendly boat is to adhere to green sailing. The Suntory Mermaid II is going to embark on a green voyage later this month.
Via Newlaunches
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The latest car to join the league of the modern electric cars is E’mo. E’mo stands for “efficient mobility” and “electric motion” and has been created by Stauffacherbenz (yes, the well known furniture design company) in collaboration with Rapperswil technical university in Switzerland. It first came in public view when it was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show 2009 and since then it has only received rave reviews. A lightweight electric vehicle (weighing just 350kg) for town and local traffic, this car promises to find a lot of buyers. Energy efficient and inexpensive, this eco-friendly vehicle is sure to become the car of the future. Boasting of a unique and stylish design, this car is definitely awesome.
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BlueShift Motorcycles are planning to create and sell an electric superbike with a 200 lb ft of torque. The BlueShift motorcycle is predicted to go from 0-60 mph in under three seconds but no information is available as to whether this is a theoretical number based on modeling or actual test results based on an existing prototype. The bike will be customizable, and owners can customize their bike’s looks and handling according to their personal preferences.
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Cars, bikes, trucks and now electric buses. UK-based Optare PLC has introduced the Solo EV, a full battery-electric bus available in lengths of 8.1m, 8.8m and 9.5m and widths of either 2.3m or 2.5m. The buses feature an Enova Systems P120 AC induction motor rated at 120 kW and powered by two banks of Valence Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries. The two packs work in parallel and provide 307V with a total capacity of 80 kWh with the batteries kept in two steel crates set either side of the centrally mounted motor for excellent weight distribution.
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Now look at this kind country that is taking steps to boost the car demand after the global recession hit the world. Nissan Motor Company unveiled an upgraded lineup of seven fuel-efficient models that will be eligible for Japanese tax breaks and will be sold in Japan from April 23. The company said that ‘the government will carry out the tax breaks to spur domestic demand’’ amid tough market conditions in both Japan and abroad’. The fiscal year of 2009 will hence see sales of units between 30,000 and 40,000.
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