Scientists at MIT are testing a new power generation, storage and propulsion system known as the GreenWheel that will turn any pedal bicycle into an electric hog.
The GreenWheel is a self-contained electric wheel that can turn any pedal-powered bike into
a fully-electric bicycle!
From the outside, the GreenWheel has the radius of a small dinner plate and is about 2 inches thick. Inside the aluminum frame sits the three major GreenWheel components: an electric generator, batteries and an electric motor.
For now, installing GreenWheel on your own does require a moderate level of technical knowledge or a trip to a bike shop. The GreenWheel can be installed on any bike frame or wheel size, but the original spokes have to be replaced with shorter spokes.
Developed by Ryan Chin and Michael Chia-Lian Lin as part of MIT’s Smart Cities programs. The objective is to create a working prototype that can be installed and retroffited to any bike. The team is also thinking for the long term – they estimate that the batteries for the GreenWheel will last around 40,000 miles, or about 8 years worth of travelling.
mit smart cities
The “2000 Watt Living” initiative imagines attractive new ways of using one sixth of the energy used by the average American. 2000 Watt Living was exhibited at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan 2009, and will be at Making Modern at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago from June 16 to July 25.
via gfry studio and fastcompany [PR]
This is a robot. A metro transport for two passengers with ordinary hand-held baggage or one with luggage.
The taxi is composed of two main parts – an undercarriage and a cabin. The car is driven by two electric motors which are integrated into the rear wheels. There’s optical sensors around all the undercarriage to get maximum view for driving, navigation and control. While the concept looks futuristic, industrial designer Kubik Petr believes it’s going to happen sooner than we think with the modern technology at hand.
Designer: Kubik Petr
via ecofriend
Strength in numbers. Assuming slightly more than one person per car on average, one coach bus could potentially replace 50 cars on the road and reduce carbon emissions some 10 times over. via flowingdata [PR]
Concept motorcycle designed to run on electricity.
Nicolas Petit has designed the Harley Davidson Trunk concept – a bike designed to run on clean, zero emission electricity.
Designer: Nicolas Petit
[ecofriend]
How green is your take-out? Styrofoam. Plastic. Paper or plastic bags. Cardboard boxes. Bioproducts. Aluminum foil. Recycled paper products. Edible containers made from food. Inedible containers made from food. Bring your own …via coudal [PR]
The Peugeot Capsule concept is a single-seat off-road vehicle that was inspired by do-everything adventure touring motorcycles like the Kawasaki KLR 650.
Unlike a motorcycle the Capsule would provide weather protection, plus enough storage to allow for extended overnight adventures. Of interest, a single touch screen that would control vehicle functions and offer internet-enabled satellite connectivity.
Electric motors would provide propulsion to all four wheels, and a roof-mounted solar panel would help keep the batteries topped up on sunny days. Once stopped, a removable luggage rack would double as a stool or desk at the campsite.
Designer: Alp Germaner
Producer: Peugeot
{VIA]
Milan 2009: Casmania and designer Luca Nichetto collaborate.
Nuance is a new concept of the padded seat, in two sizes: one for use around a table and a “lounger” that’s lower and larger with an ottoman combination. Nuance combines a strong visual and ergonomic concept of “hand made” which gives added value to the object while the focus is on reducing waste.
