until bp solves its gulf problems we will feature environ – mental topics. empty los angeles by photographer matt logue.
if you can imagine the city of angels without cars. a highly debated statistic retains los angeles
as the nation’s “king of congestion”.
yep, 1495. what would he be doing today?
It might be the world’s first paperless car: Hyundai Motor America will include an iPad, loaded with a digital version of the thick owner’s manual, with the luxury sedan it plans to launch this fall.
The iPad pitch is aimed to tap into the hype over Apple Inc.’s sleek tablet computer and will be part of the package for consumers who drive off with Hyundai’s Equus luxury sedan.
People who buy the South Korean automaker’s first venture into the super-premium market will also be able to use one of the tablet’s preloaded applications to make service appointments.
“They are trying to position themselves as a modern, in-touch, technologically savvy brand. It is the sort of innovation you would expect from BMW or Mercedes, but not Hyundai,” said Mike Bloxham, director of insight and research at Ball State University’s Center for Media Design.
Known for budget cars such as the $9,970 Accent and the $14,145 Elantra, Hyundai is trying to break into the high-end market with the Equus, which the manufacturer compares with the Lexus LS460 and Mercedes-Benz S550 sedans. The three are similar in size and have engines with about the same power: around 380 horsepower.
The Equus will sell for $50,000 to $60,000, according to Hyundai executives, with the exact amount to be announced closer to launch. An iPad is $499. Will be nteresting to see how the high-end Hyundai fares against a Lexus or M-B.
Many of the most unpleasant aspects of urban life are caused by cars.
Large sweltering expanses of tarmac in cities contribute heavily to urban temperatures. Cars also become unbearably hot in summer sitting in these urban deserts.
Optimizing the heliostatic photovoltaic panels ultimately evolved into their leaflike shape. Though the concept did not intentionally look to mimic the form of a tree, the panels rotate to follow the path of the sun throughout the day – much like sunflowers – absorbing light whilst also providing optimal shading for cars. Although all parked cars can benefit from shading, electric vehicles can directly charge their batteries by plugging into the solar trees.
Solar Tree is unique among anti-auto pollution designs in that it empathizes with the automobile, but particularly with the electric car, providing a place for overworked, spent cars to regain their lost torque, to relax beneath the trees, to gain back their juice in an optimal stress-free environment.
Produce: solar tree
Designer: neville mars
[via] burb
The 2010 Automotive Executive of the Year Innovator Award will be presented to Elon Musk, Chairman, Product Architect and CEO for Tesla Motors. Tesla to host an event at the Geneva Motor Show. via prweb [RK]
we’ve been visiting the chicago auto show and applaud the very green push. we also just posted an electric scooter article that was not intended to be a wheel count poke. that said, here’s a thoughtful story on the merits of riding one’s bike . via the guardian [RK]
chicago loves the blues. now yellow goes green.
chicago is honoring a commitment made years ago to have a greener taxi. yellow is the first. yellow group plans an initial deployment of 100 new CNG taxis under its yellow cab subsidiary, which it says is america’s oldest and largest continuously operating taxi fleet.
Read more about CNG and how solar and wind are feeling the heat.
Resources:
what is cng?
inhabitat
chicago tribune
yellow goes green in dallas
green tech: solar / wind feel heat from cng
environmental leader
cleancngvehicles.org
cng industry
repeat, super cars not dead. ditto for muscle cars. via wallpaper and wsj [RK]
muscle cars are back? did they ever really go away? via wsj lifestyle [RK]
above: arrival at alice springs. recharging after arrival at Alice Springs (we came in with more than 120 km’s of range left, which made the recharge a quick one).
above: hackett and prelgauskas are driving hackett’s red 2008 roadster as part of the 10th annual global green challenge, one of the most high-profile rallies worldwide for production, prototype and experimental cars. Hackett is providing updates in real time on his blog.
The pair drove from alice springs, in the australian northern territory, to the finish marker at a point 183 km north of coober pedy, in south australia.
above: motor sport manager from the south australian motor sport board, jeffmattner,
applies a seal to the Roadster’s “fuel tank”.
above: simon hackett, as he sets off to break the world distance record for a production electric vehicle
above: simon and emilis making history with 313 (501 KM) miles on single charge
above: internode’s favorite road marker on the entire stuart highway
Producer: tesla motors
source: treehugger
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