50 cars make one bus.
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]
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]
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]
An earth day stimulus package. via designcrave [PR]
Winners include a single mom who battled Big Energy (and won).
Billed as “the scariest movie at the Sundance Film Festival” by Wired, FLOW examines the world water crisis. Part of ‘The Green” site set to launch April 21. via sundancechannel [PR]
Architect Dietmar Koering of Arphenotype has designed these electricity pylons for a competition to envisage a new power transmission network in Iceland.
Each pylon to be between 17 and 32 meters tall, with the shape of each varying according to its
longitude and latitude.
Project Overview:
Adaptability is an distinction of evolution, but today’s instant variations in [virtual] extended phenotypes call for something stronger: adaptability of nature! In nature material is used with optimum efficiency. Cells continually adapt to precisely fulfill their function.
Through researching organic forms and their production methods the intelligence of the material itself should support the design language, the lightness and stiffness. Fibrous systems and computation is the answer for this new task. Fibrous system in biology: inspiration! Like in the evolution through phenotypes, the production is based on a clear code; where the evolution part and the random variation is bounded to the specific landscape and site.
Architectural form and its relationship to nature, environment and society has rich antecedents to the human body. The idea is that the power net is building one main spine of nowadays society which enables living on a high standard in an age of communication; therefore the spines of the power net reflects an organic language.
The organic structure is covered with a high reflective “lotus-effect” color. It will be cleaned through natural weather conditions and will reflect the nature itself, which strengthens the idea of a graphical integration to the landscape. The final tower will blend into its environment physical and virtual. It creates a feedback loop in the observed system.
Each transmission tower is shaped in height between 17m and 32m by computer-driven equipment according to its site / longitude and latitude. This approach permits the structures to be modeled and easily fabricated translating into a reasonable cost.
Construction::
For maximum strength and stability the construction method is based on the idea of a Tripod. Once the parameters are set, it is just the location of tower by latitude and longitude, which will result in unique towers.
Material:
The main material used for the towers is an aramid-fibre-matrix bounded with eco resin through thermosetting, which gives the material stability to degration, UV, weathering and wind. The main structure will be built through filament winding and resin transfer molding. This material allows also in computer aided manufacturing an organic design language without much more costs. The thickness of the material will change through the whole system, calculated by software to adapt the stiffness to site + location and natural forces like wind.
The towers will be prefabricated and mounted on site on concrete foundation, which will support the idea of natural material on site.
Today’s pursuit to build lightweight for economic, material engineering and environmental reasons is the logical response to today’s changing society where flexibility is the prime survival quality.
Future:
Once the system is set up it will be a leading manufacturing site for fibrous systems. The high tech environment makes it hard to copy the design language and production method, which leads to a unique company.
The competition’s organizers Landsnet the Association of Icelandic Architects.
24 first TV show to reach carbon neutral. Whatever that means. But still. via csmonitor [PR]
Tesla has LeftlaneNews streaming the unveiling of the new
Tesla S.
above and two photos below: leaked images not officially streamed
below: live – streamed images at the unveiling
below: unsure where these were taken. grill a study?
below: via treehugger
below: tesla product line
below: leaked. we really don’t know anything about this photo
Following an earlier photo leak, Tesla has officially taken the wraps off its Model S. The Model S follows in the footsteps of the Fisker Karma, offering a sleek four-door sedan with eco-friendly operation. The Model S will be Tesla’s second model, joining the Roadster sports car.
LeftlaneNews adds “Although the Model S’ styling is show-stopping, its interior is just as awe-inspiring. You can clearly see the Model S’ center stack is made up of what looks to be a touch screen interface. Presumably the screen will house all radio, navigation and HVAC controls, which would make for a highly customizable car.”
Elon Musk’s newsletter written 3/27, to Jason Calacanis—
Just moments ago, we took the wraps off the Model S, an all electric family sedan that carries seven people and travels 300 miles per charge. We also launched a web site and began taking orders for this historic vehicle, which will likely be world’s first mass-produced, highway-capable EV.
The Model S, which carries its charger onboard, can be recharged from any 120V, 240V or 480V outlet, with the latter taking only 45 minutes. By recharging their car while they stop for a meal, drivers can go from LA to New York in approximately the same time as a gasoline car. Moreover, the floor-mounted battery pack is designed to be changed out in less time than it takes to fill a gas tank, allowing for the possibility of battery-pack swap stations.
The floor-mounted powertrain also results in unparalleled cargo room and versatility, as the volume under the front hood becomes a second trunk. Combining that with a four-bar linkage hatchback rear trunk and flat folding rear seats, the Model S can accommodate a 50-inch television, mountain bike *and* surfboard simultaneously. This packaging efficiency gives the Model S more trunk space than any other sedan on the market and more than most SUVs.
“Model S doesn’t compromise on performance, efficiency or utility — it’s truly the only car you need,” said Tesla CEO, Chairman and Product Architect Elon Musk. “Tesla is relentlessly driving down the cost of electric vehicle technology, and this is just the first of many mainstream cars we’re developing.”
Tesla expects to start Model S production in late 2011. The company believes it is close to receiving $350 million in federal loans to build the Model S assembly plant in California from the Dept of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Program.
Building on Proven Technology
Tesla is the only production automaker already selling highway-capable EVs in North America or Europe. With 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds, the Roadster outperforms almost all sports cars in its class yet is six times as energy efficient as gas guzzlers and delivers 244 miles per charge. Tesla has delivered nearly 300 Roadsters, and nearly 1,000 more customers are on the waitlist.
Teslas do not require routine oil changes, and they have far fewer moving (and breakable) parts than internal combustion engine vehicles. They qualify for federal and state tax credits, rebates, sales tax exemptions, free parking, commuter-lane passes and other perks. Model S costs roughly $5 to drive 230 miles – a bargain even if gasoline were $1 per gallon.
The anticipated base price of the Model S is $49,900 after a federal tax credit of $7,500. The company has not released options pricing. Three battery pack choices will offer a range of 160, 230 or 300 miles per charge.
But the anticipated sticker price doesn’t tell the full story. Model S costs half as much as a Roadster, and it’s a better value than much cheaper cars. The ownership cost of Model S, if you were to lease and then account for the much lower cost of electricity vs. gasoline at a likely future cost of $4 per gallon, is similar to a gasoline car with a sticker price of about $35,000. That’s why we’re positive this car will be the preferred choice of savvy consumers.
The standard Model S does 0-60 mph in under six seconds and will have an electronically limited top speed of 130 mph, with sport versions expected to achieve 0-60 mph acceleration well below five seconds. A single-speed gearbox delivers effortless acceleration and responsive handling. A 17-inch touchscreen with in-car 3G connectivity allows passengers to listen to Pandora Radio or consult Google Maps, or check their state of charge remotely from their iPhone or laptop.
Tesla is taking reservations online and at showrooms in California. Tesla will open a store in Chicago this spring and plans to open stores in London, New York, Miami, Seattle, Washington DC and Munich later this year.
We’re certain you’ll be hearing a lot more about Tesla in the weeks and months ahead, and we look forward to seeing you at the stores we’re opening soon! [link]
below: jason calacanis parks his tesla at free electric parking at LAX ( more )
[tesla motors] [leftlanenews] [link] [link]
Quite a few new concept cars as environment and economic issues force development.
Check these out.
above: Citroen C-cactus concept
above: Mitsubishi, the iMiev Sport
above: Koenigsegg Quant
above: Peugeot Shoo (photo: webecoist )
above: mercedes-benz formula zero
above: Antro Solo ( photo: ecoist )
above: SEAT Brisa ( photo: ecoist )
above: Minset Six50
above: Lotus Eco Elise
above: the Enigma
above: Eve
Some of these concept cars may never see the light of day. But they are inspiring. And they shout “green” wherever they show up.
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