Ikea unveils solar power.
Ikea feeling the heat to sell first solar powered products. via ubergizmo [PR]
Ikea feeling the heat to sell first solar powered products. via ubergizmo [PR]
Coal industry spokesman “doesn’t know” if burning coal cause global warming.
20 years in 20 minutes. The best from TED. via designobserver [PR]
This year at Milan Design Week 2009, a Lexus exhibition will be called ‘lexus l- finesse- crystallised wind’ and designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Here is a preview of the exhibit.
‘Lexus l- finesse- crystallised wind’ will re-interpret the ambivalence of the Lexus design philosophy ‘L-finesse’ through a dynamic installation that combines unity in space, sound and lighting.
“Crystallised wind is the result of a conceptual interpretation of the underlying principles of L finesse design”, explains Sou Fujimoto. “The term wind addresses not only the flow of wind, but also symbolizes a flow or current in a greater sense. It is a new horizon where the natural and the artificial coexist in space. I wanted to find a way to give form to that which is formless: to take the flow of air and the passing of time and to represent them in such a way as to explain the essence of the duality of L-finesse. the result is an art form that represents movement yet stillness, and the flow of time in a timeless environment.’
The Lexus space will display an acrylic art piece based on the full-size concept car model, the Lexus super sports concept car, the LF-A as well as a specially designed piece of furniture constructed from acrylic.
The exhibition will take place in Milan’s museo della permanente art gallery, from april 22nd to 26th.
Designer: Sou Fujimoto
While we wait for “plug-in” Volt and Prius to arrive in 2010 there are two exotic automakers ready to go. Tesla ( $128,000 USD two-seater ) and Karma ( $87,900 USD ) Let’s look at Karma.
above: The Karma S — for Sunset — concept that debuted at the Detroit auto show shares its gas-electric drivetrain with the Karma sedan but wraps it in an even sleeker two-door body that could see production within two years.
above: A rooftop solar panel on the sedan comprised of 80 cells divided into four zones. Output is 130 watts, and it helps charge the battery and, when the car is parked, keep the interior cool.
“The Karma’s material philosophy balances sensuality and accountability,” Fisker says. “We have gone to great lengths to use only environmentally conscious, classic automotive materials that support a commitment to our eco initiatives.”
Under the skin, the 4-door and 2-door cars use the same gas-electric drivetrain, which Fisker calls Q-Drive, developed with help from Quantum Technologies. The Karma will work much like the Chevrolet Volt, delivering 50 miles of all-electric range before the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine kicks in to drive a generator that will recharge the 22.6-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery and provide juice to keep the car moving. A rooftop solar panel on the sedan comprised of 80 cells divided into four zones. Output is 130 watts, and it helps charge the battery and, when the car is parked, keep the interior cool. Toyota’s got something similar on the 2010 Prius it unveiled a few hours before the Karma S broke cover.
Beneath the car’s aluminum-and-composite body lies an aluminum spaceframe chassis that cradles two electric motors that together produce 300 kW (408 horsepower) and a stunning 959 foot-pounds of torque. Fisker claims the sedan, which weighs 4,650 pounds, will do zero to 60 in 5.8 seconds. Top speed is limited to 125 mph.
Although the Karma’s electric drivetrain is a proprietary system designed in conjunction with Quantum Technologies, the engine, air-conditioning system, steering column and other “bits and baubles” were pulled from the GM parts bin, says Fisker spokesman Russell Datz.
Fisker may be getting help from GM, but, like Tesla Motors, he’s bringing a new business model to the auto industry.
His company isn’t financed by stockholders or government loans, but by venture capitalists, including the powerhouse firm of Kleiner, Perkins Caufield & Byers. It is outsourcing much of the work to top-tier suppliers like Edag Engineering and Magna Intier, and the cars will be assembled by Valmet, the Finnish firm that builds cars for Porsche. Fisker Automotive bought a big share of Advanced Lithium Power, so it’s got a battery supplier lined up.
Still, Fisker still has to get its car certified by the feds — an arduous task that some industry insiders doubt it will complete before the end of the year, particularly since we haven’t seen running cars. It also has to establish a dealer network, but Fisker says 40 dealers will be up-and-running by year’s end. Some seasoned industry watchers say Fisker undoubtedly will get his cars built, but they aren’t betting he’ll do it by the end of the year.
The convertible added just 15 percent to the cost of building the sedan, which carries a retail price starting at $87,900. Another $18,599 gets you the “Eco-Chic” model, which has an interior free of all animal products, with woodwork made from submerged logs (no clearcutting required).
Fisker says he’s received orders for 1,300 vehicles, and he tells The New York Times his company would turn a profit if it sold 4,000 cars annually. The goal, he says, is to sell 15,000 worldwide each year.
Specification:
All electric with range extender (Q-Drive)
Dual mode option: power mode and stealth mode
0-60: under 6 seconds
Top speed: 125 mph
4-door
22 inch wheels
Producer: Karma by Fiskar
The days are getting longer in the Northern hemisphere: a good time to assess you lawn care needs.
The manufacturer, Neuton, say “We are dedicated to making the world’s most innovative and dependable battery-powered lawn and garden equipment for people who care about the maintenance of their properties and the health of our environment. Our forward-thinking designs reduce the noise and pollution of traditional gas power equipment, making yard work more enjoyable. Consistent with these goals, a portion of our profits are donated to community organizations working to clean our air.”
Producer: Neuton
Product reviews ( third party ) view customer reviews on neuton mowers
USA companies are greener in 2008. via treehugger [PR]
From the creator of Helvetica the Movie, Gary Hustwit, comes a new documentary.
Above: sidewalk + snow + stereo in nyc = a production still
Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our relationship to manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about industrial designers, the people who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.
World premiere: South by Southwest Festival 2009 ( March Visit 13 – 22 )
Designers featured include: Featuring:
Paola Antonelli (Museum of Modern Art, New York)
Chris Bangle (BMW Group, Munich)
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec (Paris)
Andrew Blauvelt (Walker Art Center, Minneapolis)
Tim Brown (IDEO)
Anthony Dunne (London)
Dan Formosa (Smart Design)
Naoto Fukasawa (Tokyo)
Jonathan Ive (Apple, California)
Hella Jongerius (Rotterdam)
David Kelley (IDEO)
Bill Moggridge (IDEO)
Marc Newson (London/Paris)
Fiona Raby (London)
Dieter Rams (Kronberg, Germany)
Karim Rashid (New York)
Alice Rawsthorn (International Herald Tribune)
Davin Stowell (Smart Design)
Jane Fulton Suri (IDEO)
Rob Walker (New York Times Magazine)
and more participants TBA
Visit objectifiedfilm.com for more info and screening dates. Thanks Jilly.
If wind turbines are a turn-on for you… (more…)
Designers are invited to explore the concept of “Greener Gadgets.” Designs should seek to minimize the environmental impact of consumer electronic devices at any stage in the product lifecycle. Areas of sustainability to consider include energy, materials/lifecycle/recycling, social impact, and educational development. Designers can focus on a particular area of human enterprise (learning, playing, communicating, etc.), or a particular context (work, home, school, etc.), a particular material, or a specific device. Entries may also seek to create new paradigms for products and services.
This year, the top 50 entries will be published on the web for voting and commenting, and top finalists will be showcased live at the Greener Gadgets Conference in New York City on February 27th for judging by an expert panel.
For more information: Design a greener gadget. Last year’s winners. via Core77
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