Google.org invests $2.75M in Aptera Motors

Google.org, the search kingpin's philanthropic wing, has just added another notch to its eco-friendly belt with a recent (and sizable) investment in Aptera Motors -- makers of that absurdly futuristic gas-sipper we've been following. Along with ActaCell (an electric car battery maker), Aptera received a $2.75 million infusion via Google.org's RechargeIT investment program. Hopefully, some of the cash will be put to use bringing Aptera's Typ-1 vehicle to market, where its $30,000 estimated price tag and outrageous 230+ MPG fuel economy will be a welcome relief from rising fuel costs and concerns... and our lack of a fresh ride.

[Via: SMASHgods ]
[Tag: aptera motors,ApteraMotors,electric car,ElectricCar,fuel,google,google org,google.org,GoogleOrg,hybrid,typ-1 ]

Lightning GT caught rolling around the track

The all-electric Lightning GT sports car might have just had its formal debut yesterday, but that doesn't mean prototypes haven't been tooling around for a while -- check out this video of the swoopy two-door doing the track thing in ultra-dramatic slow-mo. Of course, there's no sound, so there could totally be a nasty 5.0L Windsor V8 block under that hood, but we'll give 'em the benefit of the doubt for now. Video at the read link -- and be honest, is this thing enough to sway your feelings from the Tesla Roadster or the Fisker Karma?

[Via: Autoblog Green ]
[Tag: cars,electric car,electric cars,ElectricCar,ElectricCars,gt,lightning,lightning gt,LightningGt ]

Magic Tricycle: Chopper Meets Big Wheel [Motorcycles]

The Magic Tricycle (horrible name) concept is designed around a reasonable idea. On the highway, you may want to drive a car. So the Magic Tricycle (horrible name) road rages through traffic with three wheels. But when you just want to cruise around town, it transforms into motorcycle mode:

The designers claim that the top wheel adds stability to the 2-wheel mode, but we're not absolutely certain that we'd want more weight so high on the bike (then again, we're not engineers for a reason). And either way, it's a pretty neat idea—one the will lead many of us to promise, "No honey, we won't drive the car in motorcycle mode, we just always really wanted a three-wheeler..." But before we'd even consider a purchase, they'd have to tweak the name "Magic Tricycle" (horrible). It's like Peter, Paul & Mary sodomized Harley Davidson. [Car Design News via DVICE]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Lightning's ВЈ120,000 all-electric sports car unveiled in London

Well, would you have a look at that. That, dear friends, is Lightning's immaculate GT -- a ?120,000 ($239,400) motorcar that is just one of two vehicles in the world to rely on lithium-titanate battery technology. Said innovation enables the vehicle to go from dead to fully charged in "just minutes," though you will have to find a location that provides three-phase industrial power in order to see the benefits over traditional Li-ion cells. The firm's Chris Dell asserts that the nearly exclusive quick charge tech more than justifies the exorbitant price tag, and he's even looking to UK-based businesses to hopefully strike a deal in which motorists can swing by, juice up and be on their way while traveling. Anxious to take delivery? Looks like you'll be waiting until sometime next year.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: car,electric car,ElectricCar,fast charge,FastCharge,Lightning,roadster,uk,vehicle ]

Electric MINI hitting US streets in summer 2009

Not that electric MINIs are anything new, but unless you were willing to pay for all the mods yourself, procuring one wasn't exactly simple. Now, however, we're hearing that MINI itself will be bringing scads of these buggers to American streets in the summer of 2009. Yeah, like, one year from right now. MINI USA VP Jim McDowell was the source of said statement (so it's pretty much official, yeah?), though he didn't mention whether all of them would be reserved for California or if they would be available sold out nationwide. Hey MINI, we'd say you've got a hit on your hands.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: 2009,bmw,car,eco-friendly,electric car,electric mini,ElectricCar,ElectricMini,green,mini,mini cooper,MiniCooper,vehicle ]

Audi pilot program tells drivers how to squeeze the lemon

Though we're hesitant to believe something this fantastic could actually be implemented in real life, word on the pavement has it that Audi is currently running a pilot program that informs motorists "how fast to drive to catch a green light." Over in Ingolstadt, Germany, 50 traffic lights have been equipped with sensors that beam information to specially equipped whips; the network of "smart" signals not only "adapts to traffic patterns to deliver optimum light switching," but gives drivers a heads-up in order to get 'em through lights and cut down on idling / pollution / road rage. We can just hear those red light camera appeals now: "But judge, my car told me to do it!"
[Image courtesy of NOLA]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: audi,driving,green,pilot,pollution,sensor,sensors,stop light,stop lights,stoplight,StopLights,test,traffic,trial ]

SUV Sculpture Unintentionally Sends the Wrong Message [Land Rover]

Constructed of 3500 part, connected by 4,900 bolts and standing 112 feet in the air, this sculpture commissioned by Land Rover is certainly an idolatrous addition to the Festival of Speed. But, uhh, does anyone else see the piece as less a triumph and more an indicator of our inevitable future—one where SUVs are good for little else than standing proudly/uselessly on a scrapheap? [Gerry Judah via Core77]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

E7 electric taxi makes its debut in the UK

While New York taxis are set to go hybrid by 2012, at least one company in the UK looks to be doing its part to take things one step further, with it now showing off an all-electric taxi that it says will be available as soon as October of this year. Dubbed the E7, this one packs a bundle of lithium ion batteries that promise to give it a range of 100 miles on a single charge and a decent enough top speed of 60 miles per hour, as well as a price tag of ?39,450 (or just over $78,000). It seems that not everyone's sold on the vehicle, however, as it recently got the thumbs down from London's taxi licensing division, meaning that Londoners won't be able to catch this particular near-silent ride anytime in the foreseeable future.

[Via: AutoblogGreen ]
[Tag: all-electric,e7,electric taxi,electric vehicle,ElectricTaxi,ElectricVehicle,taxi ]

Shelby sets out to build Ultimate Aero EV, the world's fastest electric car

Who needs to be "green" when you can go really, really fast? Well, Shelby Supercars figures it can have it both ways, with an all-electric version of the Ultimate Aero, the Ultimate Aero EV. Seeing how the Ultimate Aero is already the world's faster production car (at least officially, sorry Buggati), they don't see it as much of a leap of faith for this new version to carry that mantle into the electric space: "I think we can do it faster, leaner and cleaner than any other manufacturer," says the ever-modest SSC founder Jerod Shelby. The new car will be powered by a single 373kW electric motor, with a dual-motor "high performance" version being considered, which should give its gas guzzling sibling some serious competition around the track. Testing will begin in February next year, with full production supposed to commence in Q4 2009.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: electric car,ElectricCar,shelby supercars,ShelbySupercars,ssc,ultimate aero,ultimate aero ev,UltimateAero,UltimateAeroEv ]

Valmet Automotive announces plans to build Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid

It may still be squabbling with Tesla over some allegedly stolen secrets, but it looks like Fisker is still moving full steam ahead with its Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid, with Valmet Automotive now announcing its intention to manufacturer the car en masse in Finland. As Fisker itself had announced way back when, they're expecting to churn out 15,000 of the cars annually, with the first of 'em sent to land in North America sometime in the fourth quarter of 2009, and Europeans getting theirs shortly thereafter in 2010. Apparently, Valmet was chosen to manufacture the car after an "extensive global search," with its location in Finland in particular working in its favor given that more than half of Fisker's cars are expected to be sold outside of North America.


[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: fisker,fisker automotive,FiskerAutomotive,valmet ]

Tricycles Are Just Bicycles from the Future [Concepts]

While the tricycle/Big Wheel are both throwbacks to our past, one designer believes that three wheels are the future. Felipe Tolomei designed this three-wheeled Rabbit bike with a clever idea—put two small electric motors on each back tire. Now if we would only widen each of those motorized wheels to dragster dimensions and stick in a carbon-spewing dual exhaust, I think we'd have ourselves a serious concept. [coroflot via gearfuse]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Nissan pledges electric car in U.S. by 2010

Car companies have been promising fully electric autos for decades, but it seems like we're finally on the cusp of fuel-free, silent running. The Tesla, Zap, and Six50 EVs will all be on the road within the next year or so (we're betting on "so"), and GM's much-anticipated Volt plug-in will come a year after that. Nissan would like to politely remind you that it too plans to have an all-electric auto in U.S. by 2010, all the while lining up charging stations at places like commuter parking lots and train stations. The company recently showed off an all-electric version of its popular (in Japan) Cube at the NY Auto Show, so it's a safe bet that the above is Nissan's vision for the all-electric future of American highways. Shame they couldn't have picked something a little sportier.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: cube,electric,electric vehicle,ElectricVehicle,nissan ]

GM dropping Volt's range from 600 to 360 miles

The gas tank in the Chevy Volt is probably the least interesting thing about GM's hybrid concept, but it's causing some waves today, with reports that GM is trimming it in size, effectively dropping the vehicle's range from 600 miles to some 360. Apparently GM found that consumers rarely travel more than 40 miles a day (the range of the Volt's battery pack) and that longer trips didn't require a 600 mile range because "most bladders can't go 600 miles" -- so cutting down the 12-gallon fuel tank saves weight and cost. Sure, we can see that -- most of our cars can only go 300 or so miles before needing gas -- but it sure seems like the Volt is going from marvel of hybrid technology to just another hybrid in a much cooler skin.

[Via: Autoblog ]
[Tag: chevy,chevy volt,ChevyVolt,general motors,GeneralMotors,gm,hybrid,hybrid vehicle,hybrid vehicles,HybridVehicle,HybridVehicles,volt ]

500 electric Minis to go on sale in California

It's not quite official yet, but Automotive News is reporting that BMW is planning on offering some 500 all-electric Minis for sale in California. The main assembly of the silver hatchbacks with yellow roofs (apart from the drivetrain) will be completed in Oxford, England, with the batteries and motor installed in Munich. After arriving in the US, just 490 lucky Golden Staters will be able to pick one up -- the other 10 will be show cars. Since BMW hasn't formally announced the plan yet, there's no word on pricing or availability, but something tells us there's not going to be any shortage of buyers when these things hit the streets.

[Via: Autoblog Green ]
[Tag: bmw.mini,electric,electric vehicle,ElectricVehicle,zev ]

Mindset Six50 solar electric concept is light, green, and a bit homely

As the big auto manufacturers scramble to come up with fuel-efficient alternatives for us gas addicts, smaller companies are swooping in with both concepts and production models. In the latter category, we have Mindset AG with the solar electric Six50 concept you see here. The 2+2 seater is designed to weigh just 1,764 pounds and measures about 13 feet long with a slab of solar panels over its haunches. Designer Mura Guntak expects the Six50 to run just about 62 miles per charge (although an optional generator can be added to extend this), do 0-60 in 7 seconds, and plans to roll out 10,000 of these bad boys by 2009 at the cost of $78,000 each.

[Via: Inhabitat ]
[Tag: hybrid car,hybrid cars,HybridCar,HybridCars,mindset,mindset six50,MindsetSix50,plug-in hybrid,Plug-inHybrid,plugin ]

2010 Prius revealed, sneakers still a major design influence

We've been hearing rumors about a partially solar-powered Prius, but Car and Driver's got some info on the 2010 model scheduled to make an appearance at the Detroit Auto Show in January, and it doesn't appear that sunlight plays a part quite yet. The popular hybrid gets a more angular shape, but it still basically looks like a shoe -- which isn't to say it's not an improvement over that earlier rendering, which looked like a terrifically ugly shoe. Dimensions are only slightly bigger, as Toyota wants people to "recognize the Prius as a Prius" but the engine gets a small boost to 1.6 liters while fuel economy is said to be improved over the current model's 48 / 45 EPA numbers. There's also a plug-in version in the works, but the battery tech to make that happen is still under development, and supplies will be limited to the "hundreds of units rather than thousands." All this is partially speculation on C/D's part, so we're still holding out hope for solar panels, but we've got a feeling that's not going to happen for a while yet.
Update: Our bad, looks like the image above is apparently just Car and Driver's illustration of what they think it COULD look like. Thanks, Dave.

[Via: TG Daily ]
[Tag: 2010 prius,2010Prius,hybrid,hybrid vehicle,HybridVehicle,prius,rumor,rumors,toyota ]

Segway CTO becoming VP of Apple product design -- yes, really

Yeah, we're surprised to hear it too. Nevertheless, word coming out of the SegwayChat forums has Doug Field, Chief Technology Officer at Segway, heading to Apple as VP of product design. What makes the move oh so interesting is the history between Jobs and Field. See, back in the early days, when Segway was still Ginger and Dean Kamen was harvesting pre-launch industry reactions, Kamen brought the people mover to Steve Jobs. El Jobso's reaction to Field's design is the stuff of Harvard Business school legend:
"I think it sucks," said Jobs, "Its shape is not innovative, it's not elegant, and it doesn't feel anthropomorphic."
How times do change.
[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: apple,doug field,DougField,segway,steve jobs,SteveJobs ]

Tesla Roadster takes 30 hours to charge from a standard wall socket

If you've got the coin to roll deep enough to own a Tesla Roadster, we'd imagine that making sure the car gets its 8 (or fewer) hour charge from a 220v / 80A circuit (like what powers some larger home appliances) won't be a huge issue. But if not, think twice about your driving schedule with the all-electric sports car, because while you can technically power a Roadster from any standard wall outlet, the amount of draw a standard 110v / 15A plug delivers would mean a 30 hour wait to juice up your vehicle's thousand pound battery pack. Thankfully, Tesla owners have time to think over how to deal with these kinds of details, being that none of the customers who've pre-ordered a car have yet received theirs.


[Via: Autoblog Green ]
[Tag: electric car,ElectricCar,roaster,tesla,tesla roadster,TeslaRoadster ]

Prius to go (partially) solar

According to Nikkei, Toyota's apparently going to be equipping future high-end Priuses with Kyocera-built roof-mounted solar panels. Somewhat counterintuitively, the sun's rays won't be used to power the car itself, but will instead run the AC. It also sounds like your next solar-assisted Prius won't be around for a while, as the panels aren't designed in yet, nor will they be until early next year when Toyota starts work on revamping the line.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: green,hybrid,prius,solar,toyota ]

DeLorean Shows Up at Nike Hyperdunk "Back to the Future" Sneaker Premiere [Nike Hyperdunk]

As you already know, today was the launch of the limited-edition Marty McFly-inspired Nike Hyperdunk sneakers. 350 pairs were sold almost instantly (some are now for sale on eBay for as much as $2,000), a hundred of them at the UNDFTD shop in Santa Monica, where L.A. Lakers' megastar Kobe Bryant arrived in a DeLorean time machine to be greeted by hundred of fans, some of them camping outside for more than 24 hours. Seriously, I'm a Back to the Future fan too, but what kind of obsessed fanboy can wait for more than 24 hours for a stupid piece of merchandise? Ah... hrmmm. OK, never mind. [Hypebeast]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

British Vauxhall Cars Have New Camera That Scans Signs, Displays Current Speed Limit [Speed Limit]

Although various GPS units already have the ability to display the current speed limit (they're pre-programmed in) of the road you're on, this Vauxhall Motors invention seems even better. There's a camera on-board that takes 30 snaps per second, then recognizing speed limit signs and translating that to a number to display on your dash. This way you can know exactly what the speed limit is at all times, even when you've just transitioned from a high speed area to a low speed one that cops like to ticket in. In fact, if this system is good enough, it could be a decent excuse to tell the popos that their speed limit signs were too obscured that even a 30FPS camera couldn't make it out. [Kicking Tires via Oh Gizmo]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Anti-terrorist drill reveals Segway attack plan, legions of embarrassed patrolmen

Ah, ha! So, that Chinese S.W.A.T. team we caught ridin' dirty on Segways earlier this week actually had a reason to be carrying on like they were -- they were performing anti-terrorist drills in preparation for security during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Comically enough, the drill was said to be one of "rapid deployment," though we aren't told how many spills were taken when officers tried to actually maneuver one of these things around, aim at a target, pull a brown bag down around their head and keep it from spontaneously reversing. Just one question guys: what's with the tiny guns?

[Via: CNET ]
[Tag: army,beijing,china,cop,military,Olympics,police,segway,Shangdong,soldier ]

Man Hacks Mustang, Gets 100 Miles Per Gallon, Dates, Envy [Cars]

It's not totally carbon-free, and it's probably ugly as sin, but a man in Ohio has found a way to get 110MPG out of a 1987 Mustang. He and his team made many modifications, but it's not a hybrid. The man's not a total altruist, though; he's entered in the Progressive Automotive X Prize contest, a race to be the first to develop a commercially viable car that can get over 100MPG. No details on how they're doing it, so you can't quite try it yourself yet. If we were Doug Pelmear, the man who invented the system, we'd watch our backs, as the oil companies have killed people like him before. It's true, I read it on the Internet. [Local 6]

[Via: Gizmodo, The Gadget Blog ]
[Tag: ]

Hope's Aeris bicycle begs to get run over

Okay, so maybe Hope's forthcoming Aeris isn't that bad, but it is somewhat hard to believe that sensors were installed in the handlebars to "prevent accidents" if some demented designer didn't fully expect this thing to be a vehicle magnet. Designed for the urban tools hipsters in attendance, this bike is reportedly constructed from Hybrix, a material "supposedly as tough as stainless steel but lighter than aluminum." Beyond that, details are few and far between, but cyclists should be able to find out more when it launches this fall for around five large.


[Via: ShinyShiny ]
[Tag: Aeris, bicycle, bike, futuristic, urban, urban bicycle, UrbanBicycle ]

Tesla's Elon Musk promises sub-$30k all-electric car in less than four years

Yes -- more breaking electric car news! Just after Tesla CEO Ze'ev Drori announced Telsa's plans to build the Model S, Elon Musk began discussing its development of electric car tech to get the price of future cars to (and below) $30,000. When asked when that technology would be commercially available, Musk said that it shouldn't be any more than four years from now. Granted, a $60,000 car is affordable but still quite steep for most buyers -- but a vehicle mass-produced at half the price is essentially mainstream, which could have a substantial impact on the automotive world.
[Image courtesy of Edmunds]

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: breaking news,BreakingNews,elon musk,ElonMusk,model s,ModelS,tesla motors,TeslaMotors ]

Tesla announces the Model S: a $60k, all-electric, five passenger sports sedan

Our favorite Terminator (and Governor of California) Arnold Schwarzenegger has just helped Tesla Motors make an announcement that's probably sending chills through traditional automaker's boardrooms. The company has just introduced a fully-electric, five passenger sports sedan dubbed the Model S, which will be selling for $60,000, and will manage 225 miles on a full charge. The carmaker says it will produce the vehicles in a brand new manufacturing plant it's opening in Northern California. We're on the ground at the announcement right now -- no pictures or release date have surfaced yet, but you'll know more as soon as we do.

[Via: Engadget ]
[Tag: breaking news, BreakingNews, electric car, ElectricCar, sports sedan, SportsSedan, tesla, tesla motors, TeslaMotors, whitestar ]