Piaggio has announced that its MP3 Hybrid three-wheeled motorcycle is now in production. The MP3 Hybrid is similar to the company’s MP3 500, but with two motors: a 125 cc gasoline engine paired with a tiny electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Earlier reports have indicated that the MP3 Hybrid will be able to travel up to 12 miles without kicking in the gas engine, and that in typical driving, the threewheeler could achieve fuel economy exceeding 140 miles per gallon.
A 100 percent solar-powered aircraft called the Solar Impulse project was unveiled on June 26 in Zurich. Solar Impulse is taking another route to make an impact and a statement about renewable energy – it will embark on a 36-hour continuous journey, powered only by solar energy. Because solar is the only source of power though, the plane’s four motors can only reach 8 horsepower, giving the plane an average speed of 43.5mph. Along with the four lithium batteries each weighing 220 pounds, the plane has a total weight of 3,300lbs – the same as that of an average car. The team hopes that the planned 36-hour flight could happen by the end of this year.
Lowpro has launched a variety of camera bags made from 95% recycled material. The material is called Cyclepet which is a 100% post-consumer fabric made from 16 oz PET bottles. Even the hardware is made from reground plastic which is recycled from industrial trimmings salvaged from factory floors. These cute stylish backs can fit more that just cameras. They don’t even look like camera bags. You can pack your cell phones, PDAs, iPhones and iPods. You can choose colours to match your personality from black, plum to grass. Last but not least, a portion of the proceeds from each bag goes to Polar Bear International (PBI) to help protect polar bear habitats from the results of climate change.
Coolerado is offering a revolutionary, solar way to cool the world — utilising 1/10 the energy used by conventional air conditioning systems. At peak times in the summer, 1/3 of all power goes to air conditioning. Simple green and conservation efforts won’t put a dent into this consumption. Bigger solutions must be advanced. This is where Coolerado comes in. Coolerado air conditioners utilise a cooling process called the M-Cycle that uses water to cool air without adding humidity to the air that enters the building. The M-Cycle does not use chemical refrigerants and creates a healthier, more comfortable, living environment by providing continuous fresh air as an integral part of the cooling process.
Riversimple, a minuscule urban car is made to be powered by hydrogen fuel. Tiny Riversimple can run 50mph, with the ability to go 322km straight without having the need to refuel. Riversimple has partnered with gas supply company BOC to install hydrogen stations for the cars in the city where the prototypes are launched. The car itself is an amalgam of high-efficiency approaches in automotive design. Its four motors are powered by a fuel cell rated at just six kilowatts, in contrast to current designs that are all in excess of 85 kilowatts – required because the acceleration from a standing start requires a great deal of power. Unveiled in London, the car is made up of various approaches that make a car highly-efficient. The manufacturers are now seeking for investors to be able to produce 10 prototypes of the vehicle, with the goal of mass production by 2013.
Small but important changes to the Ethernet specification have allowed manufacturers to build smart networking gear, which can sense when a port is inactive and can determine how much power is needed to push a signal across the length of a cable. It’s all based on the IEEE 802.3az specification, and like 802.11n, the products supporting the tech are here far in advance of the finalisation of the specification. In fact, D-Link just announced version 2 of its implementation of this tech, called D-Link Green. It makes its debut in a pair of switches: the $79.99 DGS-2208 and the $59.99 DGS-2205.
A concept whose time has come – the E-waste lamp. Chilean Designer Rodrigo Alonso, with the support of Chile’s Recycla, has created his N+EW (No More Electronic Waste) light by roto-moulding a mix of low density plastic and crushed electronic waste plastic. This process shapes the lamp’s body in a recycled iron matrix. The recycled lamp’s base is produced with aluminium, smelted from beer and soft drink cans.
Hyundai is getting ready to add direct injection to its 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine. Like other DI engines, the revised version gets increased power along with lower fuel consumption. The DI four-cylinder will debut in the refreshed 2010 Santa Fe this fall. Next year, when the completely redesigned Sonata goes into production, it will also get the DI engine. Power from the DI fourcylinder gets bumped from 176 to 200 hp, and it will likely get around 5-10 percent better gas mileage. The all-new Sonata will be unveiled at the LA Auto Show in November. Next year, a hybrid model will join the line-up, as well.
The all new Vers 2X iPod Dock allows you to express your music choice to the world in an eco-friendly fashion. It’s possibly the most environmentally-friendly iPod dock around and is a real beauty, too. Encased in a sweet looking cherry-veneered wooden cabinet with wood from sustainable plantains – the 2X is a naturally good-looking piece of kit, standing out from its surgically enhanced pouty plastic counterparts in the dock market. It offers a very classic and timeless look to your surroundings. It almost gives you the feel of going back in time to the 70’s. But the technology inside it, promises awesome sound quality. This is achieved courtesy of its 3-inch full range speakers offering 20 watts per channel and class -D amplifier.
BigBelly trash cans are equipped with a 30-watt solar panel to power the built-in compactors. The system allows trash collectors to make fewer rounds in the neighbourhood, slashing off four out of five trips even. This solar compactor has now been given a sleeker look, and the solar panels are now covered with ABS plastic, to prevent vandals from being able to smash them. The product is a compactor for recyclables which, is meant to be placed alongside its solar trash cans. The compactors have different configurations depending upon what they’re meant for (paper, bottles and cans). To remain true to its green mission, BigBelly used recycled plastic and non-toxic paints for this new product.