What’s Next - Fast Charging Electric Cars
by: Ecofriend, 2011-05-17 03:21:29 UTC
Ayan123:
As we know it
An electric car is a vehicle which draws its energy from electricity rather than petrol or diesel. An electric car powered by a rechargeable battery is much more environment friendly than a gas guzzling one. The biggest benefit of having rechargeable batteries powering your car is that they can be recharged anywhere anytime. They can be charged at at any plug even with the plugs we use at home. If you have the need to take the car out early in the morning then you can always charge it overnight and take your ride in the morning. Depending on the type of battery, voltage and the outlet, it can take anywhere between 3-8 hours to fully charge an electric car. An electric car with a fully charged battery can travel anywhere between 40 to 325 miles. It would be advisable that you charge your electric car batteries outdoors since hydrogen gas is released during the charging process. Therefore, charging the batteries indoors can be troublesome.
Need for change:
But it is not all hunky dory with the electric car. The battery technology, although have advanced quite a bit in the recent years, is still far from being fully mature. The biggest problems with car batteries are there mileage. While a conventional vehicle can run for 300+ miles on a full “belly”, it is extremely difficult for an electric powered car to achieve this feat. But there are indications that this problem will be sorted out in the near future. Also charging these vehicles can be a headache for people who live in apartments and have to park the car on the roads. Having the charging cable lying on the pavement can be a problem for other people. Another big problem about buying a fully electric car is their price. The cars costs a little more compared to the features they offer. But one advantage with these cars is that the owneship cost is low since you would not have to spend money on fuel. But most people are unwilling to invest a big sum at one time while buying them.
What’s next?
1) Fast charger promises to re-fuel electric cars within 15 minutes:
What’s new?
The problems of electric cars related to charging of batteries could soon be a thing of the past with the development of fast charging technology which could literally recharge your car battery within a time as short as 15 minutes. This new development in the field of battery recharge has been brought about by a Norwegian firm Think in collaboration with AeroVironment. The technology, once fully developed, will fill up your car battery up to its 80% capacity in 15 minutes.
What difference will it make?
According to the companies involved in the project, the technology is now ready for use and will soon be available for consumers. They plan to set up a series of fast charging stations in various areas such as shopping malls, convenience stores and and parking garages. According to Think Chief Executive Richard Canny the fast charging infrastructure would prove to be very important for high use fleets such as taxi or courier companies. He thinks that people using Think’s vehicles are pretty comfortable with overnight charging. Therefore it would help high use fleets mostly.
Problems:
Well, the problem with this is still the same thing as with all other electric car charging facilities. Since it would not help regular electric car users much, it would be of no use to people who are driving electric cars for their daily commuting purposes. But it is definitely a welcome news for high use vehicles.
2) JFE Engineering debuts Quick Charging Station for EVs:
What’s new?
A similar technology in the field of fast charging of electric car batteries has been developed by JFE Engineering Corporation. The JFE Engineering Company, based in Yokohama, Japan, has developed a technology which can recharge your car’s battery up to its 50% capacity in just 3 minutes.
What difference will it make?
The JFE system charges car batteries five times faster than any other system in operation today. The cost of a JFE charging station is also 40% less at $63,000 than other such systems. The system is designed in manner where it is capable of transferring a huge amount of electrical energy to a lithium-ion battery in a very short time. Another advantage of the JFE system is that it can be charged from a “standard” power source which means that you would not have to spend money on the system on every upgrade and since it uses trickle charging method to charge the batteries, it uses a very low amount of electricity & saves money.
Problems:
The problem, however, with the JFE system is that you would need to modify your car’s software and systems in order to use the charging system efficiently.
3) TERRA: Epyon’s new fast charging station for EV’s
What’s new?
Epyon have recently unveiled its new Terra fast recharging system in Netherlands which coincided with the promotion of Nissan’s LEAF electric car. According to Epyon officials, the new system will recharge car batteries in 15 minutes. All the Terra stations are managed through a high-tech network of web-based power routing system which computes the local power grid, billing and battery life management.
What difference will it make?
Each Terra stations have the capacity of charging a multiple number of vehicles at one time. It can charge the Leaf’s battery in 30 minutes up to its 80% capacity.
Problems:
The company has to do a lot to set up a series of charging station both in terms of money as well as infrastructure. Without a proper network of charging stations the technology will not be of any use to the people.
4) MIT working on an electric car that charges in 10 minutes:
What’s new?
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has also jumped into the fray as far as fast recharge of car batteries are concerned. A team of researchers in MIT is said to be working on a model of an electric car which has the capacity to get recharged in as little as 10 minutes. The car built by MIT researchers may rival conventional gas driven vehicles in the future in terms performance. The car is said to have a top speed of 161 kmph, a range of about 320 kms as well as the capacity of being recharged in 10 minutes.
What difference will it make?
The test bed of the technology being developed by MIT is a Mercury Milan. The team has used lithium iron-phosphate cell batteries from A123Systems because of its very low internal resistance. The car will go from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds flat and will be able to gallop for a range of about 200 miles on a 10 minute recharge.
Problems:
The problem is that charging the car might be a little tricky for an ordinary person. One would not be able to charge the car’s battery from any household plug points. It would require a special 350KW of power and charging stations that are capable of providing 356V and 1000A. Also, the cost of the battery pack is a little on the higher side at $80,000 which the team is hoping to bring down in the future.
5) Tesla to create fast charging battery for cars:
What’s new?
The S-sedan model of Tesla motor will have 440V fast charging battery capability. But it is not yet known how long the battery would take to recharge. Analysts are hoping that it would take less than the time it takes to recharge Tesla Roadster’s battery which takes a grueling 3.5 hours to recharge fully.
What difference will it make?
The S-sedan model is said to have driving range of 225 miles on full charge. The model is 440V capable & would be much better than Tesla’s earlier versions.
Problems:
Since there are hardly any 440V public charging stations available anywhere, charging the S-sedan could give a headache to its owners. ECOtality has 5100 stations available but none of them are public. Although ECOtality have expressed hope that they would be glad to work together with Tesla if an opportunity comes, right now no such prospects are in the offing.
10 zero-emission driverless vehicles for a clean and automated future
by: Ecofriend, 2011-05-17 10:47:26 UTC
Arpita:
Saving energy, lowering pollution and an advanced automobile technology equipped with a wide array of automotive features are the key attributes of the futuristic automobile models. The vehicles of the future, often inspired by science fiction, rely on clean affordable fuel for powering their engines. In addition, the driverless autonomous system would enhance the safety of the vehicle by eliminating human errors.
The following futuristic models could be a solution to future transportation challenges where a vehicle must compromise with limited parking space and traffic congestion on urban roads.
1. GM EN-V
General Motors in association with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation unveiled the eco friendly Electric Networked Vehicle or EN-V concept at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai last year. The unique automobile technology incorporated in the vehicle combines petroleum free technology with innovative driving features, which could be operated both manually as well as autonomously.
The two-seater GM EN-V variants, named Jiao (Pride), Xiao (Laugh) and Miao (Magic), will run on electric motors. The built-in dynamic stabilization system automatically stabilizes the vehicle regardless of the driving condition. With the drive-by-wire system, the vehicle could be controlled autonomously. The Lithium-Ion batteries could power the engine for at least 40 kilometers on a single charge. The GPS-based navigation, advanced wireless communication system and the built-in sensors and cameras minimizes the risk of accidents.
2. Autonomi
Propelled by four 120KW battery-powered electric engine, Autonomi, conceptualized by Anthony Franze, is a fully autonomous vehicle. The concept, which might become a reality in the future, features seats that can rotate by 180 degrees. The design of the vehicle is inspired by the traditional Chinese principles that balance the various parameters to ensure sustainable development.
3. ZMP RoBoCar MEV
RoBoCar, built by Japanese carmaker ZMP, features an advanced autonomous system comprising of onboard computers and built-in speed sensor, inertia measurement unit and laser range finder. The powertrain of the vehicle fueled by electricity could move on the right track without the aid of a human driver. Equipped with steer-by-wire, the ZMP models offer optional automatic steering function and brake-by-wire system.
4. EV 2020
EV 2020, with its unique rounded design, is loaded with sensors and processors to facilitate driverless driving experience. The futuristic vehicle, conceptualized by industrial designer Robin Long, will be propelled by NAV-I Driver System. The GPS-based navigation will enable users to commute safely through congested city roads. The emission-free vehicle will be powered by rechargeable batteries.
5. Jaguar Mark XXI – Bionomic Autonomous Limousine
The emission-free vehicles of the future will utilize the power of sunlight to power their engines. The Jaguar Mark XXI concept, designed by Chris Pollard, amalgamates autonomous driving technology with a solar-powered engine. The photovoltaic panels installed on the body of the vehicle will harness solar energy for recharging the onboard batteries.
6. Zagato People Mover
The futuristic driverless podcar would take you to your destination, moving through traffic snarls, as soon as you punch in your desired destination on a console installed in the vehicle. The emission-free vehicle will run on rechargeable batteries that can power the engine for over three hours. The built-in sensors automatically sense obstacles and slow down the car instantly to avoid collisions.
7. ATNMBL
Nothing can be better than a car that takes you to your destination simply by asking a question, “Where can I take you?” ATNMBL, a futuristic autonomous car concept, designed by Mike and Maaike, is an electric car with electric glass sliding doors. The autonomous driving system eliminates driver’s seat, steering wheels and pedals from the vehicle.
8. City Car
Researchers at MIT have developed small two-seater passenger cars that target tourists visiting the city. The Stackable Electric Robot Cars could be rented from kiosks in major cities. The small electric cars are equipped with autonomous driving, braking and suspension systems.
9. AXI Robot Taxi
Industrial designer Kubik Peter has given the AXI Robot Taxi two seats and a small luggage space. The tiny vehicle, ideally suited for congested urban roads, will be propelled by a battery-powered electric engine. The human cabbie will be replaced by an autonomous driving unit.
10. Guardian Vehicle
Most of the futuristic autonomous emission-free vehicles are small two-seaters. John Bukasa has designed a larger salon that can house seven passengers, including four adults and three children. The four-in-wheel motor of Guardian Vehicle could be powered by Lithium-ion batteries that can be recharged with either solar power or electricity. The enhanced safety features incorporated in the automated driving system minimizes the risk of collisions. On the entertainment front, the vehicle will boast of large touchscreen TV, movie units and gaming console.
12 low cost DIY projects for eco-individuals
by: Ecofriend, 2011-05-17 22:25:18 UTC
Dattatreya:
Who can deny the novelty, modernity yet sylvan nature of DIY projects? The phrase “do it yourself” actually came into common usage in the 1950s in reference to home improvement projects which people might choose to complete independently; while its innovative aura spread to a range of influences from modern consumer culture, Home Depots to even garage rock bands. And now as the auspicious chimes of ‘green’ technology are sounding at all corners of our life, its high time we ordinary folk smartly start contributing to energy efficient matters in our own little way. So with a whiff of sustainability, let us check out the 12 fascinating yet cost effective DIY projects contrived by eco-individuals.
1. Reusable raft created from recycled plastic bottles:
From high brow artists to rag pickers; everyone had their tryst with plastic bottles. And this time it’s the guys in the picture above, who have furnished their very own raft from 450 empty, labels-less plastic bottles. The bottles were packed in garden mesh and affixed to a plywood board to give form to the totally reusable raft. And is always the case, the designers have painstakingly collected those bottles from crummy roadsides and downright grungy junkyards.
2. Laptop stand made from repurposed cardboard:
Enough of those over-the-top, high priced plastic laptop stands! Designer Eric Skiff has contrived a low cost, DIY laptop stand, made completely from three pieces of recycled cardboard pieces cut to optimum specifications. Check out the pretty simple method and more variations of the same process at Thingiverse.
3. Cassette Lamp - Recycling never looked this cool:
Looking like an Art Deco masterpiece, this ‘contraption’ was actually created by assembling a myriad of those old cassette tapes (the nostalgic 90’s, anyone?) and sticking them into one hollow square piece. The ensuing vibrant conception comes with a wooden stand and a light bulb inside; and Voila! - We have our very own artistic cassette lamp.
4. Convert your regular bike in to an electric powered one:
There is always a situation with us sentimental folk, when we want to buy that super-cool electric bike in all its highfalutin glory, while on the other hand there is no love lost between us and our ever-trusty old bike. But wait; there is always a solution - why not turn your old bike into an electric one? Engineers - Jeff Radtke and Hans Noeldner have exactly done that by incorporating an electric motor and standard Dewalt 36V battery into their old bike. This converted electric contraption of 1HP gives a range of around 10-20 miles on a single charge, with a top speed of 28mph.
5. Design your own solar oven:
Do you live in Florida and have a cardboard box? Well, then you can easily create your very own solar oven, as it only requires a cardboard box, aluminium foil, a plastic warp, sunlight and of course food (to be heated). You just need to cut out the cardboard box (with its four sides intact), and wrap them with aluminium foil to create a sort of rudimentary enclosure of an oven. Now, you can keep the food covered with plastic inside this ‘oven’ and let it be in the sun. The outcome will be well heated and nourishing meal done in the simple DIY style.
6. Bike with pedal-powered EL wire lights up your way:
No, it’s not a Tron bike, but rather a conception infused with dollops of convenience. Coming with an Electro-Luminescent wire (a thin copper wire coated in phosphor which glows when an AC Current at about 90-130 volts is applied to it), the EL swing bike literally makes use of mechanical-human energy to be ‘lightened’ up. You just have to paddle your way, while the pedal power transforms into electrical-light energy to illuminate those dark alleys, once you are on for those late night romps of bike adventure.
7. Super Mario fan creates Princess Peach from plastic bottle caps:
How to pay tribute to the one of the greatest and highest selling video games of all time? Instructables user Skeplin has done that by creating a pixilated portrait of the iconic and ever adorable Princess Peach (Mario’s damsel in distress) entirely from bottle caps. With over 1000 bottle caps (ranging up to 26 colors required by the Princess’s visage) meticulously affixed over a 28×35 inches grid, the final outcome was every videogame fanboy’s ultimate fantasy - a true to behold portrait of the one and only Princess Peach Toadstool.
8. DIY USB-powering generator sources power from your bike rides:
Conscientiously reaching out to more number of people, this DIY conception not only charges Nokia phones (like Nokia’s Bicycle Charger Kit), but also manages to power other types of mobile phones as well. Utilizing a small dynamo that is induced when in contact with the rotating wheel, the USB charger can provide up to 5W of power for juicing up any hand held device.
9. Milk Crates make a magical turn furniture land!
The exquisite chandelier you see in the above image is actually crafted from milk crates...yes those obnoxiously smelly and loud plastic milk crates. Its just a matter of color combination matching with your room, and once you get that right, it is quite easy to append the whole decor system. On the other hand just think of the toxic plastic you saved from getting into the landfills. Follow the link to see other clever creations of furniture made out of such plastic crates.
10. Making a recycled solar-powered stove without spending a penny:
Essentially made from those ubiquitous 90’s junk cluttered around in the back-end of our garages, one can contrive a dirt-cheap recycled solar-powered stove. Making use of a discarded 62-inch satellite dish as the reflective facade, the creator had attached most of the (unused) CDs with the help of 1/8″ X 3/4″ fender washers and 4 by 3/8″ machine screws. Now to make the stove, he employed 3” ABS plastic pipe filled with concrete. With their alignments tapering at the other end to form the base (to hold the grilled stove), a temperature of 400 degrees was easily achievable without any external expenses. Check out the 6 detailed steps further at Instructables.
11. Low-tech composter runs on wind energy:
There may be a conscionable side to it, but composting is hard work for us ordinary folk, especially in relation to the rotation technique we have take part in, every now and then. But an Instructables user had shown the easy, convenient yet practical way to compost organic kitchen wastes, in which the drums can be rotated by movement of wind power.
12. Recycle an old refrigerator into a $5 solar water heater:
Truly adhering to the principles of cost effective recycling, an user at The Sietch has ingeniously created a DIY solar-powered water heater. Coming at a cost of less than 5 bucks and utilizing the radiator grill of an old and dirty refrigerator as the main component, he has conceived this conception with other easily available materials such as some reflective aluminum foil, scotch tape, glue, wood, glass, hoses and an old door mat.
Walk or jog to charge your phone with the Green Cellphone Charger
by: The Design blog, 2011-05-17 22:33:12 UTC
Jaazhh:
Have you ever thought of using energy produced by your gestures to charge mobile phones? I bet there are many who don’t even know that every movement they make comes caked with energy, which is rarely utilized. Tapping the force produced during running in an ingenious manner is Ezequiel who has designed the green cellular charger.
The charger is wrapped around the foot from where inertia is derived to make the mechanism work. The complete working method is based on a solenoid. The battery wedged inside the device gets charged when it shakes. This forces the solenoid to generate electricity which is used to power the battery.
The main body of the green charger has been fashioned out of silicon rubber. The rubber can be flexibly turned around our ankle and secured with a Velcro. The cover on the outside of the gadget has been crafted from plastic giving it a tough appeal. So, strap it on your shoe with the help of cords and further secure it with a Velcro. Once the device is in place all you have to do is jog, run or walk so that it gets charged. After this, connect the green cellular charger to your phone and pump some extra life in it as well.
Green Cellphone Charger will cut all electricity expenses, and will charge your phones in a unique way while you burn those extra calories.
Thanks Ezequiel
Organic Beeswax, Play Dough Tea Cups From Chile To Reflect On Our Relationship With Objects
by: TreeHugger Design, 2011-05-17 16:23:11 UTC
Photos: Paula Alvarado.
With the goal of investigating the emotional attachment of people with objects, Chilean designer
Mariana Tocornal experiments with biodegradable materials such as beeswax and play dough in these haunting and "not conventionally useful" tea cups and bowls....
Read the full story on TreeHugger
Renault opens online reservations for Twizy all-electric two-seater
by: Gizmag Emerging Technology Magazine, 2011-05-13 08:31:11 UTC
Renault is now taking online reservations for its
Twizy two-seater all-electric micro car ahead of its launch in Europe later this year. The announcement made at the Barcelona Motor Show relates to two models – the Twizy 45, which is equipped with a five-horsepower (4 kW) electric motor, and the Twizy, which is equipped with a 17-hp (13 kW) motor and comes in Urban or Technic trims. However, the purchase prices for all variants, which start at 6,990 euro for the Twizy 45, don’t include the battery, which will be leased from the company for a monthly fee...
Continue Reading
Renault opens online reservations for Twizy all-electric two-seaterTags: Electric Vehicles,
Europe,
Renault
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GE's New LED Overhead Light Design Makes Fluorescents Simply Outdated
by: TreeHugger Science, 2011-05-12 17:14:00 UTC
Images via GE
The dreary and dreadfully ugly fluorescent tubes that line hallways and light offices could be on their way out the door with GE's more energy efficient and (equally important) prettier LED lighting. The company is showing off their new ideas for overhead lighting that may soon take over for fluorescent bulbs....
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Best of Green Furniture Design at ICFF 2011!
by: Inhabitat , 2011-05-16 22:20:15 UTC
Read the rest of Best of Green Furniture Design at ICFF 2011!
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Post tags: brc designs circuit chair, cabin fever, cardboard lamps, contemporary furniture, eco-friendly design, Furniture Fair, grain, Graypants, green design, green furniture”, gypsy wheel, icff 2011, icff 2011 nyc, icff new york city, inhabitat icff, inhabitat icff reporting, International Contemporary Furniture Fair, ISDA, japan bag lights, legato transforming bench, Molo, new york city furniture fair, Nike, nyc furniture fair, origami lamp, plumen, plumen bulbs, pratt, pratt felt cardboard table, prefab architecture, prefab cabin, prefab home, puck and blossom, qis design shroom lamp, raad chicken coop, raindrop cfl lamp, recycled tire drum set, rubberband chair, sneaker tiles, space divider made from paper spools, Strida, strida bikes, zip, zipcabin
Aqua Creations’ Stunning Origami LED Lamps are Folded from a Single Sheet of Paper
by: Inhabitat , 2011-05-16 21:35:36 UTC
Aqua Creations unveiled a stunning series of origami LED lamps during this year’s New York Design Week that are made from a single sheet of folded paper. Dubbed 96 Molecules, the line pairs a classic turn of the 20th century aesthetic with rustic bases to create timeless designs that add a wonderful warm ambient glow to any home or office.
Read the rest of Aqua Creations’ Stunning Origami LED Lamps are Folded from a Single Sheet of Paper
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Post tags: "green furniture", 96 molecules, albi serfaty photography, aqua creations, aqua creations lighting and furniture atelier, creative lighting solutions, green lighting, ilan garibi, LED lighting, mahogany wood lamps, ofir lighting, origami art lights, paper lamps, sustainable lamp, sustainable lighting, tel-aviv designers
ding3000: join table
by: Designboom - Weblog, 2011-05-12 18:46:00 UTC
three different cut outs, subtracted from the table's wooden legs, fit into each other, providing structural stability without any tools.
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