I’ve seen many solar charging devices for various gadgets and gizmos, but this is the first one I can think of that I might actually want to show off in my living room. From designer Vivien Muller, this modular little bonsai tree features up to 54 mini-photovoltaic cells to act as leaves and soak up the sun. Meanwhile, your gadget adaptors and various cables can all get tucked away and connected underneath.
I want one. Too bad it’s still only a concept. Check out more images over on Gizmodo.
I’ve always wanted a sunroof on my car — but it’s one of those things that’s always eluded me when the final tally was revealed and the price was a bit more than I wanted to pay. Uncheck the sun roof.
However, the environmental geek inside me has reason to rejoice with the announcement that a company called Sunrise Solar is set to release a solar-powered sun roof replacement. The solar sunroof will generate electricity to recharge the vehicle’s batteries while simultaneously cooling the car when parked in a hot climate or warm the car when parked in a cooler climate.
Unfortunately, any further descriptions regarding price or the actual output of such embedded photovoltaic cells stops about there. Still, with the news that the next generation Toyota Prius will be sporting some solar up top, there’s reason to hope that Sunrise Solar’s product will not just turn out to be vaporware.
Check out the release here for more info!
via cleantechnica
Just when you thought the iPhone couldn’t get any cooler, along comes a case that will juice it up courtesy of clean energy from the sun.
The design comes from Mobilefun and the case will charge up your phone for functional use in about three hours. It will take about 10 hours of direct sunglight to charge the battery to capacity. Energy is stored in a 1500 mAh battery. As the 11th Hour Action site points out, the best thing to do may be to keep the charger on the dashboard of your car (or another sunny location) and then charge your phone at night. You can also choose to charge the battery via USB.
Look for this solar case to be available later this month.
The funny thing about all the hoopla surrounding Oregon’s new proof-of-concept solar highway project is that Europe and Australia have been doing the same thing — for the last 20 years. The fact that it’s the first of its kind in the U.S. is further evidence about how much catching up we have to do.
Nevertheless, this is a positive step forward — especially for Oregon’s fledgling solar industry, which is looking to become a leader in the field for the U.S. From the article,
“Construction on the nation’s first solar demonstration project in a highway right of way has begun. At the Interstate 5 and Interstate 205 interchange in Tualatin, Oregon, 594 solar panels are being installed on a strip of land beside the highway roughly the length of two football fields. The 104-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system - covering about 8,000 square feet will produce about 112,000 kilowatt hours a year, or 28 percent of the 400,000 kilowatt hours used to light the interchange. The $1.3 million project is expected to be completed and online in December 2008.”
To offset the entire energy consumption of its highway infrastructure, the DOT estimates that it will need an additional 20 miles of solar installations on the right of way. As the price of photovoltaics continues to drop, the overall cost for such a feat may make fiscal sense; especially since those 45 million kilowatt hours used cost roughly $4 million last year.
Let’s hope Oregon paves the way for other states to take their roadways solar.
Last December, I dished details on a solar roof from Solar City that was being potentially sold as an accessory for the new Tesla Roadster. Since there are only a handful of Teslas actually currently on the streets, I’m not even sure if this roof even made it past the concept stage. Still, it’s good to see that others are thinking along the same lines.
Check out this setup from Envision Solar called the LifePort. It’s pretty much a DIY kit that consists of a 22 x 22-foot steel frame with some solar panels up top. Expected output is about 4.8 mwh per year — or just about the average energy a standard American home consumes in a year. According to Ecofriend, It comes with outlets compatible with all plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles that are on the market today.
Personally, I love these setups — especially for electric vehicles — because it means there is a clean energy closed loop for your transportation needs. Simply pull into your carport after work, plug your car in (I imagine some battery storage would be useful), and charge up using solar energy overnight.
There are no sales details yet on the LifePort, but we imagine we’ll hear more news on these types of “vehicle accessories” as more electric and plug-in hybrids hit the road in the coming years.
via Ecofriend
Green automaker Aptera Motors is benefitting from Google’s green investment division with the recent gift of $2.75 million. The move comes from the search engine giant’s RechargeIT, a philanthropic investment and research program aimed to expedite the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles.
Aptera is planning on launching their all-electric $30,000 vehicle this coming October. Initial tests show the Jetsons-style aerodynamics giving drivers an amazing 230MPG. You can check out a guided tour of the vehicle in a video here.
In addition to the automaker, Google also gave $2.75 million to ActaCell, a battery company that hopes to help make electric cars both cheap and safe. Their main focus right now is on lithium-ion technology — as well as improving the life cycle of the batteries and the cost. The company hopes to commercialize their tech sometime in 2010.
The next decade is looking pretty exciting for automotive tech!
via smashgods
We’ve seen plenty of rollable solar panel accessories for every gadget under the sun, but this is the first one I’ve seen specifically designed for an Apple laptop. Called the Apple Juicz (cute), this flexible solar panel extends the life of Apple’s line of notebooks. The marketing literature uses the MacBook Air as an example, but fails to mention compatibility with the other models until you looks a little closer at the specs.
Anyways, the top-of-the-line 55-watt Apple Juicz will completely charge the Air in about five hours. Not bad, but a bit pricey at $1K. Moving down the options, you can pick up a 27-watt (8-hour charge) for $600, or an 18-watt version (14-hour charge) for $500. From the website,
“While the stock MacBook Air recharges in four hours using the AC wall adapter, the External Battery Charger recharges in only three hours. We supply a modified MacBook Air MagSafe charger that uses military-spec parts for a more robust and powerful charge. Don’t worry, it still works with stock MacBook Air.
There’s even a LED charging status indicator so you always know what’s going on.”
So, there ya have it — the latest addition to the family of foldable solar accessories. Anyone who owns one of these care to comment on their function or practicality?
via appletell
There’s good mileage — and then there’s astronomical mileage. The type where you scoff at hypermilers, laugh at ads trumpeting fuel ranges of 40-50MPG and smuggly calculate if next month, or the month after, will require a fill up.
Such is the case for VW’s “One Litre” concept that will be available in limited edition style for a 2010 run. The super-economical two-seater minimizes drag by utilizing cameras instead of mirrors, employing a tear-drop aerodynamic shape, and lightweight but strong carbonfibre. From the article,
“To offset the greater thirst of the bigger engine, the engineers are expected to fit VW’s complete mild hybrid kit which would permit intermittent zero-emissions, full-electric operation. But there are some gadgets, as you’d expect if you shelled out the best part of 30 grand for a VW. Basic safety kit will include ABS/ESP, a driver’s airbag, sequential motorbike-style transmission as well as LED head- and taillights.”
Yea, that’s right. In order to take this efficient beast out for a ride, it will cost you between $30,000-$40,000. No one said driving a car straight out of The Jetstons would be cheap. Check out the full details here.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced massive tax breaks for the electric vehicle industry yesterday — and in the process convinced Tesla Motors to site a new facility for a sub $60K vehicle in California. According to the plan (approved last Wednesday), the new law exempts automakers from paying sales and use tax on manufacturing equipment used to build EVs. This is expected to save companies in the industry millions of dollars. From the press release,
“These vehicles can play a big part in helping California successfully implement its groundbreaking laws to fight climate change,” said State Treasurer Bill Lockyer, who chairs CAEATFA. “By offering this financial incentive, our goal is to ensure zero-emission vehicles realize their full potential in our state. In the bargain, we believe the policy will bolster our emerging green economy, create good-paying jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I’m very pleased the policy helped convince Tesla to build its high-performance electric cars in California.”
Tesla’s new car is slated for production in 2010 — right around the time that Chevrolet is planning on releasing their $30K Volt. Once again, kudos to California for pushing this industry forward.
via autobloggreen
What I’m getting from all of the radical hydrogen-powered fuel cell concepts out there is that engine space isn’t as constrictive as with conventional tech. Take for instance this two-wheeled design called the “Ozone”. According to the design team, the huge wheels are controlled by two separate electric motor powered by fuel cells. One suspects that they would reside in the small chamber below the seats.
Anyways, there are additional details available over on Gearfuse. Chances are, we’ll never see this in the real world — but damn, it sure looks like it would be a lot of fun.
