Eco Factor: Electric assist bicycle by M55.
Hungarian company M55 has unveiled the M55 EVO-001 electric bike that is being claimed to be the “Ferrari of electric bikes.” The bike has been developed after three years of research and after developing five prototypes. Scheduled to be launched sometime in May this year, the bike consists of a one-piece molded aluminum frame, integrated battery pack and a centrally mounted motor which has been placed to better the bike’s stability.
Eco Factor: Concept shower heats water using piezoelectricity.
Apart from wasting hundreds of liters of water, a shower consumes a lot of energy to heat water as well. A team of cross continental designers from Mexico, Finland and Germany are now trying to save energy and water by using a set of piezoelectric devices to provide all the energy required for a hot steamy shower.
Eco Factor: Low-emission motorcycle powered by a hybrid engine.
Though stylish, motorcycles are often criticized for the lack of proper safety systems. Designer Igor Chak is trying to better the credentials of motorcycles with a new concept that combines style, safety and eco-friendliness in a single package.
Eco Factor: Cactus gum used to purify water.
Yesterday we published a list of some of the most amazing water purifiers that can provide safe drinking water to people in the developing nations. While there is no dearth of water filters on the market, scientists from the University of South Florida have taken a more natural approach to provide potable water.
The UN estimates that over a billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water and millions of people die worldwide each year as a result of diseases that are waterborne. Moreover, the rising levels of pollution in tap water makes most people opt for bottled water, which gives rise to plastic waste. Industrial designers have tried to solve these problems with ingenious water purification systems that are easy to use and also help in reducing plastic waste. Here is a list of 12 such water purification systems that are designed to help the environment and the society:
Eco Factor: Zero-emission electric vehicle powered by renewable energy.
The Renault 2010 Sand Jumper by designer Luis Pedro Fonseca isn’t only eco-friendly because it runs on an electric engine, but features innovative use of next-gen renewable energy technology and includes recycled materials as well. The vehicle charges itself using nano solar paint that generates renewable electricity to fuel onboard batteries.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission vehicles powered by electricity.
Chinese automaker IAT Auto, which introduced the Wufeng concept vehicle back in 2006, is back in Beijing this year with three new zero-emission vehicles that have been inspired by Chinese tradition and culture. The three new rides include the Zhu Feng, the eTaxi and the Wufeng II.
Eco Factor: Plans to build 4000MW geothermal power plants in Indonesia.
Indonesia has launched an ambitious plan to use the vast power of its volcanoes that spread from the Indian to the Pacific Oceans to generate about 4000MW of clean energy. The 17,000 islands contain hundreds of volcanoes that are estimated to hold about 40 percent of the world’s geothermal potential.
Eco Factor: Fabric made from germanium nanowires to harness solar energy.
A tissue paper-like fabric created from germanium and silicon could prove to be as strong as Kevlar and as an added advantage it can harvest solar energy as well. Unlike bulk germanium, which isn’t flexible and is highly brittle, the fabric created from nanowires is flexible and is as strong as Kevlar.
Eco Factor: Internet cafes powered by solar energy.
Computer Aid International, an NGO based in the UK, have provided solar powered internet cafes to people living in Macha, a sparsely populated region in southern Zambia. The Macha Lab, as the internet café has been christened, is installed in retrofitted shipping containers and is powered by solar panels. The facility includes energy-efficient hardware that minimizes the facility’s power requirements.
Quite obviously quietness and “green” are two objectives that seem to be driving the auto scene at the moment. We often see electric vehicles and concepts powered by renewable energy being displayed at various auto shows. Moreover the rise in the cost of fuel has made auto makers think about possibilities that are fuel efficient as well. When reducing fuel or energy consumption is the need, the best possible solution is to let go one wheel and make the vehicle run on three wheels. This approach better mileage and doesn’t make the user sacrifice with performance and safety. Here are some of the coolest vehicles that run on three-wheels for better streets of tomorrow:
Eco Factor: Plan to transform Dutch dikes into tidal power generators.
The Netherlands have been protected by ocean dikes that guard the coastline after the disaster in 1953, which killed more than 1800 people and left over half a million acres of land flooded by the North Sea. The extensive Delta Works that were constructed over the next four decades and completed in 1997 could not do much more than protecting the people of the Netherlands.
Eco Factor: Energy-efficient hotel complex.
Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects have won an architectural competition to design a 5-star hotel complex in Munich, which will host several sustainable features to lower the overall energy demands of the complex. The 40,000sqm complex is to be situated in the newly developed Schwabinger Tor area, along the northern part of the Leopoldstraße.
Eco Factor: Solar installation to power all bases of Israeli Air Force.
The Israeli Air Force is planning an array of solar installations to generate renewable electricity for all of its bases. According to the Globes, the IAF is expected to publish a tender to supply and install small photovoltaic systems (up to 50KW) for electricity production at its bases.
Eco Factor: Environmentally-friendly camcorder powered by solar energy.
Jetyo has unveiled its new HDV-T900 camcorder that is powered by onboard solar panels. The 720p30 model records your holiday memories to SDHC memory cards using a fixed-zoom lens. With no optical zoom, the camcorder promises an 8x digital zoom.
Eco Factor: Low-emission vehicles fueled by alternative power sources.
After unveiling the Geely IG as a concept at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show, the company is back at Beijing with a new version, which isn’t fully electric as expected from the concept, but features new seagull doors and shifts from a 3+1 seating arrangement to a conventional 2+2, which is now powered by a hybrid drivetrain.
Modern technology has made life much easier with various portable systems that can easily be carried around. Although the market is clogged with various devices that are foldable, the personal mobility section has largely remained untouched by such innovations. Since bicycles are being anticipated to make personal transportation green in the future, as it did in the past as well, several designers are looking towards folding bikes that take up limited space and can easily be carried in the boot of your car. Here is a list of some of the finest folding bicycles that might transform personal transportation for ever.
Eco Factor: Concept charging station powered by renewable solar energy.
Of all portable electronic gadgets that are out there on the market, cellphones seem to attract one and all. Smartphones also bundle various systems into one device that makes the offer even more lucrative. However, the rising concerns about energy and e-waste, have made industrial designers think about concepts that are green or make cellphones greener in one way or the other.
Eco Factor: Hybrid moped powered by compressed air.
Seniors at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Michigan Technological University have developed a hybrid moped that is powered by compressed air and human energy. The moped was exhibited at Tech’s Undergraduate Expo.
Eco Factor: Zero-emission efficient vehicle powered by electricity.
Silicon Valley startup OptaMotive is building the E. Rex for the Progressive Automotive X Prize, which is being claimed to be three time more efficient that a Toyota Prius. The E. Rex has a top speed of 144mph and offers a range of about 100 miles.