All BMWs are without doubt surprise packages and to prove it time and again the company divulged its full-hybrid BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept car. Powered by a three-cylinder turbodiesel and two electric motors this small car for the premium class shows no compromise towards design or technology making it just perfect for the future.

Capable of a 262 kW/356 hp output with a maximum torque of 800 Newton-metres/590 lb-ft, the hybrid features an all-wheel drive with an electric motor each in its front and rear. The car can be accelerated from standstill to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds to run at a maximum speed of 250 km/h giving out CO2 emissions of just 50 grams per kilometer. Storing its energy in 98 lithium polymer cells, the car can travel approximately 50 km on electric energy alone.

The modish body design of this 2+2-seater compliments its dynamic performance and supreme efficiency with gullwing doors opening up to the side and techno-interiors. Not only are the engines and fuels green, but even the roof and door inserts made of polycarbonate glass involuntarily grow dark in response to incoming light. All-in-all, I would call it an extraordinary futuristic green concept.

Via Jalopnik/ Fubiz

When automobile fanatics get to the drawing boards to splash their wildest dreams onto paper, they come up with designs that get more and more wicked and futuristic each time. Randy Childs’ Apex is a hybrid monster made partly from a car, truck, motorcycle and, believe it or not, chopper!

The CMC Apex is powered by 4 or 6 cylinders engine throwing in 300hp and the ‘inverted U’ framework of the body gives it the guise of a lethal monster poised for attack, waiting to pounce with ferocity on an unsuspecting enemy. The polished exo-skeleton of the four-wheeled number is made from steel, aluminum and carbon fibre composites and protects a thickly padded interior that would hold the rider safe from the dangers expected from this wild drive. The CMC Apex is designed as a basic model for the masses and die-to-hard fans can pimp it up further with exclusive upgrades.

The CMC Apex is created to run untamed in any weather condition. Come hail or storm, this Frankenstein ride would not stop raging battle on any road.

Via: DesignerSpace

Solar energy a very convenient form of renewable energy, emerging economies like China would benefit a lot from it. What is holding them back from using it then? Efficiency, cost or maybe both. Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU), Tianjin University in China and Chromasun, a Silicon Valley company have come together to make solar energy cheaper and efficient and are working on it in a step-wise manner.

The team first came up with a grid-connected system that had an 80 meter long 2-axis collector with 80 mirrors each of which focused sunlight onto highly efficient solar cells mounted on air-cooler receivers. This was capable of producing 20kW power. Keeping it in place, they then developed the 300 m² Combined Heat and Power Solar (CHAPS) system which uses the natural heat generated in the photovoltaic linear concentrators. It had eight collectors, hot water storage, hydronic in-slab floor heating and gas-fired boosters with a 40-kW inverter.

The team then realized the demand for smaller devices in the market and set to combine both the above mentioned systems to make a hybrid microconcentrator that would be available at a lower cost. The supposed system measuring just 1.7 x 1.5 x 0.2 meters has just 7 mirrors which would focus light onto the 20% more efficient crystalline Si micro PV cells connected to a receiver which will deliver heat to the hot water tank.

Working as a team, the researchers have brought forward the best in each of them and made the system economical compared to the previously built ones. The group needs appreciation and applauds for their job.

Source: RenewableEnergyWorld