Hamburg is one of the most important cities of Germany and has a huge population that depends on public transportation. On that note, the first ten Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid buses were launched on the streets. The fuel cell hybrid cell is virtually non-polluting and would keep this amazingly chic German city non polluted and clan. It is also virtually silent and can be used in inner city roads where traffic is unusually high.

Fuel cell technology will certainly bring in a revolution in public transportation arena and it is high time cities across the world started to use this technology. Rising energy prices and lack of resources will soon lead most cities to adopt a more eco-friendly plan to provide transportation to people. Daimler buses too have some plans for Hamburg and other cities in Europe.

It is interesting to note that these Fuel cell buses could actually be more efficient and green than CNG buses which are used in Asian cities these days. Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid buses look really chic and they would actually make the city look better. If the Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL-Hybrid buses work in Hamburg, they should be used in other cities as well.

Via: Gizmag

Unleashing the perfect green vehicle on to the roads is the dream of every automaker right now on the planet. There obviously is more reason than one for this very ‘green and clean’ outlook that automobile firms have taken up. Green in terms of the cash they make might also depend on eco-friendly features as we head into a future where fossil fuel is becoming harder to come by with each passing second. EarthSure, a renewable energy company, has officially offered us the first glimpse into its own version of the four-wheeled green carrier of the future with the launch of the AirRay.

Sporting a rood clad with solar honeycomb-membrane panel that is laced seamlessly into the frame of the car and wind turbines on the front which run on the wind flow generated by AirRay’s aerodynamic design, the car can supposedly run on just solar and wind energy; absolutely not a drop of petrol or diesel ever needed. What more, you can even remove its Vehicle to Grid power storage unit and use energy when required at your own home or office.

If you are still imagining a slow, sturdy and clumsy car when we talk about completely emission-free models of the future, then AirRay does away with that misconception as well with its sleek and sexy design and scintillating design that turns heads just like the green energy that turns its wheels over. Its Ferrari-esque look surely has us all floored!

earth-sure

Such stream-lined designs have been part of innovations in eco-technology among automobiles a lot lately. But this one is touted to have been more inspired by simulators and video games. The car is still a concept.

It has been designed in a way to change its shape from horizontal to vertical which is more like sleeping and standing up positions, in cases when it must adapt to urban traffic snarls.

The vehicle is controlled by a revolving electric motor located under the armrest. You can use your hands to apply breaks at the end of the left armrest and accelerator on the right.

In effect, it virtually allows you to enjoy the thrill of sledding on the road. Its touch controls however ensure a safe and comfortable ride. A pity that it is meant only for a single person ride.

The vehicle may come in handy for those who love some adventure on roads, but if you have a family, think twice about such a concept.

Via: Pagesperso Orange

The Tokyo Motor Show 2009 saw a number of new cars, both electric and conventional all vying against each other. What makes this year’s show different is that many companies are already talking about mass producing hydrogen powered cars.

Honda president Takanobu Ito revealed that hydrogen powered cars are still a farfetched dream but the future may see a number of fuel-cell electric vehicles and that would dominate the course of automobile industry in the coming years.

With zero emission and long distance travel made possible by these vehicles, they can lead to a significantly lower level of air pollution and thus may hold answers. Takeshi Uchiyamada, the chief engineer of the first-generation Prius hybrid however contradicted and felt hat one should depend on a single technology alone as there could be different answers for a single question.

Toyota president Akio Toyoda felt that electric cars and vehicles would be used in short distance travels. Nissan, Mazda, Suzuki and many other companies have already unveiled their fuel-cell vehicles at the Tokyo Motor Show 2009. Looks like green fuel and EVs certainly have a great future.

Via: AFP

But its superb features do not stop there. Shelf harvests the power of the sun. You guessed it. It uses solar power to turn it into electricity, for the functioning of the car’s air-conditioner, tail light and other electronic equipment in the car. When it is not in use, it merely folds up to become a speed stabilizer for the car when it is moving at a high speed.

The design was an entry at Green Life design contest organized by Designboom in collaboration with Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea. Such a design innovation also helps protect the vehicle from the heat of summer while helping make technology greener. Talk about harnessing solar power while on the move! Wonder if something of this sort can be incorporated into the more eco-friendly electric cars too!
Via: Designboom

 REVA Electric Car Company is best known for just that- the electric car which looks like a normal car that has survived being crushed from both ends. However, car which is titled G-Wiz in the UK has had a good response from the consumers even though it bummed in the crash test performance.

The India company is ready to bring out two new models, the REVA NXR and NXG and it would be interesting to see how these two electric cars perform. Already being touted as the best the company has come up with, the NXR and NXG would be making their first appearances at the 63rd Frankfurt International Motor Show (IAA). The REVA NXR would begin production by the start of next year but pre-production orders can be placed for the car at the show. The NXG is a sportier 2 seater version of the NXR.

Both the NXG and NXR apparently feature a brand new technology called the REVive that would work as a virtual charger allowing customers to gain an instant remote charge when they run out of charge by sending a text message or making a call.

Via: TreeHugger

Well, it aims to sail on roads, those with least traffic of course. The design is keeping in view the merits of a yacht on a premium vehicle which is powered by the environmental force – wind.

The design concept does give a sneek peak into the direction a luxury brand like BMW is likely to take in the future. The BMW will have efficient dynamics, active hybrid greener emission controls.

It is said that yacht like vehicle has a rigid sail so that it can draw energy from the wind, and the driver can control it from the cockpit. The driver’s entry into the cockpit however is the through the elevating windscreen of the sleek concept vehicle.

Such a vehicle would work best on plain surfaces with strong tropical wind, ideally deserts and beaches.

Via: Like Cool, Stefan Radev

After 5 years of work, a Kiwi team, inventor Grant Ryan and engineer Peter Higgins, has designed a cycle with an electronic motor. Released at EUROBIKE on September 2, 2009, the “YikeBike” is a radical electric bicycle that weighs just 9.8 kilograms and can be packed into a bag.

It has a small but powerful 1.2 kW electric motor and a controller that replaces chain pedal, gear box, mechanical brakes, cables and levers. The YikeBike is the first bicycle in the market with electronic anti-skid brakes. The lithium phosphate battery takes 30 minutes to charge.

Lights, indicators and brake lights make the cycle safe and easy to ride. YikeBike is ideal for city journeys of up to 9km and is capable of reaching a top speed of 20km/hr. However, the vehicle does take some getting used to. The rider sitting upright while steering with his hands by his side is quite a sight. The YikeBike seems to be inspired by the original penny-farthing but is simpler and safer.

‘We’re not trying to compete with traditional bikes,’ says Grant. ‘We aimed to produce an electric bike that was portable, lightweight, compact, practical and fun. We wanted something you could ride to the bus stop in the morning, take to the office and charge up under your desk.’

The bike is a simple option to beat the city traffic. This zero emission bike lets the riders play their part in helping the environment. However the YikeBike does cost you a good $4860.

Check the video here:

Via dailymail

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

If you were wondering how you could get hold of an amphibian bicycle, you should perhaps contact Li Jin from China. The Wuhan DIYer has just created a human powered bicycle which uses 8 water gallons that are closed on top. These water gallons behave as pontoons and thus prevent the rider from drowning.

Once on dry land, the bicycle can be used to ride on the road without requiring any sorts of modifications. The idea of biking along the streets with those large water drums certainly look funny and weird, but also being able to ride on water is quite interesting indeed. If only the [pontoons weren’t so large and bulky, the DIY bike would have been more attractive and charming.

Perhaps some smart DIYer can come up with a bright idea in order to make the human powered vehicle more attractive, less bulky and charming. Meanwhile, you could keep a watch over similar vehicles that are environmentally clean and green. As they say, the new decade’s greatest demand would be to create and develop vehicles that are green and energy efficient.