In an era where gas prices at the pump spiking as high as we have seen lately, a low-carbon car that shatters preconceived notions of electric vehicles – may be the solution. Tesla Motors seemed to be working on this dream for many years – a quixotic dream.

Tesla is totally electric, goes from 0 to 60 in less than 4 seconds and can travel nearly 250 miles (400 km)  on a single charge, says Tesla Motors Company’s home page. Of course, a skeptic might wonder where all of that electricity - during peak acceleration, enough to power 2,000 incandescent light bulbs - is coming from and how clean it is to produce. But at the speeds a Tesla can travel, you might tend to overlook such issues.

Read the rest of this article »

Those who are familiar with Tai Chiem of Melbourne Australia might be aware about the in-wheel electric motor - which helps reduce emissions and frees up space, allowing for a lighter, more efficient frame- that won the coveted prize. The Create the Future contest winners were chosen by an independent panel of design engineers and managers.

The design for an eco-friendly Movito scooter looks good and it is best for short trips. Movito is an electric scooter that will have people attracted to it, and not just because it is electric, but because it is so functional. It is expected that the two tone colors and beautiful lines will make this scooter in high demand; particularly in female population and urban consumers. Different body configurations are part of the plan to make this more marketable. Read the rest of this article »

A useable solar powered air conditioner is finally available for use. Not so much to the general public just yet but so far to McDonald's and the US Navy. The Greencore patented GC 10200, made in the USA with eco-friendly materials comes in two models. One is a stationary; the other is a mobile version, which requires the use of batteries. This green air conditioner is set up so that when the sun doesn't shine it runs off the batteries that run off the power grid. In other words, it's a hybrid air conditioner that can switch from solar to battery easily. "Using a single 170-watt solar panel, it can keep a 600 square-foot room cool". A 600 square-foot room is about the size of a modular classrooms, a small mobile home, a single (sometimes double) room apartment and military tents.

I am sure friends of the environment will go for it and this may go a very long way in conservation of energy.

The 2010 Karma - world's first true premium plug-in hybrid sports sedan – is beautiful; like a jet engine spooling up. The Karma features two operating modes - Stealth Mode and Sport Mode. In electric only Stealth Mode, users can drive emission free for up to 50 miles on a full electric charge. Once the 50 mile electric range has been exceeded, the car operates as a normal hybrid vehicle. This balance of electric and gas range makes it entirely possible that Karma drivers who charge their car overnight and commute less than 50 miles a day will achieve an average fuel economy of 100 mpg (2.4L/100km) per year. For distances of up to 300 miles, users can choose Sport Mode, which relies on a small gasoline engine to turn the generator that charges the lithium ion battery pack. Karmas are scheduled to ship late 2009. Read the rest of this article »