Jaguar Mark XXI Concept

via Car Body Design - News on 8/14/09

The Jaguar Mark XXI - Bionomic Autonomous Limousine - is a concept that investigates the implications of autonomous technology on automotive design in terms of perception, function and aesthetic.

As Chris Pollard explains "Autonomous technology is edging its way into the automotive vehicle with such systems as Lexus�s �advanced parking guidance.� These systems seem to be an indication of a trend for the future."

This concept uses autonomous technology as a design opportunity to innovate the function and aesthetic of the automotive vehicle.

The exterior design is inspired by the idea of living in symbiosis with nature.

A large area of the body is covered inphotovoltaic panels.

Once the vehicle is parked, photovoltaic surfaces rise to face the sun and follow it as the day passes, contributing to recharging the on-board batteries.

"This means that half of the car is not in the shadow for most of the day and it can harvest the suns energy in an efficient manner. "

"The inspiration for this came from the humble leaf.

"My objective was to show the synergy with the leaf in the aesthetic of the vehicle. "

The aesthetic of the vehicle aims to immediately clarify the synergy between its energy replenishing function and the natural science from which it takes its inspiration.

The interior is conceived as a place of leisure and luxury. Inward facing seating creates the setting for a sociable living space. Contemporary laid-back seats mixed with ambient lighting, establishes a vibrant yet relaxed atmosphere.

"With the task of driving the vehicle alleviated, the purpose of the interior changes. The interior is focused on luxury and pleasure, achieved through interaction with both the vehicle and each other."

Chris Boardman: Intelligent Bike Concept

via Designboom - Weblog on 8/12/09

Cyclist Chris Boardman unveiled his latest cycle concept to the world's media yesterday. the new 'intelligent' bike counts calories as you pedal, plays music and uses a solar-powered motor when you get tired.

The carbon fiber frame has an inbuilt computer system, which incorporates an 'unbreakable' locking device that allows only the owner to open it via fingerprint recognition. Spoke-less wheels make the bike more aerodynamic while the tires will be puncture-proof with self-inflating tires.



'It could be built now if there was the will. All the technologies are already there, it's just that nobody's put them all together before.' Boardman said. He also added though that such a bike would not be financially feasible' for mass production for around another 20 years.

Solar Forest Charging Station for Electric Vehicles

via Designboom - Weblog on 8/5/09

solar forest parking station

designer neville mars has developed an electric vehicle charging station that takes
the form of an evergreen glade of solar trees. the photovoltaic grove serves a dual function,
acting as a go to source for clean renewable energy while providing a shady spot for cars
to park as they charge.




solar forest parking station

each of the trees in the forest are composed of a set of photovoltaic leaves mounted
on a branching poll. the base of each trunk features an power outlet that can be used
to charge your electrical vehicle.

Nixon Volta Solar Powered Watch

via Designboom - Weblog on 7/30/09

'the volta'

Nixon recently introduced 'the volta' the brand's first rechargeable, solar powered watch.

The semi-transparent dial allows sunlight through to the solar panel below which charges the watch's battery.

Powerslaves and desk jockeys need not worry, any light source will suffice so your office fluorescence or tanning beds will also be good sources to recharge the watch.


'the volta'



'the volta' available with various straps

Bionamic Concept Car: solar energy & nanotube super-strength

via DVICE by Adario Strange on 6/24/09

In a world where our sneaker designs are outpacing our car designs in terms of futuristic style, designer G�ney Kol decided to create a concept car that appears to be heavily influenced by the world of sports shoes. Dubbed the Bionamic, the car would be electrically powered and travel the streets covered in carbon/metalnanotube metal alloy.

The car would also be efficiently swathed in a blanket of tiny solar cells allowing it to charge whenever idle during the daytime. Finally, as if the concept car was geeky enough, Kol does away with a steering wheel and instead gives us joysticks to operate the vehicle. Let's hope the big boys of the auto industry are paying close attention.

World's largest solar array planned for the Sahara Desert

via DVICE by AdamFrucci on 6/22/09

The Sahara Desert gets a lot of sun. In fact, it gets so much that if a mere 0.3% of its area was used for a solar plant, it could power all of Europe. So it only makes sense that 20 German companies are looking into doing just that.

The plan would be to scatter solar collectors all across northern Africa in politically stable countries rather than putting them all in one spot. It'll take years to build everything as well as $555 billion in funds, but in the long run it'll be well worth it.

Taiwanese stadium is 100% solar-powered

via�DVICE�by AdamFrucci on 5/20/09

Taiwan's new solar stadium is absolutely incredible. Not only does it look downright-beautiful, but it's a marvel of eco-engineering: it's 100% solar powered.

The 50,000 seat arena is covered in 8,844 solar panels that'll provide lighting for the track and field with 3,300 lux. That's a lot of juice that won't need to be generated from environmentally-damaging ways. Hopefully we'll see more and more stadiums and other structures built this way in the near future.

Deputy Dog�via�Inhabitat

KDDI (au) - Water-Resistant, Solar-Powered Handset

via�Gizmodo�by John Herrman on 4/20/09

Manufactured for KDDI (au) by Sharp,�this outdoorsy phone�should show up in Japan by June. Unlike the unrealistic claims made by other solar phone dabblers�like Samsung, KDDI's ambitions here are modest, but practical.

KDDI has taken a pragmatic approach to the solar phone, integrating a waterproof panel onto what sounds like a�very�low-draw device. They claim that 10 minutes of sun absorption should grant two hours of standby, or a minute or so of talk time�an extreme ratio that suggests that battery life�not a huge feature list�is the main priority here.

The solar panel alone is enough to charge the battery to a respectable 80%, but KDDI doesn't mention how long that might take. Price and global availability are TBD. [KDDI�via�Impress]