AUTOMOTIVE - TRANSPORT DESIGN . Greener Vehicle Designers .

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Just a start ... We have long recognised the value of all the lessons, disasters and consequences of modern transportation design. Still we are a long way short of the marque. A selection of news, stories and links to accelerate the change process towards truly green design. Oz focus, global reference.
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2011 - Electric Superbikes are now highly competitive and soon will be blitzing all gas guzzling competition
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MotoCzysz Michael Rutter at the Isle of Man TT. UK - The MotoCzysz E1pc is one bad-ass machine, no two ways about it, and it may well be the first electric motorcycle to lap the Isle of Man at more than 100 mph at the TT Zero race Thursday. We caught up with Michael Czysz on Wednesday when rain delayed the race and we got him to spill some details about his incredible new motorcycle. Is it really a significant step forward from last year's revolutionary machine? Is a 100 mph lap finally in sight? And what's his response ... Full Story Source: Wired magazine: www.wired.com/autopia/2011/06/michael-czysz-interview...
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2010 - Super-cars split $10 million in X Prize race
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Edison2, Li-ion and X-Tracer are big winners in fuel-efficiency contest, thanks to lightweight materials and aerodynamic design WASHINGTON - A four-seat car that gets 102 miles per gallon was the top winner in a $10 million contest designed to encourage the development of ultra-efficient automobiles. Edison2, a team of racing engineers from Lynchburg, Va., won the $5 million prize in the mainstream-vehicle category of the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize. Organisers ompared the "gas mileage" of electric vehicles with the performance of cars that burn gasoline, alcohol, diesel and other combustible fuels. They came up with a benchmark of 100 MPGe, the equivalent of the energy to travel 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline. The race results look towards lightweight, strong vehicles and not necessarily electric as the answer to low emissions and safer transport. Full Story Edison2, Li-ion and X-Tracer are big winners in fuel-efficiency contest...
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Progressive Insurance X-Prize shows there are some dollars backing up good design and research. website. An Education Summit also makes some very good suggestions. Tips for Today.
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2010 - two wheel electric design developments to take on the status quo
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(first two pics) The next in the 100% electric 'powercycles' is the Brammo Empulse Brammo.com, from West Coast, USA. The 'cafe racer' Empulse builds on the strengths of the Enertia and sees the introduction of Brammo's Digital Drivetrain technology which enables the Empulse to exceed 100mph for sustained periods. Three models available with varying range. The Empulse is also the world's first production electric motorcycle to feature water cooling. :: (centre right) The Imperial College's entry into the 2011 TT Zero and the UK eGrandPrix. All Electric Super Sports Bike based on the Suzuki Hayabusa. Twin Electric Motors. The zero carbon emissions category of the Isle of Man TT race and the eGrandPrix are proving to be key components of the shift to cleaner transport being made available and competitive. www.imperial-ttxgp.com/ :: (far right pic) The Voltra is a conceptual alternative-fuel motorcycle which conveys the sense of excitement and exhilaration not currently addressed in the alternative-fuel motorcycle market but which is so vital to the appeal of motorcycles to the riding community. www.srdchange.org/exhibits.html
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2009 two wheel electric designs
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The creative juices are flowing with several noteworthy designs, from Left, the largest is the 100% electric 'powercycle' Brammo Enertia Brammo.com, from West Coast, USA. Features branded quality items alongside its recycled parts. Many exhilarating elements in one package though it would be nice if they are able to note it is only "C02-e friendly" when the electricity source is renewable and not coal-fired :: Another US release, the Picycle sports several features to complement its dynamic arcing form including a recent price reduction. Article from LAtimesblogs by Susan Carpenter :: The yike bike designed and manufactured in NZ is a breakthrough 'minifarthing' shape bristling with hi-tech features that deftly folds down to an easy-to-carry size. The yike bike will benefit from some development towards even greener versions with manual options :: Featured in SRD change 09 exhibits are two concepts that turn heads. Omar Alwari's eTrix sports the whole package of electric/manual/automatic folding bike that includes a centrifical gearbox :: Anton Grimes LINK Urban Scooter system integrates with existing power poles adapted as a convenient source of power and storage for the city scooter traveller. See www.srdchange.org/09/exhibits.php for these last two.
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Assessing greener automotive design
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AU : Green Vehicles guide: A good start but could be more comprehensive ... source : www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au
Fuel consumption label source : www.environment.gov.au/settlements/transport/fuelguide/label.html
Top 10 Fuel Efficient Cars in Australia 2008 source : austconserv.com/topics/traveling-and-environment/345-top-10-fuel-efficient-cars-in-australia-2008.html
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USA: Green Cars - Across Technologies. Fuel efficiency and price comparisons ... source : autos.yahoo.com/green_center-cars
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UK: What Green Cars - A great range of articles and comparisons across all technologies. Fuel efficiency and price comparisons (Lowest score is greener)... source : www.whatgreencar.com/index.php
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2009 auto greenNews
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Mini Diesel to become the most fuel efficient conventional vehicle available in Australia but due to particulate emissions will not take top spot from fortwo in Au. government ratings. sources: Drive 1 : Drive 2

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Fisker Karma plug-in super hybrid for the top end of the US market ... motorauthority story

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Toyota revises 2009 Prius mpg rating to 51 city, 48 highway and 50 combined. motorauthority story

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Segway and GM combine to unveil the P.U.M.A. concept. See story source : GM, Segway roll out an electric scooter built for two
See the Video : www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY4msj5Q05Q&feature=player_embedded

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Lightning Hybrids is an automotive research and manufacturing company that has designed two 100 MPG hydraulic-biodiesel hybrid cars with sports sedan performance (0-60 in 5.9 seconds) and visual appeal. The cars are slated to be available in the US 2010. See : www.lightninghybrids.com

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Greener Racing
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FORMULA ZERO is the new zero-emission race class for hydrogen and fuel cells vehicles. The race class will commence with small racers, and as the car industry moves to mass production of fuel cell vehicles, Formula Zero will scale up to being a full size racing class. www.formulazero.nl/pagina/formula_zero :: 2009/10 Fuel Cell Championship www.formulazero.nl/pagina/championship/championship_se2009

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2008 auto green news
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European Commission Proposes 200 billion Euros Economic Recovery Plan with a 5 billion Euros Green Cars Initiative. The plan includes detailed proposals for partnerships between the public sector - using Community, EIB and national funding - and private sectors to boost clean technologies through support for innovation. In addition to the European green cars initiative, the Plan proposes a European energy-efficient buildings and a factories of the future initiative. Source : www.greencarcongress.com/2008/11/european-commis.html

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Fuel consumption Conversion
Get your quantities right to convert ... check if you have UK (Imperial) or US measures for an accurate figure. (Perhaps some new international standard may improve this further) www.theconvertersite.com/conversions/fuelconsumption.php
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Emission comparisons for several transport modes in Europe
Transport of goods causes energy consumption, carbon dioxide emissions and exhaust emissions. More and more logistics providers as well as cross border companies want to know the eco-impact of freight movements by various transport modes, in order to reduce this impact. Consequently, the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (ifeu), Heidelberg, and the Rail Management Consultants GmbH (RMCon), developed the objective EcoTransIT-Tool to quantify the emissions from freight transport. www.ecotransit.org/information.en.phtml
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Electric Ideas and more
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Who killed the electric car? A documentary movie and website with some very interesting observations ... source : www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com
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Cyclical concepts, and buy right now !
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Call that a bike ?? In many versions to get you off down the road ... See Greenspeed Glyde story + more at their home site : www.greenspeed.com.au/Glyde.News.html

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Small Car Inspiration

worlds-smallest-vehicles ... source: Dark Roasted Blend blog



3rd Ed.06oct11 / all suggestions and additions welcome. Email : srd (at) srd.org.au :: <<-- just copy this and replace the (at)
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