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Friday, 27 February 2009
Using rechargeable batteries is a great way to cut down on the waste we produce and to save money at the same time, but you need to be organized and keep a charger on hand. Well, inventor Knut Karlsen has come up with a clever solution that crosses a solar charger and a rechargeable cell to make, what is essentially, a self-charging battery. Thursday, 18 December 2008
What’s not to love about a gadget that can provide free electricity to your portable devices on-the-go? That’s the thinking behind these solar panel-packing sunglasses. Called the Self-Energy Generating Glasses, or confusingly SIG, this alien-eyewear will supposedly collect energy from sunlight and transfer it to a cellphone or iPod via a power jack at the end of one of the arms. Thursday, 11 December 2008
There are quite a number of bags around these days sporting solar panels and charging your gadgets. The Voltaic Generator, however, is a different breed. Though it may look fairly ordinary, it comes equipped with a high-performance 15W photovoltaic panel that will charge your laptop in around five hours. Monday, 24 November 2008
Clearly not for spies or military use as its huge floating solar-array charging station would surely blow your cover, this solar-powered submarine could make underwater exploration cheaper and more environmentally friendly. Tuesday, 16 September 2008
Ideas that make our recreational activities more accessible are always welcome, as they help with our increasingly spontaneous lifestyles. We just want to get out there and have some fun and hours spent setting up and packing away equipment is such a drag. Cue the Pathfinder amphibious vehicle concept, which aims to do for boating what the Flyke does for paragliding. Thursday, 4 September 2008
Designer Holly Gates has developed a simple, yet ingenious e-paper reader that balances power draw and power generation so well that it doesn’t even have a charging socket. Think of it as a high-tech version of the ubiquitous solar-powered calculator that just works whenever it’s needed. Thursday, 21 August 2008
The 2008 Peugeot Design Competition has produced yet another interesting concept car, this time in the shape of an omnidirectional pod that looks just like a water-drop. Called the MoVille, this single-seater pod designed by Woo-Ram Lee is compact in size and is powered by solar energy, providing motion to the huge spherical wheels via electromagnets. Tuesday, 12 August 2008
In what may seem like the latest marketing push from Gillette (now with five blades and wheels), we have a new concept car that takes automobile design to a strange new level. The Peugeot ONE is a single-seater ride that uses solar energy captured by its long windshield to power itself. The design was created by Omar Ivan Huerta Cardoso who designed the car for eco city commuting. Apparently it would use a gyroscope system to ensure stability and features a rather unique suspension system that seems like it could cushion the body well during a sudden stop. I’m not entirely sure how you would get inside, but you know it’s gotta be cramped in there – which may be part of the experience. Apparently, it is called ONE because it’s designed to make you feel as if you’re at ‘one’ with nature. I don’t know about that, but it certainly may make you feel at one with the machine, like with the cramped cockpit of a Formula 1 car or a jet fighter. It sure is an interesting design, but due to the long wheelbase for just one occupant, I don’t think it would be practical for the city driving and parking for which it was designed. If it could incorporate a folding mechanism like the recent BRB Evolution and M.01 car concepts, that would certainly help shave its parking footprint at least.
Friday, 8 August 2008
After a bit of delay, the free-energy producing SunTable is finally here. The elegantly designed table is made of stainless steel and teak with a usable table-top made up of photovoltaic cells. It comes equipped with built-in batteries and an inverter so you can plug in via regular power sockets. The table is made by Sudia Design Labs and improves upon the recent Tech Chair by comfortably seating up to six people. It takes 4 hours of direct sunlight to fully charge the batteries so positioning it in a sunny spot would be best for heavy use. The table is weather resistant and requires little maintenance making it suitable for use as patio/garden furniture. The SunTable can be used to power numerous gadgets or even lighting for a night-time get-together. It can be hosed down to clean up spilt drinks and includes LED indicators to let you know how much juice you’ve got left in the batteries. At $2200 it’s not cheap, but then, quality outdoor furniture typically isn’t. Thursday, 7 August 2008
A spanish firm called R!naldo (no typo) has come up with an odd housing design that whilst being environmentally friendly, looks like a plate of your mama’s meatballs. The design is called Bubble Building and is no mere concept, it seems ready to be constructed for anyone who wants something a little different. The Bubble Building is made from concrete insulate which can be covered in shrubbery to style a more natural look. The windows and doors are made from insulating glass and the giant domes are supposedly able to reflect heat. The bubbles come equipped with bathroom and kitchen units and appropriately shaped furniture (read: round) with natural flooring that can apparently be used both inside and out. It would be powered by solar panels, though I don’t see where they would be installed – maybe on the domes or an external solar farm? While this design certainly is interesting, it seems very utilitarian and almost cave-like inside. More like a regression than a progression in my opinion.
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