Air New Zealand ‘revolutionizes’ coach cabins: power, USB, iPod support and Skycouches

When the so-called “friendly skies” are mentioned, a few airlines in particular come to mind: Virgin America, Singapore Airlines and Qantas, for starters. Starting today, you can safely include Air New Zealand in that discussion. In a bid to turn long-haul international travel on its head, the outfit has today revealed a freshly outfitted Boeing 777 with a coach cabin that easily puts every coach cabin found in the US to shame. Designed by Recaro, the world-class coach area includes 11 rows of Skycouches that can actually fold flat in order to create (admittedly short) beds for two. The best part? The “third seat” in the row will only cost a couple 50 percent of what it normally would, making it somewhat more affordable to buy a bed without springing for first class. You’ll also find power sockets, USB ports and iPod connectors in every single coach seat, leaving the plane a Gogo-module away from being absolutely perfect. Pop those source links below for a hands-on at the Auckland unveiling by our good pals at Gadling.

Air New Zealand ‘revolutionizes’ coach cabins: power, USB, iPod support and Skycouches originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Gadling, Hands-on  | Email this | Comments

Art Lebedev’s Transparentius eliminates opacity, improves road safety

Kudos where it’s due: not many design houses use tanks in their illustrations of a new road safety concept. Transparentius, as with most good ideas, is remarkably simple — you jack a camera onto the front of a truck, or lorry as they’re known in some places, and then project that image onto the back of your hulking transporter. The effect of this is to render the truck figuratively transparent for the driver behind, who is enriched with a lot more information about what lies on the road ahead. No word on how the rear projection is achieved or how sunlight glare is overcome, but knowing Art Lebedev, you can bet both challenges are solved in the most unaffordable fashion possible. Anyhow, now that you’ve got the idea, we’re throwing this one over to you dear mod-loving friends — can you build this without remortgaging the house?

[Thanks, Dennis]

Art Lebedev’s Transparentius eliminates opacity, improves road safety originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 22 Dec 2009 06:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Art Lebedev Studio  | Email this | Comments

2011 Chevrolet Volt gets taken for a test drive

The Chevy Volt is one vehicle we can really get behind. It’s hard not to be a little excited over it — we have, after all, been watching its development for quite a long time now. The electric car gets an impressive 230 miles per gallon in the city (and, all shaky rating practices aside, that’s nothing to scoff at). Autoblog Green’s just taken one of Chevy’s 80 IVER pre-production prototypes for a little spin, and they seem to have come away pretty impressed with the car. They report that the brakes are better than most hybrid vehicles, and said that when the engine does kick in after the battery’s depleted, they didn’t even notice it until they stopped and heard it running quietly. It was a short spin, so they weren’t able to gauge, for instance, whether the car can actually pull the full 40 miles per battery charge that Chevrolet claims it gets, but check out their full, detailed observations at the Source link.

2011 Chevrolet Volt gets taken for a test drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Autoblog Green  | Email this | Comments

Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive

[Thanks, Christopher]

Continue reading Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive

Grace E-motorbikes are ultralightweight, German, and very expensive originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink DVICE  |  Grace E-motorbikes  | Email this | Comments

Xero’s eBoard Neo skateboard is battery-powered, gun-controlled

Filed under: Transportation

Xero’s eBoard Neo skateboard is battery-powered, gun-controlled originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford’s inflatable seat belts headed to Explorer in 2010, other whips in due time (video)

Inflatable seat belts. At a glance, that doesn’t seem like such a bad idea after all, particularly for those rear seat passengers who aren’t blessed with two huge bags or air right in front of their chest. We’re guessing the top brass at Ford feel pretty much the same way, as the outfit has just announced that these very devices will be making their debut in the next-generation Ford Explorer before rolling out across the fleet. Of course, Lexus is also planning to shove these into its ultra-luxurious LFA (which will probably make a grand total of 14 wealthy owners feel really, really safe), but it’s tough to tell which vehicle will hit the showroom first. Jump past the break for a vid.

Continue reading Ford’s inflatable seat belts headed to Explorer in 2010, other whips in due time (video)

Filed under: Transportation

Ford’s inflatable seat belts headed to Explorer in 2010, other whips in due time (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

U.S. Army and EnerDel team up for electric-hybrid Humvee

Continue reading U.S. Army and EnerDel team up for electric-hybrid Humvee

Filed under: Transportation

U.S. Army and EnerDel team up for electric-hybrid Humvee originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Mavizen’s electric bike hits 130 MPH, ships with Linux and WiFi

Mavizen, the manufacturing arm of the TTXGP (the Time Trials Xtreme Grand Prix — a race for zero-emissions motorcycles) has just announced the TTX02 at this year’s SEMA. A shining example of “EVs as consumer electronics” (the buzz-concept going ’round the electric vehicle scene) this guy is being billed not as a bike, but as a development platform — shipping not only with a chassis and drivetrain, but with an open source Linux OS, web server, USB-based system bus, and WiFi connectivity. If you’re looking to give the gang from Mission Motors a run for their money at the next TTXGP, hit the read link — about $41,000 will get you in the game. Videos after the break.

[Via Asphalt & Rubber]

Continue reading Mavizen’s electric bike hits 130 MPH, ships with Linux and WiFi

Filed under: Transportation

Mavizen’s electric bike hits 130 MPH, ships with Linux and WiFi originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Japanese team takes top prize at World Solar Challenge

A Japanese team from Tokai University has taken the top spot at the World Solar Challenge, which was held at the end of last week in Australia. The team beat out the Delft University team which won four consecutive previous Challenges, and this year took second place, with the third seat going to the University of Michigan. The race course travels from southern to northern Australia over 3,000 km (about 1864 miles), and the winning team’s car, Tokai Challenger, completed the race in just under 30 hours, averaging 62 miles per hour. Other notable participants included the MIT-built Eleanor.

[Via Wired]

Filed under: Transportation

Japanese team takes top prize at World Solar Challenge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Aptera 2e three-wheeler deemed a car by the DoE, eligible for funding

Filed under: Transportation

Aptera 2e three-wheeler deemed a car by the DoE, eligible for funding originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Southwest builds first ‘green plane,’ Ma Earth shows her gratitude

Southwest Airlines may not own a plane with a headrest infotainment system, but it’s still far and away the most enjoyable commercial flight you’ll find in the US of A (save for Virgin America, naturally). Granted, we’d like to see in-flight WiFi offered on a few more of its flights (read: 100 percent of them), but hey, we’ll take free checked bags and friendly employees any day of the week. We’ll also take fuel savings and environment stewardship, both of which Southwest is aiming to give us by creating the planet’s first “green plane.” By utilizing recyclable InterfaceFLOR carpet, weight-saving seat covers and life vest pouches, a lighter foam fill in the seats and aluminum (as opposed to plastic) seat rub strips, the newfangled Boeing 737-700 ends up some 472 pounds lighter than a conventional one. The savings? 9,500 gallons of jet fuel per year. We’re not sure when the bird is expected to take her first voyage, but here’s hoping a few others are hatched in the near future.

[Via DailyFinance]

Read – Southwest press release
Read – China View’s fuel calculations

Filed under: Transportation

Southwest builds first ‘green plane,’ Ma Earth shows her gratitude originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Yamaha’s EC-f electric motorcycle has two wheels and one plug

Motorcycles are light, small, and easily able to ride up on sidewalks in search of hidden power plugs. They’re the perfect electric vehicle but, despite a few notable exceptions, they’re still powered by dino juice. Yamaha, makers of the raucous crossplane crank R1 sportbike, has decided to go a little bit cuter for its vision of the rechargeable future, the EC-f. It features an aluminum frame, a lithium ion battery, and styling cues that will have riders worrying about that green ring turning red. That, of course, assumes this will ever actually have riders, which is doubtful given the fate of most fanciful Tokyo Motor Show concepts like this.

Filed under: Transportation

Yamaha’s EC-f electric motorcycle has two wheels and one plug originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Honda’s U3-X taken for an awkward squat (video)

The granola girls over at Autoblog Green had the rare opportunity to test out the quirky little U3-X on a visit to the Honda R&D center in Japan. You remember: the self-balancing unicycle that fits in a car door and relies on an inclinometer (not gyroscope) to know which way is up. In essence it balances the rider like a broomstick held on-end in the palm of the end. Autoblog calls it “far more intriguing than a Segway” due largely to the Honda Omni Traction (HOT) drive system that allows the personal transporter to move forward, back, and left and right on a series of small wheels. Unfortunately, Honda wouldn’t let anyone peek underneath to see the magic. When turned on the U3-X stands upright making small motions to maintain balance. And as awkward as it looks, riding the U3-X “couldn’t be easier” — like a Segway you just lean ever so subtly in the direction you want to go. It will tip over if the rider leans too far or too fast but it’s apparently very simple and intuitive to keep upright. The 20-pound model tested was designed for indoor use only and booked along at an overdue-toilet-break pace of 4MPH. Check it out in the video after the break.

Continue reading Honda’s U3-X taken for an awkward squat (video)

Filed under: Transportation

Honda’s U3-X taken for an awkward squat (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Intelligent speed bumps collapse to reward slow-pokes, cut down on emissions

There’s a saying that originated in the wild, wild west, and if our memory serves us correctly, it goes a little something like this: “If you can’t convince the cops to do their jobs, just install as many speed bumps as humanly possible.” Oddly enough, that very mantra has mirrored reality down in Mexico, with some 18,000 speed bumps established in central Mexico City alone. In an effort to cut down on pollutants emitted from legions of motorcars slowing and accelerating rapidly, Decano Industries is developing a “smart” version that collapses if your vehicle taps it gently enough. Granted, an actual speed sensor would be slightly more efficient, but we’re told that it reacts to the impact so quickly that it would seem as if you never even ran over the bump. As for speedsters? The bump would remain erect, increasing their road rage level ever higher. Still, the best advice on all of this comes from one Marielena Ramírez: “They should just get rid of speed bumps, not try to make them smarter.” ¡Viva la Revolucion!

[Via Autoblog, image courtesy of ScientificallyFormulated]

Filed under: Transportation

Intelligent speed bumps collapse to reward slow-pokes, cut down on emissions originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Zero off-road electric motorcycles get recalled, might crash more than usual

The Zero S our own Tim Stevens rode fearlessly through the streets of New York apparently isn’t effected, but it looks like Zero’s off-road electric motorcycles (the Zero X and Zero MX) have been hit with a recall after it was discovered that they might crash when it’s not entirely the driver’s fault. Turns out the throttle can get stuck in the open position or become disconnected, and that the “Easy” or “0-25″ modes can “unexpectedly” lead to full power when the bike is turned on — both what you might call “bad things.” Of course, this is a fairly small recall (some 200 vehicles), but if that includes you, you’ll want to get in touch with Zero to arrange for a free repair. Hit up the link below for all the necessary details.

Filed under: Transportation

Zero off-road electric motorcycles get recalled, might crash more than usual originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Laughably large Red Light Camera Detector proves that you should just drive safely

Just a hunch here, but we get the feeling that you’ve gone one step too far when you decide to install a red light camera detector in your vehicle that’s larger than a) your GPS unit and b) the bag phone you used between the years 1991 and 1994. For those bold enough to disagree, there’s the wild and wacky device pictured above, delivered to you by none other than Hammacher Schlemmer. Packing an internal database of 6,000 red light and speed cameras across the US and Canada, the GPS-enabled device also boasts a 1.6-inch OLED screen to show your position in relation to upcoming cameras, and of course it’ll belt out all sorts of warnings to help you avoid the inevitable. Of course, you could just follow the rules of the road, but then you’d have no excuse to burn $199.95 up front and $19.95 annually on this heap. Tough call, no?

[Via NaviGadget]

Filed under: Transportation

Laughably large Red Light Camera Detector proves that you should just drive safely originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Ford GPS tech could tell cars when you’re going too fast

We like it when GPS is feeding us information, telling us when traffic is causing a problem and indicating when a bridge is out so that we can warm up our voices ahead of all the hootin’ and a hollerin’ required for our General Lee replica to clear the gap. However, we’re not too keen on the All-Seeing Eye aspect of GPS, and that’s what we’re fearing in Ford’s latest research. The company gave a $120,000 grant to the Auburn University’s GPS and Vehicle Dynamics Laboratory to look into using GPS for accident prevention, and while results won’t be unveiled until later this week, descriptions of “an early warning system that detects when a vehicle is about to lose control” and then tweaks vehicle traction and stability control settings based on the speed of the car and the severity of upcoming bends sounds a half-step away from the auto-braking assist in Gran Turismo. Or, perhaps that’s just Ford-speak for an Aspid-like system for optimizing suspension based on road twistiness. Given that Ford no longer makes a car designed for going around corners quickly, we find that unlikely.

Update: Wes Sherwood from Ford took the time to comment, indicating that “wide-reaching privacy laws prevent the type of monitoring suggested in this post.” That’s very good to hear. Still no word on when the Mustang will get independent rear suspension, though.

[Via Carperformance]

Filed under: Transportation

Ford GPS tech could tell cars when you’re going too fast originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 08:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

AT&T CruiseCast service partner says it’s ‘business as usual’ despite ‘financial difficulties’

It only just officially launched in June of this year (after fairly long build-up), but it looks like AT&T’s CruiseCast in-car satellite service may not exactly be in the best of shape. As Twice reports, calls to service provider RaySat yesterday resulted in a recorded message saying that the company would no longer be supporting CruiseCast activations “moving forward,” and that it wouldn’t be fulfilling any more equipment orders any longer either. Curiously, the company is now singing a completely different tune today, saying that while it is “working through financial difficulties,” as of right now the service is “up and running, and it’s business as usual.” For its part, AT&T seems to be remaining mum on the whole matter, but phrases like “financial difficulties” and “business as usual” in the same sentence are rarely a good sign, so we’ll be keeping a close eye on this one.

Read – Twice, “AT&T CruiseCast Stops Activations”
Read – Twice, “AT&T CruiseCast Service Continues”

Filed under: Transportation

AT&T CruiseCast service partner says it’s ‘business as usual’ despite ‘financial difficulties’ originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Nissan’s Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video)

Motorcycles are about the most efficient (and fun) way to get around, but people in this country don’t seem to care too much — maybe worried about getting smeared all over the SUV of an eager commuter talking on his cellphone while eating breakfast and shaving. Nissan’s Land Glider could offer that fun and that efficiency in what looks to be a slightly safer package. The zero-emissions electric car seats two in-line and is just 3.6-feet wide, utilizing motorcycle tires that dip on one side when turning to enable leans of up to 17 degrees. The Tokyo Motor Show is just a few weeks away, where this interesting concept will be on display — and surely many others that are even more out there. Check out a video of this one tipping precariously just after the break.

[Via PhysOrg.com]

Continue reading Nissan’s Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video)

Filed under: Transportation

Nissan’s Land Glider concept car leans like a motorcycle, looks like a squashed GT-R (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds

Given just how difficult it has been for even Chevrolet to get its all-electric gears going, we kind of wondered if we’d ever hear more about the Wheego Whip after it quietly faded earlier this year. Lo and behold, the low-speed city car has made an appearance at AltCar 2009, and after receiving about 100 orders, it seems the car is all but ready to begin pleasing those who shelled out just under 20 large for the privilege of a pink slip. Our good pals over at Autoblog Green were able to zip around in the car recently and serve up some impressions of the drive, and while it didn’t seem to live up to the “Cadillac of neighborhood electric vehicles” claim, it definitely got the job done… at 25 miles per hour. Hit the read link for a gallery of shots and a fresh take on what a whisper quiet, low-speed driving experience is like.

Filed under: Transportation

Wheego Whip gets pictured, driven around at mind-blowingly slow speeds originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Next Page »