Mitsubishi have done something unusual. They have created a car that isn’t a hybrid, but is a full electronic car. It runs off power and will get you 160KM’s off an overnight charge. It even has a decent top speed at around the 130KPH mark.
The i-MiEV (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle) is designed for the city drivers who are to lazy to ride a bike, and prefer the comfort of their car over sitting in over crowded public transport. The greatest feature of the car is the fact it will be available globally from 2010. That means we might even see it here in Australia (though Mitsubishi has only said Japan, Europe and US at the moment).
People are sceptical about how useful a car, that can drive 160 KM’s off an over night charge, can be. I believe in countries like my glorious one (it is pretty glorious you kn0w) we have a lot of density around the cities that refuse to use the shocking public transport system. They drive around in there very fuel efficient cars, but could become even more efficient if it was all electrical (and you were charging it by renewable energy). If it is as expensive as the Toyota Prius, it would have to be a miss for my shallow pockets.
For more info, click over to EcoGeek.
It surprises me that companies haven’t made Bluetooth a standard feature in their ranges of portable entertainment devices (PMP, DAPs, MP3 players)? Sony haven’t added it to their whole range of players, but they have added it to two spunky (yes, I said spunky) new DAP’s. The two offending players are the 16GB NW-A829 and 8GB NW-A828.
The players also feature 2.4-inch display, FM radio and video playing capabilities. It can play MP3, WMA, ATRAC Advanced Lossless, SONY PCM, AAC, HE-AAC audio files plus MPEG4 and AVC video files. The battery is up to Sony’s impressive standards, and gives you 36 hours with Bluetooth off and 15 hours with Bluetooth on.
Look wise the players are clean and small, at only 9mm thick. The players will be priced $US354 for the bigger and $US260 for the smaller. They are in Japan only at the moment, but you can expect them to spread like wild fire.
For more info, click over to Sony. (it is in Japanese)
5,000 solar panels creating 500,000 kWh of energy per year, that is the Solar Ark by Sanyo. Located in Japan, next to Sanyo’s semiconductor factory in Gifu, this incredible structure is a hybrid system made of crystal silicon and thin-film amorphous silicon with a 14-15% efficiency.
Originally the material was put aside to create a very similar structure, but due to the Sanyo’s monocrystalline cell scandal, all the PV’s were recalled. Now Sanyo have used those recalled PV’s to make this 315 meter long solar power museum with multi-media exhibits, a solar lab and rooms for solar or environmental events.
It’s a truly amazing structure and works as a monument to solar power, as well as generating enough power to power around 30-40 average homes. With solar technology getting better daily, some scientists talking 60%, the solar structures of the future will do more then draw in tourists.
For a whole lot more info, jump over to Inhabitat.
It is all real my friends, and about bloody time as well. The PlayStation 3, the console we lust for (if it had good games that is) and we would love to own, just to wake up in the morning next to it (maybe not that far). The price has dropped in Japan, but only by around 10% (on the 20GB model). That isn’t all either. You can now get the 40GB model over there for 11% cheaper then the now price dropped 20GB (you lose a few things but it is still quite a bit cheaper). The price are now 44,980 yen ($US384) for the 20GB and for around 40,000 yen ($US340) you can get the 40GB model. Maybe all these PS3 changes will have the same affect as the PSP Slim?
For a lot more info, fly over to the PCMag Website.