Bigger Better Greener - Ideas for a better tomorrow.

I wrote previously about Solar Trees by Ross Lovegrove. One of most beautiful ecological object ever produced. As Solar Trees are on the streets of Europe, new version is in progress. This time branches that will follow the sun, escaping the shadow and achieving much higher efficiency.
Truly amazing. Excuse me, my Local Council, when we will have these in my street?

Tesla motors are closer to start building factory in California and build it’s highly expected sedan, model S. It will be sold for around $60K and sources said car would be in BMW 5 series style. Fully electric, luxury and with 225miles per charge, for that price – its big treat to whole car industry.

First spy images are not leaked yet, but we can look forward to it any time. And we do expect real images with great anticipation, as roadster already rocked the World with amazing design.

Here comes the electrifying logic from Germany. BMW decided to build 500 electric powered Mini Coopers. As BMW is owner of Mini, this step is easy and smooth way for BMW to get through California’s mandate that all car manufactures have to make at least 7,500 zero emissions vehicles by 2014. With its lightweight construction, great handling, performance and funky look, eMini will be real hit. Not to mention that concept electric Mini from 2006. done 0-60 in 4.5 seconds. Problem could be price, but Mini drivers are already happy to pay a lot for quality small package.

Production is already started in UK and Germany and it’s expected that 490 cars will eb on sale in California and 10 used as show car. Great move from BMW. 

Volkswagen decided to make bold move by producing lightweight 1-litre car that will have fuel consumption of only 282MPG. This small two seater will use diesel technology. Expected price would be 20-30,000 euros, what is not as cheap. Why not just buying a bike? Or using public transport? Also, if they already gone through whole process of creating this concept for production, why WV didn’t choose alternative fuel? It doesn’t look like it needs battery bigger than one on my laptop.

Check Treehugger for more images of this really cute car
www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/vw-282-mpg-1-one-liter-car-production-2010.php

Architect Juan Herreros won 2nd place on competition for new building of the Cadarache Research Center. Building look amazing concept took all my words away, so I will leave this to architect:

“The project consists of five pieces of architecture located in a forest rich in biological activity. We have concluded of our visit to the site, that the best option is to inhabit the forest without exceeding their height, making architecture as a new species that respects, protects and enhances the forest, until create a new balanced system in which buildings and trees are sharing rights and obligations. With this we will not competing with the size nor the presence of a large reactor or reduce the value of the ecosystem of a wooded garden at the foot of the buildings.

Our deployment strategy is compromised to build without altering the conditions of the forest, to inhabit the forest without violence creating a symbiotic architecture with its microclimate and its density. To do so, we are disclaiming to open large breaks on the continuity of natural cycles and are proposing to build linear buildings of optimum and constant width that occupies corridors from which have been lifted only the required trees, allowing the maximum proximity of the remaining facades. The original density of the forest will always be present and architecture appears filtered through the foliage.”

Wonderful. But, where is a garage for my Hummer?

Check more images on ArchDaily
http://www.archdaily.com/3574/iter-complementary-buildings-cea-cadarache-juan-herreros-arquitectos/

Tata Nano is seen as affordable small car available to large number of  people in India or China. Then maybe on the west too. But as all other “green” technology is review – is Nano really green or another Earth-killing product?

Review and video on from WIRED
www.wired.com/cars/coolwheels/magazine/16-07/ff_tata