We were excited to learn last year that the new Transbay Transit Center in downtown San Francisco would be built with green features in mind. We’re even more excited now that the $4 billion terminal has just received a $171 million loan from the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) to go ahead with phase 1 of the project, which will replace the current Transbay Terminal.
Are you in the New York City area and looking to liven up your weekly routine with an evening out of the ordinary? Well, button up your favorite flannel shirt, pull on your skinny jeans, and head out to Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg for local brews, food by Blue Ribbon, live bands and games of tenpin at the only LEED certified bowling alley in the world!
What if designing your own electric vehicle was as simple as picking out the parts and plugging them together? Trexa is aiming to make that dream a reality as they unveil the world’s first fully-electric vehicle development platform. This svelte all-wheel drive platform includes everything you need to make a vehicle go – a battery, driveline, and power electronics. The design of everything else is up to you, and its modular nature means that it can be tailored to virtually any application – from futuristic connected tram systems for commercial fleets, to high-performance hot rods, to neighborhood-friendly EV’s perfect for a jaunt around town.
Bike commuting is a beautiful thing – it’s an efficient, quick way to get around an urban area and it’s great for your heart. Only problem is those pesky cars that are continually getting in the way! What if you could have your own bicycle traffic lane completely separate from the cars and safely out of their way? Martin Angelov, a Bulgarian architect, came up with this incredible concept for urban bicycle transportation – a bike lane in the sky that he calls “Kolelinia”. It looks a lot like a tightrope contraption, but this fairly sophisticated design is meant to handle commuting bikes on a steel wire high above traffic to connect popular destinations.
High-Speed Javelin Trains Arrive in the UK
This week the UK joined the ranks of many other European countries as it unveiled its first domestic high-speed rail service. The 140 mph Japanese-built Javelin trains will be slightly more expensive to ride than their slow-poke counterparts, but they will drastically cut down on journey times.
Top 5 Green Cars at the LA Auto Show!
The LA Auto Show is off and running, and Inhabitat was on the scene earlier this week to witness the unveiling of all the lean, green rides on display. Throughout the show we were struck by the array of alternative fuel vehicles that each and every manufacturer is putting research dollars towards. From pint-sized city cars to svelte green speed demons, read on for Inhabitat’s top 5 green vehicles from the LA Auto Show!
Forget Tesla: The Maniwa Wooden Car is a Real Green Supervehicle
We come across plenty of slick green cars in our daily treks across the Internet, but the Maniwa wooden sports car takes the cake as the simplest. The vehicle, which was designed and handbuilt by wood craftsmen at Sada-Kenbi, is street-legal in Japan.
Solar-Powered Plane Takes Maiden Flight
We were thrilled to learn last month that the Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane that will take a 20 to 25 day trip around the world, made its first successful test down the runway. And now we’re even more excited to report that the plane completed its first flight in Switzerland just yesterday.
275 MPG eVARO Electric Vehicle Goes From 0 to 60 in 5 Seconds
The Progressive Automotive X-Prize is heating up as the May 2010 start date approaches, and one of our favorite entrants is the eVARO, a three-wheeled plug-in hybrid from Future Vehicles Technology. The sleek electric vehicle can go from 0 to 60 MPH in 5 seconds and purportedly reaches 275 mpg under certain conditions. And for those times when there isn’t a gas station in site, the eVARO can cruise for up to 90 miles on pure battery power.
First Electric Vehicle Charging Corridor Installed Between SF and LA
One of the biggest problems with electric vehicle technology is the lack of a plug-in infrastructure on our roads. But that problem is about to disappear — at least for some commuters on Highway 101 going between San Francisco and Los Angeles — thanks to a so-called “electric highway” of five recharging stations between the two cities. Four of the stations are already online, and a fifth will be up and running in Goleta by October.
ARTIC: 21st Century High Speed Rail Station For Orange County
Southern California will soon be getting a much needed infrastructure update in the form of Orange County’s recently unveiled Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). Designed by HOK Los Angeles and Parsons Brinkerhoff, the transit center will serve as a hub for commuter trains and two new high speed rail lines that will help commuters, fans, residents and tourists move seamlessly between transit services in Southern California and beyond. In addition to offering increased accessibility to green transportation, the station will be shooting to achieve LEED Platinum certification, the highest possible certification with the USGBC.
U.S. Postal Service Buys 1,600 Fuel Efficient Vehicles
The U.S. postal service currently owns of one of the largest vehicle fleets on the planet, and they recently announced a monumental measure to replace 6,500 aging gas guzzling vehicles with more fuel efficient vehicles. The plan includes 900 hybrids and 1,000 alternative fuel vehicles purchased by the U.S. General Services Administration as part of a $210 million dollar plan to green the government’s fleet. Since these vehicles see heavy use and are essential for many of the USPS’ operations, their introduction stands to create a massive reduction in carbon emissions and fuel costs.
LAST CALL: Pimp my Eco-Ride Contest Closes Tonight!
PIMP MY ECO-RIDE CONTEST CLOSES TONIGHT AT MIDNIGHT!
Heads-up all eco-enthusiasts looking for a slick new summer ride! Our Pimp my Eco-Ride Contest is closing tonight at midnight, which makes this your LAST CHANCE to convince us why you should win this limited edition Strida 5.0 SX folding bicycle! To enter, simply click on the link below and submit a photo and comment explaining why …
Green GT’s All-Electric Supercar Unveiled
Up-and-coming Swiss auto company GreenGT recently unveiled plans for a fully-electric vehicle that is heralded to be the most powerful and cutting-edge electric race car ever built. Designed with the famous Le Mans race in mind, their Twenty-4 vehicle is currently undergoing development and will boast two 100-kw electric engines that provide 350-400 horsepower and a top speed of 171 mph.
World’s Tiniest Car Made From a Children’s Ride
We keep on saying that smaller, more efficient vehicles are the way of the future, but we never thought we’d see one this tiny! In a bid to create the world’s smallest car, Perry Watkins of the U.K. has repurposed a “Postman Pat” children’s ride into a street-legal vehicle that pushes far beyond clown-car dimensions. The car measures 39 inches tall by 26 inches wide, is capable of accelerating up to 40mph, and gets 70 miles per gallon!
The Tesla Model-S Revealed!
After months of teasing, Tesla has finally announced the highly expected and hotly desired Tesla Model-S. In keeping with the Tesla Roadster, the Model-S is a gorgeous looking electric vehicle that is capable of rocketing from 0-60 in 5.5 seconds and traveling up to 300 miles on a single 45 minute charge.
Europe’s Grass-Lined Green Railways = Good Urban Design
Although it’s certainly not a new idea to combine landscaping with public transportation, we love the sight of these European trams gliding along on beds of grass. From Barcelona to the Czech Republic, Frankfurt, St-Etienne and Strasbourg, these public transit greenways are showing the potential of incorporating landscaping into good urban design.
Aptera Rolls Out First 2e Pre-Production Model
Recently Aptera announced that they have rolled out the first pre-production model of their eagerly anticipated 2e. The sleek electric vehicle features an incredibly strong and aerodynamic body, a lithium-based battery, front wheel drive, and an improved door design, marking a significant landmark on the road to release by October of 2009.
Awesome Aeolus Airship Sets Sail for Greener Horizons
Amidst the current rapacious progression of planes, trains, and automobiles there’s something singularly beautiful about this elegant floating Aeolus Airship designed by Christopher Ottersbach. Lifted from the earth by a streamlined sail filled with helium, its serene sun-soaked form makes us want to forgo expeditious travel altogether and drift off amidst the clouds.
Inhabitat Blog Picks of the Week
The new year is the perfect time to reflect on some of the crazy and exciting accomplishments of the past year– and to think about the future. As you might have noticed this past week, we’ve been pondering our favorite stories we’ve run this year, how we could be more eco-conscious in 2009, and where 2009 might bring us in becoming a greener and cleaner planet. And …
LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!
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