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Based on magnetic resonant inductive coupling technology developed in 1894, researchers at Stanford have just developed an innovative wireless electric car charging system for highways – it would power moving cars at high efficiency while untethering them from plugs. The system comprises of a series of coils embedded underway: as one coil is charged, the other will absorb the resulting magnetic field and turn it into electrical energy. Experiments now prove that the coils can deliver 10 kilowatts of energy for 6.5 feet, and the transfer of electricity is about 97% efficient.

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We’re always trying to park as more cars as possible in one place— but since the space is limited, why not park your cars in a different way, such as fold your car up for parking/storage? Originally dreamt up by Boston’s MIT-Media lab, the collapsible vehicle is now developed by a consortium of seven small Basque firms under the name Hiriko Driving Mobility (Hiriko is the Basque word for ‘urban’) and is hoped to hit the market by mid-2013. The EV is quite small, coming with only two seats, and it will collapse into a much smaller one when parks vertically. And it’s durable too, capable of running for 75 miles without needing a recharge. When the EV finally comes into production, there’re two ways for people to use it: either purchase one for 12,500 Euros (just over $16,000) or rent one for the day.

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Wheelchair users, although with the aid of others, may usually get bothered by the difficulty of getting on and off a car when they need to go on a travel. So why not just change their wheelchairs into an electrical vehicle so as to solve the problem? With that in mind, some designers have created the WHILL, a device that can clamp onto the wheels of an existing manual wheelchair and to power it with electricity. Each circular “hub” contains a 24-volt motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The battery reportedly takes two hours to charge, offering a range of approximately 30 kilometers with a speed that may get up to 20 km/h. When needing to change the directions or adjust the speed, the users can easily accomplish those tasks via an operation of the curved control section that connects two “hubs”.

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How small do you think an electric vehicle would be? Scientists from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands have created the world’s smallest electric vehicle that is made from a synthetic molecule. The EV comes with four motors too, and powered by electrons to make it move forward. There’re some limitations to this micro-EV of course, as it could only operate at low temperatures and the molecules need to be kept still by a vacuum before they are activated.

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Nissan Leaf, as the first all-electric production car, has long been concerned during the past days. Recently Nissan issued its 24kWh battery that can power a Jananese house for up to two days, to support a faminly when their electricity power goes out. According to the company, the new battery will come into production at the end of this year and then be tested at the beginning of 2012. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Go and start a shinny cycle! Announced to be a best gift for kids, the eSpark would create sparks as you cruise on it around the streets. It is powered by rechargeable twin 12-volt battery, and an eight-hour charge can ensure about up to 40 minutes’ use. [Read the rest of this entry...]

A group of high school students from Automotive Design Studio, a unique class provided by Kansas City based DeLaSalle Education Center for high school students, has created a lightweight electric car that weighs less than 1,200 pounds, which is half the weight of 98% of most electric vehicles. Its body was shaped using a thin wire framework covered with a transparent skin made from a heat-shrinkable material, and that weighs only 39 pounds! Also due to its light weight, the DeLaSalle car is quite well known for energy efficiency, and it can achieve the equivalent of nearly 300 miles per gallon.
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Stylish and compact, this electronic vehicle can easily shift between a bike and a tricycle via simple folding, so as to ensure you much more convenience. As a result, you can not only guide your vehicle through the crowded streets with ease but create enough space for your items whenever you go on a huge shopping spree. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Students from the Ohio State University have designed the world’s fastest vehicle. Shaped like a large bullet, the new car is powered by lithium battery but can reach a high speed of up to 291 miles per hour, which have beaten almost all the racing cars. Really incredible. [Read the rest of this entry...]

After about forty years of developing a perfect human-powered vehicle, engineer Charles Greenwood has finally come up with a hand-powered hybrid car that has a top speed of up to 60mph. It can seat up to four people: when there’re all four people on the travel, the car can run based on the human power; but when there’re fewer passengers, it can also use electric battery power for a better performance. So the car can be more eco-friendly when there’re more people driving it. Good news is that you’ll soon see this car on the road, as the HumanCar Imagine PS is expected to be on sale next year for £10,000 and the company has received 100 pre-orders. Till then, the Imagine PS will also has a touch-screen display with GPS and biometric data logging, computer, communications systems and other advanced equipment. So do you want one, too? [Read the rest of this entry...]

With more and more people wishing to journey round the world on bikes, it was only a matter of time to see the Robotic Bicycle Partner accompany you guys on the travel. The robot “Joules” can push pedals like a person and creates enough power to have the electric tandem bicycle move forward. [Read the rest of this entry...]

With a closed internal niche and patio, the new tramway system relies on the power of electricity to go around the city and its main task is to let people enjoy the magnificent views of the city when they’re on the travel.

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The designer of the Conquest Motorcycle is quite concerned about the leg-impaired people and wants them to enjoy the motorbikes as much as we do. Powered by an 1170 CC BMW engine, the three-wheeled motorcycle can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.6 seconds and features a top speed of 105 mph. Since it is designed for wheelchair users, the Conquest Motorcycle also features an entrance at the back for the users to get onto the vehicle while remaining in his/her own wheelchair. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Personal mobility vehicles are widely developed these days, but at present we can only see most of them on the paper. Designed by Phillip Seagram for Honda, the “Individual Articulating Commuter” is another concept that makes us feel exciting. It is a compact vehicle that measures just 4.85 inches in length, making it especially ideal for the crowded city streets. More importantly, the electric vehicle can alter its shape, from vertically upright to horizontally flat as it runs faster and faster. Designed to run on wheels with built-in motors, the “Individual Articulating Commuter” also features a hidden balance wheel for safe driving. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The “Biway” is an amazing vehicle concept from the Michelin Challenge Design 2010. It works in a way like this: the zero-emission public transportation individually acts as an electrical bus on city roads, but turns into a modern train on a fiber freeway when two or more are combined together. Each of the Biway has an onboard battery, which will get charged when the vehicle moves on the fiber freeway. More importantly, the passengers can switch the buses directly, therefore saving their time and energy. [Read the rest of this entry...]