ATNMBL By Mike And Maaike

Image courtesy of Mike and Maaike

San Francisco-based design duo Mike and Maaike recently introduced the ATNMBL, a provocative vehicle design that proposes an interesting paradigm shift in terms of mobility: no driving.

The concept is the result of an experimental and thoughtful process where they have questioned the very needs of car users and explored the scenario of a computer-controlled system powered by solar panels and electric motors in each wheel.

They have taken a very interesting approach and the design is clearly a departure from traditional car design. Similar thoughts have been explored previously in academic contexts around urban mobility (i.e. Shaun Hutchinson at RCA in 2001) and also some technologies that started in laboratories few years ago are common place nowadays.

So, the technology is there, the infrastructure is there, now the car industry needs to start looking at putting all these pieces together. They are the ones with the power and resources to do it.

The industry that probably employs the largest amount of people in the world, one that has an incredible technological infrastructure and very well prepared human resources, should start working on alternative energies and understanding mobility holistically, looking at the problem of transportation entirely instead of making the same (100 years) old product that only about 12% of the population are able to enjoy. There is a huge opportunity to innovate here and the ATNMBL concept shows this in an elegant and poetic way.

It is nice to see optimistic concepts like Mike and Maaike’s, which bring a fresh approach to the table. And as they say: this is a time of economic challenges and therefore time to experiment.

Here’s an interesting article about their concept on Core77.

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A Road Less Travelled?

As the summer driving season winds down come this Labor Day, there is no time like the present to reflect how the trend towards ever higher gas prices is taking a major toll on American driving habits.  If oil prices continue to skyrocket (Crude is at $116/barrel as of this writing, down from a high of over $147 on July 11, 2008), it may lead over the next few years, to what economist Jeff Rubin of CIBC World Markets terms “the greatest mass exodus of vehicles off America’s highways in history.”  How might this possibility affect the environment and the design of the cars of the future?  For some, it might lead to taking public transportation more often or purchasing a fuel efficient car, as fuel expenses reach 20% of income, but there is real concern that unlike many Europeans who have adjusted over time to high energy costs thanks to forward-thinking leadership, it will be very challenging for Americans to do the same before a widespread clean technology infrastructure is in place. However, with the help of big thinkers like Amory Lovins, co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Institute, options such as the Hypercar, made with an ultra-light and highly rigid structure, and capable of three to five times greater fuel efficiency than the cars of today, we will work our way out of this challenge.  Even though the Hypercar may be at least a few years off due to cost of carbon fiber manufacturing, leaders like Shai Agassi, founder of Better Place, may soon fill the void of fuel efficiency with his bold plan to provide affordable electric vehicles around the world, in the near future.

Hypercar

Watch interview with Amory Lovins discussing Hypercar technology on bigpicture.tv

Better Place

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How Bugs (Yes, Bugs) May Make High Priced Oil a Thing of the Past

Did you ever think that microscopic bugs could present an alternative to drilling for oil, and what that might mean for all sectors of the world economy, especially transportation, design and manufacturing?  To create that alternative, with the help of funding from venture capitalist Vinod Khosla, LS9, an industrial biotech firm in South San Francisco, CA, has been developing a line of patent-pending biofuels through the process of synthetic biology.  The process involves using genetically modified (and non pathogenic) strains of e. coli, which are essentially “fed” various kinds of “feedstock” (wheat straw, wood chips, etc), resulting in a fermentation process that yields a fuel virtually ready for a gas pump.  In that it doesn’t require a fuel-intensive distillation process, it is much more efficient than the process used to produce ethanol.  LS9 believes that they are about one month away from being able to use the fuel as traditional gasoline would be, such as in a car’s gasoline tank, or to power a manufacturing plant, and they plan to have a demonstration-scale plant open by 2010 and a commercial-scale plant open by 2011, which may incorporate Brazilian sugar cane for feedstock.

There is no doubt that the efforts of LS9 and other firms like it, represent a positive step in ending our dependence on traditionally sourced foreign (and domestic, think ANWR) oil, especially as oil prices remain so high.   However, like corn-based biomaterials, bio fuels also have their challenges, such as the emissions they create when burned, and that the scale of production required to meet even domestic fuel demand is so great – some say a plant the size of the City of Chicago!  But perhaps considering the way Silicon Valley works, and how many firms have become strongly devoted to alt fuel and clean tech initiatives, it may not be too long before an entrepreneur develops some sort of  emissions-free biofuel that can be produced at facilities tethered to municipal waste treatment plants.  Although that may be just a concept today, when achieved, it would help create a truly “sustainable” alternative to traditional petroleum, and thus decrease the overall environmental impact of the global economy.

Some great resources for further information:

LS9’s Renewable Petroleum™ Technology
Khosla Ventures
Clean Edge 

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The Speed of Sustainability: Milan

Although I was not entirely impressed by the sustainability, greenergy design, and ecomade exhibitions at the Milan Furniture fair, I must say that the city does have a few things in order. Their public transportation is fantastic.  They have a subway spread out across the entire city, and if they dont run close enough to home there are also busses and trams that run frequently all over the streets. In addition to public transit, those who do drive love their small cars. Although in most cases its an economical decision, they still see no need for the excessive Hummer-style consumerism.  It is rare to see a luxery sedan let alone a SUV!

One of the most exciting things I stumbled upon was an installation of a glorified MiniCooper. It was placed inside a chamber of woven plastic cords with serene music playing and was guarded by some very friendly cops. We had to pose and take some photos.

The other car that they love is the Smart Car. Now, I may sound silly because I haven’t been to Europe since the release of the Smart Car, but they are everywhere! I think it is wonderful. People of all shapes and sizes fit into these little things to transport themselves and a partner across town. “Why use more when this is all we need?” said one driver to me.

Finally this is a photo of a favorite of mine- a new little Fiat. Que Bella (the car, not me of course)!

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Improving The BMW Fuel Economy and Performance

We have noticed a small boost in performance and mileage in the Mini Cooper series (part of BMW), debuting with a very similar look but in a completely redone form with its 2007 model. The company has been working to try out hydrogen technology with the BMW Hydrogen 7, a production-ready model that has been put in the hands of 100 “leading figures from the worlds of culture, politics, business and the media.”

BMW’s new concept called ActiveHybrid, represents the “future of BMW hybrid technologies”. This particular vehicle is slated to play a big role in their technology called EfficientDynamics, a set of initiatives with components in the car focused on reducing fuel consumption and emission levels. The aim of their ActiveHybrid technology is to achieve 20% less fuel consumption and emissions in many of their cars. To showcase this vision, the company has updated their X6 Concept car as a hybrid, with new styling, as well as explanations about how it will function. BMW released their X6 concept car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2007.

Click here to see the 2008 BMW sustainability report

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BASF Adds a “Story” Section to Their Website

In the spirit of open communications with the public about their green projects, BASF has launched a section on their site devoted to promoting their green initiatives that have successfully had positive impacts on the environment. One material they’ve released recently is called Ecoflex, a plastic they say is completely biodegradable and compostable. Targeted as a replacement material in the production of trash bags and disposable packaging, it’s designed to decompose (in compost) within a few weeks. In soil, BASF claims it will leave no residues. Ecoflex is engineered to work just like Low Density Polyethylene, allowing it to be made into films, bags or coatings. This bio-based plastic does not require drying and remains stable for one year on the shelf or being warehoused.

BASF is also working on initiatives such as PremAir, a catalyst product for the commercial market that destroys harmful, ground-level ozone (different from the ozone that we’re used to hearing about). A main component of smog (smoke and fog), ground-level ozone causes eye and nose irritation while weakening the immune system, increasing chances of illness. It’s been found by some studies that hospital visits and fatalities caused by respiratory complications are increased when ground-level ozone amounts are higher than average. When BASF’s PremAir coating is applied to heat-exchange surfaces, such as traditional car radiators for example, the catalyst coating manages to reduce ground-level ozone in the air, converting the ozone molecules into oxygen molecules instantly upon surface contact.

Click here to visit BASF stories.

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Prius Ad Campaign

There have been some interesting ads on TV, marketing the famous gas/electric icon across the US. We applaud Toyota on their marketing campaign but we’re now dreaming of seeing a fully electric version on the road. With their other product lines, Toyota has been working to bring local manufacturing to the United States. They recently partnered with Subaru to produce the Camry at their established Indiana plant.