Liberty Launches Electric Van DELIVER that looks like a discarded sci-fi prop

This funky-looking electric van prototype is built as a new generation of urban delivery vehicles developed by the DELIVER consortium, first shown to the public recently in Masstricht, Netherlands. It is the product of a European design process, which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of light commercial vehicles in urban areas. The acronym stands for Design of Electric Light Vans for Environment-Impact Reduction , and was funded in part by the European Union, and a group of auto and parts makers including Fiat. Volkswagen and Michelin as well as many universities and several European cities.

At present, no production plans for the van have been announced, though there’s nothing really standing between the DELIVER van and actual production. It features a Michelin electric motor, rated at 57 kW, in each rear wheel hub, and there is also a two speed gear case in each rear hub. The prototype has 18% more load carrying capacity than a conventional van of similar wheelbase, thanks to its electric drivetrain, and features a range of 62 miles, with a top speed of more than 60 mph. But the DELIVER is not just about reducing pollution in European cities. It has a clever driver’s compartment designed to increase driver efficiency and reduce fatigue.

The B-pillar is omitted on the curb side of the vehicle, allowing the installation of a step out door for the driver.
This makes it easier to get in and out of the van, reducing delivery times, and because the main entrance faces the curb, the driver is never faced with the perils of oncoming traffic.
The DELIVER van may have a face that only a mother could love, but its emphasis on compact size, greater load carrying capacity, high efficiency, and low environmental impact make it a strong candidate for the delivery van of the future in the Old World.

Gi-Bike — A Foldable Electric Bicycle Designed For Compact Transportation

Three adopted New Yorkers have designed a foldabl electric bicycle designed to be a simple, affordable, and compact transportation solution. While your definition of “affordable” may vary, you can’t deny that the simple folding action of the Gi-Bike could make this riding machine a lot more convenient for apartment dwellers.

Designed by New Yorkers Agustin Agustinoy, Eric Sevillia, and Lucas Toledo, the Gi-Bike tips the scale at just 37 pounds and has an electric pedal assist good for up to 40 miles. So no, it isn’t a fully electric bicycle, but the real hook here is the single-motion folding ability, effectively cutting the Gi-Bike’s size in half. While it may not be as compact of the Sada Bike , it also seems a lot more practical and futuristic too. The Gi-Bike also includes a GPS device that will lock the bike when it leaves a certain area, and it can even recharge your smartphone.

The trio of inventors have turned to Kickstarter to get their project off the ground, and that’s where we see the real cost of innovation. Early adopters can get the Gi-Bike for $2,995, while the rest of us have to fork over $3,390. So far the trip has raised just over $35,000 of their $400,000 goal, though the design seems a lot more palatable and probable than certain other folding bicycle designs.

Will the Gi-Bike soon invade the streets and apartments of New York City…and beyond?

World's first electric aircraft E-Fan takes flight

Wellington: World's first ever electric aircraft has successfully taken its maiden voyage. This electric aircraft called the 'E-Fan' is the latest creation of Toulouse-based Airbus. The fact that its engines are powered by electricity, provides it a low-noise, eco-friendly profile. This successful voyage carves a new path for the technology's potential in aircrafts.

The cost amounts to 16 dollars per hour to power providing decent height of 220km/h with a cruising speed of 160km/h on its 30kW engines. The plane can stay in air for around 45-60 minutes if it gets its proper power from 120 250V Li-ion batteries, which are stored in the wings, and backup battery are also provided that lasts around 15 minutes.

Spokesperson at Airbus said that extensive research and stress testing has established that the E-Fan's battery system provides sufficient safety margins and close supervision of all battery cell parameters are performed during test flights.

In the course of its development, Airbus is also confident that it can not only save on costs, but can actually reduce carbon emissions for all new aircraft by 75 percent.

Tutorial - Electric Spray Paint Could Turn Any Surface Into a Battery

Howz that
Paint-on Battery Rice University..:

Lithium-ion batteries work by stacking active ingredients in layers. In your laptop and phone, the layers are stacked into a block, but a new process could make that seem quaint: spray-paint the necessary layers onto any surface like paint, to make an instant battery anywhere.
Scientists at Rice University tested out different paints until they found a set that could work as the necessary components for a lithium-ion battery: two current collectors, a cathode, an anode, and a polymer separator. The layers can be airbrushed on and the resulting battery is fully rechargeable. To test it out, researchers put it on steel, glass, ceramic bathroom tiles, and (why not?) a beer stein. Batteries on the bathroom tiles wereable to send out a steady 2.4 volts--enough to power light-emitting diodes that spelledout "Rice" for a full six hours.