Husqvarna reveals solar electric hybrid robot lawn mower

March 8, 2008 It's a green solution for a green problem. Husqvarna has unveiled a new version of its Automower™ that not only allows you to maintain a neatly trimmed lawn without lifting a finger, but achieves it using combination of solar power and electricity. Like its fully-electric predecessor, the Automower Solar Hybrid works by cutting the grass with small blades in an irregular pattern within an area defined by a pre-laid boundary cable that ensures the mower wont turn your flowering garden beds into mulch. According to Husqvarna the new Automower only uses the energy of a standard light bulb, and to ensure it remains green even at the end of its life-span, it is constructed from 90% recyclable material.

The Automower can also self-navigate to its charging/base station using the boundary cable as a guide and the use of small blades combined with the irregular cutting pattern provides a fine mulch that acts as a lawn fertilizer and eliminates the need for raking. The Automower is also weather proof and features an in-built theft protection system that requires a personal 4-digit code to be entered before the unit will operate.

Husqvarna Automower Solar Hybrid

"This will take Automower to the next level with higher performance and further reduced environmental impact” says Bengt Andersson, CEO Husqvarna Group. He continues, “90% of Automower is recyclable, it eliminates the need for fertilizers, it is almost silent, has no exhaust emissions at all and delivers perfect results every time without you having to lift a finger.”

Husqvarna has been producing robotic lawnmowers since 1995 and around 50,000 of the quiet, emission-free garden robots are already in use.

Automower Solar Hybrid has been designed at the Husqvarna global design centre in Sweden and is manufactured in Aycliffe, England. There's no definite pricing on the new model yet but as an indication of what to expect, the current Automower costs between €1500 and €2500.

Preview: Second-generation Smart ForFour

The Smart brand has just been launched in the U.S. and with pre-order sales already beating expectations Mercedes officials think it’s time to bring back the ForFour. The original model was quickly dropped from the Smart lineup because of lackluster sales but with carmakers around the world desperate to launch new eco-friendly models we’re likely to see Mercedes launch a second-generation version of the car in the not too distant future.

Mercedes-Benz exec Rainer Schmückle revealed during January’s Detroit Auto Show that officials were considering relaunching the car but were unsure whether to badge it as a Smart or a Mercedes-Benz.

As this latest rendering suggests, the four-door Smart will likely be a stretched version of the current ForTwo. This also suggests the car would mimic the current model’s engine lineup, including both petrol and diesel three cylinder engines and the upcoming hybrid-drive. There could also be a zero-emission electric version of the car. Mercedes is currently testing an electric ForTwo concept, which features a 30kW electric motor and has a range of about 115km.

There are plenty of competitors just around the corner as well. Volkswagen is currently developing its new up! family of minicars and even Mitsubishi’s own Colt, which the previous ForFour was based on, is selling beyond expectations.

Second-generation Smart ForFour rendering

Sidam's tilting Xnovo three-wheeler: scooter or micro-minivan?

February 26, 2008 Riding the wave of interest started by the Piaggio MP3 and Gilera Fuoco three-wheelers, French scooter importer Sidam is planning to try its luck with a new bike that turns the concept backwards. The Xnovo gives the tilting triangle wheelbase concept a much less fun, more utilitarian application than its Italian forebears, acting like a mini-minivan with huge carrying capacity, a hard roof, windscreen and twin driven rear wheels each on its own swingarm. And while it probably handles like a barge, the Xnovo may well find a niche as a traffic-busting courier/delivery vehicle.

Three different types of Xnovo scooters are on the drawing board: a fully petrol version fitted with a 500cc Piaggio engine, a hybrid version with a 200cc petrol engine and electric backup, and a fully electric version with brushless motors mounted to each rear hub.

In the petrol version, the Xnovo's rear wheels are each belt-driven from a motor that is centrally mounted to provide for maximum carrying capacity in the bin between the rear wheels. Several body shapes appear to be under consideration, from a sporty-looking twin-seater to the far less glamorous micro-minivan in our lead photo. See the photo gallery for the full range of design sketches we've seen.

Sidam's tilting Xnovo three-wheeler: scooter or micro-minivan?

We can't foresee a huge market for a sports scooter with twin rear wheels - motorcycles rely primarily on the traction from their front wheels in order to stop and turn with any authority, the rear wheels being more or less along for the ride - but the concept might have genuine legs if it's pitched as a small-footprint, economical delivery mule.

We'll wait to learn more as the Xnovo moves towards a launch date rumoured to be late 2008. Price is expected to be around €8000 for the 500cc model.

First steel-bodied school bus donated to Henry Ford museum

Blue Bird No. 1

March 10, 2008 An unique slice of American automotive history has been acquired by the The Henry Ford museum. Using a steel body instead of wood and incorporating a Ford Model T chassis, the 1927 Blue Bird No. 1 was a pioneering vehicle with all major school bus manufacturers moving to steel-bodies within a decade of its appearance.

Blue Bird No. 1 was the first steel-bodied school bus built by Albert Luce, Sr. in 1927. Luce was the owner of Ford dealerships in Fort Valley and Perry, Georgia when one of his customers requested a vehicle to transport workers to a cement plant. After having very limited success with a wood-bodied bus (the wood deteriorated before the customer could finish paying for the vehicle), Luce turned to using steel angles and channels, steel sheets, wood and canvas for the construction. The new bus (complete with a 1927 Ford Model T chassis) was sold to Frank Slade of Marshallville, Georgia to be used as a school bus.

“Blue Bird embodies the ingenuity and resourcefulness of one man,” said Patricia Mooradian, president of the institution. “By taking one innovation, the Model T, and using it as the foundation for his school bus, Mr. Luce changed the paradigm of transportation for school-age children in terms of safety and reliability. Within eight years, all major school bus manufacturers were producing steel-body buses.”

Following the Depression Luce sold his Ford agencies and concentrated full-time on manufacturing school buses. His new company Blue Bird Body Company is still in operation today.

“Donating Blue Bird No. 1 to The Henry Ford at this time is meaningful to me for many reasons,” said Albert L. “Buddy” Luce, Jr., son of Albert Luce, Sr. “Last year was the 80th anniversary of Blue Bird Body Company (now Blue Bird Corporation) and I feel this is a great way to acknowledge that milestone. In addition, 2008 is the centennial of the Model T Ford. Blue Bird No. 1 will be a valuable addition to the collection of this great institution.”

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MV Agusta and WallyPower create a limited edition 910R

March 6, 2008 Italian Motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta is to add two new limited addition versions of its new Brutale 910 R naked bikes in conjunction with two of Southern Europe’s most stylish design companies. The already announced Hydrogen Brutale 910 R, in conjunction with clothing manufacturer Hydrogen, will be joined by a Wally Brutale 910 R, both with stunning visuals and a LOT of mid range. Wally is the Monaco-based designer of outrageous luxury boats.

The MV Agusta Brutale Hydrogen and Wally derive from the 910R version and keep the same elegant lines that are so much loved by the general public.

MV Agusta and WallyPower create a limited edition 910R

Monaco-based Wally Yachts has become a maritime design and manufacture icon since it was founded in 1994 by wealthy Italian yachtsman Luca Bassani. The company achieved international prominence with its stylish, sleek, minimalist designs within the industry very quickly, but winning the Millennium Yacht Design Award really put the company on the map.

The award was won by the company’s distinctive 118 WallyPower and the company now produces the most visually arresting high end sail and motor yachts, from the Nano 11-meter day sailer/racer through to boats such as the gorgeous Wally 50M, which is 50 meters in length.

Only 100 of each model will be produced worldwide, offering a degree of exclusivity and retained value to the machinery.

Exxon Mobil helping to develop electric cars

As odd as it sounds, the world’s largest oil refiner Exxon Mobil is helping to develop new battery technology for a range of new petrol-electric hybrids and all-electric vehicles. Using a component it developed for mobile phone batteries, Exxon Mobil is now working on improving batteries for use in cars and believes that hybrid vehicles will one day command a large share of the market.
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MV Agusta and WallyPower create a limited edition 910R

March 11, 2008 Like a number of vehicle concepts we've encountered in recent years such as the NARO Tilting Car and the VentureOne plug-in hybrid, the Lumeneo Smera aims to create a "best of both worlds" blend of car and motorcycle by combining the protection of an enclosed driver capsule with the small-footprint and maneuverability of two-wheeled transport. On debut at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the four-wheel, fully-electric Smera concept boasts a top speed of 80mph (130kmh), a 93 mile (150km) range on a single charge and can achieve 0-60 mph in around 8 seconds with an on-board computer automatically controlling the vehicle's tilting function to an angle of up to 25 degrees by taking into account on the turning angle, speed and road conditions.

Measuring under 8 feet in length, just 2.6 feet wide (2.4 x 0.8m) and weighing 770 lbs (350kg), the diminutive Smera is powered by two 20hp electric motors with a belt drive delivering power directly to the rear wheels. Described as a 1+1 seater (ie. two people can fit but leave the luggage at home), the zero local emissions car uses a lithium ion battery pack which can be recharged via a conventional mains outlet.

Inside the Smera features leather upholstery with an LCD information screen with the vehicle's tall stance ensuring that the driver wont get lost in city traffic.

French manufacturer Lumeneo is expected to bring the Smera to market next year but no word on price as yet.

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