OK, I admit it. I found this one because someone posted on twitter about a Japanese robot that takes the word “cockpit” literally.
See for yourself.
Not sure how it would cope with a female driver 
PS the original article and pictures are from gizmodo. You can find it here
Up to now I’ve mostly focused on land-based vehicles, but the words “alternative” and “dolphin” just seem to belong together somehow, so I just had to share. I wasn’t able to find any footage of how real dolphins would react, though… <grin>
PS, there’s a two person version available, now. Just think of how much of a creative spin it could put on a romantic cruise…
From http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/laautoshow/35664/
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Green Car Journal’s Top 5 for 2009™ – the year’s best-of-the-best ‘green’ vehicles - have been identified by the magazine’s editors. These vehicles are the five finalists competing for the Green Car Journal’s 2009 Green Car of the Year® award: the BMW 335d, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Saturn Vue 2-Mode Hybrid, smart fortwo and Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The 2009 Green Car of the Year will be unveiled at a morning press conference on Nov. 20 during Press Days at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
The five models are important milestones for their manufacturers. The VW and BMW clean diesels are leading edge models signaling the advent of highly efficient, advanced diesel sedans that meet emissions certification in all 50 states. Ford’s Fusion Hybrid, a full hybrid, is this automaker’s first hybrid sedan. Saturn’s Vue 2-Mode is GM’s first application of its two mode hybrid system in a V-6 front-drive platform. The smart fortwo is a new-for-the-U.S., fuel efficient micro car with a small eco footprint.
“This is an exciting year for ‘green’ cars because of the many innovative and advanced models now emerging,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal and editor of GreenCar.com. “In fact, this year’s selection of nominees was more challenging than in years past because of the auto industry’s greater emphasis on greener vehicles and the number of potential vehicles to consider. For the first time, we’ve also seen a pair of clean diesels and a small gasoline model giving hybrids serious competition.”
Green Car Journal’s Green Car of the Year program focuses on recognizing new model vehicles that provide real answers for new car buyers looking for a personal stake in lessening environmental impact. This may be through substantial improvement in fuel efficiency, lower emissions, use of an alternative fuel, or an overall lower environmental load.
Green Car Journal editors perform an exhaustive review of vehicle models to identify those that merit consideration for the Green Car of the Year program. Vehicles using all types of technologies, fuels, and powerplants are eligible. To qualify for consideration as a nominee in the 2009 Green Car of the Year program, a vehicle must exhibit characteristics that substantially raise the bar in environmental performance and be in production by January 1 of the award year. Plus, a potential nominee must be driven by Green Car Journal to allow first-hand evaluation of driving dynamics.
The 2009 Green Car of the Year will be selected by a jury comprised of nine jurors. These include Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club; Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council; Jean-Michel Cousteau, president of Ocean Futures Society; automotive expert and “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno; and automotive icon Carroll Shelby. Four Green Car Journal editors round out the jury.
I have no idea who created this, or where you can get one, but stumbled across it while chasing down a different trail. Of course it’s so alternative a way to get around that it just had to go in! Sorry, no specs available, people. If I find them, I’ll update this post.
PS - There’s no way you’d get ME in one!!!
I discovered that even bicycles haven’t been immune to the creative spirit of invention that seems to have struck all things transportation. There’s a variation that apparently makes it even more effective for exercise by turning it into a rowing machine. This video is of the ‘rowingbike’ which dates back to 86. There’s a more recent alternative (that looks like it would have ground clearance issues with speedhumps) called the ‘rowbike’ - that’s the second video.
Tags: alternativevehicles, alternative bicycles, rowingbike, rowbike, rowing bicycle
A while back I showed you the personal UFO - that was one of the early prototypes for what’s since developed into the 400 skycar in the video below. The inventor hopes to see it used in rescue and civic services as well as personal use, and the aim is to have it around the $100k mark.
I’m curious how he raised the $75 million it’s cost for the development he’s already done. Anyone want to throw me that kind of money and see what alternative transport options I can develop???
And you thought the Peugeot was a boring, staid brand! This is something from their design contest. Solar Electric, you can see the panels on the back below, but the cool thing is that when you start driving in the city (or, more likely, hunting for one of the rare and priceless city parking spaces) you have an advantage. Check out the next picture to see what it can do… and yes, you can apparently drive with it in that configuration, although you’d close the doors first, of course!
Inhabitat » TRANSPORTATION TUESDAY: Peugeot 888 by Oskar Johansen
Tags: coolalternative vehicles, alternative personal transportation, alternative personal transport, alternative fuel vehicles, peugeot, concept cars
At last (just for you RH) a Gyrocopter. This one looks pretty cool, although I personally would NOT be doing those takeoffs. I wasn’t worrying about the scenarios they covered, either - until they covered them…
And the definition? I looked it up in Wiktionary. Apparently, it’s the same as an ‘autogyro’ (aka autogiro), gyroplane, or rotaplane - here’s the definition (after several clicks through):
“an aircraft in which lift is provided by unpowered rotating wings and thrust is provided by a conventional propeller”. Apparently, the rotation around an axis of the copter part means it can go VTOL (vertical take off & landing). Because there’s not a lot of power involved, from what I read it seems that it could be a bit prone to interference from wind gusts etc, and you’d need to be a pretty good pilot to be able to correct and manage it. For the more daring amongst you, it could be fun (except in the wet). For the less daring, like me, it even looks like it’d have a seatbelt! Seatbelt or not, I still wouldn’t get in it after lunch…
How would you like to show up to work in one of these babies? Parking problems - no issue. Try the roof. Just bring a rope ladder with you! <grin> If you look closely at the start, you’ll see it’s not actually that much bigger than a car, except for those 2 rotors. That could be an advantage, though. You’re not going to find an SUV parking you in!!!
I have NO IDEA how I stumbled on this one, (had so much fun watching the videos I forgot how I got there) but I discovered two things.
First: there’s a competition for economical alternative vehicles that’s going to have all of them racing in 2009/2010 - I’ve got to watch it! (and yes, these guys are racing in it too)
Second: I think the Twike just got de-throned. I SO want to try one of these. Strike that. I just WANT ONE!!!
I found two videos for it. First one is short and sharp, and the second one is Top Gear. If you watch that one (over 6 mins) you have to watch it all the way through - you get to see Jeremy Clarkson squeeze himself in the back seat - and the Hamster lets a little secret slip … (Yeah sure it was a joke!)
Video 1: (1m49s)
Video 2: TopGear (6m33s)
PS Just remembered where I got the tip. Damon Clifford’s blog. Thanks 
