April 1, 2009
“On the morning of March 26th, on the ‘dry’ Lake Ivanpah, The Ecotricity Greenbird driven by British engineer, Richard Jenkins smashed the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles. The Greenbird clocked 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h) , eclipsing the old, American held, record of 116 mph , set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location.”
[Image: Peter Lyons via Greenbird UK]
March 26, 2009
Brooklyn’s Smith + Butler has a new pop-up shop at famous eyewear purveyor Moscot on the Lower East Side. I wonder if this scrambler will ever see competition. Vintage hare scrambles maybe?
March 25, 2009
The world has lost a monumental historian and fighter against all injustice. If you wanted to know anything about the rural south in the first half of this century, Dr. Franklin was your guy.
February 10, 2009
It was warm today. Makes you think about the water. That said, who knew an electric yacht tender could be so sexy? Check out that coaming.
Vitals:
Hull - Foam carbon
Upper Deck - English oak, cherry and douglas fur
Power - 23kw Lithium battery pack
Top speed - 15 knots (1 hour)
Cruising speed - 6.5 knots (range of 70 to 100 miles)
November 27, 2008
Sunnyvale, California circa 1972.
The track was built atop a landfill, now closed and producing renewable energy in the form of natural gas. The decomposing garbage generates 100% of the power needed for the nearby Sunnvale Water Pollution Control Plant.
Photo: Lee Sutton
November 12, 2008
1958 Mercedes-Benz Type W180 220S Ponton sedan
Location: Paris, France / October 2008
Camera: Leica M6 / Summicron-M 50 mm f/2 / Agfa 135 film
Credit: Anonymous via MBZPonton.org
The 220S was Mercedes’ flagship of the era. A longish luxury land yacht, the ‘S’ was fitted with a thirsty 6-cylinder gasoline engine that provided storied performance for such a large automobile. It’s shorter, more frugal sister the 180D/190D heaved a weighty and underpowered 4-banger, more renowned for longevity that just about anything else. One winning attribute was its ability to sip all manner of biodiesel/waste vegetable oil blends.
November 4, 2008
Such a beautifully sensuous hull wrapped in carbon-fiber and leatherwork. Not to mention all this goodness carries a solar-electric drivetrain.
Video: A demo run.
Congratulations on a great season, kind sir. Next year ushers in a new age in racing with the introduction of hybrid technology to Formula One.
Watch the amazing final lap at Brasil.
October 24, 2008
What’s more sustainable than building new? Rebuilding what we have. Great old buildings are in need of love, and probably lots of extra insulation. Lloyd Alter of Treehugger posits a rethinking of the American economy.
