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Riding on AirThe hybrid is old news. Fuel cells? Bah. How about a zero-emissions vehicle that runs on compressed air? MDI of France has announced that its Air Car, invented by CEO and founder Guy Nègre, will debut in India and France in late 2008. Over time, various models will be introduced, offering 2-, 4- and 6-cylinder engines at prices ranging from $4,800 to $12,900. The OneCAT, the first out of the gate, fits up to 5 passengers and can go as far as 500 miles on the highway with one fill-up, and as fast as 68 mph. Just plug in the car at home and the built-in compressor will refill the tank in 4 hours. For more information, visit theaircar.com.
-- France
Motel in Motion
Optimus Prime has nothing on this transforming truck. The Hotelmóvil, built on a trailer, converts into a 450-sq.-ft. building big enough to sleep 44 people. Once it’s parked, detach the cab and press a button on the remote; 30 minutes later, you’ve got 8 bedrooms and 3 suites on 2 stories, with an upper deck, bathrooms, big-screen TVs and other amenities. You can rent one of these mobile bunkhouses, available next year, for the weekend for $8,000 and have a family reunion. If you’re enterprising, buy one and then set up shop wherever there’s a big event and no more rooms at the inn. All you’ll need is half a million dollars and you’ll be in business.
-- Spain
You’re Getting Warmer …
How hot is that latte? Like baby spoons that change color when dipped into a dish of microwaved mashed peas, the Smart Lid changes from coffee brown to red when placed over a steaming cuppa joe. To help prevent spills, the lid’s bottom ring also turns red when not securely fastened. The tops are expected to start popping up in U.S. delis and doughnut shops by the end of the year.
-- Australia
Bike for Bucks
You’ve heard it before: Bike to work, save the planet. Getting to the office under your own power reduces your carbon footprint and promotes good health—which makes you more productive at work, so your employer wins too. That’s why the Burke Group, a civil engineering firm in Rosemont, Illinois, pays 48.5 cents a mile (the IRS reimbursable rate) and offers other incentives—such as free passes to a nearby gym so you can take a shower—to encourage employees to leave the car at home.
-- U.S.
Unchained Remedy
Stuck in the snow? Wrap your tires in AutoSocks and you’ll be back on the road in no time. The high-tech fabric’s individual fibers are arranged to increase friction and improve grip on the slipperiest of surfaces. And you don’t have to jack up the car to put these covers on: Just spin your wheels and you’re ready to roll. Invented by a group of Norwegians seeking an alternative to snow chains—chief inventor Bård Løtveit’s grandmother used to wear socks over her shoes to walk on ice—AutoSocks are now available in 14 countries around the world (including the U.S.) for about $100 a pair. To find a dealer, go to autosock.us.
-- Norway
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