car

La Jolla, Calif.'s Envision Solar wants to convert the wasted space that covers parking garages into a utility.

The company, which has raised $600,000 and is seeking $1.3 million more, plans to put solar panels on the roofs of parking structures. The electricity produced could then be used to power an adjacent building, be fed into the grid or used to charge electric cars in the parking lot.

Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk has talked about cutting deals with parking garages to install solar panels. And the last time we were at Tesla's headquarters, we ran … Read more

The Kenwood DDX8019 is yet another contender for your all-in-one in-car device dollar. The in-dash system plays CDs, DVDs (audio and video), MP3 discs, WMA discs, and USB audio sources out of the box. With add-on modules, it can be used to play satellite and HD radio and as a Bluetooth hands-free calling interface. Despite all this, however, its touch screen interface leaves something to be desired for playing media. Check our slide show and full review to see what we liked and what we didn't with this system.

Are you interested in what you'll be driving in the future? Do you need a phone that can get down and dirty? Are the colors on your monitor a tad bit off? If the answers are yes, then we have some photos for you. We look at concept cars, a phone that can withstand the elements, and a tour of a monitor calibration software application.

Photos: Designing the future--Concept car retrospective

Every year at car shows around the world, car makers show off new design ideas. Concept cars represent a transition between current and future models, with only certain … Read more

Attempts to power hybrid cars with solar panels have been around for a few years. But now a company called Solar Electrical Vehicles is producing commercially available after-market panels for hybrids, starting with the Toyota Prius.

The fiberglass, molded panels fit on top of 2004-2007 Prius models. They are attached using an epoxy glue. Unlike previous attempts, these panels fit the curve of the roof.

To maximize your sun power and driving range, you need a larger battery installed than what comes standard with the Prius, according to company founder Greg Johanson, who says that battery storage is the most … Read more

One of the biggest concerns for current and potential GPS device owners is the currency of maps. Do I have the latest information? When should I update my maps, and how? While most portable nav manufacturers have their own scheduled releases, TomTom is going one step further to ensure that you have the most up-to-date information possible. Today, the company introduced its latest portable navigation system, the TomTom GO 720, with a new feature called TomTom Map Share that allows you to make adjustments to your maps (such as noting blocked roads, updating points of interest, adding new streets, and … Read more

It's not often that we see a single product that involves all the departments in the CNET mobile team. But the Eclipse AVN2210p did just that. While primarily an in-car GPS device and CD receiver, the AVN2210p can also be used as an iPod interface, a Bluetooth hands-free calling system, and a portable GPS device.

During the course of my review of the product, I called on Kent German for a test phone; Donald Bell for an test MP3 player, and Bonnie Cha for advice on portable GPS devices. Talk about digital convergence! Get an eyeful of the AVN2210p … Read more

It's probably not generally known to the allergy-free public, but we pollen sufferers have been known to stay in our cars for temporary relief. Why? Because it's as close to a controlled air system as we can get, next to a plastic bubble. So it's actually not so weird that a major automaker has created what it calls an allergy-free model, especially at the height of hay fever season.

With its "Mondeo," which is about to go on the European market, Ford claims to have accomplished this by "abolishing chrome and nickel from the … Read more

Google's new street-level map view will be very helpful for car owners in densely populated San Francisco, where parking spots are few and far between. The feature allows users to zoom in close enough to read street signs. Residents who don't have the luxury of an off-street parking spot will be able to check the signs on the street where they last parked to see what the street cleaning and other parking restrictions are. Otherwise, they have to remember what the rules are for the different streets or take the time to check the signs before leaving the … Read more

While I was impressed with the number of Smart Fortwos trundling around the streets of Vancouver this past weekend, the most remarkable vehicle I saw was this contraption outside the Vancouver Art Gallery.

There were no signs or explanatory material to accompany the aerodynamically challenged two-seater, and its designers will have to make some modifications to ensure that it will be able to drive in a straight line (not to mention some tough questions on crash and rollover safety)--but just imagine how many of these you could fit into a parking lot.