cars

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.

When the pale blue "Linux car," also known as car #77 from Chastain Motorsports, was the first car to crash in the 91st Indianapolis 500 on Sunday, we can imagine hordes of geeks wishing it had been a "Vista car" instead. Imagine the "blue screen of death" jokes that could have resulted!

The Linux car, as you probably know already, was the result of a campaign called Tux 500, jump-started by two enthusiasts named Bob Moore and Ken Starks. They solicited donations from fellow Linux fans in a "community powered Linux marketing program&… Read more

Today, Sony announced two new HD radio products: one for the home and one for the car. Now, if you gave up on terrestrial radio ages ago--either for the iPod, Internet radio, and/or satellite radio--you're probably not all that concerned about new developments in that area. But for those who still enjoy AM/FM radio programming, HD Radio offers some compelling developments. Namely, it allows for a wider selection of channels via substations, and it provides better quality audio than standard AM/FM radio--"crystal-clear digital sound" by some accounts. We ain't talking CD-quality … Read more