The Yamaha EC-f is an electric motorcycle concept designed for ease of use.
(Credit: Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.)
Just as carmakers develop electric cars, motorcycle manufacturers also see the writing on the wall, showing off a collection of electric bikes at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The Tokyo Motor Show has always played host to a substantial display of motorcycles, and this year is no different--except that the highlights of the show all have a green angle. Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki all brought concepts to the show that could spell the future of riding, and possibly a new way for future commuters to get to work.
Check out photos of electric scooters and motorcycles at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Toyota FT-EVII is a new electric concept car based on the iQ platform.
(Credit: Automotive News)Although a leader in hybrid cars, generally conservative Toyota has seemed uninterested in developing electric cars--until now. At the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota unveiled the FT-EVII, an electric car concept.
Toyota does away with a traditional steering wheel in favor of modern art.
(Credit: Automotive News)In putting together the FT-EVII, Toyota used its own off-the-shelf technologies, such as the iQ platform and components from its Synergy hybrid system. Although not on sale in the U.S., gasoline- and diesel-powered Toyota iQs are sold in Japan and the U.K. For the power train, Toyota went to lithium ion batteries for the FT-EVII, as opposed to the nickel-metal-hydride power pack from its current hybrid vehicles.
Where many electric cars in development, such as the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi iMiev, are specified to get about 100 miles range, Toyota only proposes 56 miles for the FT-EVII, and a top speed of 62 mph. These figures limit its use to sprawling metropolises, such as Tokyo, London, and New York.
Toyota also wanted to break away from traditional notions of automotive performance, so did away with a conventional steering wheel or foot pedals. Instead, the FT-EVII gets a weird-looking yoke, a piece of sculpture that supports an instrument cluster, navigation device, and a cup holder.
Toyota modified its hybrid badge, replacing the blue inset with a yellow one.
(Credit: Automotive News)The FT appellation, which we previously saw when Toyota announced the FT-86 concept, also on display at the Tokyo Motor Show, stands for Future Technology. We expect to see many more FT concept cars from Toyota in the coming years.
The Supasse V uses a Mazda-sourced engine, and will be at the Tokyo Motor Show.
(Credit: Suzusho)Lotus has few competitors, but Suzusho, a Japanese specialty carmaker, announced a car for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show that looks like it could give the Elise S a good run. Mid-engined and weighing only 1,875 pounds, the Supasse V takes a page from the Lotus strategy book, but it remains to be seen if Suzusho can match Lotus engineering expertise for handling.
The Supasse V uses a fiberglass body and aluminum frame, explaining the low-weight figure, and takes the engine from the Mazdaspeed 3, similar to how Lotus uses engines sourced from Toyota. The turbocharged 2.3-liter four cylinder engine puts out 270 horsepower, which puts the power-to-weight ratio at 1 to 6.9.
(Credit:
Suzusho)
No interior pictures have emerged, so we don't know what kind of cabin tech you can expect, but these types of cars are usually pretty stripped down. Of course, as the car will only be sold in gadget-loving Japan, it might use technologies we've never seen before.
(Source: WorldCarFans.com)
The Nissan Land Glider concept solves it's narrow track problem by leaning into the turns to gain traction.
(Credit: Nissan)
If you like what you've been hearing about Nissan's Leaf electric car, but think it looks too much like a futuristic Versa 1.6 for your tastes, then maybe Nissan's other zero-emissions concept will pique your interest.
The Nissan Land Glider concept is a tiny electric vehicle that features a computer controlled steering system that leans the car into the turns. The pilot driver is seated centrally in the cabin with space for a single passenger directly behind in the narrow cabin. At least, it looks like that's where the passenger would sit. Although the photos clearly show a driver's four-point harness, none of the pictures show a rear seat belt.
The steering wheel has been replaced with what looks like a flight yoke. The rear view mirrors have been replaced by cameras and monitors. The dashboard definitely looks like it belongs on a vehicle of the future.
Now THAT is a cockpit!
(Credit: Nissan)
Ultimate speed is not this vehicle's goal.
(Credit: Nissan)Details about the drive train are scarce, but we do know that it will be motivated by all-electric power. Expect the battery technology to be similar to that of the Leaf, albeit on a smaller scale. With its narrow profile and potentially lighter weight, we presume that the Land Glider will get by with less horsepower than the Leaf requires.
The Land Glider will be displayed at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, alongside the Leaf production concept. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge. In the meantime, check out the embedded video of the Land Glider in action after the jump.
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An exciting concept from the world's most boring automaker.
(Credit: Toyota)
After months of rumors and rumblings, Toyota has released photos of its small sports car collaboration with Subaru, the Toyota FT-86 Concept. What follows is a very exciting concept from the world's most boring car company.
The FT-86 is a compact 2+2 that seeks to recapture the spirit of the 1980s AE86 Corolla GT-S (better known as the Hachiroku) of drifting fame. While most of the details are still mostly shrouded in mystery, we've got a little bit of meaty info. Under the hood, we should find a variant of Subaru's 2.0-liter boxer four-cylinder engine--dubbed the C-45 Boxer--sending 200-250 horsepower through a six-speed manual transmission (thank you!) and onward to the rear wheels.
(Credit:
Toyota)
(Credit:
Toyota)
The interior of the concept is appropriately, err, conceptual. We don't expect any of the sci-fi gauges or fabric buttons to make it to production. Whether the production concept will wear the Corolla GT-S badge when it hits showroom floors is also up in the air.
If/when the FT-86 reaches the market, it'll find itself facing stiff competition from Nissan's more powerful 370Z and Hyundai's turbocharged Genesis Coupe 2.0T. However, if Toyota can take a page from the Mazda MX-5's book and create a balanced, fun to drive, low-powered (and low-cost) coupe, it may be able to carve a nice niche for itself.
Stay tuned to our continuing coverage of the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show for more details as they emerge.
(Credit:
Erica Ogg/CNET)
In Japan, for one week a year the spotlight of this gadget-obsessed country is shifted from the urban neon oasis of Tokyo's Akihabara neighborhood and trained on an expansive convention hall an hour's commute outside of the city.
On Tuesday the purveyors of TVs thinner than a credit card, cell phones pressed with 3D screens, humanoid robots, and the latest in electric car technology descend, along with media, analysts, retail buyers, and industry executives for the opening of the Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies, known by the acronym Ceatec.
It's the Japanese equivalent of Las Vegas' CES and Berlin's IFA, and like those two shows earlier this year, attendance is expected to be good, if slightly contracted as companies have cut back on expenses in light of the current economy.
At Ceatec 2008, 804 exhibitors and 196,630 attendees flooded the floor of the Makuhari Messe, a dip from the 895 exhibitors and 206,000 attendees in 2007. The tenor of this year's show should be a bit less gloomy than last year's--which took place the same week banks were failing right and left and Wall Street seemed on the brink of collapse. We'll keep our fingers crossed for less economic drama during this year's show.
Murata Girl shows off her unicycling talents at Ceatec 2008.
(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET)Things we are hoping for: more cute robots! Ceatec is unlikely to disappoint in this respect. Last year's expo saw the debut of automatons that did everything from perform front-office reception tasks to helping the elderly. But based on the crowds she drew, the star was undoubtedly Murata Girl, a unicycle-riding robot. This year, we hear she'll be back with even more tricks up her sleeve.
Like those robots, there's also an amazing array of stuff shown at Ceatec we'll never see in stores on this side of the Pacific--see our gallery of cool concept cell phones. But while Ceatec offers a glimpse into the future of gadgetry, the convention hall is also packed to the skylights with practical products.
Last year was the first time Ceatec established a separate pavilion for green technology, and it's back this year. Nissan, which takes its electric cars very seriously, will be there, as will Toshiba. Though not thought of traditionally as a car company, it believes its Supercharge ion battery (SCiB) is perfectly suited for electric cars and scooters. Besides green car technology, we'll also see electronic parts that make ordinary gadgets like TVs and digital signs greener.
... Read more
The Hybrid Tourer Concept debuts at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
(Credit: Subaru)For the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show, Subaru built this Hybrid Tourer Concept, which manages to combine many of the latest trends in automotive development. Most major manufacturers are working on some kind of sporty touring car these days. Witness the BMW 5 series Gran Turismo, the Acura ZDX, and the Audi A5 Sportback. The Subaru Hybrid Tourer Concept appears to aim at similar ground, although its profile is less sporty. The gullwing doors are a unique feature for a production car, but not so much for a concept.
The Hybrid Tourer Concept uses gullwing doors.
(Credit: Subaru)As its name suggests, the car is also designed as a hybrid, using a system under development at Subaru that would combine two electric motors with a turbo-charged 2-liter four-cylinder boxer-style engine. That boxer engine is a signature Subaru piece, along with the all-wheel-drive that would be standard on the car. But Subaru is using the concept to introduce a new gas engine, with direct injection, that should find its way into production vehicles.
As a full hybrid, the Tourer Concept would be able to drive under electric power at low speeds before having the engine kick in. Along with the new engine, Subaru is also introducing a new continuously variable transmission, called Lineartronic, designed specifically for all-wheel-drive vehicles.
The Hybrid Tourer Concept also serves as a platform for a new driver assistance technology being developed by Subaru called EyeSight. This system is designed to monitor the terrain ahead using a stereo-optic camera, while at the same time communicating with infrastructure and other cars. The system would keep the driver aware of upcoming traffic conditions and hazardous situations, and enable adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
MIT's prototype retinal implant consists of a flexible substrate, power and data receiving coils, an electrode array, and a stimulator microchip.
(Credit: Shawn Kelly/MIT)Electronic retinal implants that can help certain visually impaired people see better are getting closer to reality with a new MIT prototype (PDF).
Engineered eyes a la Blade Runner remain a long way off. But by replacing the function of retinal cells, the implants could help provide a degree of basic vision to those afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa or age-related macular degeneration, major causes of blindness.
Users would wear special glasses fitted with a small camera that relays image data to a titanium-encased chip mounted on the outside surface of the eyeball. The chip would then fire an electrode array under the retina to stimulate the optic nerve. The glasses would also wirelessly transmit power to coils surrounding the eyeball.
In this illustration, the glasses transmit data and power to the prosthesis.
(Credit: Boston Retinal Implant Project)MIT has been working on retinal implants for 20 years as part of the Boston Retinal Implant Project. About 10 years ago, researchers tested the electrodes on six blind patients, who reported seeing cloud-like images when stimulated.
MIT scientists led by John Wyatt, an electrical engineering professor, want to test their new prototype on patients within three years.
The implants have been successfully placed in pigs for as long as 10 months without damage to the electronics, according to MIT.
About 20 teams worldwide are working to realize the dream of eye implants that could work as well as cochlear implants for the hearing-impaired. But the delicate structures of the eye, as well as engineering challenges, have made for slow progress.
"To create a bionic eye is equivalent to trying to create a television as compared with a radio," Nigel Lovell, a professor at the University of New South Wales collaborating with Australian groups to create a bionic eye, says in this video. "It's orders of magnitude more complex."
One issue researchers must tackle is where to place the electrodes. The Australian group would place them on top of the retina, while MIT's approach is to place them beneath the retina. MIT says that reduces the risk of retinal tearing and requires less invasive surgery.
What might early bionic vision look like? Very low-res. ... Read more
(Credit:
Tokyoflash)
Sure, you could buy a regular watch that displays the time in a regular way, but where's the fun in that? You're a nerd (you're reading Crave) and you want to be different. So you probably already know about Tokyoflash watches.
The latest is the $99.62 Hanko, and it's a design nerd's joy. The stainless steel watch is named after a form of Japanese stamp art it resembles and it's very simple object-wise, with nothing on the face save the black acrylic lenses. Behind these lenses is an array of LEDs that indicate the time when the action button is pressed.
The lights chase around the face, finally ending in a three-light position that tells you the current time. The inside lens is the hour, the outside the five-minute increments watches normally have, and the middle field is the number of minutes past that. Thus the illustration above shows 5:42.
Sure there's a learning curve, but if you learned how to tell time on a traditional clock face you should be able to learn on the Hanko, too. It's attractive enough on its own, but the added fun of bewildering people with your time-telling abilities makes this a fun watch as well as a stylish one.
The delightfully cheesy Gun O'Clock alarm clock.
(Credit: Gizmine.com)Thousands of delightfully inexplicable gadgets made only for the Japanese market are hard to come by outside the country. A new site from Japanese importer Dynamism is making it easier for us gaijin to get our hands on them.
Gizmine.com is the new specialty gadgets site from Dynamism. (Dynamism.com sticks mostly to laptops, phones, and watches--"luxury goods," in other words--sold only in Japan.) Gizmine allows the import company to expand into categories of products like alarm clocks, robots, and USB-powered toys.
The site is easy enough to navigate. You can sort by product category, theme ("Kawaii," "bling," and "wacky," to name a few), color, and price. Plus, like parent company Dynamism, there's a 24-hour 800 number to contact customer service. There are 500 products available for shipment anywhere outside Japan right now, and that number should double by next year, according to the site.
Tuttuki Bako, or "Poking Box."
(Credit: Gizmine.com)I'm particularly interested in the site since I asked my boyfriend to pick up the Gun O'Clock alarm clock when in Tokyo last week. He hunted all over the gadget-laden Akihabara district for one, and to my chagrin, it was completely sold out. Gizmine to the rescue!
Of course, there's a slight catch: Gizmine marks up the retail price you'd get in Japan. It's an import service, so it's to be expected, but while the wonderfully weird Tuttuki Bako toy can be bought for between 3,000 and 4,000 yen in Japan (about $32 to $43), Gizmine offers it for $50, plus $19 in shipping costs. (Most products ship to the U.S. in one to three business days, according to the site.)
Still, it's cheaper than a trip to Japan.
