The sleek and smooth design of this car with a visage can easily call out for anyone’s attention. It can house 4 people and natural materials have been utilized to design the interior. Both the drag coefficient and weight of the vehicle is optimized by redistributing and reducing the weight to maximize the energy efficiency and improve driving ability. Both the door and roof inserts become opaque as a final touch, which reduces the amount of glare coming to the vehicle.

Designer : BMW via Inhabitat

Text from designer :

Airliner

This long distance transport vehicle is actuated by superconductive magnets. Superconductors produce frictionless levitation avoiding any mechanic resistance. The vehicle hover above the street. The superconductor is cooled down by electric condensers so the particles of the material nearly stop moving. A rail embedded in the street creates a magnetic field which will be written in the superconductors, positioned at a set distance from the magnetic rail. No mechanic fixation between rail an vehicle will be required. The electromagnetic field generated by the rail also speed up the vehicle. The magnetic field is only generated under the moving vehicle and wont be of any danger for other moving vehicles crossing the rail.

The airliner consists of a drivers cab and several modules which float autonomously, so the shipping volume is expandable. If no cargo is carried the drivers cab ally with the closing module to reduce the volume. At a logistic centre close by a freeway and a city, the cargo gets unload, stored and upload to the cityloader.

Cityloader

This compact transport vehicle is designed for distances up to 400 km and the city traffic. It is powered by electric engines and wheel hubs which can be recharged via plug`n`ride concept at the logistic centre or city stations. A modifiable loading space allows a wide spectrum of use.

Designer : Tobias Förtsch

The storage compartment is located in the front and the powerplant is at the rear side of the car. Michelin Tweel concept which actually is airless wheels has been used in the suspension system of this car and is housed within the wheel itself. The structure and the materials of the wheel spokes allows to compress and decompress, offering a collection of motions. The total length of the compact car is 4,260mm, width 1,882mm and height 1153mm.

Designer : Daniel Schumpert

Text from designers :
The idea is to make an amphibious vehicle that can be used on land, ice and on water. Inside each wheel is an electric engine, which has energy from batteries. To realize these points the vehicle needs to be adaptable to the environment and use. This problem is solved by a specially designed tire.

Intelligent wheel system
The wheel exists of movable parts which can increase traction or even transform in a paddle wheel to propel the vehicle in the water. The wheel is controlled by terrain sensors which decide when more or less traction is needed. This system provides the vehicle with more safety because it can answer to different kind of terrains.

Renting concept
When making a vehicle that can do almost anything it will be certain it is going to cost a lot of money. For students to be able to afford it, there could be a renting system. For example for 5 euros a day the tourists and students could rent the vehicle. Cheap price could be achieved by sticker advertising.

Designer : Janne Leppänen, Tuulia Miettinen, Roope Kolu, Tiemen Stelwagen, and Jaap Van Der Voort

Gosha says :

“A hybrid airship is actually a hybrid between an airship and an airplane, deriving roughly two thirds of its lift from buoyancy of lighter than air gas, and the remaining third from aerodynamic lift generated by wings. The outcome is a craft which when loaded is only slightly heavier than the air around it, and therefore requires very little effort to become airborne and even less effort to cruise comfortably at around 120mph.

The Airship One has a semi-rigid construction, Aluminum and fiber composite frame supporting PU fabric ballonets filled with lighter than air, non flammable Helium gas. Propulsion is provided by four DC electric motors, which during cruise receive their energy from solar panels mounted on the hull and wings, and during takeoff also from a bio-diesel generator. The ship can take off and land vertically, with no need for a runway of any kind.

With its 30-ton cargo capacity and a double-deck passenger compartment which can accommodate some 25 passengers with levels of comfort that by far exceed those of the most luxurious airliner.

While currently only a concept, I strongly believe that in the not too distant future machines like the Airship One will offer a quiet, efficient and eco-friendly alternative to air transport.”

Designer : Gosha Galitsky

This electrically powered futuristic concept vehicle houses two passengers and includes four motors, one for each wheel, which will let the wheels to swivel on its center by inverse rotation. These motors are located inside every wheel and the wheel rims are designed to act like a propeller to keep the system cool. Besides, another motor exists in the center pivot that provides the required power to change the appearance of the car, like opening the trunk door or modifying the seat arrangements.

The dimension of this car is 1.75 x 1.75 meters approx. when it is in compact mode. By using a geometry stimulated from the ‘bioarchitecture’ of a moving cat, this hybrid formed car changes its attitude with his postures.

Designer : David Vega

When it comes to reasons to live, art and human interaction top the list for Carson Hill, painter, tattoo artist, and inventor. “Art is very inspiring – to me the universe and everything in it is art,” said Carson. Steve Johnson, Carson’s right hand at Neuma (the company behind the Neuma Hybrid) comes from a very different, but no less creative world. The idea for Amuen (am-yoo-en) struck when Carson and Steve realized there was a need for a site that welcomes creatives and artists of all types. No matter what your medium, there are elements of the creative process that transcend any one discipline.

Why the name Amuen? Well, Amuen is a type of African word that means “spirits,” – a nod to the creative spirit within each of us. Neuma on the other hand, is Latin for “spirited” or air-powered. Oh, and if you hadn’t noticed, Amuen is Neuma spelled backwards. But that’s strictly coincidence.

Designer : RKS Design

[Press Release]
Thousand Oaks, California, April 7, 2009 – World-recognized strategy, innovation, and design consultancy RKS is proud to announce the introduction of the Neuma Hybrid Tattoo Machine, as RKS helps Neuma revolutionize the tattoo industry and usher in a new age of artistry, comfort, and safety. The superior technology of Neuma tattoo machines benefits tattoo collectors and artists alike – with the lighter-weight, fully-autoclavable tattoo machine delivering a less painful tattoo experience and drastically reduced healing times.

Dissatisfied with traditional coil machines, award-winning tattoo artist and inventor Carson Hill set out to create a completely new kind of tattoo technology – the first air-powered tattoo machine. Carved out of solid aluminum years before the MacBook made it cool, the original pneumatic tattoo machine, known as the Neuma2, was light-weight and fully-autoclavable.

The latest evolution of the Neuma, the Neuma Hybrid, is the result of Hill’s desire to constantly push for improvements. Hill listened carefully to suggestions from artists and engaged RKS to re-engineer and re-design the Neuma2. The result is the Neuma Hybrid. At only 3.7 ounces in its pneumatic configuration, the Hybrid still weights less than half as much as traditional coil machines. Packed inside this small but powerful package is an improved pneumatic design for greater efficiency and less air consumption, a larger impeller for more torque, a cushioned armature for compliance, a variable stroke-length, an improved collet, and optimized cycle timing for less drag on the skin when lining.

The “hybrid” part comes in when Neuma tattoo artists want to take the show on the road. Year-round and world-wide, tattoo artists travel to expos to create their art right before their fans’ eyes. With the baggage restrictions now in force by airlines, it’s becoming more of a challenge to travel with an air compressor. The Neuma and RKS teams brainstormed an ideal solution… a motorized module that magnetically-couples with the Neuma to transform it into an electric-powered tattoo machine. This means that Neuma artists can have the Neuma performance they love in an electric configuration that still weighs a full third less than traditional coil machines. And, most importantly, the pneumatic machine is still fully-autoclavable.

Whether you’re an artist, a long-time collector, or someone who’s been tempted but afraid to get a tattoo, the Neuma Hybrid represents a breakthrough in delivering a safer, less-painful, tattoo experience. And as for Carson Hill, perhaps Rosenau said it best, “He’s developed something that’s changing the way tattoos are done and the look of tattoos. He has his own little place in tattoo history.” Hearing that makes Hill squirm a little.

Designer : RKS Design for Neuma

Designer : Lightning Hybrids

Nicolas explanations:
Utilizing a new energy model, the vehicle uses the electricity to stimulate a central water tank, splitting the water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen gets stored in special reserve tanks, while the oxygen gets expelled into the air as exhaust. With this model, the vehicle functions like a plant, only needing the sun and water to create its own fuel. The sleek, mono-volume design allows for optimal interior space and utility. Special design features also include layered body panels, unique headlight/side mirror units, and offset seating to allow elbow room for all occupants.

Since the principle material used to construct the exterior functions by re-directing light to the edges, I wanted to accentuate this feature in the design. To do so, I designed the roof panel to act like a canopy, suspended over the roof pillars mimicking a shade or visor. The rear lights themselves are packed into the edge of the “glass sleeve” composing the exterior, to seem as if the brake lights are being emitted from the glass edges.

Using this technology, there were key issues that had to be solved in the revision stage. While the solar panels use highly saturated dyes, this color cannot be used on the entire exterior because it would disorient the driver. To solve this, I broke up the material into three different shades (clear/smoked/colored) and strategically placed them around the vehicle in order to maximize driver visibility

Technology aside, it was important that I attempt to break the stigma against small cars in North America. To do this, I used long lines that stretch across the form, visually elongating the vehicle and providing an athletic stance. In order to maximize the use of such a small package, I used a mono-volume approach to open-up the interior space as much as possible. Another important feature to small vehicles is character… so besides a traditional “happy face”, I designed the headlights and side mirrors to be integrated into one unit that extends out from the body like eyes.

Designer : Nicolas Stone