Inhabitat's Week in Green: The new Prius and a two-legged puppy
2016 is shaping up to be a tremendous year for green transportation. This week Honda announced plans to launch its Clarity Fuel Cell car next year in the US, while Gogoro is getting ready to roll out its battery-swapping Smartscooters in Europe. Chevrolet scored a grand slam as the 2016 Volt won the Green Car of the Year award, and we jumped behind the wheel of the completely redesigned 2016 Toyota Prius to give you the scoop. We also showcased two wild pedal-powered vehicles: a folding bike that weighs less than a watermelon and the world's longest bicycle, which stretches an absurd 117 feet.
In 2014 the Netherlands built a bike path entirely out of solar panels. It sounds crazy, but after one year the path has exceeded expectations by generating over 9800 kWh of electricity -- enough to power three houses. A new report shows that clean energy accounted for half of all new power last year, and researchers believe solar arrays could make refugee camps safer while slashing 6.85 million tons of CO2. Also this week, Apple announced plans to invest $1.5 million in wave energy projects off the coast of Ireland.
"Tumbles" is an adorable puppy who was born with just two legs, but he now has a new lease on life thanks to a custom 3D-printed wheelchair. In other animal news, the FDA just officially approved genetically modified salmon for human consumption. Thanks, but we'll pass. Urban farms provide city dwellers with fresh local produce, but they take up a lot of space. This flatpack hydroponic garden is the smallest we've ever seen - and this innovative vertical farm stands tall instead of sprawling outwards.
