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Via Motors E-REV hybrid trucks power your commute and the job site too (video)
Hybrid cars have officially jumped the shark, boring drivers from coast to coast as they smugly hypermile wherever they're going. Meanwhile, those with big trucks have been relatively out of luck, having to stop frequently for gas -- and to scrape the remains of those little hybrids out of their fender wells. That's changing soon, with Via Motors taking its rebranded Chevy trucks (dig that flying V on the grille) and offering them to fleets in 2011, with sales to individuals coming two years later (you can get in line now for $1,000 down). Big companies like, apparently, PG&E will be able to roll in these so-called E-REV trucks that offer either 20 or 40 miles of electric range, augmented by an onboard generator. Yes, it's a series hybrid layout similar in theory to the Volt, with the internal combustion engine charging the batteries which, in turn, send juice to the 268hp motor. Interestingly, though, that generator can power other things as well, providing 120 or 240V to tools, lights, maybe even hot tubs if you're a super cool contractor. No word on anticipated vehicle cost nor efficiency, but we're not expecting miracles on either front.
Art Lebedev's Transparentius eliminates opacity, improves road safety
Kudos where it's due: not many design houses use tanks in their illustrations of a new road safety concept. Transparentius, as with most good ideas, is remarkably simple -- you jack a camera onto the front of a truck, or lorry as they're known in some places, and then project that image onto the back of your hulking transporter. The effect of this is to render the truck figuratively transparent for the driver behind, who is enriched with a lot more information about what lies on the road ahead. No word on how the rear projection is achieved or how sunlight glare is overcome, but knowing Art Lebedev, you can bet both challenges are solved in the most unaffordable fashion possible. Anyhow, now that you've got the idea, we're throwing this one over to you dear mod-loving friends -- can you build this without remortgaging the house? [Thanks, Dennis]
Dolby's spreading the word, reaching out to eyes and ears
Our trip to Dolby's San Francisco lab facility was mind-blowingly great, but it turns out that the company is ramping up efforts to let you get behind the "double D" logo. Things have come a long way from optically-encoded film audio and analog tape noise reduction, so Dolby just launched a campaign to bring everybody up to speed on how much higher your grin factor will be if you treat yourself to great surround sound in your home and on-the-go audio setup, no matter if music, movies or games are your cup o' tea. Fire up your browser and hit the links below -- the company is blanketing the webisphere with a microsite, special twitter activity (a little birdie mentioned the magical "giveaway" word), YouTube and flickr. Things will get really fun, however, if you push back from the keyboard, venture into the sunlight and get yourself into the Dolby truck as it makes the rounds at special events around California. Planned stops for the funhouse on wheels are in the links below; you'll see why we'd like to "borrow" this little rig chock-full-of audio wizardry to go alongside our own CES double-wide. Read - truck schedule Read - campaign microsite Read - twitter feed Read - YouTube Read - Dolby's flickr feed
Video: Silverlit's Heli-Mission SWAT Truck brings your Blue Thunder fantasies to a rockin' reality
We've seen remote controlled toy helicopters and remote controlled toy cars, and they were good, but never have we seen before a product that brings the greatness of the two together. Silverlit's Heli-Mission SWAT truck is that holy union of RC, a butch-looking controllable truck with flashing lights and a cavernous cargo bay that swings open to release a three-channel helicopter. The heli is hoisted into position and can then be launched to go rescue your Transformers figurines from the clutches of your evil sister, brother, husband, wife, or pet. This wireless duo will set you back £59.95 when it releases in Europe, about $100, but sadly we're not finding it up for order anywhere else at the moment. So go ahead and relax, Brazilian prison guards -- at least for now...[Via SlashGear]
Lenovo ThinkPad T400s run over by truck, left out in tornado in new spate of videos
Lenovo's T400s has been caught in the wild once before -- if by wild you understood us to mean a well-lit, relatively clean and sterile environment. Well, we've caught another several glimpses of the latest ThinkPad, but this time, it's actually in the wild. As in, dropped in the middle of the road to be run over by a giant truck, or left in the downpour of a tornado. Sounds fun, right? No, it doesn't expand our knowledge of price or availability for this puppy, but it is fun to watch in a sick, twisted sort of way. Check both videos after the break.
EVI debuts road-ready commercial transport electric vehicles
Tired of being hit upside the noggin' with tiny electric car after tiny electric car? Yeah, so are the burly men and women running the show at Electric Vehicles International. Said outfit has just announced that it will soon be showcasing the industry's first "road-ready" commercial electric vehicles at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The company currently has two commercial truck models (the eviLightTruck and the eviRoute 1500), both of which are "customizable" and can be ordered in electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) form. Don't lie -- you just thought about how awesome it'd be to roll up to the office in one of these bad boys.
Phoenix doctor's HD production truck makes house calls
If your doctor was getting up to speed on a new surgical procedure via video footage, you'd want that video to be in HD, right? Thanks to Dr. Diethrich, a co-owner of VAS Communications in Phoenix and also Medical Director at Arizona Heart Hospital, that's now a possibility -- VAS Communications recently rolled out its HD production truck, complete with its own 2.4-meter antenna for satellite uplink. Also onboard are a Panasonic HD video switcher and an Yamaha digital audio console for putting everything together. The "HDMD" is the first HD production truck in Arizona, so you just know that between medical telecasts it's been pressed into action for local news work.
Phoenix Motorcars bringing all-electric vehicles to Maui by 2009
Whoa, talk about returning from the depths of yesteryear. For those with incredibly good memories (we're talking superhero-level here), you might remember Phoenix Motorcars touting a "truly plug-and-play" vehicle nearly two years ago to the day. Now, the outfit is back with a partnership with the state of Hawai'i. In an ambitious press release, the two parties have jointly announced plans to bring "all-electric vehicles and an electric vehicle infrastructure to the island of Maui by 2009." The premise is sound; after all, it doesn't many months of paying $5.29 / gallon for regular (proof after the break) to get everyone on the island to support such an initiative. The real question, however, is will Phoenix Motorcars deliver? Bonus shots to make you envious of whoever will be testing these are also just beyond the break.
Taxpayer-funded CBC spends $24 million on HD broadcasting trucks
Rest assured, Canadians -- your tax dollars are hard at work. So long as you consider the delivery of more HD hockey "work," that is. Believe it or not, the taxpayer-funded CBC has thrown down nearly $24 million on a pair of broadcasting trucks "so it can show hockey games and cultural events in high-definition." According to CBC spokesman Jeff Keay, it decided to purchase them because doing so provided "better value for the taxpayers" given that it would "cost more to lease them." Granted, it does cost around $55,000 total to broadcast a hockey matchup in high-def, but still, $24 million is a lot of cheese. Ah well, one more reason to buy into HD, right? Wait, you sort of already have if you're Canadian...[Image courtesy of Flickr]
iPod touch survives run-in with pickup truck
While the iPod nano is being called fragile, the iPod touch is ready to demonstrate its toughness.A user at the iPod touch Fans forums posted pictures of his touch after being run over by a pickup truck. The glass screen is shattered but intact, and the back of the case is dented. However, it still works. "It worked perfectly, the touch screen, the music, the wifi..." writes forlorn owner spongyiq.He claims that siding a finger across the busted display "...doesn't hurt," but we'll just take his word on it.While we're on the subject, here's a few other pieces of Apple hardware that met a cruel fate: Nano meets highway traffic, fares poorly Great balls of PowerBook fire iPod sets man's pants on fire Shattered iPhone, still works Of course, we'd be remiss if we omitted the granddaddy of them all: Does the iPhone blend?[Via Gizmodo]
Hitachi takes skinny HDTVs on the road, your LCD wants to purge
Flat panel manufacturer's disgusting obsession with being thin is coming to a high-end location near you, thanks to Hitachi's "Thin is in Motion" campaign. Focused on its 1.5-inch thick ultra-thin family of LCDs, the company is sending four trucks around the country equipped with 32- and 37-inch display models on rotating pedestals (because who doesn't watch their HDTV from the back or side angle?) to show off how thin they are. We wouldn't advise showing these to impressionable "fat" panels, for fear of psychological damage.
Video: Ford offers 2009 F-150 with in-dash computer, printer, EVDO, GPS, and RFID tool tracking
Our dirtier, hairier sisters over at autoblog had the chance to get up close and personal with Ford's 2009 F-150 at the Chicago Auto Show. Notable to gadget ruffians, and those of you posing as such on the suburban trek to the ice cream social, is Ford's new "Work Solutions" option. It features a Microsoft Sync-powered in-dash computer (with wireless keyboard, Bluetooth printer, 6.5-inch touch-screen) from Magneti Marelli with built-in Sprint Mobile Broadband and Garmin GPS. It also features an RFID-equipped Tool Link system built in partnership with DEWALT and ThingMagic for a real-time inventory of your RFID tagged tools. The FWS option will be available on all 2009 F-150 XL, STX, XLT and FX4 trucks; F-Series Super Duty XL, XLT and FX4 trucks; and all 2009 E-Series vans. Couple FWS with Sony's 700 watt, 5.1channel, 10-speaker system and Sirius Travel Link options already announced for the F-150 and we might have to take the Engadget Mansion mobile. Video after the break.[Thanks, K Banton]
2009 Ford F-150 to get Sirius Travel Link
We already heard that the 2009 Lincoln MKS would be the first vehicle from Ford Motor Company to feature Sirius' forthcoming Travel Link system, but now those of you scouting a new pickup can rejoice as well. Starting with the '09 year model, F-150 trucks will be available with SYNC and Travel Link, providing users with an in-dash USB port and auxiliary input, 911 Assist, Vehicle Health Report, voice-activated navigation / radio / climate control / etc. and a 10-speaker Sony sound system to boot. Just the tools you need to efficaciously tackle those mountains, right?[Via CNET, image courtesy of Autoblog]
Man follows GPS directions onto train tracks, into dummy hall of fame
Once again proving that "people be stupid," a Bedford Hills, New York man allowed his GPS to navigate him onto train tracks... while a train was approaching. Entering a long line of folks like Cherry Tree Guy and the Narrow Lane Invader, this mentat in question apparently followed directions to "turn right" onto a set of tracks, which he then inexplicably became stuck on. Upon noticing the speeding locomotive heading towards his car, the man jumped out of the vehicle and tried to warn the engineer by waving his arms frantically -- to no avail. The train slammed into the truck at 60 MPH and pushed the vehicle more than 100-feet, damaging 250-feet of track. The man was unharmed, though we understand his ego has filed for divorce.[Thanks, Dr. Mark]
Smith brings "world's largest all-electric truck" to the US
This one's been spreading its all-electric charm around Europe for a little while already, but it looks like Smith Electric Vehicles' Smith Newton truck is now finally making its way to the US market. According to the company, with a gross vehicle weight of over 24,000lbs, the vehicle is the "world's largest all-electric truck," with a rack of "suitcase-sized" 278 volt batteries and a 120 kilowatt motor required to push it along at speeds up to 50 mph. That combo also gives the vehicle a range of some 150 miles, and an acceleration from 0-30mph that the company says is faster than the equivalent diesel-powered truck. No word on what it'll set you back, but Smith is set to open a factory in Fresno sometime next year to accommodate its new US presence, with a larger factory capable of turning out 10,000 vehicles a year to follow in 2010. [Via Far East Gizmos]
Dekotora roars onto the DS
Dekotora is a weird and expensive hobby in Japan, involving putting crazy, garish art and hundreds of neon lights on big trucks. It's sort of like the ground-effects/import-tuning scene, but on ridiculously enormous trucks, without the performance enhancements, and without restraint. Basically these guys end up building mobile Las Vegases. It's also the subject of a Wii game called Zenkoku Dekotora Matsuri (Nationwide Dekotora Festival), the latest in a line of console dekotora games from Jaleco. While those dealt mainly with carrying cargo on time (in order to earn money to make your truck a more disgusting spectacle) Spike is doing something different with their newly-announced DS dekotora game, Bakusou Dekotora Densetsu (Roaring Dekotora Legend), part of a different established series of dekotora games. This game is about, yes, making your truck look like Liberace's house fell on it, but also smashing rival trucks on the road.
Seen@E3: Microsoft hotel vs. Truck
Although the damage doesn't look that great, it was quite the little scene. While getting ready to see Halo Wars (more on that very soon), there was an extremely loud crashing sound in the Viceroy hotel lobby. Everyone in the room snapped their heads to look outside. Through the glass doors you could see pieces of debris falling from the ceiling and dust. What happened? Turns out a truck was a little too big for the overhang outside the hotel and took a piece out of the building. Good times.
Somewhat more Sedate Truck found at Gamestop
This profoundly limited-edition copy of Excite Truck was spotted on the shelf at GameStop. Evidently, an employee drew this charmingly quaint alternate boxart instead of using the default GameStop display box for loose games. You can see from the little motion lines that the truck is clearly excited, which is a much subtler approach than the usual bright colors and EXTREME explosions.We totally prefer the lunch-break line art shown here to the real boxart, but we're still a little shocked that they're selling this copy as a new game with no discount.[Via Siliconera]
Metareview: Excite Truck
While we had plenty of time with Excite Truck, we haven't had time to get up our review (we'll get it up soon, we swear). While we wait, why not take a look at what some of the other reviewers out there are saying about the ramp-jumping, Wiimote-turning racer. Overall, reviews have been positive, however there have been a handful of those that feel the game is too simplistic or unfinished. GameSpot - 68%: "Excite Truck's control and speed give it a good amount of potential, but there just isn't enough of a game here to keep you excited for very long. Ultimately, it feels more like a tech demo than a full-fledged game." IGN - 80%: "Excite Truck is clearly a first generation console game that will, without a doubt be outdone in the Wii system's later years. But as a game that bursts right out of the gate as a launch title for the system, Excite Truck is a fulfilling, fun, energetic arcade-style racer that features a good balance of technology and technique. There are a few spots in places that could have been filled, like its weak two player option and trick system, but overall this game definitely pulls off the intense racing rush that quality arcade racers offer." Gamespy - 60%: "Like I said at the beginning of the review, I highly doubt Excite Truck will standout in anyone's memory past the end of the year. The lack of decent multiplayer and total lack of online play hurt the longevity, but if you absolutely need a racer to play at launch, you can't really do any better than this one."
First look: Excite Truck
Ever since we received our Wii, everyone has been dying to play that Zelda game. It's left us little time to take trucks, of the most exciting variety, out for a spin. After running through the first set of races and unlocking the silver series, we have overall good impressions of the game. Visually, it looks good. No pop-up present that we can determine and the sense of speed is really spot-on. We currently have 3 vehicles at our disposal. A dune buggy-like vehicle is our personal favorite, mainly for its incredibly light weight (which helps us bust some amazing drifts and big air). Upon completing courses, we're rewarded for our efforts with a grade. The learning curve is rather small for this also, as upon completing our first race, we received a grade of F and, only 2 short races following, we were receiving A's and S's with relative ease.Keep an eye out here for more impressions on the game as we progress and check after the break for some more pictures.
