California based Green Vehicles will unveil its 2010 Triac pure electric, full speed commuter vehicle on the “Electric Avenue” at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan from January 11th – January 24th, 2010.

The first Triac EV prototype introduced to the market in April 2008 featured:  good mobility with no CO2 emissions, a highway speed of 80 mph, and easy charging that priced out at about two cents per mile.  The vehicle’s new 2010 design incorporates feedback from early adopters and incorporates various engineering advances that, among other benefits, allows the vehicle to travel 20% farther per charge.  Key improvements include:

• Advanced IT system, that improves vehicle diagnostics and charging efficiency and adapts vehicle performance to various driving conditions.
• A non-traditional electric drive-train, which raises efficiency and performance without the high cost of over-sizing the electric motor.
• Next-generation energy storage and power systems, which optimize trade-offs between cycle life; energy density; specific power, cost, and temperature sensitivity.

The 2010 model will still have a top speed of around 80 miles per hour.  The on-board charger can be plugged into any 110v or 220v standard outlet; a complete charge takes six hours at 220v.  Charging the battery for the typical 50-mile commute takes about three hours.

You can look for the first deliveries of the 2010 Triac in October 2010, at a price per car, including lithium-ion battery pack, of US $24,995.  The company anticipates initially producing 1,000 Triacs per year.

source: businesswire.com

• Did you know that the U.S. and Europe spend over $12 Billion a year on perfume? U.S. Announces $187 Million for Fuel Efficiency – reuters
• Unlike today, I guess they had an abundance of good contractors back then…Egypt Tombs Suggest Pyramids Not Built by Slaves – yahoo! news
• I know a lot of people who can’t spell biodiversity…if you know what I mean…UN Warns: Biodiversity Loss is ‘Wake-up Call‘ – bbc
• Why did they relocate?  Better restaurants…Where Did the SF Bay Sea Lions Go? Try Oregon – myway
• Some good news…Research Indicates Coral Can Recover From Climate Change Damage – sciencedaily
• Advantage U.S. – China Taps into U.S. Solar Thermal Power Plants – msnbc
• Time to move? Looks Matter More in the City – livescience

Designed and created by Zaum, this styling little green purse has an exterior made of handmade light gray all natural felt, with vegetable dyed green felt stripe.  The Interior lining is tan organic cotton twill.  The interior purse area approx. 6.5″×4.5″×3.75″.

The bag features two small pockets inside, invisible magnetic closures are hidden inside the circles on the bag’s top, as well as in the purse’s interior flap.

$95 @ zaum’s little online shop

Here’s yet another consumer electronics gadget that has been slapped with the “eco” label.  Samsung sees the demand for external hard disc drives growing exponentially, so the company has targeted the young adult market by creating, (they say) a fashionably styled mobile drive that is durable, reliable and high density.  The new G-Series drives feature 1.8 inch, 2.5 inch and 3.5 inch size drives, whose beaded surface (all young people are attracted to shiny objects) reflects light and is highly scratch resistant.

The G-Series, introduced at CES, consists of the 2.5-inch G2 Portable with 250/320/500/640GB densities and the 3.5-inch G3 Station available in 1/1.5/2TB versions.  The new drives eco-friendly features include:  halogen-free construction, low-noise levels, low-power consumption and specs that meet the ROHS regulation for eco friendliness.

The G3 model features a power management system that can reduce power consumption by 95%.

source: businesswire.com

This video footage leaves little doubt who was the aggressor in the collision of a Japanese whaling ship Shonan Maru and the anti-whaling speedboat Ady Gil.  Note how the Japanese vessel turns into and then away from the smaller boat.

With all the CES 2010 product hype flying around it’s important to note that in the 14th Edition of GreenPeace’s Greener Electronics Guide, Apple, Sony Ericsson and Nokia top the rankings for product ranges free of the worst hazardous substances with HP following close behind.

Though Apple has followed through on its green agenda, Green Peace spanks electronics heavyweights Samsung, Dell, Lenovo and LG Electronics (LGE) for failing to follow through on a promised phase-out of toxics in their products.

Have you noticed how greening our wardrobes seems to be getting easier by the minute?  Sustainable, ethical, organic, fair trade, recycled, upcycled, vintage and vegan designers and manufacturers — both indie and mainstream, seem to be proliferating like never before.  And as we all know, the more the demand for green goods, the better it will be for our bodies, planet and wallets.

New to our Friday features in 2010 will be a Roundup of a few of our recent favorite eco savvy fashion finds…here goes:

Handmade body adornments from Subversive Jewelry (above).

Fresh off the clothesline, former Vogue editor, Gale Parker opens her first shop in West Hollywood, and her Clothespin line of one of a kinds, (above) can be snatched off the Web.

Himane upcycles discarded umbrellas into eco chic fare, like this herringbone bag (above), or their signature totes.

And rounding out the roundup –  frocks made from adapted materials (recycled polyester, organic cotton and organic linen) from H&M’s new Garden Collection, (above)…in stores end of March.  Quite ironic timing – considering The New York Times earlier this week, siting H&M’s lack of regard for disposing of unused garments – (a small dish on that, via NY Magazine.)

Industrial sculpture meets backyard utility – Modern Metal Work handcrafts these outdoor fire bowls from woven and welded reclaimed elevator cable.

Sizes vary from 2 1/2 feet in diameter and 2 feet tall to 3 1/2 feet wide and 3 feet tall.  You can buy these babies at Modern MM’s online 1000markets store.

Is this the future look of urban living?  A residential housing development created with organic shapes and a combination of low and hi-rise components – kind of crazy looking, in a rolling hills meets roller coaster sort of way.

Beijing China-based design firm MAD is currently developing this project on a narrow waterfront site in Beihai, China.  The structure is intended to break up the often geometric redundancy of typical Chinese urban development.  Holes in the structure allow additional light, space and visual variety to permeate the development.

via: designboom