Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Flybus consortium puts the brakes on energy waste, throws it back to the asphalt]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/flybus-consortium-puts-the-brakes-on-energy-waste-throws-it-bac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/flybus-consortium-puts-the-brakes-on-energy-waste-throws-it-bac/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/07/flybus-consortium-puts-the-brakes-on-energy-waste-throws-it-bac/#comments For anyone who's logged time city bus surfing, you know there's a heckuva lot of power in those screechy stops and starts. So, it stands to reason there'd be a way to harness that kinetic energy and shuffle it right back to the auto, itself. Well, that's exactly what the Flybus consortium aims to do with a prototype that uses a Ricardo Kinergy flywheel to store energy created from braking, and redistribute it via a continuously variable transmission. The hybrid setup is purportedly much cheaper to produce than current, pricier EV rigs, and would also go a long way towards reducing fuel costs for commercial vehicles. Gearheads eager for a peek at the group's design can get a look-see when it's shown off this month at the Low Carbon Vehicle event in the UK. For everyone else, there are the source links below.

Flybus consortium puts the brakes on energy waste, throws it back to the asphalt originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 06:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbusescommercial vehiclecommercial vehiclesCommercialVehicleCommercialVehicleselectric hybridelectric hybridsElectricHybridElectricHybridsFlybusFlybus consortiumFlybusConsortiumflywheelhybrid vehiclesHybridVehicleskinetic energykinetic energy recovery systemKineticEnergyKineticEnergyRecoverySystemprototypeprototype transmissionPrototypeTransmissionRicardo Kinergy flywheelRicardoKinergyFlywheelWed, 07 Sep 2011 06:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Brooklyn bus riders get real-time bus tracking via cellphone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/05/brooklyn-bus-riders-get-real-time-bus-tracking-via-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/05/brooklyn-bus-riders-get-real-time-bus-tracking-via-cellphone/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/05/brooklyn-bus-riders-get-real-time-bus-tracking-via-cellphone/#comments
New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority launched a pilot program a few months back that offered bus riders some real-time tracking information, but it's now expanded things with a whole new program on the B63 route in Brooklyn. That service is currently accessible via a mobile-friendly website or text message, and smartphone users can also scan simply snap a picture of a barcode (presumably a QR code) at a bus stop to immediately check in on the location of the next five buses that will arrive at the stop. What's more, unlike the previous program, this new system is based on an open source platform developed with the help of OpenPlans, and the MTA is actually encouraging developers to dig into the API and develop their own solutions -- which could certainly get interesting as the program is expanded across the city (the Staten Island bus line is next up). Head on past the break for the MTA's press release, and hit up the link below to try out the service right in your browser.

Continue reading Brooklyn bus riders get real-time bus tracking via cellphone

Brooklyn bus riders get real-time bus tracking via cellphone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brooklynbusbusesmtanew yorkNewYorkpublic transitpublic transportpublic transportationPublicTransitPublicTransportPublicTransportationtrackingtransportationSat, 05 Feb 2011 12:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Korea starts testing 'recharging road,' might make it part of its public transport system]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/korea-starts-testing-recharging-road-might-make-it-part-of-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/korea-starts-testing-recharging-road-might-make-it-part-of-it/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/10/korea-starts-testing-recharging-road-might-make-it-part-of-it/#commentsTime to set aside the chains of worry that have prevented us from jumping on the electric bandwagon -- Korean researchers have figured out a way to make us forget all about charging stations and cruising ranges with their magnetically recharging road. The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) you see here went into service yesterday and can now be found towing three bus-loads of tourists around a Seoul amusement park. It operates on a battery five times smaller than conventional EV juice packs and can collect its power through non-contact magnetic transmission from the recharging strips in the ground. We're also told running costs for this system are a third of what a typical EV would require, and should it prove successful and find itself expanded to the public transport system, only about 20 percent of bus routes would need to be electrified -- at bus stops, crossroads and the like -- with the rest being covered by the power stored inside the OLEV. Here's to hoping it all works out.

Korea starts testing 'recharging road,' might make it part of its public transport system originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbuseseco-friendlyelectric buselectric vehiclesElectricBusElectricVehiclesenvironmentenvironmentallyfriendlyevkoreaKorea Advanced Institute of Science and TechnologyKoreaAdvancedInstituteOfScienceAndTechnologyolevonline electric vehicleOnlineElectricVehiclepublic transportPublicTransportrechargeablerechargeable roadRechargeableRoadrechargingseoulsouth koreaSouthKoreatransportWed, 10 Mar 2010 08:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Raleigh, North Carolina buses get on-board DTV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/#comments
Planning to hop on a bus in Raleigh, North Carolina anytime soon? Then there's a chance you could be treated to an added distraction during your trip, as the city has just rolled out its first CAT bus equipped with mobile DTV, which looks to be one of the first projects resulting from those MPH tests that took place last year. This little bit of magic also comes courtesy of a little help from LG and Harris Corp., who are supplying the displays and mobile transmission equipment for the pilot program, which will be expanded to five buses by August, with another 20 planned for the second phase that'll run though August 2010. Of course, your viewing options will be somewhat limited, with a simulcast of local station WRAL apparently the only channel on tap, along with some weather information and, of course, a healthy dose of advertising.

[Thanks, Dana]

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Raleigh, North Carolina buses get on-board DTV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Planning to hop on a bus in Raleigh, North Carolina anytime soon? Then there's a chance you could be treated to an added distraction during your trip, as the city has just rolled out its first CAT bus equipped with mobile DTV, which looks to be one of the first projects resulting from those MPH tests that took place last year. This little bit of magic also comes courtesy of a little help from LG and Harris Corp., who are supplying the displays and mobile transmission equipment for the pilot program, which will be expanded to five buses by August, with another 20 planned for the second phase that'll run though August 2010. Of course, your viewing options will be somewhat limited, with a simulcast of local station WRAL apparently the only channel on tap, along with some weather information and, of course, a healthy dose of advertising.

[Thanks, Dana]

Filed under: , ,

Raleigh, North Carolina buses get on-board DTV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbusesdtvharrisharris corpHarrisCorphdlgmobile dtvMobileDtvotaraleighTue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Raleigh, North Carolina buses get on-board DTV]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/14/raleigh-north-carolina-buses-get-on-board-dtv/#comments
Planning to hop on a bus in Raleigh, North Carolina anytime soon? Then there's a chance you could be treated to an added distraction during your trip, as the city has just rolled out its first CAT bus equipped with mobile DTV, which looks to be one of the first projects resulting from those MPH tests that took place last year. This little bit of magic also comes courtesy of a little help from LG and Harris Corp., who are supplying the displays and mobile transmission equipment for the pilot program, which will be expanded to five buses by August, with another 20 planned for the second phase that'll run though August 2010. Of course, your viewing options will be somewhat limited, with a simulcast of local station WRAL apparently the only channel on tap, along with some weather information and, of course, a healthy dose of advertising.

[Thanks, Dana]

Filed under: ,

Raleigh, North Carolina buses get on-board DTV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbusesdtvharrisharris corpHarrisCorphdtvlgmobile dtvMobileDtvraleighTue, 14 Apr 2009 17:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Oslo rolls out biomethane-powered busses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/olso-rolls-out-biomethane-powered-busses/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/olso-rolls-out-biomethane-powered-busses/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/04/olso-rolls-out-biomethane-powered-busses/#comments
The city of Oslo is getting down and dirty with a new scheme for its public transportation. Adding "minor modifications" to 80 of the city's public busses will allow them to run on biomethane fuel produced from raw sewage. The buses are apparently much quieter, and are more eco-friendly than biogas, with zero net carbon emissions. The leader of the project, Ole Jakob Johansen, also says that the city should save about €.40 per liter on fueling the busses. The trial is part of Oslo's plan to be carbon-neutral by 2050, and they hope to soon have the entire fleet of 400 rolling clean. Waste not, want not, huh?

[Via Inhabitat]

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Oslo rolls out biomethane-powered busses originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 02:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biomethanebusbusesbussescarbon footprintCarbonFootprintgreennorwayOle Jakob JohansenOleJakobJohansenoslopublic transportationPublicTransportationsewageWed, 04 Feb 2009 02:57:00 EST<![CDATA[San Fran buses to get cameras for ratting on bus lane parking offenders]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/san-fran-buses-to-get-cameras-for-ratting-on-bus-lane-parking-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/san-fran-buses-to-get-cameras-for-ratting-on-bus-lane-parking-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/san-fran-buses-to-get-cameras-for-ratting-on-bus-lane-parking-of/#commentsSure, everybody's done it at one point or another, but San Francisco is trying to put the kibosh on traffic-chocking illegal bus lane parking with new cameras the city will be mounting on public transport buses -- Big Brother style. The cameras are mounted behind the windshield and bus drivers can use them to automatically photograph offenders. During the trial phase, parking baddies will get off with a warning, but in a month San Fran will start issuing $100 tickets. Better get that shopping done soon!

[Via AutoblogGreen]

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San Fran buses to get cameras for ratting on bus lane parking offenders originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Jan 2008 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big brotherBigBrotherbusessan franciscoSanFranciscoTue, 08 Jan 2008 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Camera-equipped buses could automatically ticket San Franciscans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/camera-equipped-buses-could-automatically-ticket-san-franciscans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/camera-equipped-buses-could-automatically-ticket-san-franciscans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/12/camera-equipped-buses-could-automatically-ticket-san-franciscans/#commentsNot long after hearing about England's newfangled auto-ticketing system comes word that San Franciscans could soon be facing something similar. If signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger, "forward-facing digital video cameras would be installed on city buses," which would then be used to automatically ticket the owners of vehicles that are caught "blocking buses." The cameras would presumably be used to photograph vehicles that are in bus-only lanes, and interestingly enough, the proposed law also authorizes Municipal Transportation Agency "employees to access sensitive personal data" from the DMV for ticketing purposes.

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Camera-equipped buses could automatically ticket San Franciscans originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busbusescaliforniacrimeillegallawSan FranciscoSanFranciscoticketticketingticketsWed, 12 Sep 2007 15:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Drive-by internet buses bring internet to cheap skate rural types]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/drive-by-internet-buses-bring-internet-to-cheap-skate-rural-type/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/drive-by-internet-buses-bring-internet-to-cheap-skate-rural-type/http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/31/drive-by-internet-buses-bring-internet-to-cheap-skate-rural-type/#commentsSure, we're all about sneakernet, but this is the first time we've seen "busnet" employed to such effect. In rural India, internet infrastructure is too expensive to make it out to remote villagers, so the United Villages project is bringing the internet to them on four wheels. Apparently, Indian interests in the internets are relatively limited at present: "They want to know the cricket scores, they want to see the new Aishwarya Rai photos, and they want to hear a sample of the latest Bollywood tunes." That's according to Amir Hassan, founder of UV. So the bus loads itself up with such data, and drives out into the country, spreading the info via WiFi. If someone does want a more unique tidbit of info, they can order it for a few extra rupees, and receive it the next time the bus heads their way. There's even a form of e-commerce -- the bus carries an electronic catalog, and orders are delivered by the bus the next time it's out. Sound's pretty hip-cool, but we suppose we'll stick with our WiFi / EV-DO / HSDPA / telepathic internet connection we've got going for the time being.

[Via Slashdot]

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Drive-by internet buses bring internet to cheap skate rural types originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Mar 2007 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busesindiainternet busInternetBusunited villagesUnitedVillageswifiSat, 31 Mar 2007 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Japanese train company to debut dual-use bus and rail vehicle]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/japanese-train-company-to-debut-dual-use-bus-and-rail-vehicle/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/japanese-train-company-to-debut-dual-use-bus-and-rail-vehicle/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/17/japanese-train-company-to-debut-dual-use-bus-and-rail-vehicle/#commentsJR Hokkaido, a Japanese rail firm, is poised to fully launch its dual-mode bus and rail vehicle. The bus-train has both rubber and steel tires, allowing it to switch between regular roads and railroad tracks with ease. The company debuted a test model nearly three years ago, and a set up a test line in the Shizuoka Prefecture city of Fuji late last month -- but JR Hokkaido will be conducting commercial tests on the Semmo Line near Shiretoko in April 2007. This crazy dual-use machine is meant to be a way to replace train cars that run on local lines where ridership is down to under 500 people per day (that's 30 percent of JR's lines). While you probably won't be able to get your hands on one unless you're a running a Japanese rail company, these new hybrids will cost ¥20 million ($170,735) apiece, which apparently is about one-seventh the cost of a traditional diesel-powered train car. At such bargain basement prices, Japanese rail riders might be seeing these pretty soon -- that is, unless the hovercraft-train-bus triple-threat comes to market first.

[Via Engadget Chinese]

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Japanese train company to debut dual-use bus and rail vehicle originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Dec 2006 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>busesdual-usehybridsjapanjr hokkaidoJrHokkaidorailroadrailwaysemmo lineSemmoLineshiretokoshizuokatrainsSun, 17 Dec 2006 15:33:00 EST