I know what you're thinking: "Walking vehicles? It's better to just walk." Sure, transferring power from your feet to a mechanical set of legs may be needlessly repetitious and simply waste energy in the process. Human-powered walking vehicles (like the working model in the video above and a concept in a clip below the fold) solves a great problem. Walking vehicles and walking assist robots all have one major problem: they use energy. Why not walk by using the power of your feet instead with these amazing machines? Okay, sure a bike is more efficient but you gotta give 'em an A for effort.

[Source: YouTube]

Who says you have to use chemical batteries in electric cars? Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage System or SMES is a way storing electrical energy in magnetic fields. Chubu Electric Power and Furukawa Electric are creating an SMES not for long term storage, which SMES are not great at right now, but for quick energy bursts. SMES can store and release lots of energy very quickly like a capacitor. You can see a demonstration video of SMES below the fold.

Who says you have to use magnet motors in electric cars? Also below the fold is a video of a Spherical Ultrasonic Motor developed by the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. The motor uses ultrasound and has multiple degrees of freedom of movement. The compact motors may be a part of robot joints and seems to use vibration and brushes. Another video below the fold is a sonic motor that uses a reverse-piezo effect.

Today, a vehicle with a SMES battery would not have a good range. Although it might be interesting to see if it could replace capacitors to output energy more power quickly. The low torque output of sound-powered engines won't replace regular magnetic motors any time soon. I would really like to hear that test drive anyway. Who knows, if the sonic motor cars work out, you could ditch the battery altogether and get energy wirelessly through the air.

Related:

• Cool videos: air propelled train, personal street car
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney's 1958 hovering solar car
• More details about the flywheel 'kinetic energy recovery system'
  

[Source: YouTube]

The big automakers showed a little teeth at this year's Washington Auto Show. The video above begins with Mark LaNeve of GM telling a story about a U.S. senator. The senator suggested to Mark that GM build at least one car that got over 30 MPG. Mark said GM builds 15 cars that gets over 30 MPG and he was shocked a U.S. Senator did not know this. I'm not shocked.

The video above also includes Jim Press of Chrysler talking about state regulation. Jim says it's not just California but 13 other states that want different standards. Why should Chrysler have to make 14 different vehicles, Jim wondered. I think they all want the same standard, so you could just build one car that complied with that standard and sell it in the entire United States.

I recorded the Ford and government press conference as well. As you can see in the video below the fold, something went wrong. Sorry readers, I'm not that familiar with Mini DV video cameras. Ford's Sue Cischke did argue with a reporter on whether or not their were actually CAFE "fines" anymore. Sue said the system has changed and their really are not fines. The reporter did not believe her.

Anyway, your questions could have responses as great as these. The show has two days left. So, post your questions in comments and I will ask them when I head back to the show.

Who says car factories have to be dirty? Volkswagen built a car factory in the middle of the city of Dresden called the Transparent Factory. The factory actually replaced a convention center and attracts tourists and people wanting to buy a car. The factory workers wear white, there is no pollution and the car production process is visible with glass everywhere.

As you can see in the video above, the car plant uses the city's street car networks to deliver the car parts. McLaren has another very clean building that you would be surprised actually made cars. There is a video of that plant below the fold.

Can you imagine a future where American's rust belt is a clean, modern, tourist attraction?

Related:

• Cool videos: air propelled train, personal street car

[Source: YouTube, Google Video]

The first video below the fold is Mazda's Director of Design, Franz von Holzhausen talking about the Furai concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The Furai is a racing concept that runs on E100 (100 percent ethanol) and the car's design is inspired by the wind. The video includes a look at a really cool pop-up wing in the middle of the Furai.

The second video below the fold is the Furai on the race track with sounds you really have to hear. You will never believe that's corn ethanol making that noise. Also below the fold is a video that takes a look at the inside of the Furai and its very cool steering wheel.

Related:

• Detroit 2008 Preview: Mazda Furai concept
• Detroit 2008 Preview: Mazda Furai completely exposed

[Source: YouTube]

Do you think the future of green engines is just flex-fuels, hybrids or fuel cells? Can you imagine a future with engines that have ethanol turbo-like injection or use steam super-heated by hydrogen? These engines are in the lab today. The video above is a look at a hybrid ethanol injection engine developed at MIT and it could improve mileage by 30 percent.

Below the fold is video of a water-powered car. "Oh, no, not another water car," you say? No, this one is different because it uses a H.A.W or "hydrogen air water" mix and involves super-heating steam to move a piston, says this web page. According to one translation of the video, the Japanese government is looking into it.

[Source: YouTube and tipster Brien]

Recently, I told you about a news report with the debut of the Project Better Place+Renault electric car. If you had problems seeing the video at the news site, try watching the Dailymotion video above. We got translations from several of our readers (Thanks again to Emil and Vadim) and Le Blog Auto also has translations. The report confirms many of the rumors we had heard like the car will be Renault's Megane and start production in 2010. The Project Better Place+Renault electric car will also have a range of 200km (124 miles) and, of course, use Project Better Place's battery exchange system.

Below the fold is a video by Project Better Place in response to the Davos Challenge on YouTube. The Project Better Place YouTube video includes lots of small children talking about electric cars. Davos is a meeting of many of the world's greatest thinkers and runs from the 23rd to the 28th of January in Davos, Switzerland. The Davos YouTube video asking for your YouTube video submissions is also below the fold.

We should hear more about the Project Better Place+Renault electric car on January 21st during a ceremony both companies are expected to attend. Stay tuned.

Related:

• Audi SynFuel driving World Economic Forum
• Videos: kids explain how cars harm the planet, Ford Escape hybrid daughter commercial

[Source: Le Blog Auto, YouTube]

The video above includes a chat with clean tech investor Vinod Khosla at the Detroit Auto Show. Vinod Khosla has backed ethanol company Coskata, which announced a partnership with GM at the Detroit Auto Show. Vinod says oil companies will get into the ethanol business because they are really energy companies.

GM CEO Rick Wagoner talks about Coskata in this video below the fold, also from the Detroit Auto Show. Rick says "we think the promise (of Coskata) is terrific." WARNING: The video below the fold includes Bob Lutz dancing.

In this video, Ford's American President, Mark Fields says Ford is making smaller cars. Mark says three years ago, 70 percent of Ford's sales were trucks and SUVs. At the end of 2007, though, crossovers and cars represent half of Ford's sales. The small cars Ford has at the Detroit Auto Show, Mark says, shows that Ford is moving in "a big way" towards smaller cars. Ford just needs to work on the "perception" of Ford as "truck heavy," concludes Mark.

[Source: Wall Street Journal, CNBC]

If all of the AutoblogGreen coverage isn't enough for you, you can see all the new cars at the Detroit Auto Show, in a live, one-hour special tonight at 9 PM Est on CNBC.

The video above is a close look at the interior and back of Toyota's concept hybrid truck, the A-Bat. WARNING: In the video above, after CNBC takes a look at the A-Bat, they laugh at a miscalculation in the Chrysler's stampede stunt involving gay ... you have to watch.

This video is an interview with Jim Lentz, Toyota's U.S. president, where he confirms Toyota will show two new hybrids cars at next year's Detroit Auto Show. Jim said this while standing next to Toyota's new non-hybrid SUV, the Venza.

[Source: MSNBC]

Who says taking the train is boring? January 12th was "no pants" day on the public transit system. It's a prank started by Charlie Todd's Improv Everywhere. There really isn't a point to it and it's not a protest against anything. Well, perhaps they are protesting pants or celebrating legs? Anyway, you can see half naked people on the train in the Today Show clip above and another news report below the fold. Technically, it's not illegal unless you don't wear undies, then you are just a flasher. Also, it looks like it's only happening in the cities, so don't try this in small town America (if you can find a bus there). They'll think you're crazy.

[Source: Today Show, YouTube]

In the video above, Ratan Tata, chairman of the Tata Motors, responds to critics who say the Nano is not safe and pollutes. Here's what he said yesterday:

Let me assure you and also assure our critics that the car we have designed and that we will be presenting to you today will indeed meet all the current safety requirements of a modern day car. Of late, when it became known that we will in fact be making such a car, the attention has moved to questioning the pollution it would create. Let me again assure those who have concerns for the environment, that the car we present you today will meet all current legislated emission criteria and will have a lower pollution level than even a two-wheeler being manufactured in India today.

Concerns are also now being expressed about the congestion that could be caused by the existence of our small car in large numbers. I believe this needs to be put in the right perspective. There is no doubt that India is woefully behind its neighbors in infrastructure. The government is now endeavoring to address this situation with its new road policy. Looking ahead, five years from today, were we to produce and sell 500,000 small cars every year, we would then, at the end of five years, constitute approximately 2.5 percent of all passenger vehicles in the country. This could hardly be considered the nightmare of congestion that is being raised today about our new small car.

Below the fold is another video where Ratan explains that he made the Nano because of unsafe driving on scooters by families. Also below the fold is a video where Ratan says the Nano will indeed retail for 1-lakh because "a promise is a promise." What do you think, readers? I have to admit, I still have doubts but I'm really impressed and excited with what he says.

Related:

• Here's the $2,500 Tata Nano, the Indian peoples car
• VIDEO: Live reveal of the $2,500 Tata Nano
• The World chimes in on the Tata Nano

[Source: YouTube]

Leonardo Da Vinci designed a wooden, clock-work car in 1495. The designs, on page 812R of the Atlanticus Codex, were only interpreted correctly a few years ago and a working model was actually made. With the exception of flywheels, storing energy in a mechanical form never caught on. Wooden cars were popular, for a time, as you can see in a video below the fold. The car of the future will probably be made from carbon fibre and use a chemical battery. Steampunk fans like myself still hold out hope for a modern wind-up, wooden car.

Related:

• Cool videos: Modern Penny Farthing, body skating
• Cool videos: mag-lev gears, human powered anti-gravity
• Cool videos: Zorbing, Magic Wheel

[Source: YouTube]

Have you heard about Aeromovel, a train that is driven by compressed air? You can see the train (which has no on-board motor) as it uses a sail-like propulsion device on what looks like traditional train tracks in the video above. It's currently in use in Brazil and Indonesia. Below the fold is a video of a vehicle that can only carry one person but has access to a street car's network of rails. Usually, street cars are designed to carry lots of people. Oh, another strange thing about the personal street car concept vehicle is it looks like a flying carpet.

Related:

• Videos: London's Heathrow airport to use driver-less, electric POD transport system
• Video: Car-free city coming 2009
• Video of "naked streets" and how banning stop lights will save gas
• Cool videos: street lamp electric bubble car, Disney's 1958 hovering solar car

[Source: YouTube]

Tata's Rs1-lakh will debut at the Delhi's Auto Expo, which starts January 10th. The Rs1-lakh will also be at the Geneva Motor Show this March. Tata group chairman Ratan says Tata won't make a hybrid Rs1-lakh (also known as the people's car) because it would be too expensive. The Rs 1-lakh will be the cheapest car in the world and he won't make a hybrid because of the cost? I hope Ratan understands the real reason Rs 1-lakh will be a hit: it's not the low cost but the car's green credentials. Let me explain.

5 minutes and 30 seconds into the video above Ratan Tata is asked about the several thousand dollar car. He says he thinks a cheap car could be done because he already makes a car for $4,000. So, this begs the question, is a $2,500 car really anything new? Below the fold is a video of Top Gear test driving the cheapest cars you can buy today. It includes economy cars from Kia and Hyundai that you can pick up for just over $10,000. The Kia and Hyundai cost much less to make but the $10,000 mark is crossed once you take into account (as Jeremy explains in the second video below the fold) the added costs of shipping, taxes, middle men, etc etc etc.

If the Rs1-lakh comes to the states, I expect it would be priced, at best, several thousand dollars below the $10,000 mark set by Kia and Hyundai. Breaking the $10,000 price ceiling for a car will be an achievement but by itself, I don't think price will be the game changer everyone imagines. You still have to pay for insurance, fuel costs, repairs, parking, etc and lets not forget something that Top Gear reminds us of in the videos below: economy cars really, really, really suck. Just because the Korean car makers are getting a little competition from India and prices might fall won't make people suddenly like economy cars.

Go below the fold to read why Rs 1-lakh is a game changer.

[Source: Google video, Economic Times, Business Standard, YouTube, Yahoo Autos]

I am not sure I can accuse the Jeep "Rock Me Gently" TV commercial in the video above of greenwashing because it's just so strange. The ad and website implies animals really like Jeep which, you could argue, implies Jeeps are good for the environment. It's also possible Jeep is saying, "we destroy the environment but we do it 'gently.'" What do you think? If you can't take just one minute of that 70's classic "Rock Me Gently," enjoy the musical stylings of Andy Kim singing the entire song below the fold.

Related:

• VW Bluemotion's print and TV ads
• Video: TV ad for Hydrogen 7 BMW
• Video: Toyota apologizes for Prius ad after it appears on Digg
• Video: odd Prius "Guzzle" TV commercial

[Source: YouTube]