Gas Bag Vehicles
The old-timers on these pictures are not moving furniture or an oversized load. What can be seen on the roof is the fuel tank of the vehicle - a balloon filled with uncompressed gas.
cars
Interesting possibilities arise when you combine old technology with new knowledge and new materials, or when you apply old concepts and traditional knowledge to modern technology.
Technology has become the idol of our society, but technological progress is—more often than not—aimed at solving problems caused by earlier technical inventions.
There is a lot of potential in past and often forgotten knowledge and technologies when it comes to designing a sustainable society.
The Velomobile: High-tech Bike or Low-tech Car?
The human power required to achieve a speed of 30 km/h in a velomobile is only 79 watts, compared to 271 watts on a normal bicycle.
The Status Quo of Electric Cars: Better Batteries, Same Range
We don't need better batteries, we need better cars.
Wood Gas Vehicles: Firewood in the Fuel Tank
During the Second World War, almost every motorised vehicle in continental Europe was converted to use firewood.
Get Wired (Again): Trolleybuses and Trolleytrucks
Trolleybuses and trolleytrucks have all the advantages of electric cars -- and none of their drawbacks.
Who Killed the Electric Grid? Fast-charging Electric Cars
Fast recharging times generate lots of excitement, but what seems to be forgotten is that they can lead to a fabulous amount of peak demand.
The Citroen 2CV: Cleantech from the 1940s
In spite of all the high-tech that has been squeezed into cars, the 2CV from 1949 is still more energy efficient than the smallest Citroen today.