German carmaker Mercedes-Benz has officially taken the covers off of its electric-powered SLS AMG E-CELL, a powerful luxury sports car that looks to bridge the gap between eco-friendly travel and performance. Powerful traction is provided by four synchronous electric motors with a combined peak output of 392 kW and a maximum torque of 880 Nm. The four compact electric motors each achieve a maximum rpm of 12,000/rpm and placed near the wheels. The results are astounding, with a 0-62mph time of 4 seconds, just narrowly missing the 3.8 time the SLS AMG gets with its 571-hp 6.3L V8 engine.

Press Release and images after the jump. (via egmCarTech) 

While PUMA is known for their forward-thinking footwear designs, not many envisioned them being the pioneers of the shoe box as well. Well, they’ve unveiled the “Clever Little Bag” shoe box design, which looks to bridge the gap between design and sustainability. The bag is designed by Yves Behar and was unveiled this week at the Design Museum in London, England. It doubles as a reusable bag for shoes and PUMA says using this will reduce paper consumption by 65 percent and carbon emissions by roughly 10 tons per year.

The Clever Little Bag is only a piece of PUMA’s overall environmental-sustainability-project puzzle. The company has set a goal to reduce the amount of energy and water used in company offices and factories by 25 percent, while also and cutting waste by the same percentage.

Video after the jump. 

The 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show isn’t until next month, but BMW’s letting some of its soon-to-be unveiled beauties out the bag. The 2010 ActiveHybrid 7 is fitted with a 4.4L V8 engine that has a max output of 440-hp and a peak torque of 475 lb-ft. When mated to a 3-phase synchronous electric motor, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7 produces a total of 455-hp with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft. Power is driven to the wheels via an 8-speed automatic transmission with the electric motor (powered by lithium-ion batteries) positioned between the engine and the torque converter.

Go 0-60 in 4.8 seconds with a top speed of 150mph, all while enjoying a 15 percent increase in fuel-economy over the 750i. Official EPA numbers as well pricing will be released closer to the release in Spring 2010.

More images after the jump. 

Loll Designs has give the classic Adironack Chair a go green makeover, crafting the refined piece completely out of recycled polyethylene. The material has unparalleled durability, as the team first used the same material to create skateboard parks. This material is fade-resistant, waterproof and maintenance free. It is Loll’s philosophy that “using green products should not mean you have to sacrifice anything; it should be better in every way than its non-eco-friendly counterpart.”

The chairs are available in an array of colors and are made in the USA, so don’t be hesitant when picking up yours for this weekend’s BBQ.

Buy It: $440 at DWR

The Sears Tower in Chicago is set to begin a massive overhaul that will run a bill of $350 million. The building is also going to be renamed Willis Tower and will be cutting electricity usage by 80% within four years. A 50 storey tower accompanying the Sears Tower from its south side also designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture is also scheduled for construction.

More images after the jump.

This week, Range Rover’s set to unveil the Liberty Electric Range Rover that will get 200 miles on one full charge.  Pretty good, right?  It’s been designed by a team out of Oxford and could hit dealerships by next year.  Pricing is looking at £95,000 to £125,000.  Hefty price for going green, but if you’ve got it, then why not, right?

Zero emissions and a whole lot of overall savings will definitely entice consumers into getting in the driver seat of one of these. Most electric cars on the market are much cheaper, but they also don’t get 200 miles on charge.

Performance and luxurious details are trademarks for Range Rover, and the Liberty Electric will not sacrifice neither.  It’s accepted to have “swift acceleration and a high top speed, while costing 80 percent less to run than a gasoline equivalent.

Other innovations include roof mounted solar panels, which will provide additional charge for the batteries as well as powering some of the car’s electrics while it is stopped. Some versions will also have technology designed to extend the car’s range even further.

Source: telegraph

California electric sports car-maker Tesla Motors has announced its plans to build a plant that will cost a whopping $250 million and be located in Silicon Valley.  The plant produce sedans that will hopefully hit the highways by 2010.

The Tesla Roadster has grabbed everyone’s attention, even California’s Governor, the Arnold.  The car’s got solid environmental credentials, and with the technological pioneering the brand resembles, we weren’t surprised that San Jose will be the place for its plant.

Tesla Chief Executive Ze’ev Drori said he expects manufacturing of the five-passenger, $60,000 Model S sedan to hit a rate of over 15,000 a year by the last quarter of 2011. Tesla will build the factory on its own.  They definitely have the capital to do so, with money coming from private equity financing of $100 million, the U.S. Department of Energy approving $150 million in loan guarantees, and California offering significant tax breaks.

Let the building begin, Tesla, so that we can push out 225 miles off one charge.  That’s pretty hefty, compared to the 40 miles the new Volt offers.  Boy, do we love competition.

Source:  Reuters