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There are already lithium-ion batteries in some Toyota vehicles (the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, the RAV4 EV and the European Prius+, for example), but the company's standard bearer - the non-plug Prius hybrid - still relies on nickel metal hydride (NiMH) cells. But, the future belongs to li-ion, and that's why Toyota will soon increase its production of the higher-energy-density batteries sixfold with an eye to putting them into the Prius at an unspecified point in the future, according to the Nikkei.

The plan, the Nikkei says, is for Toyota and production partner Panasonic to build a new production line that will be able to make 200,000 li-ion batteries a year (why does that number sound so familiar?). The companies will spend about 20 billion yen (US $194 million) on the project. There's no way Toyota can put li-ion cells in all of its hybrids from that one line, though, since the company sells over a million hybrids a year.

Lithium-ion batteries are smaller, lighter and more energy dense than NiMH ones, but they're also more expensive. They are in widespread use in plug-in electric vehicles from a variety of auto manufacturers. Toyota is also working on future battery technologies, like solid state packs.

Toyota upping lithium-ion battery production 6x for introduction to Prius family originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 20 May 2013 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cisco has announced the results of a new global study which has found that half of the world’s consumers would trust a car that that can operate without a human driver. Cisco’s Customer Experience Report surveyed more than 1,500 consumers across 10 countries and focused on the automobile buying and driving experience. The global report examined consumer preferences of technology in the course of these experiences and overall levels of trust in future automotive innovation.

Read the rest of Half of the World’s Consumers Trust Autonomous Cars, According to a New Study

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Post tags: automated driving, autonomous car, car technology, Cisco, driverless car, green car, green transportation, innovative car technology

Read the rest of Fast-Growing Bamboo Clads Kengo Kuma’s Tranquil Garden Terrace Miyazaki Hotel

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Post tags: bamboo cladding, eco design, Garden Terrace Miyazaki Hotel, green design, green hotels in Japan, green materials, green wedding chapel in Japan, japanese architecture, Japanese design, Kengo Kuma, sustainable design, Sustainable Materials

We’re very happy to announce a new giveaway of two natural latex pillows courtesy of SleepOnLatex.com. If you’re looking for a comfy, natural latex pillow this is for you. For the purposes of our Tried and True Green Product Review SleepOnLatex.com gave us 2 free, natural latex foam pillows to test. Tough assignment. Well, we slept [...]

So far we’ve seen many examples of kitchen utensils being repurposed into customized, low-tech and eco-friendly objects, but these gorgeous colander light shades by New York-based designer Nadia Belalia bring a special steampunk sensibility. Inspired by the “abundance and rawness” of industrial material in the New York, she created the series of lighting fixtures which combine the strength of metal with soft oval forms. Belalia’s lamps are currently on display at this year’s ICFF in New York.


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Post tags: "lighting design", colander light shades, green design, icff nyc, Nadia Belalia lamps, new york design week, New York Design Week 2013, NY designers, recycled colander design, recycled design

Read the rest of HawkinsBrown Unveils New Green-Roofed Prefab Prep School in Kent, UK

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Post tags: Alpha Plus Group, breeam certification, BREEAM rating, green school design, Hawkins\Brown, Hilden Grange Prep School, Prefab school UK, redevelopment UK, school design, sustainable building materials, Sustainable buildings, Victorian buildings UK

When Inhabitat’s Architecture Editor,  Bridgette Meinhold, heard about the earthquake in Haiti in 2010 and the massive devastation it caused, she wanted to help, and was drawn to start investigating different options for temporary shelters and disaster relief housing. This exploration gradually broadened to a larger focus on design for disaster-preparedness; seeking out what type of shelters can best withstand earthquakes, hurricanes, rising sea levels and tornados. Now I’m thrilled to say that after years of research, Bridgette has just published an incredible new book entitled Urgent Architecture: 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World. Urgent Architecture showcases inspiring and innovative ideas for resilient design – design that will withstand the test of time – surviving climate change, rising sea levels, manmade and natural disasters. I recently had a chance to interview Bridgette about her new book at Inhabitat HQ in NYC, and she gave me some fascinating insight into her inspiration for the book, the impact climate change will have on future housing and what she believes is necessary to create a more sustainable and responsive built landscape. Watch the video above for the interview, and if you want to learn more, you can get your own copy of Urgent Architecture here.

A full transcript of the interview with pics is available after the jump.

Read the rest of INTERVIEW: With Bridgette Meinhold, Author of ‘Urgent Architecture’

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Post tags: "sustainable architecture", adaptable housing, book review, bridgette meinhold, bridgette meinhold interview, design for disaster preparedness, design to withstand disasters, disaster design, disaster housing, Eco Architecture, eco design, green architecture, green books, green design, inhabitat book review, Prefab Housing, resilient architecture, resilient design, sustainable design, urgent architecture

Photo via Shutterstock

A team of Norwegian research scientists has unveiled a concept that could see electricity stored on the seabed. Conceived by Subhydro AS, the underwater pumped hydroelectric power plant would use high water pressure to create energy that can then be stored for later use on shore.

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Post tags: energy storage, renewable energy, SINTEF, subhydro, Subhydro AS, tidal power, water pressure, wave power

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Fisker

It's hard to get sympathy when you have the funds to lay out north of $100,000 for a car, but for those Fisker Karma owners feeling blue, Hybrid Support Solutions (HSS) is there for you. For $3,995, of course.

Karma owners can pay $3,995 for a subscription that gives them a chance to get service consulting for a car whose maker is a little too busy with Congressional hearings (and, likely, a looming bankruptcy). This fee will allow personal repair help from HSS staff, up to and including battery replacement. Or, at least, information on battery replacement. "Parts and special operations are not covered but our time, advice, recommendations; access to our knowledge library and catalogs is available 24/7," HSS says on its website. HSS is also working on an "inexpensive tool" that will allow drivers to figure out what their Karmas are telling them via trouble codes and check engine lights. HSS says, "This will be an improved and more functional (and far less expensive) tool than the $4000.00 original manufacturer specified tool of which is no longer available."

We're not sure who's behind HSS, but we do know it's based in Long Beach, CA (Fisker Automotive is based in nearby Anaheim) and the website says it's the "original and only Karma support team" and boasts 10 "members that have the knowledge on the inner workings of the Karma" who "have been there since the beginning." So, perhaps, that knowledge library runs deep. We've included the HSS FAQ below.

Of course, Leo and the rest of the Karma owners, who are likely feeling the pinch of a crashing used-car market for the vehicles, could save themselves any plug-in trouble by ditching their electric powertrain altogether in favor of a VL Productions Destino, which pulls the powertrail out of the Karma and replaces it from a General Motors-made 556-horsepower V8.

Continue reading Mysterious Hybrid Support Solutions arises to support Fisker Karma, charges $4k for membership

Mysterious Hybrid Support Solutions arises to support Fisker Karma, charges $4k for membership originally appeared on Autoblog Green on Mon, 20 May 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As if the oceans are not struggling enough with climate change, pollution and overfishing, the United Nation’s International Seabed Authority (ISA)has issued 17 prospecting licenses for state and private companies eager to dig up the ocean floor. The ISA has published a report evaluating the impact that mining the sea bed to extract about mineral rich “nodules” amid “an unprecedented surge of interest,” according to The BBC. And they are frank to note that there will be “inevitable environmental consequences.”

Read the rest of UN Issues 17 Prospecting Licenses for Deep Sea Mining Across Three Oceans

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Post tags: deep sea mining, Environment, environmental destruction, gold rush of the sea, International Seabed Authority, ISA, Lockheed Martin mining, marine destruction, News, sea bed mining, United Nations