Cheer up, ladies, because Mitsubishi Electric is about to make your elevator ride substantially less awkward. Yesterday, the company unveiled plans to construct what it hopes will become the world’s fastest lifts, as part of a new project in China. The forthcoming set of elevators will be housed within the still-incomplete Shanghai Tower, where they’ll travel between the basement and 119th floor at a speed of 59 feet per second — a rate that would narrowly eclipse the current Guinness world record, which sits at about 55 feet per second. These elevators, of course, would be significantly slower if they were filled with vomit, which is why Mitsubishi will add active roller guides, vibration-dampening roof covers and pneumatic controls to make the ride a bit easier on the human body. Unfortunately, it’ll be a while before these flesh wagons enter the record books, as the Shanghai Tower likely won’t be completed until 2014. Willy Wonka, however, has already begun the appeals process. Elevate past the break for more information in the full press release.

[Image courtesy of AMC]

Continue reading Mitsubishi Electric to build world’s fastest elevator, usher in the death of small talk

Mitsubishi Electric to build world’s fastest elevator, usher in the death of small talk originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve seen ‘em as sketches and we’ve seen ‘em having fun on the snow, but now, after getting a few upgrades, they’re parked on the stage at Frankfurt. BMW rolled out its new i3 and i8 electric cars, part of a new sub-brand focused on efficiency and responsive driving — though it’ll ultimately be up to the driver to determine just how responsively these behave on the road.

The i3 is a pure electric, 150km range (about 100 miles) and a very lightweight construction of both aluminum and carbon fiber. The i8, meanwhile, is a plug-in hybrid that is said to deliver about 87MPG and yet still get from 0 – 60MPH in under five seconds. Spunky, then. It also sports those funky laser headlights that are both far more efficient and far more awesome sounding than current LED models. This is what they look like in the flesh, and if all goes according to plan you’ll be seeing them for yourselves when they enter production in 2013.

BMW i3 electric and i8 plug-in cars on display at Frankfurt originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cyclists have a lot to be proud of — what with their terrific gams, above average lung capacity and eco-friendly locomotive choice. But tech isn’t exactly an area that falls under their outdoors-y province, unless they’re sporting one of Silverback’s Starke bicycles. The line of city bikes offers up four models for the two-wheel enthusiast, but it’s the Starke 1 and 2 that’s caught our gadget-obsessed attention. Included in the head tube of either bike’s frame is a USB port powered by a hub dynamo that’ll play nicely with any of your low-voltage devices. If you’re looking for an electric motor-assisted cruise, you’ll have to opt for the Starke 1, but otherwise both nine-speeders share the same nickel alloy frame and weigh in at roughly 30lbs. Sound like your kind of 21st century ride? Then hit the source link below for your personal Tour de high-tech bikes.

Silverback’s Starke city bikes charge your gadgets, firm your thighs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Sep 2011 01:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Schneevis is at it again. The man who turned George W. Bush into a robotic Roman warrior has now developed something he calls the Solar Electric Robot Chariot. Showcased at this year’s Maker Faire Bay Area, Schneevis’ single-motor, bot-drawn carriage features a set of battery-juicing solar panels and an array of cameras that control its chauffeur’s mechanized movements. The bot, meanwhile, glides around on a pair of rollerblades and is designed to move its legs in the same way humans do — with the only difference being that humans don’t rollerblade anymore. Skate past the break to see the chariot coast around a parking lot with Mitchell Goosen-like grace.

Continue reading Solar-powered rollerblading robot carries you to work on a chariot of humiliation (video)

Solar-powered rollerblading robot carries you to work on a chariot of humiliation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 04 Sep 2011 07:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading Lightning Motorcycles risks neck for an extra 10 MPH on the Flying Banana

Lightning Motorcycles risks neck for an extra 10 MPH on the Flying Banana originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The US Postal Service just honored the IBM Selectric typewriter and some other icons of American design with their own postage stamps last month, and now Canada Post has gotten in on the act to recognize four key Canadian inventions. That includes the pacemaker, the electric oven, the electric wheelchair and one that’s considerably more recent: the BlackBerry. A bit of an ironic choice, perhaps, considering that it could also be seen as contributing to the decline of the postage stamp itself, but Canada Post acknowledges that the “invention freed information workers from their desks and changed the way the world communicates.” The company may be facing some tough times these days, but it’s hard to argue with that.

Canada Post issues BlackBerry stamp, for your less urgent BBMs originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:02:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think Geek’s Electric Guitar Bag holds your laptop, lets you ‘rock’ the commute originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Think Geek’s Electric Guitar Bag holds your laptop, lets you ‘rock’ the commute originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 06:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hey Leaf owners — that’s right, all 4,000 of you — it looks like Nissan took your complaints feedback to heart and is making a few standard additions its EV auto line. Prospective owners of the yet-to-be delivered 2012 models can look forward to the inclusion of a DC fast charge port that’ll have your roadster 80 percent juiced in under 30 minutes and some cold weather features — like heated seats and a battery warmer. The Japanese carmaker also announced plans to expand availability of the auto to Illinois and parts of the southeastern US, and will open reservations to the general public once existing orders are fulfilled. So that’s the good, now are you ready for the bad? These electric hatchbacks are getting a new, higher MSRP that takes the SV trim level model to $35,200 and the SL to $37,250. It’s an entirely reasonable price to pay for warm buns and, hey, you’re saving the planet.

Continue reading Nissan expands Leaf’s US availibility, makes seat warmers standard

Nissan expands Leaf’s US availibility, makes seat warmers standard originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 00:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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