It takes up less space than a standard bicycle, and fits just about anywhere. Sadly, you have to be rich right now to own one since it will cost you $3,995(USD). If you have the money, it seems perfect for city living. If you want one, head on over to the BOXX product configurator now.

[via Redferret]

This is a high-speed rail train, so it’s not a MagLev train. This is good because this train will probably be operational soon, since it doesn’t require the costly and time-consuming buildout of MagLev tracks. Based on CSR’s CRH 380A, this train has been streamlined, uses lighter materials, and uses a lot more power in order to get over 300 mph. The standard CRH380 has a maximum drawing power of 9600 kilowatts, while this souped-up version can draw as much as 22,800 kilowatts.

There are several other competing high-speed trains being built, but since this train is basically a refinement of an existing platform, it might be produced a lot faster.

[China Daily via DVice]

It takes a longer time for me to get home or meet up with my friends, but really, it would probably take longer if I forced it by pedaling the whole way. Which brings me to why I think the Scoobike is a really neat design for a totally different and efficient way of getting around.

The Scoobike was designed by Ardhyaska Amy. It’s a scooter and bike in one, hence it’s name, Scoobike. Pedal away when you need to get someplace quick, or just scoot along and appreciate your surroundings if you have a bit more time in your hands. It’s equipped with pedal-powered LED lights as well so you won’t get lost or bump into something in your path.

[via Yanko Design]

These pics were snapped by Martin Blass over at BabeTech at this year’s Deutsche Case Mod Meisterschaft (DCMM) in Germany, and show a computer case that looks like it belongs on a model railway.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any details posted about the mod, other than the fact that it was made by Hungary’s Fresli János, and it’s called the “Nohab PC” – presumably named after this Diesel-Electric train. But that’s okay. The pictures say it all. It’s a computer inside of a train, and in my book, that’s way cooler than your average desktop PC.

Here’s another pic I found of the Nohab PC, where you can see that it even has little lights in the front of the train above the DVD tray.

And if you feel like sitting through an hour of yawn-inducing Hungarian, you can see a bit of Fresli’s mod work log here.

[via Case Mod Blog]

Michael Jelinek comes from the Czech Republic and he recently demonstrated his conceptual and rendering skills with these designs. He’s worked for Nike and Volkswagen, and has a knack for designing and imagining interesting vehicle concepts.

Some of these vehicles look like they’re straight out of science-fiction, while others, like the snowmobiles could feasibly already exist. I’d like to see how his pod-racers would work, because they look pretty darned dangerous. Check out the rest of Michael’s vehicle designs over at Coroflot.

[via Core77]

Less resistance allows the train to go much faster than a normal train can. While 150 MPH is fast, Japan has just approved a new maglev train route that is under construction now that will be able to hit a whopping 313 MPH. The train system and its required tunnels will cost 9 trillion yen (~$112 billion USD). Apparently, 60% of that massive budget is to make the tunnels needed to connect the three cities the lines will operate between.

The cities include Tokyo to Nagoya and Tokyo to Osaka. The first line will be finished in 2027 and the second in 2045. A lot of the route is already built, it’s the tunnels that will take so long to complete. The high speed of the train will cut the 317 mile trip from Tokyo to Osaka to just over an hour travel time.

[via Inhabitat]

Chris’ hoverbike uses two propellers that are powered by a 1,170cc 4-stroke engine to hover. Apparently, it’s spec’d to reach speeds up to 173mph and go up to 10,000 feet(!), in theory. That could be quite dangerous, don’t you think? It can hold enough fuel to allows its rider to fly up to 92 miles at a time. The frame is made out of kevlar that’s reinforced with carbon fiber. Both propellers turn in opposite directions, so the hoverbike doesn’t need a tail rotor to stop it from rotating.

The control look like something you’d find on a motorcycle. Chris hopes to go into production in about a year, and his hoverbikes will sell for around $40,000. It will be classified as an ultralight plane, so people will be able to fly without needing a pilot’s license.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

For now, the hoverbike is still a prototype and hasn’t undergone flight testing yet -having only been operated in a ground-tethered mode so far.

[via Gizmag]

The moving contraption gets around using a pair of motor-driven wheel rings, which surround a central seat for its driver. Because of this design, the seating compartment can move independently from the wheels. Top speed for EDWARD is about 25MPH, and its two-wheel design allows for it to spin on a dime. It also has a sophisticated control and vertical stabilization functionality that ensures the passenger stays parallel to the ground when activated. The driver can even drive upside-down (assuming they’re buckled in tightly.) Or as the creators put it EDWARD includes “inbuilt dynamic lateral stability and slosh control to prevent ‘gerbiling’ or tumbling in aggressive braking or acceleration maneuvers”. And we all know how important it is to prevent “gerbiling.” Yeesh.

But enough tech talk. Be sure to check out the video clip below to see the EDWARD in action. It sure looks like fun to drive, although it might induce just the slightest touch of nausea with all that rocking and spinning action when slosh control is deactivated.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Upside-down driving, FTW!

[via Fancy]

The McCar allows you to bypass walking or public transport and just zoom to your destination using the electric scooter that rolls out of the trunk. While this sounds pretty cool, the fact is that you could probably get the same result by using a Toyota Prius or Nissan Leaf and jamming a Segway inside.

The McCar will be available as a fully electric model, with a range of 93 miles, or a hybrid. The scooter can go 18 miles on a charge. Another option would be simply allowing to easily store a wheelchair or traditional electric scooter for people with limited mobility. A prototype of the McCar is currently on display at the Shanghai Motor Show.

For those of you who don’t already know, Geely is the Chinese company that now owns Volvo. I wonder what McDonald’s is going to say about the McCar?

[Born Rich via DVice]

The WheelSurf is powered by a 31-cc Honda GX31 4-stroke engine and has a top speed of about 25mph. The engine is connected to three small wheels, which in turn make contact with the outer frame where the huge solid rubber wheel is installed.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Looks fun to ride doesn’t it? It’s quite an expensive toy though, selling for almost $7,000 (USD), plus $800 to $1500 more for shipping. You can order one now at its official website.

[via Be Sportier]

The VeloMini bike has a driving range of up to ten miles and it folds up small enough to be taken in the trunk of a car or inside a home or office without getting in the way.

The little bike is battery-powered and has a 180W electric motor inside. It can hit speeds up to 12mph with an average rider without having to pedal.

At $995 (USD), the little bike is expensive, but electric bikes – like the Ultra Motor A2B – can cost as much as $2700 and more.

The M55 Hybrid Bike is a sweet bicycle that is made from a cast structure and is completely water resistant and serviceable. It has an electric motor that can push the bike along so the rider doesn’t have to pedal. The rider can pedal and get assistance from the electric motor for hills and such.

Power comes from 22 Tenergy battery cells that can be charged to 80% of full capacity in only 15 minutes. The battery is good for 1000 charge/discharge cycles.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

This has to be one of the coolest bikes ever made. If you want to be one of the first to own an M55, fill out the pre-order request form here.

It’s a cool concept and all, but this thing is geeky, big time geeky. It’s a strange looking bicycle with two baskets on it when in normal bike mode. Once you get to your destination, you can fold the bike into a shopping cart with two baskets. The design also has a small third wheel that pops out to make it more stable.

The folding is also supposed to make it so you don’t have to leave it outside where it could be stolen. That said, I’m not sure theft is going to be a big problem with a bike that looks as odd as this thing.

I wanted to make an Iron Man-themed Segway, but unfortunately crimson and gold were not among the colors being offered. If the color that you want is not in the options, you can still ask ColorWare to use it, as long as you know what it’s Pantone PMS number is, and you’re willing to pay an additional $250 (USD) for each custom color. Below is a video showing a all-red ColorWare Segway i2:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Since this service is for one model only, Segway i2 owners can send in their unit for customization for $1,500. You can also buy and customize a brand new Segway i2 from ColorWare for $7,500. Check out ColorWare’s website for more info. I’m amazed that people would be willing to pay that much for this thing. Next thing you know ColorWare’s selling customized (and overpriced) Toyota Priuses.

[via Engadget]

The elevators were made by Mitsubishi, and each one is about 12 feet wide, 9 feet long and 8.5 feet high. Now imagine every cubic inch of that space filled with sweaty businessmen, shoppers and screaming children. Almost makes you want to take the stairs doesn’t it?

[via Gizmag via Gizmodo]

This video puts the Dura in Dura Flash:

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And this one is the Flash part:

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Unlike flares, Dura Flash lights are reusable; their storage box doubles as a charger. Obviously they’ll work even on wet surfaces, and they’re not fire hazards. Unlike flares, however, Dura Flash lights are quite expensive: Southwest Pubic Safety is selling a pack of six for $180 (USD).

[via OhGizmo!]

The conversion process was quite impressive and the inside doesn’t look anything like a garbage truck anymore. OK, so it’s not really a garbage truck, it’s a UNICAT TerraCross all-terrain vehicle. It looks like a pretty swanky pad! A lot of storage and organization systems went into this creation, especially so his stuff doesn’t fly around while he’s driving around.

This is quite astounding. I’d never expect anyone to live in a truck like this. It’s kind of a sleeper RV, perfect for super-heroes and super-villains, able to go wherever you want. UNICAT does a bunch of custom trucks. I’m sure that you can find one that fits your fancy.

The idea is that to try and to live simpler by taking your home with you wherever you go. I also like the fact that they use all-terrain trucks, instead of a really expensive RV. I bet this thing would be zombie-proof too.  You can buy your own UNICAT truck if you want to try this for yourself.

[via Make:]

To ride in a pair of Chariot Skates, you place your foot in the stirrup and then strap your leg into the top half. Pushing your legs from side to side propels the oversize carbon fiber bicycle wheels, and a small wheel in the back provides added stability. While they’re not intended to go as fast as speed skates, they’re designed for cruising, and gain and maintain speed more quickly than rollerblades, and can also be maneuvered over rough terrain. You can even walk up and down stairs while in motion. Did you notice I said you, not I? The video clip below will give you a better idea of how they work.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

At this point, the makers of the Chariot Skates are still testing them out and making sure that you won’t kill yourself when you get a pair. Heck, they haven’t quite figured out a way to add mechanical brakes yet, so you’ll have to go with one of these more primitive stopping methods…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Expect the Chariot Skates to be released sometime in the first half of 2010 if all goes well. Pricing is still TBD, but I can pretty much guarantee you that the requisite helmet and knee-pads not included.

[via Likecool]

But wait, there’s more! With your iPhone’s Bluetooth you can connect to the wheels sensors with an iPhone app. The App will tell you your speed, direction, and distance traveled and will pull data from the Internet to inform you of traffic conditions, and even the smog levels around you. That’s a big plus if your already an avid biker and like to keep track of your daily trips.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

The Copenhagen Wheel is currently expected to be available some time next year with an estimated price range of $500 and $1,000 (USD).

[via Cnet]

The Cool Rider isn’t quite as schmancy as a Segway, but it still looks like a fun way to get around. The vehicle features a powerful single-wheel drive system that can pull you along the streets at a zippy clip.

The battery-powered motor can hit a top speed of 12 mph, and can run for about an hour per charge. The battery pack is removable too, and plugs into any wall outlet. The other unique thing about the Cool Rider is that you can detach the standing sled from the back and just use it to pull you on your skates or rollerblades.

While the $1250 (USD) retail price isn’t exactly pocket change, the Cool Rider does sell for about 1/4 the price of a Segway. Sold? Then head on over to Opulent Items and plunk down your credit card. While you mull it over, why not watch this Cool Rider video clip…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Gotcha.

BTW, Did you notice that none of the people in the photos are wearing a helmet or knee pads? I don’t know about you, but the whole thing looks just a little bit dangerous to me.  I’d have to bet these things aren’t street-legal anywhere around here.

[via 7Gadgets]