Just don't try to fly this 1934 contraption before reading all the fine print

Flying cars may seem to keep receding into that deliciously-imagined future, but this, one of the earliest prototypes, hails from 1934. It is now slated to go up on the auction block in Atlanta this coming weekend, according to Wired's Autopia.

Inventor Frank Skroback designed the 21-foot-long plane that includes six wings with seven-foot spans. As Autopia points out, that sounds a bit lacking when it comes to producing the necessary lift to get the beast off the ground. Maneuvering the plane ? car ? in the air might also present a problem with the relatively tiny vertical control surfaces.

The winning bidder would receive documentation on the invention from Red Baron's Antiques, such as the 1921 design patent and letters showing previous attempts to sell the contraption.

We previously covered a more modern "roadable aircraft" in the form of Terrafugia's Transition, which made its first successful flight back in March 2009. The four-wheeled, folding wing vehicle can fit in a garage while it's not roaming the roads or skies, and may represent one of the most practical, engineering-based attempts to bring a flying car -- I mean roadable aircraft -- to life.

That's not to say we don't enjoy our pie-in-the-sky visions, such as a DIY flying motorcycle that would put those kids from ET to shame. And perhaps the Pentagon's DARPA might spark someone's imagination by proposing a transforming VTOL vehicle. But here's our advice for the winning bidder on the Skroback invention -- consider keeping it on the ground.

[via Wired's Autopia]

It seems like every week there's a new scheme for making electric vehicles a reliable transportation option for the masses, but a team of South Koreans at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) today launched what may be one of the most feasible plans we've seen. The Online Electric Vehicle (OLEV) gathers power magnetically from electric strips buried below the road's surface as it travels, eliminating the need for long-term recharging.

The OLEV now in service in Seoul tows three passenger buses behind it, shuttling them around a preset route at a Seoul amusement park. Recharging strips were installed in four segments along the route, totaling about 400 meters of battery-restoring pavement. A receiver mounted on the bus's chassis picks up the current through a contact-free magnetic system that collects juice with 70 percent efficiency. That electricity powers the motor and recharges on-board batteries that kick in when the bus isn't near a charging area.

The beauty of the OLEV isn't just that it's electric, but that, because it charges while it's operating, it rarely needs long periods to recharge or huge batteries to store large quantities of power. KAIST researchers estimate that if the system is adapted to Seoul bus routes -- as it should be, if it passes muster during this amusement park trial run -- only 20 percent of the roadway on bus routes would need power strips installed. By installing the strips in places where buses idle, like bus stops and busy intersections, they can more or less run continually using nothing but electric power and can do so with a battery one-fifth the size of that on conventional electric vehicle.

That saves on both cost and passenger space, making the OLEV more efficient all around, and that's not even factoring in the cost savings of not having to wire entire bus routes to keep the vehicles powered. Further, once the city lays down enough electrically charged roadway, there's nothing to stop other vehicles from adopting the tech.

There's no set timeline for rolling out OLEV tech on city bus routes, but Seoul does plan to show off the technology by using OLEVs to bus around G20 delegates when the summit is held there in November.

Readers feeling jittery on their second or third cuppa might giggle at the concept of the Carpuccino, but few car owners will. The wacky UK invention comes in the form of a converted 1988 Volkswagen Scirocco that downs about 56 espressos per mile, the Daily Mail reports. That should only cost about 25 to 50 times the cost of running a car on gas.

The concept came out of the BBC1 science program called "Bang Goes the Theory," and will go on a 210-mile drive between Manchester and London that consumes about 11,760 espressos. But coffee aficionados shouldn't scream just yet -- the fuel comes from waste coffee grounds provided by a branch of Costa Coffee.

A top speed of about 60 mph won't save the UK crew from making pit stops to refill the tank every 30 to 45 miles. There's also the added task of cleaning out soot and tar from the car's "coffee filters" about every 60 miles.

This clearly won't win awards for greenest machine anytime soon, if ever. But as with many bizarre concepts, it's all in the name of science education. The car's gasification process might also work for equally tasty fuel such as walnut shells or agricultural waste.

Anyone in the UK with an itch to see this technological marvel (monstrosity?) can check out The Big Bang: UK Young Scientists' and Engineers' Fair from March 11 to 13 in Manchester. The coffee-powered episode of "Bang Goes the Theory" is set to run on BBC1 on May 3.

[via Daily Mail]

Electric vehicles (EVs) are seen as a key component in America's carbon-free energy diet of the future, and Ford is ready to step into the role of supplier. But before you putter down to the dealership in your gas guzzler with down payment in hand, take note: Ford's first mass-market foray into all-electric vehicles is the Transit Connect EV, a delivery van available later this year -- to large fleet customers only.

While a delivery van may lack the sexiness of a Tesla Roadster or the mass-consumer appeal of a sedan like the upcoming Chevy Volt, fleet vehicles are actually an ideal place for Ford to begin the shift to an alternatively-fueled future. Fleet vehicles rack up a lot of daily miles, often along preset routes that are not too terribly far from the motor pool, making range less of an issue and enabling easy charging regimens. And while the up-front cost is higher -- a possible deal-breaker for individual car buyers -- the operating cost is significantly cheaper, making EVs ideal for large commercial clients that can really see the benefits of reduced costs associated with maintaining large fleets.

The Transit Connect can fully charge in 6-8 hours on a 220-volt hook-up, and gets about 80 miles from a single charge. A 28 kilowatt lithium-ion battery mounts underneath the body, leaving 135 cubic feet of cargo space in the back. At peak the electric drivetrain churns out some 134 horsepower, which in turn gets the Transit Connect rolling at an unimpressive top speed of 75 miles per hour.

Which is perhaps another good reason for Ford to roll out its first EV only to fleet customers at first; the performance, while fine for a box van, might be underwhelming to those used to the brawn of American trucks and muscle cars. By getting the technology on the road, Ford can evaluate real-world performance before coming out to the larger consumer market, allowing the company time to tighten up any unforeseen problems and perhaps tweak overall performance in small ways.

In the meantime, the Transit Connect EV can seriously green up fleets across the country. Ford's current client list includes corporate behemoths like UPS that log countless road hours each day, so you can imagine the number of carbon-powered miles that could be saved over time if even a fraction of Ford's current clientele phases EVs into their fleets (are you taking notes, U.S. Postal Service?)

And if a 135-cubic-foot delivery van sounds like the perfect addition to your home garage or small business fleet, don't let the moratorium on non-fleet sales dampen your spirits; the Transit Connect EV will be available for individual purchase sometime next year.

[Autopia]

Smartphone-based systems that let you commandeer your car from across the country

THE TREND
Fly cross-country and forget to lock your car back in the parking lot? Now there's an app for that scenario.

WHY NOW
Many cars already have built-in computers with cell data chips and Bluetooth connections for linking to cellular phones. Fully integrating your app-rich smartphone and the cell-capable computer in your dashboard is the logical next step.

HOW YOU'LL BENEFIT
Use your phone to switch radio stations from the backseat or lock the doors, check engine status, or track stolen vehicles.

Mercedes Mbrace

Developed by Georgia-based Hughes Telematics, Mbrace allows you to use your iPhone or BlackBerry to find your car in a crowded lot, lock the doors from any distance (provided you have a cell signal), lead you to a nearby dealership, or track your car in case of theft. The app will get more features over time, starting with real-time traffic information. Mbrace is available on all Mercedes models.
mbusa.com/mbrace

Ford Sync

Ford's in-car system already links with phones and MP3 players to offer voice-activated access to music, contact lists and more, and this year Ford plans to let third-party developers create other SYNC programs. Engineers have worked with University of Michigan students on prototype iPhone apps, including one that streams Internet radio and another that sends GPS directions from a lead vehicle to several followers.
fordvehicles.com

GM OnStar

GM's telematics system and its human operators can already call an ambulance after a crash, among other things. With the arrival of the Chevy Volt later this year, OnStar will link to your smartphone as well, with an app for Droid, iPhone and BlackBerry phones that will help Volt owners track their car's battery-charging status, fuel-economy history and other functions. It will even send a text if you forget to plug in your car.
onstar.com