‘Green’ London black cab prototype unveiled

Two years ago we reported that London’s iconic black cabs would be getting a green makeover with a fleet to be fitted out with zero local emissions hydrogen fuel cell power systems in time for the Olympics in 2012. Now the first prototype fuel cell black cab has been unveiled. It is powered by hydrogen fuel system hybridized with lithium polymer batteries that allow the vehicle to operate for a full day without the need for refueling.

The prototype cab is capable of a top speed of over 80 mph (129 km/h), has a range of more than 250 miles (402 km), refuels in about five minutes and produces no emissions other than water vapor.

The first cab off the rank was unveiled at London’s City Hall by London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Chair of the London Hydrogen Partnership, Kit Malthouse.

“The black cab is a much loved London icon, but it is also a significant source of pollution especially in the center of the city," said Malthouse. "This prototype Fuel Cell Black Cab, which emits only water from its tailpipe, is an exciting glimpse of how hydrogen technology could soon play a vital role in cleaning up air quality for urban dwellers.”

The prototype black cab was a team effort, with Lotus Engineering packaging the full propulsion system including the fuel cell engine from Intelligent Energy and designing control systems to optimize performance of both the fuel cells and electric drive systems. TRW Conekt led the safety analysis program, including braking and steering systems, and London Taxis International Limited (LTI) provided donor vehicles to assist with the structural modifications to the chassis of the taxis.

The Intelligent Energy fuel cell system has been integrated into the most recent LTI TX4 model taxi, and fits into the vehicle without intrusion into its internal or luggage space.

The first fleet of fuel cell black cabs is due to be introduced in time for the London Olympics in 2012. Later this year, Transport for London will start operating five hydrogen-fuel cell buses, and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has committed to working with manufacturers to make all taxis operating in London zero tail-pipe emissions by 2020.

Sony announces PlayStation Plus, Move release details and 3D game lineup at E3

Looks like Sony has been saving up announcements for E3 with the company revealing a number of PlayStation-related nuggets at the annual computer and video game trade show in Los Angeles. The announcements include the details of a premium subscription service for the PlayStation Network (PSN) called PlayStation Plus, release details for Sony’s motion controller – the PlayStation Move – and a list of upcoming games, including 3D compatible titles, headed for the console.

PlayStation Plus

Sony has taken a leaf out of Microsoft’s book and will begin charging for a new premium service on the PSN. Sony says the service will include access to content including games, game add-ons, avatars and dynamic themes. Plus members will also get exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store content each month as well as early access to selected game beta trials and demos.

Full Game Trial The service will also allow members to try games before they buy. Full Game Trial allows users to download selected games in full and play them for a limited period of time before deciding whether to buy them. If they do decide to buy the game, progress and the trophies earned during the trial will be unlocked and saved so gamers can pick up from where they left off.

Automatic Downloads PlayStation Plus members will also be able to take advantage of a new Automatic Downloads feature that lets users set their PS3 to wake itself up and download demos and game and system software updates. This will allow users to take advantage of any off-peak quota their Internet plan may have.

Although it will be accessible on both PS3 and PSP systems, the service cannot be joined from a PSP and Full Game Trial and Automatic Download won’t be available on the handheld console.

The PlayStation Plus service will be available from June 29, 2010 and will cost US$17.99, 14.99 euro or GBP11.99 for 90 days access or US$49.99, 49.99 euro or GBP39.99 for a year’s subscription.

PlayStation Move

Sony also announced that its motion controller designed to get gamers to stop twiddling their thumbs and get off the couch will be available from September 15 in Europe and September 19 in North America. Sony is touting the Move as the world’s first 1:1 motion gaming platform and it looks set to beat the Xbox Kinect to store shelves by a couple of weeks.

There will be 16 dedicated Move titles available at launch with 40 more to arrive in the following months. PlayStation Move titles include Sports Champions, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, Time Crisis: Razing Storm and Toy Story 3: The Videogame.

Sony is offering the Move motion controller in a variety of options:

PlayStation Move motion controller – a standalone controller priced at US$49.99

PlayStation Move Bundle - includes a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera, Sports Champions Blu-ray game and PlayStation Move game demo disc for US$99.99

PlayStation 3 Sports Champion Move Bundle - an introductory package for PS3 newcomers that includes a PS3 system, a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera, Sports Champions Blu-ray game and PlayStation Move game demo disc for US$399.99.

Sony will also release a PlayStation Move “Shooting Attachment” – or in other words a gun. The attachment snaps directly onto a Move controller to form a light gun that can be used in upcoming games such as The Shoot! and Time Crisis: Razing Storm. 

Upcoming releases

Although Sony is pushing its PS3 as the device that does it all, it is still primarily viewed as a gaming console. So it was good to see a stack of new titles headed for the PS3 with a spotlight on 3D compatible titles. These include MotorStorm Apocalypse, Killzone 3, The Sly Raccoon Collection, Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat 9, Shaun White Skateboarding, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Tron 2: Evolution The Game and perennial upcoming release Gran Turismo 5.

Those who already have a 3D TV and can’t wait for these games to hit the shelves can head to the PlayStation Store and download the 3D Collection pack that includes 3D-enabled versions of PAIN, SuperStardust HD, WipEout HD (not including the Fury DLC) and a demo of MotorStorm Pacific Rift. Anyone who has already bought the games can upgrade them to 3D via a free patch.

The PS3 is capable of playing 3D games now, thanks to a previous firmware update, and 3D Blu-ray movie playback capability will be added via an update later this year.

Those without a 3D TV or a PlayStation Move controller haven’t been forgotten either. Upcoming titles include Twisted Metal, inFamous 2, Killzone 3, Mortal Kombat 9 and Metal Gear Solid: Rising on the PS3, and Invizimals: Shadow Zone, EyePet, God of War: Ghost of Sparta and Patapon 3 for the PSP.

And wouldn’t you know it. Most, if not all of these goodies Sony has teased us with at E3 will be available before Christmas.

Spyshots : Hyundai MPV (HED-5 Concept)

The Hyundai MPV which is based on the 2008 HED-5 Concept, is currently going through brake and cooling tests in the European Alps. The concept does appear to be a little bit more edgy (but what concept car isn’t) than the concealed production car our photographers spotted. Although it’s easy to see some key design elements such as the a-pillar and rear window line made it through to production. 

Our sources say this prototype is powered by the U-II 1.7 liter diesel engine which made its début in the ix35 (Europe) in 2009. It has 84 kW and 255 Nm of torque. It’s very likely that the so far unnamed Hyundai MPV will also make use of the 2.0-litre R-series turbo-diesel (135kW at 4,000 rpm and 392Nm of torque at 1,800-2,500rpm).

Spy Shots: Volkswagen Race Touareg 2

From what we can tell, it's the next iteration of the German manufacturer's successful Race Touareg 2 – the same diesel rally raid beast that has gone toe-to-toe with other competitors in the Paris-Dakar. From what we can tell, the next-gen racer will look nearly identical to the car that competed in the 2009 series, with a few subtle changes. 
The prototype our photographers spotted sports a snorkel for high-water crossings and a new brush guard – presumably for pushing obstacles from the Touareg's path and protecting its lightweight bodywork. Who knows what's under the hood, but considering the success the company has had with hits twin-turbo diesel I5, we wouldn't expect too much to change in terms of power delivery unless rule changes warrant it. VW has managed to increase the engine's power output by about 10-15 ponies each year, though, so it wouldn't surprise us to see the oil-burner top 300 horsepower for the first time. 

SCARAB Police Chase Assistant concept

You’ve gotta hand it to Industrial Design students. They have the youth and imagination to come up with some really intriguing ideas, along with the skills and tools to give us tantalizing glimpses of what those ideas might actually look like. Case in point: The Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design’s recent graduate Carl Archambeault, and his Scarab concept.

The Scarab would be an all-electric autonomous police chase assistance vehicle. It could either be stationed at the side of the road, in a check stop scenario, or it could presumably be towed behind a conventional police car. To use it, a police officer would first have to “tag” the fleeing vehicle with a handheld electronic device. The Scarab would then “lock on” to that vehicle, not unlike jet fighters already do with their targeting systems.

At that point, the officer could end his own pursuit, and leave the fast, light, nimble Scarab to chase down the other vehicle. It could navigate using onboard sensors and computers, although it could also be remotely-controlled if desired. The idea is that once the fugitive driver realized they couldn’t shake the thing, they would pull over. The Scarab would wait with their vehicle, until an officer showed up. Although Archambeault stipulates that it would not carry weapons, he says it could be equipped with an electromagnetic pulse generator, or other vehicle-disabling technology.