In general, I’m a fan of the idea of slapping engines on things that weren’t designed for them. And motorized roller skates sure sound brilliant… The iShoes are slick looking and have some reasonably impressive specs: top speed of 15 mph, hand controller, 5-7 mile range on electric batteries, large wheels for high speed stability, and they only weigh 8 pounds each. But then you see the promo video:
It’s more than just silly looking, I think the only way you could make something less graceful would be to put a few pairs of these on a moose (c’mon, just picture it). I guess it makes sense since these iShoes are only a prototype and not yet ready for market (although they will be), but I’d definitely recommend all kinds of safety equipment and a mastery of the old and busted non-motorized versions before you try out these bad boys at top speed. Oh, and unfortunately, they’re only available in men’s 8-12 and women’s 7-10, and I wear a men’s 13. Damn my giant freak feet, damn them!
Car crash tests are not only fascinating to watch but they also help people select a safe vehicle and more importantly reinforce my theory that anything and everything looks cooler in slow motion. So after spending the last hour watching everything from BMWs to Jaguars getting smashed up I have to recommend checking out the Consumer Reports crash test theater if you’re in the need for a good time waster.
While not every car is posted as of yet there’s still a decent selection to choose from and the videos include both frontal offset and side impact tests in regular speed and slow motion. The site also lists the official Consumer Reports test results and scores for each of the crashed vehicles so if you’re in the market for a new ride this could be a good place to start looking.
With all the focus on our environment over the last few years, hybrid cars have become a viable and popular form of transportation. Those preferring an open air method of travel will like the hybrid scooter from Piaggio.
This scooter is rated for up to 140 MPG and is powered by Piaggio’s HyS system combining a hybrid combustion engine with an electric one. With normal operation the high-efficiency combustion engine charges the electric unit. The electric unit provides more power during starts.
Three scooter models will be equipped with this system, the Vespa LX, Piaggio X8 and the three-wheel MP3 pictured here. The HyS system will also allow the scooters to run in emission-free mode for up to 12 miles. Sorry guys, the leather clad hottie isn’t included.
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