In Berlin this weekend, (apart from our own “The Editors Invite” event), there is also a trade show all about renewable energy. It’s called Solar Energy 2008 but includes everything from solar mobility to electric Go-Cart racing. Representatives from all sectors of the mobility area are included, including The Trike, Jetcar, The Eco Compact Car and of course the electric Go-Carts!
For a blast from the past, there is even the Electric VW from 1972!Need to work on the move? Or even better, do you want to work outside in the open air? The Greener Grass brought us this snazzy idea of a desk that can power you laptop using the sun’s rays. The Suntable stores the solar energy in a battery , which is then accessible with a power outlet on the side of the table itself.Image from The Greener Grass
London is going even further in trying to prove its green credentials. Ken Livingstone has proposed that owners of vehicles emitting 225 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre will have to pay £25 per day to drive through London. More at Treehugger.
On the other hand, I actually prefer Livingstone's plan to introduce shared urban biking. Although some have described their design as “grannyish”, I always like a sturdy basket on when I ride!
In other cities, where there is just not enough space for more cars, they are starting to build downwards. Dutch engineers have unveiled plans for a £1bn underground city beneath the canals of Amsterdam. The $1.5bn project, called AMFORA was proposed to address the lack of space and the high price of land in the city. It is being discussed with Amsterdam’s council, but construction work is unlikely to begin before 2018.

Image from Zwarts & Jansma
The results of the Greener Gadgets Conference has come out. The winner was the Enerjar , “an easy-to-build, DIY device that accurately measures the power draw of electrical appliances”. The designers were Matt Meshulam and Zach Dwiel. You can see more on Core 77.