TECH GETS PERSONAL: A glass mannequin wears a pair of Bowers & Wilkins P5 hi-fi stereo headphones on the floor of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week.
Image: Larry Greenemeier/Scientific American
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As in years past, this year's International Consumer Electronics Show filled the Las Vegas Convention Center and The Venetian hotel and casino with the latest in personal gadgetry as well as prototypes not quite ready for public consumption.
Scientific American presents a look at just a few of the thousands of consumer electronics featured at the 2011 CES.
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Add Commentunless there is no gasoline available anywhere at any price people will not buy an electric car. Sales will be limited to mall security and wildlife reservations.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI still await a dash mounted heads up display which would eliminate the need to look down,the cause of many accidents.It could also have built in radar that could show first yellow then red band across the top of the windshield warning the driver in any weather of up coming obstacle,with a verbal warning as well.It would of course have speed and all other auto functions as well.It could also have solar powered blind spot detectors that would mount to the rear view mirrors.sending a radio signal to the dashboard unit.This would be a all in one after market device.The lives that could be saved could be in the thousands.How about it,student's working toward an engineering degree,this could be your first great invention.If I had the smarts,time,and the money I would do it my self.I dare you to do it.And for a price under 1,000 dollars installed.It would sell like hotcakes if you will pardon the pun.Good luck to those who accept my dare.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYeah, I don't consider electric cars as gizmos. 6 of these 10 slides are on cars.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agree with the previous comment. These are not gizmos! We understand that "Scientific American: gets plenty of advertising dollars from "big oil", but spinning the thoughts on these vehicles in this manner just alienates your reading audience.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLatest news on Electric vehicles? Several areas are considering making designated toll roads for gas powered vehicles (electric vehicles would be exempt).
Parking lots would be free for electric vehicles. Gas vehicles will still pay normal price.
We look for more increased taxes on gas, to help pay for long term health care costs due to pollution.
Where are the solar powered charging stations for the batteries for these cars? Are the "newest electronics" from the stone age, or are they presented in such a way for protecting the financial interests that be?
Where are the solar charged swappable batteries for all of the electronic "gizmos"?
I agree. Thought this was on the Consumer Electronics Show, Not the Auto Show.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWith the "current" technology electric cars are going nowhere, or, in the case of the Telsa, nowhere really fast.
It's sort of fun watching all these VIPs (Very Intelligent People) spinning their wheels. Reminds one of the Edsel and the New Coke. Nothing can possibly go wrong go wrong gowrong gowronggowronggowronng.
What nonsense. "People" will, and are now, buying electric cars in various configurations: hybrid, all-electric, etc.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI get 40 miles per gallon and 400+ range per tank on my $20,000 Honda Insight. It handles and parks like a dream, it's a Honda (my 5th) and it's just what I want in view of the coming gas price explosion.
How can you speak for "people" and their buying habits? Obviouisly you don't know what you're talking about. What do you think the price of gas will be when 10,000,000 Chinese buy their first car?
What percentage of available energy is consumed by thermal management?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBobgeezer: You can get better mileage with a Jetta TDI, or any one of a number of small, high efficiency diesel vehicles available in Europe. Sadly, lifecycle costs of electrics and hybrids are still far to high to be practical, there is no supporting infrastructure, and if examined in toto, are not very green.
The EN-V looks like a duck. 40km/hr may be possible on flat roads, but what about hills? In 1980s Italy, there was an underpowered 500cc car that often got squashed just around the bend of mountain roads. They slowed down so much on the slope that they were nearly sitting still on the road when faster cars came roaring around the turn. Cars with only 500 cc engines were banned in Italy because of the hazards. 650 cc became the new minimum.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI expect these underpowered, underspeed vehicles to present a significant legal liability.
I think you may need to broaden your perception a little beyond what can be held in your hand and stared at. - Cars are beyond doubt a consumable product - and these cars are powered by electricity. Two obvious points that qualify them for inclusion.
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