Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Recession Vacation: bike-pulled camper built from salvage]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/recession-vacation-bike-pulled-camper-built-from-salvage/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/recession-vacation-bike-pulled-camper-built-from-salvage/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/05/recession-vacation-bike-pulled-camper-built-from-salvage/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Paul Elkins in his homemade bike-pulled camper
Paul Elkins' homemade bike-towed camper - Click for hi-res gallery

Designed with an eye toward post-apocalyptic living, Paul Elkins whipped up this trailer to pull behind his bicycle at the Burning Man festival. It's 100 pounds of home away from home, built from aluminum tubing reclaimed from a satellite dish and skinned with the same type of plastic commonly used for political campaign signs. A card table and some wheelbarrow parts are also in the mix, following the idea of using what's on hand after a disaster.

While Elkins designed another version of this idea that's more suitable for road use, this rig looks pretty comfortable and well equipped. It harnesses the energy of the sun to charge batteries and dehydrate food - you'll be able to read a book at night while enjoying your own beef jerky recipe. Hot water for a shower is also provided courtesy of the sun. It's all pretty cozy, and it's way cheaper than an Airstream. Checking out Elkins' blog reveals plenty of ingenious projects that might give you something to do during the coming winter months.

Gallery: Homemade Bike Trailer

reclined-bed026_0a100_1975-1252034708100_1978-1252034709100_2404-1252034712

[Source: High Mileage Trikes via Neatorama]

Recession Vacation: bike-pulled camper built from salvage originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bike trailerBikeTrailerburningmanburningman2008campercamper trailerCamperTrailerfalsehomemade bike trailerhomemade camperHomemadeBikeTrailerHomemadeCamperreclaimedreclaimed materialsReclaimedMaterialsrecyclerecyclingscavengedSat, 05 Sep 2009 15:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Scrap the Rich: Bentley Continental is 85% recyclable]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/bentley-guarantees-continental-is-85-recyclable/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


Bentley Recycling Certificate - Click above to enlarge

Good news for all Bentley Continental owners who plan to recycle their ultra-expensive and luxurious automobile after the GT outlives its usefulness: Bentley now guarantees that the Continental line is 85% recyclable and 95% recoverable. In recognition of this achievement, the automaker has been awarded an official certificate from the German Motor Transport Authority. According to Dr. Arno Homburg, head of Whole Vehicle Development at Bentley Motors:
"Our environment policy is based on sustainable principles and we take a holistic view of the whole process. At the design stage we consider the environmental impact of all components over the entire life of the car. This is despite the fact that over 70% of all Bentleys ever produced are still in existence - our cars tend to end up as collectors' items rather than scrap."
We'd tend to agree it's unlikely that many Bentleys will find their way to the scrap-heap, but the recycling certificate means that if the unthinkable ever happens, the various bits of metal, plastic, glass and the like can be reused in any number of industries. Who knows, your old, unwanted Bentley could come back to life as the world's finest toaster oven... or a laptop computer, or perhaps some luggage.

Continue reading Scrap the Rich: Bentley Continental is 85% recyclable

Scrap the Rich: Bentley Continental is 85% recyclable originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 May 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley recyclableBentleyContinentalBentleyRecyclablecar recoverycar recyclingCarRecoveryCarRecyclingcontinental GTcontinental GTCContinentalGtContinentalGtcGerman Motor Transport AuthorityGermanMotorTransportAuthorityGMTAGT SpeedGTC SpeedGtcSpeedGtSpeedrecyclingscrappageFri, 15 May 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Drink beer the green way: From an old windshield]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/drink-beer-the-green-way-from-an-old-windshield/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/drink-beer-the-green-way-from-an-old-windshield/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/08/drink-beer-the-green-way-from-an-old-windshield/#commentsFiled under: ,

Now that it's all hip to be green, you may look at your hybrid car with its properly inflated tires and Love Earth bummer sticker and think "what else can I do to help the environment?" Turns out the answer is to drink beer out of recycled windshields turned into pint glasses. These glasses from Uncommon Goods are handmade in Colombia from old car windshields. The green tint that once protected your eyes from glare now protects your beer from harmful rays.

Sign CoastersNot a beer drinker? They also sell recycled windshield wine glasses. And of course, you'll want to protect your sustainable-wood coffee table with drink coasters made from recycled road signs. Then you can sit back and relax in your one-of-a-kind Speed Chair made from recycled speed limit signs.

[Source: Uncommon Goods]

Drink beer the green way: From an old windshield originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 08 May 2008 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive recyclingAutomotiveRecyclingbeerbeer glassesBeerGlassesrecycled road signsrecycled windshieldsRecycledRoadSignsRecycledWindshieldsrecyclingwindshield glassesWindshieldGlassesThu, 08 May 2008 11:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Recycled tires make Dad's baby bag easier to handle]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/recycled-tires-make-dads-baby-bag-easier-to-handle/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/recycled-tires-make-dads-baby-bag-easier-to-handle/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/12/07/recycled-tires-make-dads-baby-bag-easier-to-handle/#commentsFiled under: ,


Not all of us on the AB team have kids, but all of us know somebody who does. For the dad's in the group, toting around a diaper bag with duckies and bunnies is out of the question. Anything that screams of Mr. Mom is the last thing you want. Here's a bag we think you might be able to carry around with your machismo intact. It's made out of recycled tires, inner tubes, and HEMP!

Designed by Angela Greene for Richmond, Virginia based Passchal, the bag was inspired by a female customer who wanted a baby bag for her husband to use. "As I was designing it, I thought that the buckles, grommets, rivets gave it a Harley look," explained Greene to Reuters. The resulting "Dad's baby bag" is made from recycled inner tubes, trimmed with hemp, and features a battery-operated light to help find things inside.

Ken Kobrick, owner of Passchal, explained how the company uses old inner tubes from Virginia and other nearby states and then puts them through a thorough cleaning process, which is necessary when dealing with a product that will carry baby related items. The rubber spends three days soaking in cleansing solution to rid it of contaminants. The bag measures 16 x 11 x 5, is waterproof, has lots of extra pockets, a seatbelt-like strap and retails for $175. Act now and you might get in on the special holiday pricing of just $119.

[Source: Reuters]

Recycled tires make Dad's baby bag easier to handle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Angela GreeneAngelaGreeneautobloggreenHEMPKen KobrickKenKobrickPasschalrecyclingThu, 07 Dec 2006 15:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Westfield Sportscars gives old Miatas new lease on life]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/westfield-sportscars-gives-old-miatas-new-lease-on-life/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/westfield-sportscars-gives-old-miatas-new-lease-on-life/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/07/13/westfield-sportscars-gives-old-miatas-new-lease-on-life/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

End of Life Vehicle Regulations will become more stringent in the U.K. in January, and as a result some companies are finding creative ways to reuse those vehicles that were once thought destined for the scrap heap. Westfield Sportscars, a kit car manufacturer in the U.K., has developed a new kit that can transform one's rotting first generation Miata, which has always been known as the MX-5 in Europe, into a practically brand new two seat, open-top sports car.

The donor cars are usually unuseable in their current state because of decaying body panels, regardless of whether or not their running gear is fine. Westfield says it recycles as much of the MX-5 as possible into the new car, a claim substantiated by the wheels on the car that come straight off of the original.

The idea of recycling a car yourself rather than placing that burden on automakers could catch on if hot, little two-seat British sports cars are the end result. Due to the Miata's popularity with autocrossers and the success of the Spec Miata racing series, however, we doubt many of these iconic roadsters ever end up on the scrap heap.

[Source: Westfield Sportscars via Piston Heads

Westfield Sportscars gives old Miatas new lease on life originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Jul 2006 11:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>miatamx-5recyclerecyclingreusewestfield sportscarsWestfieldSportscarsThu, 13 Jul 2006 11:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Rebuilding your engine instead of buying a new car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/rebuilding-your-old-vehicle-instead-of-buying-a-new-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/rebuilding-your-old-vehicle-instead-of-buying-a-new-one/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/27/rebuilding-your-old-vehicle-instead-of-buying-a-new-one/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Your 1990 Ford or Honda or BMW has finally died or it feels that way from the repair bills. So should you start your new car shopping surfing the Internet or the good old newspaper?

Not so fast, say the Engine Repower Council (ERC) and the Car Care Council (CCC). According to both organizations, it may make more sense to rebuild your vehicle, especially if it's the engine that is giving you (and your bank account) fits.

"When a car or truck suffers major engine damage, often the first reaction of most consumers is to buy a new or used vehicle," says EPC chairman Rick Miller. "In some cases that might make sense, but often it's simply not necessary. And it's a very expensive proposition compared to re-powering your car or truck's worn out engine with a rebuilt/re-manufactured engine."

Besides long-term costs, the article discusses other advantages of rebuilt engines, many of which are at least as good if not better than the original ones due to better components, designs and materials. Rebuilt engines are also more environmentally friendly since they may use recycled parts, materials and have to comply with current pollution standards. Finally, rebuilt engines are usually backed by one-year warranties.

[Source: The Auto Channel]

Rebuilding your engine instead of buying a new car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Rebuilt/Manufactured enginesRecyclingUsed vehiclesMon, 27 Mar 2006 18:26:00 EST