Entrepreneur pushes idea of air-powered cars

NEW YORK - Most car companies are racing to bring electric vehicles to the market. But one startup is skipping the high-tech electronics, making cars whose energy source is pulled literally out of thin air.
Zero Pollution Motors is trying to bring a car to U.S. roads by early 2011 that's powered by a combination of compressed air and a small conventional engine.
ZPM Chief Executive Shiva Vencat said the ultimate goal is a price tag between $18,000 and $20,000, fuel economy equivalent to 100 miles per gallon and a tailpipe that emits nothing but air at low enough speeds.

The technology behind the "AirPod" car was developed by the French race car engineer Guy Negre, head of Motor Development International.

Renault created a Web TV intended for its customers' relationship with their car… (International)

Alike several car manufacturers such as BMW, Audi or even Peugeot, Renault has recently launched its own TV channel on the Internet. Renault’s two key concepts for this launch are “Inform and Entertain”. Accessible on Renault.tv website, this live TV channel has a French and English version; it is intended for all of the brand’s ongoing events. On the website, the manufacturer presents its products, news, reportages, activities, tryouts and motor sports. Considerable space is at women’s and men’s disposal with portraits of people who are passionate for the brand, interventions from Renault teams as well as its avid popular fans. The key aspect is the relationship people have with their car. With over half of its 2008 advertising investments focused on TV and nearly 15% on Internet, Renault’s objective is to focus on media with the highest impact: TV and Internet. “Renault TV” is a response to this strategy. It needs be pointed out that between 2007 and 2009, Renault has doubled its advertising investments on the Web.

"INNOVATION JUBILATION" 50+ new business ideas that defy doom and gloom

By now, virtually everyone has chimed in on how innovation is the only way out of the recession. So instead of adding more theory, let’s have a look at actual B2C innovations from recession-defying entrepreneurs and brands around the world.

Yes, we all agree that innovation is the only way out of the current mess that both mature and not-so-mature consumer societies find themselves in. We’re talking basically anything that will get consumers spending again, and preferably the kind of spending that involves sustainable goods, services and experiences.

There will never be a shortage of smart new ventures, brands, goods and services that deliver on consumers’ wants and needs. And if those wants and needs currently revolve around practicality, efficiency and responsibility, and less about traditional luxury, splurging and upgrading, then that’s what brands should deliver on.

Mini Club Man goes Viral

Fake viral makes it real!

Citroën allows Internet users to discover the C3 thanks to an Augmented Reality brochure. A premiere ! (France)

Citroën recently offered the possibility to drive a reduced model, with the first Augmented Reality iPhone application (combination of real-world and computer-generated data). For the launch of the last C3 model, the manufacturer introduced a new experience: discover the vehicle through a Reality Augmented brochure on the C3picasso.com website. The brochure contains 3 interactive pages that allows to discover the C3 Picasso in 3D. To be able to enjoy, some preparation is required: print the 3 pages of the catalogue in colour, download and launch the C3Picasso.exe program, then place the printed pages in front of the Webcam. The last page of the brochure offers the possibility to modify the body colour of the car in real-time. A making-of was made, presenting the modelling work of the 3D and the Reality Augmented experience. The website was made in full Flash. Besides this experience, the visitor can go through the different virtual rooms of a very high-tech house, discover the different universes of the vehicle in each room with a convenient 360° view, take a shower of colours in the bathroom and discover the events on the terrace.

The Peugeot WebTV is a success, with 2 Million advertising videos watched during the last 12 months! (France)

Last March, the Peugeot WebTV celebrated its first anniversary with stunning results: 2 Million videos watched since its creation, and a satisfaction rate of 70%. And to meet Internet users’ demand eager for sharing their passion for automobile, the Lion brand did not hesitate to create a new 2.0 version online (accessible through tv-fr.peugeot.com). Available, are an optimized high quality viewing and browsing as well as a section meant for current affairs, design, models and innovation. Even better, the brand has created a sports channel and an events channel that will broadcast the brand’s highlights during the 24H du Mans, and international fairs throughout the year. Peugeot’s WebTV was launched in March 2008. It offers Internet users the possibility of downloading the brand’s commercials to their own website or their community blog.
Hence, it is a mean for Peugeot to ensure repercussions at a low cost for videos with a significant spread potential. The spots are available via 4 channels: “Current Affairs”, “Products”, “Design” and “BlueLion” (spots on the brand’s environmental progress).

"SELLSUMERS" If saving is the New Spending, then Selling is the New Saving

A recession-induced need for cash, and an ever-growing infrastructure enabling individuals to act as (part-time) entrepreneurs, are fueling concepts that help ordinary consumers make money instead of just spending it.

Whether it’s selling their insights to corporations, hawking their creative output to fellow consumers, or renting out unused assets, consumers will increasingly become SELLSUMERS, too. Made possible by the online revolution’s great democratization of demand and supply, and further fueled by a global recession that leaves consumers strapped for cash, the SELLSUMERS phenomenon is yet another manifestation of the mega-trend that is 'consumer participation'.