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Architects design extravagant portable EVs solar-charging pavilion

Architects Synthetic Design + Architecture has designed a portable, solar-charging pavilion for electric vehicles using integrated photovoltaic cells. A beautiful, flowing form made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) mesh fabric incorporating the photovoltaic panels, allowing the pavilion to act as a charger. Designed to combine structure, form and performance, carbon rods are twisted into curves by the digitally-designed mesh contours.

Preview: Fisker Surf

Fisker has released the first image of its new Surf vehicle, set to debut at the 2011 Frankfurt motor show. Focusing on continuing with the company's philosophy, 'Pure Driving Passion' - the electric vehicle with extender range is said to be akin to the Fisker Karma sedan, but Fisker has intriguingly promised a new twist. Other than this and the sole image of the Surf, details of the car have been kept secret in the build-up to this year's Frankfurt motor show. CDN will be bringing you all the details and pictures from the show next week.

UK Car Insurance Company reports buyers downsizing

Swinton Insurance claim quote requests for bigger cars are down 20% Swinton say that it has seen an increase of 25% in quote requests for smaller engined cars in the last six months and a decrease of 20% in car insurance quotes for cars over 1.8 litres (which, short of the big-engined cars being scrapped begs the question: What’s happened to the big-engined cars? Did they just disappear, or are they just not being insured?). But this got us thinking.