New green cars
The next generation of eco-vehicles will be unveiled today at the 40th Tokyo Motor show.
Don’t bother with solar backpacks
Solar panels embedded in bags and briefcases, just don’t do a very good job yet.
Which battery?
The best battery and solar chargers for phones and households recommended.
Viscount Linley pumping rumour
Viscount Linley has been pumping his Strida to and from work. If only all the other Royals were as energetic!
Luciano Benetton’s eco-yacht
Preview of life aboard Luciano Benetton’s new yacht, which has won the first ever yachting green star for eco excellence at the Monaco Boat show.
Zero-carbon car
The Auto industry could perfectly well build a zero-carbon car tomorrow. Author Bill Kemp shows them how.
How to get free broadband
After the arrest of a man for piggybacking on a neighbor’s Internet broadband, we are compiling a list of all known “war surfing” hot-spots worldwide. All readers are invited to add to the list by going as quickly as possible to the Off-Grid forum.
Sustainable travel? Try walking.
Ethical, off-grid holidays walking the route Moses took. Details. The timing is right as a survey reveals 70% of holidaymakers prefer low-impact travel.
Beach huts on Albanian Riviera
Hurry – get your beach hut here A holiday on the Albanian Riviera may sound like Europe’s final frontier but a recent article by Benji
No-one killed the electric car
A new electric car aims to change the way cars are made, sold, owned, and driven, plus reinvent the economics of batteries and even the business model of the electric grid itself.
Commuter scooter
getting there If you commute to work in a city, then the scooters in our online store could be help take part of your life
Motorhome facts
The Motorhome facts web site has a listing of wild camping sites in Europe. Interview with its founder David Burley.
(Another) Long Way Round
Last week, Ewan McGregor announced his second motorcycle trip. He�s due to set off in the next couple of weeks � and this time the journey will take him from Edinburgh to Cape Town.
Grease me up
I started working toward converting my car to run on vegetable oil over a year ago. My 1992 Jetta can burn vegetable oil as well as regular diesel fuel; its engine is based on a design by Rudolph Diesel first shown in Paris in 1905, and slightly modified to run on a petroleum product we call diesel, rather than the peanut oil his engine originally used.
Mobile Homesteading
Documented mobile, school bus conversion so others can learn and duplicate thework. A 1991 GMC/Ward 66 Passenger School Bus is shown at the various stages of conversion, and all the steps taken to convert it into a rolling home are documented.
Wanna ride my electric car?
Edward Norton is impenetrable, says the London Times newspaper, quoting approvingly a line he was once allegedly overheard whispering to a lap-dancer in a bar: �I want you to come for a ride in my new electric car.� The London Daily Mirror reported this incident while Norton was still going out with Selma Hayek
Yurt-a-go-go
Living in a yurt, in the countryside, rent free? Nothing more than a daydream surely, or so I thought…..
Green places to stay
Alistair Sawday, organic hotels, green places to stay, Richard Hammond,
Wild camping leads to wild dumping
wild walking, scotland national parks, Scotland land access law,
Amazing Race winner to go live on a boat
Amazing Race, CBS, BJ Averell, Tyler Macniven, houseboat,
Bode Miller: Off-Grid role model
Bode Miller, raising kids, living in woods, Franconia, skiing champion,
Camper Van, motorhome, RV, what’s the difference?
Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, motorhome, campervan, RV, Static home, Park home,
Free Woody – Exclusive Interview
Woody Norris, air transport, Air Scooter, Long Range Acoustic Device, Sound Cannon, Seabourn Spirit, American Technology,
At last – Green Cars you could truly want
Toyota, Prius, lexus, RX400h, VW Phaeton, Saab BioPower, Venturi Fetish, G-Wiz, Spyker C8, Mercedes McLaren, Ford Escape,
Biofuel with the groceries
Tesco, biodiesel, biofuel, bioethanol, unleaded petrol, rapeseed oil,
Pamela Stephenson joins Boomer rush to sea
Pamela Stephenson, Billy Connolly, Mintel, Sea travel, early retirement, baby boomers,
Home Exchange Holidays
home exchange, house exchange, home swap, homelink international, intervac, house swap, life swap, free holiday, house exchange agreement, First Home Exchange Alliance,
Electric bikes, cars, buggies
Electric bikes, cars, buggies, electric vehicles, cheap travel, ecobike, powabyke, twike,
Ollie, row the boat ashore
Ollie Hicks, Allelujah With three sets of oars, two months’ worth of provisions and one seriously tricked-out rowboat, a 23-year-old British adventurer is behind schedule
White light-emitting diodes
white light-emitting diodes,white light, diodes, WLED, LED, Berkeley Lab, Environmental Energy Technologies, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, wick lantern,
Right to Roam the UK Wilderness
The Wilderness belongs to us now The Ramblers Association will be leading five huge guided walks next weekend to take advantage of new rights of
Is this a Wind-up?
Wind-up radio – rockin’ all over the world Surely you can’t buy a neat-looking AM, FM and short-wave radio/torch that works without battery or mains
PINK VOLKSWAGEN CARAVELLE
VOLKSWAGEN, CARAVELLE, VW CARAVELLE, VW, camper van, microbus,
Get the new Kumfy Kushn
Kumfy Kushn works in any position For an outdoor summer going to festivals, hiking, camping, or even sleeping in airports, the inflatable Kumfy Kushn is
Not the North Face There are a hundreds of traders selling fake North Face outdoor gear on E-bay. They will return the money if you
12 off-grid holiday locations
eco-resort, eco-tourism, ecotourism,ecotorismo, Australia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Barbados, Bolivia, New Zealand, Egypt, Canada, Sri Lanka, Green Globe, World Travel & Tourism Council,
Eating off the grid – book review
food, cooking, survival, outdoor stove, outdoor cooker,
The world’s best motorbike
At last- a hip electrobike Until now, electric scooters have been the poor relations of the two-wheeled world. They look bad, they go slow, and
Better off? The Brende family John Locke, whose philosophy influenced the US Constitution, introduced the notion of individual rights and individual property to its pre-eminent
Camping across Europe
Camp site in Slovenia Here is a quick guide to some good camp sites across Europe. Slovenia For a new destination with dramatic scenery, before
Jamie Oliver’s Camper Van Adventure
TV chef Jamie Oliver to go off-grid alone So it IS true. We broke the story TV chef Jamie Oliver ‘s production company denied —
Walk this way
Happy walking Here are some web sites on walking — where to walk, how to walk and who to walk with. We came across the
4×4 car rental in the UK
Let’s go off-road Want to explore the British countryside by car this weekend? Why not make it as adventurous as possible, and more fun, go
Auto pollutants, What can I do?
Terra Pass Decal So here’s the dilemma. You compost, you recycle, get off the grid when you can, maybe even bought a fuel efficient car,
Sleeping in Airports
sleepinginairports.net We have all had to do it at one time or another, and some do it out of choice. Sleepinginairports.net is an essential travel
Jamie Oliver to go off-grid
Jamie Oliver set to go off-grid Super-chef Jamie Oliver, whose new series about school dinners just launched on UK Channel 4, is preparing live off-grid
EVs PHEVs and Hybrids
Don McGrath’s Sparrow Welcome to the new age of Greener vehicles. Time was, electric vehicles were promoted as the zero emissions saviours of the future,
Convert your gas car to electric
Electric Car conversion Victor Tikhonov converted a Honda from gasoline to DC Electric. A few years later, he upgraded it to a AC Electric propulsion
Long Way Round
CHARLEY Boorman went off-grid with best friend Ewan McGregor but has not been able to find work since. Since the pair returned from their motorcycle
DARYL HANNAH: Eco Friendly Cars
Hollywood actress Daryl Hannah insists millions of people could follow her example and drive a car fueled by vegetable oil; they just need a diesel
Coolest Caravans
Shake off your prejudice and start looking for your tow bar; the chicest (and easiest) way to be independent comes in the form of the
Pod Life
Off-Grid loves any excuse to kick back and enjoy the view, and design team The Collaborators have made it possible to do that just about
Big ideas on the move
Gaining access to off-grid and green energy ideas couldn’t get any easier; the Green Energy Machine (GEM), from the National Energy Foundation will come to
Drive for free, on Used Veggie Oil
Christian drives for free, in his 1980 Mercedes Benz 300 TD. This diesel wagon was converted to run on vegetable oil, and is powered with
Careers at Halfords
Halfords make bikes, car, outdoors and workshop equipment and motorcycle accessories. They are always recruiting and have a website especially for that: www.halfordscareers.com. Roles range
The coolest trailers
Bicycle trailers are the solution if you’ve got children or are always carrying stuff around. These days, trailers are safe, sleek and practical. Here are
Cycle in the city — part 2
Original and fun new bikes were introduced at the London Cycle show last weekend. Among our favourite were a little electric bike and super stylish
Cycle in the city
The International Cycle Show 2004, London, is taking place right now, until the 26th Sept, at the Business Design Centre in Angel. Your chance to
Cycle in Alaska
Sockeye Cycle organise cycle trips around Southeast Alaska and Northern Canada. They provide bike and camping equipment, or indoor lodging facilities if you prefer.
Cycling routes and maps
Adventure Cycling Association make cycling routes and maps. Their researchers link together rural roads to create cyclist-friendly routes through North America. You can buy their
Clever child carriers
Baby carriers that turn into chairs; backpacks that turn into child carriers… having children is not a reason to stop hiking anymore, and here’s why:
NextGen camping stoves
Here are a few specimens of the new camping stove generation. They work in the wind, they love below-zero temperatures, weigh a few ounces and
Sports sandals
In the past couple of years, sports sandals have grown up, evolving from cousin of the flip-flop to globetrotting year-round shoe.
VW Camper alive in UK
Known as the Type 2, or “bay window” van (its predecessor had a beaky nose and split windscreen), it fell off the twig in Europe
Ultimate Camper-van
The Camper-van revolution is upon us. The RV is shaking off its image of snoring retirees and untethering itself from power supplies or campsites. Enter
Flat battery
We can send a man to the moon and computer power doubles every 12 months, but what the hell happened to batteries? They just are
Sail away
Sailing is a great way to escape, get back into shape physically and mentally, and just a great holiday. And you don’t have to know
Off-grid in Alaska
Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge is a self-built and self-sustainable retreat in between the mountain and the sea in Alaska, far away from everything and everyone
New caravan generation
New trendier designs are attracting a younger crowd into the caravan market. Caravan sales went through the roof last year when the UK became the
Gas barbecues
We all love barbecues. But what’s best, gas or charcoal? Gas barbecues are more eco-friendly than charcoal — they are more energy-efficient and release less
Uganda eco-retreat
Bushara is no ordinary holiday destination. This island on lake Bunyonyi in Uganda was turned into a sustainable eco-tourism facility in the late 90’s by
UK Camper van and motor-home rental
Camper vans and Motor-homes combine fun and freedom. Going to a festival, or just a nice cheap family holiday? Want to wake up to the
4WD rental in the UK
Want to explore the British countryside? Go off the beaten track with a four-wheel drive, but drive responsibly. There are all sorts of high-sided four-wheel
Gotta love that camper…
You’ve always wanted one Here’s what you need to buy the camper van of your dreams.
Australian Haven
Yerranderie is an ancient silver mining town turned into a peaceful off-grid retreat, at the heart of the Blue Mountains National Park in Australia. You
Camping Water Filters
No matter how beautiful and unspoilt the scenery, how clear and pure it might seem, water taken from streams or springs can contain bacteria our
Off-grid Holiday Farm
Even if you can’t live off-grid you can still unplug and go on holiday on an off-grid farm. Get the nitty-gritty off the grid experience,
Holiday on a Canal Boat
No qualifications are needed to cruise a canal boat, although you do need to learn a few basics before you leave.
Hi-tech Tents
New technology and new materials are making pop up tents lighter, stronger and easier to set up. Here’s an overview of the best expedition tents.
Please Make This!
If any manufacturers are reading this here are three products we would order if they existed. All are winners of 2004 Industrial Design Excellence Awards