The technique involves ‘painting’ glass with a mix of transparent, organic dyes which collect the income light and transport it towards the frame of the glass where photovoltaic cells convert it electricity.  Any light that makes it through the glass can be picked up by another set of solar cells behind the glass.

Engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say that the technology could be used to convert glass buildings into vast energy plants, potentially generating all their own electricity.

What’s more, the team say that the system is simple to manufacture and could be implemented within three years!

The graphic below shows how the system works.

Via BBC & Telegraph

The Tesla Roadster is the first of a new age of fully electric vehicles to reach commercial production and will hopefully be the first of many with other companies following the lead of Tesla Motors.

So what exactly does the Tesla have to offer?  Well below I’ve listed just a few of it’s main features:

• 100% electric
• 0 – 60 mph in 3.9 seconds
• 125 mph top speed
• 13,000 rpm redline
• 135 mpg equivalent
• 220 miles per charge
• Useful battery life of 100,00 miles
• Recharge time 3.5 hours

With a list of specs like that, it’s hard to believe it looks so good!  Unfortunately it’s only available in the USA currently and it has a price tag of around $100,000 but hopefully we’ll start to see similar vehicles appearing on in our market before long!