The coolest green tech for 2016
There are no limits to the imagination at the Consumer Electronics Show, one of the world's largest gadgets fairs. Here are some of the most creative and interesting eco-friendly products set to take off this year.
Solar BBQ
The "GoSun Stove" is reminiscent of an electric grill - but it doesn't require electricity. The stove uses solar power, with the energy from solar panels used to heat pipes on the inside. The temperature get up to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit), which according to the manufacturer would allow you to cook an eight-person meal in one hour. Bon appétit!
Smart shower head
The new shower head developed by "Hydrao" makes it easier to save water: once you've used more than 50 liters, the shower head starts to glow, and records further water usage. And it does all that without batteries or an external power supply, because the necessary energy is generated through the flow of water.
E-(sports)car
It looks like a mix of Bat Mobile and racecar: the FFZERO1. The vehicle manufactured by the Faraday company is electronic, and currently just a vision for the future. It will be some time before someone can actually go for a whirl with these futuristic wheels - which would run emissions-free.
Miniature power plants
Charging your phone without an outlet nearby will be possible in the future thanks to "Jaq MyFC." The device, about as small as a regular smart phone, works like a mini-power plant: It tranforms salt, water and a metal oxide into hydrogen, which a fuel cell uses to generate electricity. This would make the smart phone user's desperate hunt for outlets a thing of the past.
Smart fridge saves food
Do we still have cheese in the fridge? And when does the milk expire? If these things only come to mind once you're already at the grocery store, the "family hub refrigerator" can help. It has a large display on the outside and a camera on the inside, which records images accessible via an app. A barcode scanner delivers expiration dates directly to your phone. This could help reduce food waste!
The first do-it-all coffeemaker
The coffee machine developed by Berlin start-up "Bonaverde" not only brews the coffee, it also grinds and roasts the beans. Owners of the coffeemakers buy the raw, green beans directly from a farmer listed by Bonaverde. That's good for the environment because no roasting plants are necessary, reducing transport routes.
Electric scooter
"Gogoro" e-scooters have so far mostly been seen in Taiwan. But now the two-wheelers are set to take on Europe as well. The distinguishing trait of the "Gogoro": instead of having to charge its batteries for several hours, the driver exchanges dead batteries for fully charged ones at special "Gogoro" changing stations.