On Feb 22, the Editors of Club of Pioneers invited some amazing experts to present their ideas of mobility in the future. Watch our video clip of Heiko Johannsen from the Technical University (TU) in Berlin who presented his sustainable vehicle for urban transport: The Clever!

It was a great night for our community: Club of Pioneers celebrated a big party in Berlin and invited some amazing mobility experts: Watch our Videoclip to get an impression of the event, and see more of the fantastic mobility concepts like the Clever, the Ventomobil and the BMW Hydrogen 7... and share in our excitement that Club of Pioneers has been selected as of 365 landmarks around Germany chosen by the initiative Germany - Land of Ideas. Thank you, pioneers!!!We were also lucky to have a live crossing to pioneer Erik Schmitt, Louis Palmer and the Solartaxi in Australia. You can watch their video greeting here.

Invited by EnBW Al Gore gave his presentation about inconvenient truths on Tuesday night in Berlin. He emphasized ethical, moral and spiritual issues on one side and political issues on the other, and how we will have to confront and combat climate change.Here is a short version of his intro:If you want the full impact of his intro, watch the long uncut version in two parts:
Part I
Part II
Foto: Paramount

As this is our “Green Architecture” special, it's only fair to share with you some recent “Green” winners that have come to our attention.
The Royal Institute of British Architects announced the winner of the annual 2008 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture, “a gift of the Queen” on October 9th. The winner was Edward Cullinan, who is well known for his sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings. Cullinan was awarded for “his keen awareness of the natural environment, and his deep engagement with those who use and experience buildings.”

Archeolink Visitors Center
Low-Energy Grass-Roofed visitor centre, Aberdeenshire In Berlin, the annual “BUND - Friends of the Earth”
Environmental Awards were presented on October 22.
The three winners wereFor Industry and Innovation – Strato AG .
The second largest internet service provider, Strato AG is committed to renewable energy and energy saving strategies.For Environmental Engagement - “Aktionsbündnis Bäume am Landwehrkanall”
Roughly translated as the “Action Alliance for the Trees of the Landwehr canal”, this residence group campaigned to save 150 trees destined to be destroyed along the canal.For Children and Youth Prize - Carlos Green Papershop
An initiative from the students of the Carlo Schmidt High school that encouraged recycled and green products. Well Done!
Image from “Aktionsbündnis Bäume am Landwehrkanal”

Experience and explore another side to Berlin – from the water!
Solar Water World is the world’s first solar boat "gas" station and rental business. Club of Pioneers was lucky enough to take one of the boats out for a spin!
The Solar station glinting in the summer sunSolar Water World is owned and managed by Thomas Meyer who has been instrumental in the development of solar boats. Mr Meyer was also instrumental in establishing the Institute for solar shipbuilding. The Institute aims to demonstrate the feasibility and market relevance of solar shipbuilding.Mr Meyer envisages solar boat taxis transporting people in and around Berlin. Currently Mr Meyer’s operation in Berlin is obviously targeted at a small minority of the world’s citizens who have the capacity to support such a venture, however, he believes that his technology can contribute to the partial alleviation of global environmental concerns in developing countries. Solar Water World’s ultimate goal is for solar boating to become the norm on all water throughout the world. Currently he is establishing a relationship with the university in Taiwan.
The Club of Pioneers gets picked up at the Kopenick watersideThe boat trip on Müggel Lake allowed us to see the historical Köpenick old town juxtaposed against the modern architecture of the solar boat station. The electric motorboat is powered by solar energy. The emission-free and very quiet boat allowed us an undisturbed view of the local wildlife. Anyone can take a boat out as one doesn’t need a boat driving license for these boats! The boats are slow, but as 12 km/h is the maximum speed allowed on most of Berlin water ways, I must say, it is nice to have an excuse to slow down!
Anna gets behind the wheel
Out on the solar boat we explored the multifaceted south-eastern waterways of Berlin; from the glamorous waterside mansions, to industrial and derelict houses and family residences.
Some sights, like this ruin, can only be seen from the water

Other sights too can only happen here! This guy seems lostThe obvious question is - What happens if the sun goes behind a cloud? Fortunately the solar boats do not depend on the weather alone. Even if the sun doesn't shine, solar energy stored is stored in batteries on the boat.
The solar battery, hidden away yet ever ready!
We had a relaxing and fun day without feeling guilty as all this activity had a low impact on the environment! Although we were still able to tan in the boat, ironically there was always the shade under the roof of solar panels.At present 90% of the world’s goods are carried by sea and world trade is increasing all the time. Carbon dioxide emissions from shipping are double those of aviation and increasing at an alarming rate which will have a serious impact on global warming. Interestingly enough Carbon dioxide emissions from ships do not come under the Kyoto agreement or any proposed European legislation. Mr Meyer believes that commercial shipping running on solar power is viable. Given the enormous amount of unrecognized carbon dioxide emissions from shipping, the idea of commercial shipping running on solar power would be fantastic!Photos by Joni Taylor

Clever stands for Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transportation. Behind this abbreviation we see a moving concept for the urban individual mobility of the future. Clever was developed at the Technical University of Berlin with subsidies of the European Union. The aims of the constructing engineers was to create a car with a gasoline consumption of 2,5l and a weight not more than 400kg which equals half the heaviness of an average compact car. Two people find space to sit.

The Technical University of Berlin, Institute for Land and Sea Transport has developed the Clever Project with the help of partners, amongst them the BMW Group. The trike runs on a 20hp natural-gas engine constructed by BMW. It needs seven seconds to accelerate from 0 to 40 mph. The limit speed is 65 mph.

50 g/km CO2 emissions the clever car will emit. Most of the ways people go today within the city with their "normal" car could be done with the Clever as well but with the consequence of far less pollution. Engineers of the University of Bath designed a hydraulic system that prevents the car from possible turn overs. The cabin is made of fiberglass, which keeps the passengers warm in winter and takes the heat from them in summer time.

The constructors of the TU clearly see a market there. Within the next four years Clever shall be ready for the market they say. The estimated cost will be $13 000. In times where more and more people move to the cities space for cars becomes rare. Solutions that buy into the future of individual mobility like Clever deserve as much public attention as possible.
Find Clever in the PressFotos are taken from the official website www.clever-project.net

Berlin has a new trend, or better: the city slowly gets a new feel to it: it’s turning into little Hanoi! The concept of Vietnamese cuisine seems to fit right into the Berlin lifestyle for the time being – healthy, fresh and ecological. Most “Berliner” have chosen already their favourite Vietnamese place among hundreds in town. Freshness and health to go or sit - for sure to enjoy.
The new simplicity in food plays along with a new gardening trend: Bamboo (not to forget that bamboo is also used as ingredient in some Asian dishes). Whether it comes in a small-curled-stick-version for the trendy but small Berlin apartment, or as bamboo forests planted in hotel lobbies or city backyards – the Asian touch is omnipresent.
Rightly so: bamboo is not just a beautiful material but also one of the most efficient sustainable plants in the biosphere. It grows two times faster than a tree, releases 30 percent more oxygen into the atmosphere and recycles a huge quantity of CO2. No wonder, that even designers discovered the potential of the material.
Colourful salad servers
Ekobo, a French company, combines ecology and design within handmade home accessories derived from bamboo. Colourful and fun in design – Ekobo bowles and plates are way more than that. They are also life and work basis for several communities in Vietnam where the products are designed based on traditional craft methods.
That way Ekobo creates jobs in rural areas and prevents people’s migration to mega cities but also wins insights in and input from the artisans’ age-old savoir-faire in working. The result: “a contemporary design language based in their own heritage.”
Several stores and classy boutiques in Berlin jumped on the bamboo trend and put Ekobo designs on display. I expect even more to follow. And here is an idea to round up the Asian trend: Eat your favourite Vietnamese dish like a communal bowl of canh (a clear broth with vegetables and often meat) in an Ekobo bowl in the bamboo section of the Japanese garden in Berlin - or whereever you are at right now! Who needs to go to Hanoi to get the Asia feel?
Fotos: website