milk *an advertising agency

Electric Ladyland – Renault Zoe Z.E. Electric

Looks like French automaker Renault is going to be at the forefront of EV (see our post on Better Place below), and from what we’re seeing, the company will be a major player. Its EV concepts are as fun as they are environmentally sound – and the Zoe Z.E. is no exception. The Zoe was designed with help from cosmetics manufacturer Biotherm. The car is targeted for men and women, but we’re pretty sure the ladies will appreciate the car’s looks and spa-like features such as an AC system that helps to keep your skin hydrated and an on-board toxicity sensor that closes the car’s air vents before free radicals destroy your healthy complexion. The Zoe also has an electric diffuser built into the climate control system that can emit essential oils from Biotherm. The car can be charged quickly and the solar cells that cover the roof provide an extra charge on sunny days. Ingenious. Check it out.

Plug and Play – BRAMMO Electric Motorcycle

There are many reasons to love what’s going on with the green movement, but to us one of the coolest is the wonderful design that’s coming out of it. Being responsible and sustainable doesn’t mean you have to be boring. Take the Enertia from BRAMMO. It’s a 100% electric motorcycle and it’s everything that’s right with green design. Not only is it 100% electric, the Enertia also has no clutch or gears so it’s incredibly easy to ride. Just don’t call the Enertia an electric scooter or bike. It’s very much a motorcycle minus the intimidation factor. It starts at about $8k and because it’s green there are tax credits as well. It's the Joe Sequenzia pick of the month. Check it out.

Power Player - Better Place

Not since the short life of the Saturn EV-1 has the promise of Electric Vehicles been so promising. Auto makers around the world are working on EV models and it will be a company like Better Place that will provide the infrastructure with "a network of charge spots, switch stations and systems which optimize the driving experience and minimize environmental impact and cost." Great concept. Great site. Be sure to look for Renault's Fluence EZ Concept. It's really exciting. Check it out.

The Road to Energy Independence?

How's this for the road to OZ? Solar Roadways was just awarded $100,000 by the Department of Energy to develop solar panels that can be embedded into roads. If widely adopted, the 12-by-12 foot panels help finally solve many of our energy problems. Skeptical? With the panels, a mile-long stretch of four lane highway could remove 500 homes from the power grid. Production is a long way off, but this is very exciting. Imagine a similar technology for converting the motion of sidewalk pedestrians into energy. It's a company like Solar Roadways that will make these things reality. Check it out.

New Danbury VW TV Coming Soon!

We're polishing up our latest TV commercial for Danbury Volkswagen. It will air this month during NFL telecasts and other select programming in the Connecticut area. If you didn't see our last Danbury VW spot, you can always catch it in the "Our Work" section of our site, or on the Danbury VW site, where you'll also find the best deals on a new V-dub. Check it out.

A Different Kind of Ending?

Back in college many eons ago this writer competed in the American Advertising Federation’s collegiate competitions. One year our case study was Saturn. The assignment was to pitch the brand to first-time car buyers. So our team learned everything we could about the fledgling brand. Quickly we learned there was nothing else like Saturn. They completely redid the math. It was, as Hal Riney and Partners so accurately penned, “A Different Kind of Company.” It became cult-like. Imagine that. It wasn’t a car like the Vette people worshiped – it was the entire brand; the same way people worship Mini today. Even the ads were great. They were honest, smart and quirky. It cemented my belief in my chosen career. Now it’s new owner Roger Penske’s turn to to revive the brand after GM starved it nearly to death. The racing legend and dealership king claims he he will be profitable from day one, something Saturn never was. Roger, start your engines. But please, don't forget about the power of the brand.

Reinventing the Wheel – The Honeycomb Tire

"There's all sorts of armor on (a military Humvee), but if you're running in the theater and get your tire shot out, what have you got? You've got a bunch of armor in the middle of a field." This is the insight behind the Honeycomb Tire, a non-pneumatic tire (no air required) that can survive an IED attack. Simply brilliant. Check it out.

Even Wes Craven Would Be Horrified

Though it was released in 2006, there isn’t a more relevant movie today than Who Killed the Electric Car? A top screenwriter on his best day couldn’t dream up a story of greed, fear and ineptitude like this one. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll mostly cry. Maybe the heads of GM, Ford and Chrysler can pop it in a DVD player as they road-trip back to Washington to beg for their handout. The Joe Sequenzia pick of the month. Check it out.