Category: Automotive

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Automotive

Snow Guard wraps around side mirrors for windshield snow protection

One of the things that makes winter detestable is the fact that the car has to be unburied and scraped when left outside. Snow Guard offers some freedom from all of that hassle. It is touted as being able to protect against snow, ice, frost and freezing rain. It’s made of a duel layer nylon coated material and a wireframe inner structure that creates easy installation, even in windy conditions. The side gloves protect side view mirrors from snow and ice. They also allow for automatic positioning on the windshield.

The quick installation and removal only takes about 30 seconds – way better than the 30 minutes or more that it can take to scrape off the ice from an ice storm. The similar iceScreen uses the same idea, covering a car using magnets, but has the added benefit of a reflective side for summertime. This is something the folks at Snow Guard would do well to consider adding to their own product. This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 by December 17, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $55 with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Automotive

Puffer Lite expands your car’s cupholder to fit Nalgene bottles

Perhaps it is every company’s dream to have a customer base so loyal that they would change their lifestyle rather than change products. That being said, those who love their Nalgene water bottle can now use it in the car and enjoy having it along when they are on the road. Puffer Lite is basically an adapter for a car cup holder that only holds a standard sized drink. It’s not entirely clear what the product is made of or what the circumference of the main piece is, but it does appear that an effort is being made to make certain that the cup holder fits all typical commercial cars, and a free 2.75″ and 3″ diameter sleeve will be available with the main piece just in case some backers have a more unusual make or model. This campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by December 3, 2014. Early bird backers get one product for $12, with an expected delivery of April 2015.

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Automotive

ArmRestor tackles distracted driving by keeping essentials close

We spend a lot of time in cars, but they’re not really designed for comfort. ArmRestor tries to change that by providing utility and comfort. The product fixes itself to an attachment that slides in between the window and weather stripping on the door. Coming in both beige and black, ArmRestor features a coin slot, space for general car accoutrements, a tissue dispenser and cup holder. For ease of use, the cup holder moves around and is even detachable so it’s not in the way. The top is lined with foam-filled leather for maximum comfort for your arm. In the campaign, the creators even claim that the rest is out of your line of sight so it won’t distract your from driving. Provided that the ArmRestor fits into your car, it doesn’t really seem to follow that someone would want to rest their left arm while driving. Usually, the right arm is reaching for stuff and adjusting the music so the left is always on the wheel. Still, interested backers can donate $36 for one by April 2015. This product is looking to raise $20,000 on Kickstarter.

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Automotive Connected Objects

Drivebot joins the car diagnostics club

It’s interesting to see the types of emotions we harbor towards the vehicles in our lives. We silently appreciate their hard and diligent work taking us where we need to go everyday until the day comes where they breaks down, where we then proceed to generate a maelstrom of foul language and intense hatred for forcing us to spend ridiculous sums of money to fix them.

Although having a car is heavy financial responsibility, with the Drivebot it doesn’t have to be so expensive. Billed as a Fitbit for your car, the Bluetooth-enabled dongle connects to your car’s On-Board Diagnostic II port and continuously monitors problems in their earliest stages before they become worse, ballooning in cost. It also helps by reminding you of maintenance requirements and analyzing your driving patterns to save you time, gas, and money. Onboard flash storage stores two months of trip data which can be exported as documents to claim taxes on, tacking on the savings. For $75, the Drivebot can be yours in February of 2015. The campaign is attempting to reach a $35,000 goal.

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Automotive

iGo-Air inflates tires with air from the exhaust

There’s little that can put a stop to four wheeling fun faster than a flat. And then there’s the hassle of changing it! That is, unless the owner happens to have iGo-Air for their ATV or UTV. Not only does the kit offer the necessary items to repair or plug the hole in the tire, but it also has a hose with one end made to connect to the tire valve, and the other to the exhaust, which means that compressed air is instantly provided to put air back into the repaired tire. It typically takes 10 or 15 seconds to fill the tire if there isn’t significant additional weight on the ATV or UTV. Seems like a great idea with the only downside being that the tire probably still has to be removed to patch it. Nevertheless, maybe iGo will consider making something like this for cars! This campaign seeks to raise $50,000 by November 30, 2014. Backers get one product for $25, with an expected delivery of December 2014.

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Automotive Kids/Babies

Twyce doubles up on car seats to bring along backseat buddies

There’s nothing like a strong woman who doesn’t want a larger vehicle to inspire her husband to get creative about how to tote a multitude of kids here, there and everywhere. That being said, Twyce would represent the classic myth that behind every man living in a peaceful household stands his persistent wife. Even so, multiple households with little ones that still need a booster seat for trips in the car will likely be grateful for these dual booster seats, made of organic, flame-retardant, washable, kid friendly materials. Twyce is also easily transferred between cars. Now if someone could just come up with something like Plexiglas dividers as a way to quench that timeless sibling argument about, “He touched me!” “Well, she touched me first!” But when they finally settle down and fall asleep as kids often do in the car, Ostrich Pillow might be a nice companion to Twyce. This campaign seeks to raise $650,000 CAD ($570,303.01 USD) by November 21, 2014. Early bird backers get one Twice for $130 CAD ($114.06 USD) with an expected delivery of May 2015.

Categories
Automotive Sensors/IoT

Car Footprints plugs in to automatically calculate deductible miles

Ask anyone that’s ever had to log their mileage for tax deductions and they’ll all say the same thing: the numbers they put on their taxes are usually just best estimations. Is it possible to protect oneself from an audit and still get the maximum deduction back?

With Car Footprints, it’s easy to get an accurate, easy mileage log for tax season. Connecting directly to the car’s ODB port, Car Footprints communicates via smartphone from the car to a service that tracks and logs all mileage driven to make calculating deductions even easier. Any driving for medical, business, or charity purposes can be deducted, adding up to an average of thousands of dollars per year.

Without using GPS services, Car Footprints is secure and doesn’t report any information other than mileage. Turning a step predicated on meticulous bookkeeping or pure guesswork and making it automatic will save professionals both time and money. The Car Footprints tracker and three months of service is available starting in March for $47, if inventor Ney Torres can raise $35,000.

Car Footprints may be a niche product only for those who deduct their driving miles, but for eliminating the headache tracking those miles creates, it should be a must-own product for those groups.

Categories
Automotive

BeeDry Mat covers your car seats from water, sand and snow

One of the biggest annoyances of daily life is keeping the car clean and odor free. If there are kids, a clean car is a near impossibility. One item that can help bring some sanity and sanitation to your car, even for a family constantly in motion, is BeeDry Mat. It seems to be the ultimate multitasking wonder where keeping the car clean is concerned; protecting car seats from sweat after that great workout, pet hair, the grime factor that comes with sport enthusiast kids and more. The mat is made of a water resistant, washable material but is still soft with a bit of extra cushioning for added comfort. It also has a convenient strap and simple plastic-looking locking mechanism so that it can be easily rolled up and stored behind the car headrest when not in use. The foam mat is supposed to be water-resistant, but whether or not a chemical is used to enhance that isn’t clearly stated. This campaign seeks to raise $15,000 by November 24, 2014. For $44, early bird backers get one product with an expected delivery of March 2015.

Categories
Automotive

IceScreen prevents your windshield from getting into a winter scrape

Winter sucks for many reasons, but a big one is the effect snow and ice have on your car. For those who need to park outside, scraping ice and brushing snow off of the windshield are a daily annoyance. In order to make this part of winter easier, the iceScreen magnetically attaches to your windshield overnight or during a snow storm. It covers the glass so that, when you’re ready, you can just whip it off and not have to scrub at your window. Made from super durable material, the iceScreen also folds up in a small bag that can be easily stored in the glove box. In the summer, just flip it over for sun reflection fun. One iceScreen goes for $20 on Kickstarter with a campaign goal of $20,000. This is one of those products that makes us wonder why no one had thought of it before. What an easy solution to ice hassle! The added perk of the sun reflector is nice too. All in all, a product that anyone who suffers through the four season will want to have.

Categories
Automotive

Stingray seeks to eradicate those little trees hanging off your rearview mirror

Many people enjoy using various aromas in their vehicle to keep the air fresh. But what if there were an air freshener device that would allow for variety at the press of a button and also helped people to stay healthier during cold and flu season?

Stingray is an air freshening device that uses various natural aromatizes to enhance respiratory health. It doesn’t require any special tools or skills to install, and is touted as having reliable fastening in any situation, even if one is into doing 4×4 truck shows in which one hits the ramps, goes airborne, and lands with a crowd pleasing, high wheeling thud (see video).  As for normal drivers, they may be more interested to know about having the option of four scents, which can be changed at any time of their choosing at the press of a button. The fragrances release every 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes, with an “extra” button that can be used at any time.  Stingray automatically shuts off when the car is turned off, and is hardy enough to withstand extremely cold temperatures. It also has two USB charging ports.

Stingray could be enjoyed by pretty much anyone who drives a vehicle. It would be nice to know what scents will be offered with the product, if they ever need to be replaced and where or how one would get the refills, but this is not clearly indicated. This campaign is seeking to raise $200,000 by November 14, 2014. For $69, early bird backers get one product.