The Nissan LEAF (Leading, Environmentally friendly, Affordable, Family car) is the newest electric vehicle to hit the market. Unlike the Prius, which is a hybrid vehicle utilizing both electric and an internal combustion engine, the Nissan LEAF is fully electric. It has zero emissions – which means no tail pipe is necessary and produces no harmful greenhouse gases. But it’s more than just a missing tailpipe that is raising some eyebrows.  Here are some common questions and misconceptions he has been getting regarding his new ride:

• How do you charge it? The Nissan LEAF is “fueled” through a home charging dock where you simply plug-in your car and re-charge the battery just as you would a cell phone, laptop or ipod. The LEAF can go from a 0% battery charge to 80% in 30 minutes!
• How fast can it go? The LEAF handles like a V6 and can go 90 mph. It has 100% torque right when you step on the pedal.
• How far can it go and will you run out of charge? The LEAF can run for up to 100 miles on a single charge. The car is equipped to warn you when the battery is getting low and will direct you to the nearest charging station. Ideally, in the future there will be charging similar to gas stations, where you could re-charge and go.
• Does it make noise? The LEAF will make a soft humming noise, but it is relatively quiet compared to a normal car.  
• How big is it? The LEAF has seating for 5 passengers and you can even fit your golf clubs in the trunk!
• Did you know…The LEAF can be remotely connected through a smart phone via the CARWINGS app. You can control climate, monitor battery, and start vehicle charging.
• To fully charge a LEAF the EPA estimates it will cost you ≈$2.75. That is less than a tank of gas! Add it up and the EPA estimates you will spend $561 annually to keep the LEAF charged where as gas at roughly $40 per fill up for a year could cost $2080!
• 60% of the plastic on the LEAF’s interior is already recycled material.

To find out more information please visit:

http://www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car/index#/leaf-electric-car/index

https://www.facebook.com/nissanleaf

Can you have any more fun than skulking around junkyards for salvageable stuff,and making money doing it? Enter a local fabrication company who specializes in the three R’s – reuse, repurpose and recycle.

They are refreshingly eco-centric across virtually every aspect of their business. So who is it? Down in the industrial district of Phoenix lies a fascinating workshop that transforms seemingly useless plastic, steel and aluminum discards into beautiful, dimensional signage, exhibits, kiosks and displays. For a perfect example, check out this utterly fabulous custom table made from recycled automotive parts for a PIR charity event. What guy wouldn’t want this treasure?

Detail Design & Fabrication (DD&F) works with architects, developers, retailers and others like Chase Field, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Cardinals, Pulte Homes, Phoenix International Raceway, Westcor, The Children’s Museum of Phoenix and many others to create custom display or signage needs of any type. Read the whole article here.

DD&F created this Xylonphone out of recycled autoparts

Children’s Museum of Phoenix Unveils Interactive Transportation-Themed Exhibit

Local design and fabrication studio brings kid-friendly workshop to life with countless moving pieces.

Tempe, Ariz. (June 25, 2008) – Detail Design and Fabrication, Inc. ( DD&F ), a local creative fabrication studio teamed up with the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to mastermind and install a highly interactive transportation-themed exhibit to capture the imagination and provide a variety of hands-on activities for curious youngsters. Located in the historic Monroe schoolhouse in downtown Phoenix, the museum opened to the public this month and caters to children up to age 10. “After scoring great feedback on the children’s themed environment we designed and installed at Chase Field last month, we wanted to ‘one up’ ourselves,” said Shad Bruce, president of DD&F. “This project
has stretched the imagination of an already clever and creative team. It absolutely makes you want to be a kid again.”

Ideas began flowing 14 months ago when DD&F was challenged to design, fabricate and implement the transportation-themed workshop for young children. The workshop features a three-level mezzanine with race tracks stemming from each level, a sprint car with moving engine parts that kids can touch and adjust, a vintage motorcycle with a removable tire, as well as various musical instruments made from real reclaimed car and shop parts. Kids will also be able to ride through the trike wash, which emulates an actual car wash with rotating and moving parts that resemble water hoses, brushes and air-dryers. Parents can kick back and relax on a full-size Chevy truck bed cut down, re-framed and repainted. “I remember, as a kid hanging out with my dad, being absolutely mesmerized by everything from sprockets, gaskets to engines. I think it’s safe to say most kids love cars. This is more than 1,200 square feet of kid-friendly interactive bliss,” said Bruce.

About Detail Design and Fabrication, Inc. ( DD&F )
DD&F specialties include innovative signage, interactive exhibits, kiosks, trade show booths, and all
aspects of 3D components for interior or exterior environments, such as retail centers, sales offices and
sports facilities. For more information, please visit their newly renovated website at www.ddandf.com.

Media contact:
Kelly Wood
KWPR Group
480-239-0109
kelly@kwprgroup.com

Our Master of Disaster (Shad Bruce) in action, testing this hand crank xylophone designed and created by DD&F as the prototype for Children’s Museum of Phoenix. This was a beginning of an amazing project and led us to many more ideas for the “Pit Stop”.

Random project photos taken in our studio during production:

detail design and fabrication, inc | ddandf | dd&f

Interactive Transportation-Themed “Pit Stop”
Exhibit for Kids Proves to be Irresistible

All kids love machines.  The more moving parts, the better!  That’s why Children’s Museum of Phoenix (CMOP) recently teamed up with Detail Design and Fabrication, Inc. ( DD&F ) to mastermind more than 1,200 square feet of kid-friendly interactive bliss for little visitors.

The creative juices began flowing on this exhibit in April 2007 when CMOP challenged DD&F to design, fabricate and install a transportation-themed workshop for young children.  The DD&F team, which happens to be comprised of some serious automobile fanatics, couldn’t pass up this opportunity.  They immediately began brainstorming and accessing their own childhood memories to sculpt the project and bring it to life in a BIG way.

The DD&F team wanted to produce an environment that was both a fun and stimulating space for visitors.  Their goals were simple, but challenging.  They wanted to construct a safe and inspiring setting for young children while creating unique ways in which to make it a learning environment that supports a child’s physical, emotional and social development.

The result was “The Pit Stop,” as the exhibit came to be called.  The exhibit is not only fun, but also challenges children intellectually as they have the opportunity to experiment with size, shape and weight.

Guests enter the three-level mezzanine workshop to find race tracks stemming from each level. Immersed in this “race experience,” children find a very brightly-colored environment with springs, gadgets, wheels, and more than 55 feet of the race track created using natural wood scale model cars.

The space is full of activity, such as a sprint car races with moving engine parts that kids can touch and adjust.  There is a vintage motorcycle with a removable tire and a variety of musical instruments made from actual reclaimed cars and real auto shop tools and trappings.

On another floor, children are able to ride through a “trike wash,” which emulates an actual carwash with rotating and moving parts that resemble water hoses, brushes and air-dryers.  And parents can watch their child’s excited reactions to all the moving parts as they kick back on a full-size Chevy truck bed that has been cut down, re-framed and repainted to create a seating area.

In addition to infusing this exhibit with plenty of “cool factor,” DD&F demonstrated its commitment to “reuse, recycle, and repurpose” by utilizing materials that could be pulled from auto junk yards and auto shops, cleaned and refurbished.

In fact, more than 2,800 pounds of junkyard steel was reused in this exhibit.  A vintage race car chassis was revitalized.  Scrap vintage tools were repurposed to create a xylophone and hand levers.  “The Pit Stop” exhibit also features over 550 square feet of recycled rubber flooring.

“Any visitor can see that the DD&F team enjoyed creating The Pit Stop. The ingenuity and attention to detail is phenomenal,” said Nancy Stice, director of exhibits for the Museum.

CMOP hosts visitors and locals from all around the Valley.  And DD&F is proud that for years to come children will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and revel in the joy of this interactive transportation-themed experience.

detail design and fabrication, inc. | ddandf | dd&f | creators of cool stuff