Thursday, July 31, 2008

Andy Grove on American Energy Resilience

Andy Grove on Plug-in Hybrids

Monday, July 28, 2008

Volvo Recharge Electric Car At HiddenBuzz.com | Hidden Buzz Magazine

Volvo Recharge Electric Car At HiddenBuzz.com | Hidden Buzz Magazine: "Volvo’s Recharge Electric Vehicle is a 4 wheel drive (4 in-wheel electric drive!). Each wheel is actually a motor/generator."

Hippyshopper: The Energenie: take your life off standby

Hippyshopper: The Energenie: take your life off standby: "standby- busting gadget, the Energenie,"

Chrysler’s New Electric Brain Trust

Chrysler’s New Electric Brain Trust Takes on GM With Three Concepts: Live From the 2008 Detroit Auto Show (With Three Videos and Interview) - Popular Mechanics: "Chrysler’s New Electric Brain Trust Takes on GM With Three Concepts: Live From the 2008 Detroit Auto Show (With Three Videos and Interview)
DETROIT — When it comes to plug-in and alt-fuel cars, Chrysler isn’t going to let General Motors steal all the headlines this year like it did in 2007."

Inside Plug-in Car Lithium-Ion Battery Tech Race - Top 10 First Electric Vehicles - Popular Mechanics

Inside Plug-in Car Lithium-Ion Battery Tech Race - Top 10 First Electric Vehicles - Popular Mechanics: "Dodge ZEO"

Solar Structures, Solar Carports, Solar Outbuildings, LifePort Solar - Home

Solar Structures, Solar Carports, Solar Outbuildings, LifePort Solar - Home
If you want solar panels but don't have the right roof for it, here is an option.

Tata Motors developing electric car

Tata Motors developing electric car
"Tata Motors, whose wonder car Nano is eagerly awaited to hit the roads, is now developing an electric car, company Chairman Ratan Tata said today. The company is also developing an eco-car in Thailand"

MI Switch: Wild, Woolly and Plugged In | Plug-in Hybrid

EVWORLD FEATURE: MI Switch: Wild, Woolly and Plugged In: "Motive Industries' Switch plug-in hybrid concept car into a real-looking vehicle."

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Wireless power

Wireless power: "Your cellphone or laptop computer may soon recharge itself the same way it transfers information - wirelessly."

AFP: German auto makers get on board the electric bandwagon

AFP: German auto makers get on board the electric bandwagon:
"Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW -- all of Germany's biggest car makers now want to launch electric cars, getting on the environmentally friendly bandwagon after lagging behind their peers."

The Green Guide For Your Home

The Green Guide For Your Home

Making Older Houses Green

Making Older Houses Green

Future is nearly now for plug-in hybrids

Future is nearly now for plug-in hybrids
"Automakers, utility representatives and policy-makers will be talking when, not if, at Plug-in 2008"

Randy Pausch's Home Page

Randy Pausch's Home Page

Friday, July 25, 2008

Giant's Electric-Assist Bicycle: A Review

Giant's Electric-Assist Bicycle: A Review: "Twist Freedom DX from Taiwan’s Giant Bicycle, Inc., which augments every pedal stroke with a finely timed electric boost."

EVWORLD NEWSWIRE: The Answer is Blowing in the Wind, the Sun... and Electric Cars

EVWORLD NEWSWIRE: The Answer is Blowing in the Wind, the Sun... and Electric Cars: "The old world of burning hydrocarbons to generate energy and power automobiles is on the way out because it is being priced out of the market."

The Myth of SUV Safety Superiority

The Myth of SUV Safety Superiority: "SUVs are not safer than cars. Don't buy an SUV thinking it's the ultimate protection for your children, and don't buy one to insulate you from the dangers of winter driving, either."

SUV safety myth: children just as safe in cars

SUV safety myth: children just as safe in cars

Children No Safer in SUVs Than in Passenger Cars

Children No Safer in SUVs Than in Passenger Cars: "Researchers said the findings dispel the bigger-equals-safer myth that has helped fuel the growing popularity of SUVs among families."

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

The idiot's guide to pronouncing "nuclear" and other difficult words (satire)

The idiot's guide to pronouncing "nuclear" and other difficult words (satire):
"Nuclear. Note that there is no 'U' between the 'C' and the 'L.' That's an interesting clue to the correct pronunciation, and the more witty among us have figured out that it means the 'C' and 'L' should be pronounced together, as in the word, 'CLEAR.' Of course, if you're an idiot, you might pronounce 'CLEAR' as 'Cue-Ler' in which case your mental capacity is so seriously limited that you only qualify as a registered voter."

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Gore's plan is more than 100 percent feasible

Gore's plan is more than 100 percent feasible:
"We can do more than he calls for, but I would settle for Gore's objective"

Eyes on the Road - WSJ.com

Eyes on the Road - WSJ.com: "The only thing worse than the current situation, would be a sudden collapse in the price of oil. In the absence of incentives to pay the price for new technology, consumers could strand expensive electric vehicles on dealer lots."

Monday, July 21, 2008

French nuclear firm admits uranium leaks at two plants | Environment | The Guardian

French nuclear firm admits uranium leaks at two plants Environment The Guardian: "The French nuclear giant Areva yesterday confirmed there was a radioactive leak from a broken pipe at a nuclear fuel plant in south-eastern France, a week after a uranium spill at another of its plants polluted the local water supply."

New York Times calls it for the Volt over the Tesla Model S - AutoblogGreen

New York Times calls it for the Volt over the Tesla Model S - AutoblogGreen:

Altair Nanotechnology's Battery: Faster, Cooler, More Efficient | SolveClimate.com

Altair Nanotechnology's Battery: Faster, Cooler, More Efficient | SolveClimate.com: "Phoenix PEV Saga Continues

Phoenix Motorcars planned to sell 500 plug-in electric sport utility trucks (SUT) last year using Altairnano's battery. They even had 300 orders, but what they didn’t have was the money to build a production line.

Financing managed to arrive this year, so the new plan is to reach full production in 2009, with some vehicles delivered this year."

Al Gore Joins Call for Electric Cars

Plugs and Cars: Al Gore Joins Call for Electric Cars

Climate scepticism: The top 10

Climate scepticism: The top 10: "What are some of the reasons why 'climate sceptics' dispute the evidence that human activities such as industrial emissions of greenhouse gases and deforestation are bringing potentially dangerous changes to the Earth's climate?

As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) finalises its landmark report for 2007, we look at 10 of the arguments most often made against the IPCC consensus, and some of the counter-arguments made by scientists who agree with the IPCC."

California Clean-Car Mandate

California Clean-Car Mandate | Hydrogen Daily:
"former CIA Director R. James Woolsey testified at the CARB meeting on the wastefulness of diverting resources to hydrogen fuel-cell programs and the need to get plug-in cars on the road soon in order to reduce U.S. dependence on oil and to increase national security."

Democracy Now! | July 16, 2008 Streampage

Democracy Now! July 16, 2008 Streampage

Nuclear is NOT a climate change solution. See Video (3rd segment).

Energy Probe - The Nuclear Power Baseload Myth

Energy Probe - The Nuclear Power Baseload Myth:

"Specifically,there is a notion abroad that base load means 24/7 and, therefore, that base load stations are and must be unusually reliable stations.If anything, the contrary is closer to the truth.

Nuclear generators, indeed, produce base load power.They are subject to both planned and unplanned or forced outages, whichoccasionally last for years, and they are both technically and financially resistant to being dispatched for the grid's convenience.

As a result, their output, like base load power in general, is clearly much less valuable to the electricity grid and its customers than power from more reliable and more dispatchable sources, including, for example, coal, natural gas and peaking hydroelectricity.

A grid can in fact easily operate reliably with 100 percent flexible, reliable and dispatchable capacity, the kind of capacity we might call peaking capacity. But it is unlikely to survive for long with 100 percent inflexible, less reliable and non-dispatchable capacity, the capacity we generally call base load capacity."

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Democracy Now! | July 16, 2008 Streampage

Democracy Now! | July 16, 2008 Streampage

Al Gore Inches Toward Solartopia « Chrisy58’s Weblog

Al Gore Inches Toward Solartopia « Chrisy58’s Weblog

Stephen Colbert is priceless | Yahoo! Green

Stephen Colbert is priceless Yahoo! Green: "Check out Stephen Colbert on the EPA's decision to delay regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. It's hilarious."

Pininfarina electric car

The Hindu News Update Service: "Pininfarina plans to bring electric car in India

Hoshiarpur (Punjab) (PTI): Italian design house Pininfarina, known for designing Ferrari, today said it will introduce an electric car in the Indian market by 2014.

The company would launch an electric car, exclusively for the European market, by 2010. The designing of the car is currently being carried out in its Italian facility.

'After the launch of the electric car in the European market, it will be marketed in the US. Then we will evaluate the demand for the car from other markets too, including India, and will launch accordingly,' Pininfarina SpA Chairman and Managing Director Andrea Pininfarina told reporters here.

Asked when the car would hit the Indian roads, he said the company would introduce it in other countries, including India, after achieving a sales target of 15,000 units by 2014 in the European and US markets.

'It (the launch) can be before 2014 also. As soon as we achieve our target of selling 15,000 units of the electric car, we will evaluate other potential markets, including India,' Pininfarina said.

The car would be fully battery operated and would run 250 km in one charge, he added.

'The concept model of the electric car would be showcased in Paris Auto Show in September this year,' Pininfarina said.

The Italian firm h"

Ghosn Hedges Bets on Emissions - WSJ.com

Ghosn Hedges Bets on Emissions - WSJ.com:
"Nissan to Push
For Zero Emissions,
But Plans EREV Fallback"

Pickens and Gore

Pickens and Gore | Green Energy News

Hawaii Algae Biodiesel

HR BioPetroleum and Partners to Develop Algae Facility for Biodiesel on Maui | Green Energy News: "Hawaiian Electric Company and Maui Electric Company, will pursue the joint development of a commercial-scale microalgae facility on Maui to produce lipid oil for conversion to biodiesel..."

Detroit 2008: Dodge ZEO BEV concept live reveal - AutoblogGreen

Detroit 2008: Dodge ZEO BEV concept live reveal - AutoblogGreen

NICE to unveil the Ze-O at British International Motor Show - AutoblogGreen

NICE to unveil the Ze-O at British International Motor Show - AutoblogGreen
Family EV in the UK

NICE Super Light Electric Sport Car showcased at SMMT test day - AutoblogGreen

NICE Super Light Electric Sport Car showcased at SMMT test day - AutoblogGreen

Nozzle Rage

Nozzle Rage - Pain at the Pump - Getting Hosed

Newer Lithium Batteries Improve Electric Car Range - WSJ.com

Newer Lithium Batteries Improve Electric Car Range - WSJ.com: "Advances in lithium-ion battery technology will boost the range of electric vehicles to 400 kilometers (248 miles) by 2015"

Rocky Mountain Institute : RMI Solutions

Rocky Mountain Institute : RMI Solutions: "Solutions Journal", PHEV, V2G, Renewable Energy

Andy Grove: An Energy Policy We Can Stick To

Andy Grove: An Energy Policy We Can Stick To: "There is no issue more urgent. History shows a pattern of using access to energy to influence diplomatic outcomes, with events often escalating into violence. We must prevent this from happening to our country. National security as well as economic needs require that we urgently adopt a strategy to strengthen our energy resilience. The most practical and immediate way is to encourage the mass manufacture of vehicles ... so that they first run on electricity."

Peak Lithium or Lithium in Abundance?

Peak Lithium or Lithium in Abundance?:
"there are only around 14,7 million tonnes of lithium in brine deposits and around 1,6 million tonnes of the metal in ore deposits, totalling 16,3 million tonnes of lithium in the world."

The Science of the Emerging Lithium Economy

The Science of the Emerging Lithium Economy: Electric Cars | Lithium Ion Batteries |

Friday, July 18, 2008

We Can Solve It

We Can Solve It

Rumors Fly Concerning BMW All-Electric City Car | EcoGeek

Rumors Fly Concerning BMW All-Electric City Car | EcoGeek: "BMW's plans to create an all-electric, lithium-ion two-seater for the European and American market."

EcoGeek - Technology for the Environment

EcoGeek - Technology for the Environment: "The itty bitty Lumeneo Smera is in the works – an electric car that drives like a motorcycle. It seats two passengers in the super slim 35.5 inch wide cab, and is about 8 feet long with trunk space."

Will 2010 be the Year of the Green Car?

Will 2010 be the Year of the Green Car?

Amory Lovins on the Oil Endgame | EcoGeek

Amory Lovins on the Oil Endgame EcoGeek: "Amory's vision and optomism continues to be one of my driving forces, and it's great to see him on top of his (ultra nerdy) game in this video at the 2005 TED conference."

PHEV Video

Tampabays10.com Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater

We need a viable alternative to driving

We need a viable alternative to driving: "where other efforts failed, $4 gas is succeeding, and people in the region and around the country are shifting to public transit in record numbers"

Hog heaven, part 1 | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist

Hog heaven, part 1 | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist: "Increased offshore drilling does not substitute for national energy policy"

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Coal: Hemorrhaging American Jobs Since the 1980s | SolveClimate.com

Coal: Hemorrhaging American Jobs Since the 1980s | SolveClimate.com: "The US coal industry employs about 80,000 individuals -- and dropping.

Meanwhile, renewable energy, which provides just six percent of US electricity needs, employed 200,000 people directly in ’06, and another 246,000 indirectly. And that's just a sliver of the sector’s potential."

The Dawn of the Alternative Energy Age Report | Alternative Energy Stocks

The Dawn of the Alternative Energy Age Report | Alternative Energy Stocks: "“In the 20th century, mankind's massive material and financial progress were only made possible by the exploitation of oil. Oil was a main force in global geopolitics and the driving force behind unprecedented industrialization. Oil has been such a powerful lynch pin that it is hard to believe that its days of prominence may be waning. But as demand for oil steadily increases and reserves are consumed, oil is in the autumn of its life. In its place will increasingly emerge an array of alternative— non-fossil-fuel —energy technologies, both high tech and old tech. This is the dawn of the alternative energy age...”

Click here to access the entire report (PDF)"

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

GM to government: Don’t count on Volt, plug-in hybrids when setting mileage standards

GM to government: Don’t count on Volt, plug-in hybrids when setting mileage standards
"“For the purposes of the NHTSA rulemaking, GM’s game-changing EREV technology should be treated as a low-volume application during the time period under consideration,” the automaker said in a filing. “We strongly discourage NHTSA from applying either PHEV or EREV technology in any significant volume in its … model during the 2011-2015 timeframe.”"

Monday, July 14, 2008

10 Questions for SolarCity’s CEO « Earth2Tech

10 Questions for SolarCity’s CEO « Earth2Tech: "SolarCity’s founding mission was to make solar a more realistic option for everyone by making it as affordable and easy to use as electricity from the utility company."

Super-secret photo of Tesla Whitestar leaks out of San Carlos - AutoblogGreen

Super-secret photo of Tesla Whitestar leaks out of San Carlos - AutoblogGreen: "ou haven't figured out by now that this is a joke, you're clearly far too serious for you own good. Lighten up, relax, smile, enjoy life! I command"

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Plug In Cars | 500 Miles Per Gallon

Plug In Cars | 500 Miles Per Gallon: "'How does 500 mpg sound to you?'

With this disingenuous 'boxed' comment, former CIA director James Woolsey (now co-chair of the Committee on the Present Danger) drew a lot of eyes to his New Year's Eve op-ed on the pages of Saturday's Wall Street Journal."

Why You Should Embrace $4 Gasoline

Why You Should Embrace $4 Gasoline: "in our culture as deeply as gasoline will cling to the 'if-it-ain't-broke-why-fix-it' mentality until something, like higher prices, 'breaks' it."

In Pictures: America's Best Places For Alternative Energy - Forbes.com

In Pictures: America's Best Places For Alternative Energy - Forbes.com

MITSUBISHI MOTORS TO BEGIN RETAIL SALES OF ELECTRIC CAR IN 2009

MITSUBISHI MOTORS TO BEGIN RETAIL SALES OF ELECTRIC CAR IN 2009: "The automaker had initially planned to start leasing the minicar-based vehicle to businesses and municipalities next summer and to wait until 2010 for the retail launch. But it moved up the retail release in light of smoother-than-expected preparations for mass production and the favorable sales conditions created by runaway gasoline prices."

Electric dreams: Running on nothing

Electric dreams: Running on nothing:
"Electric cars have come of age. Not only are they easier to maintain but they also run cheaper, are now more powerful and, perhaps more importantly, run cleaner than their fossil-fuel counterparts."

Tesla Motors reveals plans for affordable, completely electric car

Tesla Motors reveals plans for affordable, completely electric car
"Tesla has recently announced that they’ll also be making that a reality. By 2010, they plan to have the $60,000 model out, and then use profits from that model to fund the production of the $30,000 model in 2012."

Solar Power to Reach Parity by 2015, New Study Claims

Solar Power to Reach Parity by 2015, New Study Claims
"The Utility Solar Assessment Study concludes that 2015 is the year where the practical and symbolic tipping point will be reached. Currently electricity from solar power costs 15-32 cents/kWh, is expected to decline to 8-18 cents/kWh by 2015, and continue falling to 4-8 cents/kWh by 2025, the report claims."

John McCain has something to learn about the electric car's history

John McCain has something to learn about the electric car's history:

"in March 1920, Steinmetz wrote: 'In general, in comparing the electric with the gasolene (sic) car, the advantages of the electric car are: 1) Very low cost of maintenance and repair; 2) Reliability and simplicity of operation and with the current gasoline prices, usually; 3) Lower cost of operation.

'The disadvantages of the electric car are: 1) Depending on a charging station or charging outfit; 2) Limited mileage of operation with a single charge and usually also; 3) Lower speed.'"

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Your City Council Could Save the World. Here's How

Your City Council Could Save the World. Here's How. | SolveClimate.com
"Compared to cutting-edge technologies -- nanotechnology, coal with carbon capture and sequestration, biomimicry -- building codes seem downright stodgy and, dare I say it?, boring.

Yet, much to the surprise of many, building codes are fast becoming the Titans in the battle against climate change."

500 electric Minis coming to California - AutoblogGreen

500 electric Minis coming to California - AutoblogGreen

Friday, July 11, 2008

Solar power becoming more cost effective - Portland Business Journal:

Solar power becoming more cost effective - Portland Business Journal::
"The U.S. could generate 10 percent of its electricity through solar sources by 2025, suggests a new study released by Clean Edge and Co-op America.

'As capital and fuel costs have doubled or tripled for coal, natural gas, and nuclear power over the past few years, solar power costs are coming down,' said Alisa Gravitz, executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Co-op America. 'For the first time in history, cost-competitive solar power is now within the planning horizon of every utility in the nation.'"

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Opus Comics, by Bloom County's Berkeley Breathed - Salon


Opus Comics, by Bloom County's Berkeley Breathed - Salon

Performance Update: Ten Speculations for 2008 | Alternative Energy Stocks

Performance Update: Ten Speculations for 2008 | Alternative Energy Stocks

We Can Solve It

We Can Solve It: "'In this time of $4 gasoline, I strongly support the transition to a clean energy economy. We need an economy powered by highly energy-efficient industries, based on modern infrastructure, and fueled by clean, renewable resources like wind, solar and geothermal energy. Our planet – and our wallets – can’t afford to wait.'"

POWER-SAVE 1200 - Save Energy, reduce electric bills, power save, save power, power-save, low electric bills, lower electric bill, lower, electric, bill, lower heating bill, 1200

POWER-SAVE 1200 - Save Energy, reduce electric bills, power save, save power, power-save, low electric bills, lower electric bill, lower, electric, bill, lower heating bill, 1200: "Residential customers throughout North America could see a realized savings of 8% - 10% typically and as much as 25% on their electrical usage (and thus power bills)."

Monday, July 7, 2008

Our Energy and Climate Predicament by the Numbers | SolveClimate.com

Our Energy and Climate Predicament by the Numbers | SolveClimate.com:
"The World's Biggest Appetite

The US is home to 4% of the world's population.

The US uses 1/4 of the world's oil.

The World's Thirstiest Cars

The average fuel economy of a car sold in the US in 1974 was 13.8 miles per gallon.

In 1989 it was 27.5 miles per gallon.

In 2008 it is 24.5 miles per gallon.

In 2020 it will be 35 miles per gallon.

In Europe today, it is 44 miles per gallon.

In 2012 it will be 48 miles per gallon."

Sunday, July 6, 2008

World's Biggest Solar Plant Goes Online in Germany | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 22.06.2008

World's Biggest Solar Plant Goes Online in Germany | Germany | Deutsche Welle | 22.06.2008

Power-Save Wind Turbine

Power-Save Wind Turbine: "The Power-Save Wind Turbine is the first wind power generator truly designed for residential applications."

AP Interview: Ex-Intel head pushes electric cars

AP Interview: Ex-Intel head pushes electric cars: "'The most important thing I would like to do is light that almost half-assumed truth up in neon lights: Electricity in transportation has to be done. It is urgent. It is important that everything else is secondary,' Grove said in a recent interview with The Associated Press."