Chevrolet Volt: A sneak peek at GM's plug-in hybrid -- latimes.com: "Based on a national average of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, GM estimates it will cost about 80 cents per day to fully charge the Volt. In electric mode, that works out to about two cents per mile. A comparable gas-powered car would cost about 12 cents per mile to operate, according to GM's figures.
In any event, GM figures the Volt will average more than 100 miles per gallon for most consumers. 'I drove it for over 200 miles one weekend and used two-tenths of a gallon of gas,' Farah said."
Monday, November 30, 2009
Chevrolet Volt: A sneak peek at GM's plug-in hybrid -- latimes.com
Chevrolet Volt: A sneak peek at GM's plug-in hybrid -- latimes.com: "The Volt splits the difference between the greenness of an EV and the freedom of a gas-powered car. It will be the first such car to come to market."
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Project Get Ready » Houston, Texas
Project Get Ready » Houston, Texas: "On Tuesday November 17, 2009, The City of Houston, along with retail electricity provider Reliant Energy, launched their pilot program, “Power of the Plug-in.” This is a major step toward preparing Houston for future electric vehicles. “Power of the Plug-in” has converted 10 Toyota Prius to Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) by way of installation of a Hymotion battery pack. It is anticipated these vehicles will average 100 miles per gallon. The city is also installing 15 charging stations at various city facilities, 10 of which will be available to the public. Coulomb Technologies provided the charging stations for this project and charging will be at no cost to the consumer in the first year of the program.
houston1
“I applaud Houston for its electric vehicle initiative,” said Stephen Crolius, Senior Director, Transportation, Clinton Climate Initiative, a program of the William J. Clinton Foundation, “These tangible steps will position the city as a leader in the climate-friendly transportation sector.”
Future exploration of plug-in vehicles will continue this spring when the City will convert an additional 5 Prius to PHEV and install another 5 charging stations at various Houston Public Libraries in parking spots reserved for hybrid vehicles. Additionally, Houston is exploring a centralized downtown motor-pool fleet to consolidate individual department motor pools and reduce vehicle by more than 50%. Along with a web-based reservation system, Houston intends to purchase all-electric vehicles to stock the downtown pooled fleet, with the exception of some trucks, vans, and SUVs in the mix."
houston1
“I applaud Houston for its electric vehicle initiative,” said Stephen Crolius, Senior Director, Transportation, Clinton Climate Initiative, a program of the William J. Clinton Foundation, “These tangible steps will position the city as a leader in the climate-friendly transportation sector.”
Future exploration of plug-in vehicles will continue this spring when the City will convert an additional 5 Prius to PHEV and install another 5 charging stations at various Houston Public Libraries in parking spots reserved for hybrid vehicles. Additionally, Houston is exploring a centralized downtown motor-pool fleet to consolidate individual department motor pools and reduce vehicle by more than 50%. Along with a web-based reservation system, Houston intends to purchase all-electric vehicles to stock the downtown pooled fleet, with the exception of some trucks, vans, and SUVs in the mix."
UK to spend £30 million on EV Charging points — Autoblog Green
UK to spend £30 million on EV Charging points — Autoblog Green: "British Transport Secretary Andrew Adonis has announced that the UK will spend £30 million to install plug-in vehicle charging stations."
Ford Developing Smart Charging System with Help From DOE and Utility Companies - All Cars Electric
Ford Developing Smart Charging System with Help From DOE and Utility Companies - All Cars Electric: "Next year Ford will launch the BEV Transit Connect followed shortly thereafter by the Focus EV and a PHEV by 2012. With electric vehicles in the lineup, the company has been working on its own recharging system that is designed to talk with the nation's electrical grid.
The system was developed with the help of 10 utility companies, 2 research firms and the DOE. The system will soon see use on the test fleet of plug-in Ford Escape that have been on the roads for some time now.
According to Ford, the system allow the driver to program various settings such as when to recharge the vehicle, the length of time to recharge for, and enter in the local rate for recharging. The driver could program to charge the vehicle during off peak, low demand times only. This could save the driver a significant amount on electrical costs throughout the year."
The system was developed with the help of 10 utility companies, 2 research firms and the DOE. The system will soon see use on the test fleet of plug-in Ford Escape that have been on the roads for some time now.
According to Ford, the system allow the driver to program various settings such as when to recharge the vehicle, the length of time to recharge for, and enter in the local rate for recharging. The driver could program to charge the vehicle during off peak, low demand times only. This could save the driver a significant amount on electrical costs throughout the year."
GM CEO: electric cars require teamwork; hydrogen cars 10x more expensive than Volt — Autoblog Green
GM CEO: electric cars require teamwork; hydrogen cars 10x more expensive than Volt — Autoblog Green: "New GM CEO Fritz Henderson has some good words for his competitors. Surprised? It's all in an effort to make sure that plug-in vehicles get the help they need to become cost competitive. Henderson spoke with the Washington Post and said that costs are the big problem holding back electric cars. To bring costs down, he said:
The more companies that actually develop technologies around electric, the more the supply structure will develop, the better off we'll be. . . . We can't carry the load ourselves. GM can't. No way. We need to have more companies. We source most of these things. We don't do them. We're not in the chemistry business.
On the more comment-generating side of things, Henderson also discussed GM's current hydrogen vehicle status. He said that GM isn't putting as many resources into the H2 program as was before. Adding:
We spent through the mid part of this decade a reasonably high portion of our research and our development money on hydrogen fuel cells. We put 100 vehicles into the market. Consumers have tested them . . . We've learned a lot. The vehicles work. The issue is always cost, 100 percent cost. It's still a ways away from commercialization. No question.
Finally, some numbers. Henderson said the Volt will likely cost around $40,000 while a hydrogen vehicle would cost around $400,000. So, comment much?
[Source: Washington Post]"
The more companies that actually develop technologies around electric, the more the supply structure will develop, the better off we'll be. . . . We can't carry the load ourselves. GM can't. No way. We need to have more companies. We source most of these things. We don't do them. We're not in the chemistry business.
On the more comment-generating side of things, Henderson also discussed GM's current hydrogen vehicle status. He said that GM isn't putting as many resources into the H2 program as was before. Adding:
We spent through the mid part of this decade a reasonably high portion of our research and our development money on hydrogen fuel cells. We put 100 vehicles into the market. Consumers have tested them . . . We've learned a lot. The vehicles work. The issue is always cost, 100 percent cost. It's still a ways away from commercialization. No question.
Finally, some numbers. Henderson said the Volt will likely cost around $40,000 while a hydrogen vehicle would cost around $400,000. So, comment much?
[Source: Washington Post]"
Friday, November 27, 2009
It's Friday: Swedish automatic PHEV charging prod gets a big WTF? from us [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog Green
It's Friday: Swedish automatic PHEV charging prod gets a big WTF? from us [w/VIDEO] — Autoblog Green: "Is it too harsh to say that the Trinnovator is a solution without a problem? At the very least, we don't think that a flexible, extendable prod coming out of the front bumper of a plug-in car and creepily finding its way into a grid of receptacles is the best way to recharge a vehicle. This is the method that the Swedish team behind the Trinnovator has come up with to make getting electrons into a PHEV or BEV somewhat automatic. It's kind of hard to explain, so we recommend just watching the video pasted after the jump.
A few immediate thoughts: real-life implementation of this system seems needlessly complicated. The receptacle grids would also have to be much wider (and maybe taller for trucks and SUVs) and installed all over the place – regular plugs make more sense, no? Plus, shouldn't there be prods on the back of the car, too? And what about parallel parking spots? We've used plug-in cars and it's really not that difficult to remember to plug in every night. If we're going to have automatic and easy recharging, we want to see wireless/witricity get real. Thanks to Anders J. for the tip! Watch the video"
A few immediate thoughts: real-life implementation of this system seems needlessly complicated. The receptacle grids would also have to be much wider (and maybe taller for trucks and SUVs) and installed all over the place – regular plugs make more sense, no? Plus, shouldn't there be prods on the back of the car, too? And what about parallel parking spots? We've used plug-in cars and it's really not that difficult to remember to plug in every night. If we're going to have automatic and easy recharging, we want to see wireless/witricity get real. Thanks to Anders J. for the tip! Watch the video"
Green Car Congress: Nissan Leases First Fuel Cell Vehicle in North America
Green Car Congress: Nissan Leases First Fuel Cell Vehicle in North America: "Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) has leased an X-TRAIL Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) to Sacramento (California) Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc. Nissan, which began development of fuel cell vehicle technology in 1996, has previously used FCVs in demonstration fleets in Japan and in California through the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), but this is Nissan’s first commercial FCV lease in North America. (Earlier post.) The Sacramento Coca-Cola lease is for one year, with an option for two additional years.
The X-TRAIL FCV is being used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero soft drink. Sacramento-based Nissan X-TRAIL FCVs have already logged nearly 300,000 miles in ongoing internal tests, with one vehicle very close to the 100,000-mile mark.
The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the X-TRAIL SUV, which is available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. It is fitted with a Nissan-developed 90 kW compact fuel cell stack, a compact Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour, with a cruising range of up to 300 miles."
The X-TRAIL FCV is being used by the bottler for sales calls and public events in the Sacramento area in promotion of its Coca-Cola Zero soft drink. Sacramento-based Nissan X-TRAIL FCVs have already logged nearly 300,000 miles in ongoing internal tests, with one vehicle very close to the 100,000-mile mark.
The Nissan X-TRAIL FCV is based on the X-TRAIL SUV, which is available in Mexico, Japan and Europe. It is fitted with a Nissan-developed 90 kW compact fuel cell stack, a compact Lithium-ion battery and a high-pressure hydrogen storage cylinder. Performance is close to that of a similarly sized internal combustion engine-based vehicle. Versions of this generation X-TRAIL FCV are capable of speeds in excess of 95 miles per hour, with a cruising range of up to 300 miles."
Is Waldo Lake Motor Ban A Done Deal? | Natural Oregon
Is Waldo Lake Motor Ban A Done Deal? | Natural Oregon: "Is Waldo Lake Motor Ban A Done Deal?
Monday, November 23, 2009
By Dennis Newman
Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.
Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.
If the Eugene Register Guard is correct, tonight’s hearing on a proposed ban on gasoline boat motors at Waldo Lake could a a long, hot tempered affair.
But only sure to add some heat, is a new story in the paper that the ban may already be a done deal, signed weeks ago between the U.S. Forest Service and the head of the Oregon State Marine Board.
See Story: Motorized Boat Ban For Waldo Signed
Never mind that the neither first or the second public hearing haven’t been held. Nor has the Marine Board even voted on the proposal. But if the paper has this right, the ban is already in effect and basically waiting to be ratified by the board.
At near 5,400 feet in elevation, Waldo Lake is one of the highest in the state. It’s also quite large, nearly 6,300 acres in far eastern Lane County. The ban would make it the largest motor free lake in the state.
But what makes the lake so special are the pristine waters. Some reports claim you can see down 100 feet when conditions are right. The gas motor ban is designed to keep Waldo Lake crystal clear.
For more information on the when and where the meeting will be held, please see my Green Calendar For Monday story published a few minutes ago."
Monday, November 23, 2009
By Dennis Newman
Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.
Waldo Lake. From the Oregon Department of State Lands.
If the Eugene Register Guard is correct, tonight’s hearing on a proposed ban on gasoline boat motors at Waldo Lake could a a long, hot tempered affair.
But only sure to add some heat, is a new story in the paper that the ban may already be a done deal, signed weeks ago between the U.S. Forest Service and the head of the Oregon State Marine Board.
See Story: Motorized Boat Ban For Waldo Signed
Never mind that the neither first or the second public hearing haven’t been held. Nor has the Marine Board even voted on the proposal. But if the paper has this right, the ban is already in effect and basically waiting to be ratified by the board.
At near 5,400 feet in elevation, Waldo Lake is one of the highest in the state. It’s also quite large, nearly 6,300 acres in far eastern Lane County. The ban would make it the largest motor free lake in the state.
But what makes the lake so special are the pristine waters. Some reports claim you can see down 100 feet when conditions are right. The gas motor ban is designed to keep Waldo Lake crystal clear.
For more information on the when and where the meeting will be held, please see my Green Calendar For Monday story published a few minutes ago."
China’s BAIC Unveils BE701 All-Electric Car : Gas 2.0
China’s BAIC Unveils BE701 All-Electric Car : Gas 2.0: "Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Corp (BAIC) has unveiled a new electric car, the BE701, in a bid to challenge domestic rivals BYD and Chery for a slice of the Chinese zero-emissions market.
The BE701, (catchy name or what?), is loosely modelled on the sedan concept showcased at last year’s Beijing motor show (above), although a rare image of the final product proves that it looks a lot less stylish in reality. The car can travel up to 200 kms (124 miles) on a full charge, and tops out at a highly competitive maximum speed of 160 km/h (100mph).
The company, which partners german car-giant Daimler AG, has not yet revealed a mass-production schedule for the BE701, but has unveiled details of its spanking new clean energy vehicle development and manufacturing facility, involving a total investment of 2.28 billion yuan ($334 million)."
The BE701, (catchy name or what?), is loosely modelled on the sedan concept showcased at last year’s Beijing motor show (above), although a rare image of the final product proves that it looks a lot less stylish in reality. The car can travel up to 200 kms (124 miles) on a full charge, and tops out at a highly competitive maximum speed of 160 km/h (100mph).
The company, which partners german car-giant Daimler AG, has not yet revealed a mass-production schedule for the BE701, but has unveiled details of its spanking new clean energy vehicle development and manufacturing facility, involving a total investment of 2.28 billion yuan ($334 million)."
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Electric Cars Are Better Even When “Fueled” with Coal : Gas 2.0
Electric Cars Are Better Even When “Fueled” with Coal : Gas 2.0: "Due to the fact that our current energy grid is roughly 51% coal-powered, electric cars and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have taken some heat as being more polluting than their manufacturers claim, and as we get closer to the release of actual mass-market electric cars, the debate seems to get more intense. Although studies have shown that electric cars and PHEVs are cleaner than pure gas cars even when run off of mostly coal power, the debate still goes on—ad nauseum.
But from my perspective, that debate is a completely irrelevant smokescreen."
But from my perspective, that debate is a completely irrelevant smokescreen."
UDRI’s new battery great for electric cars
UDRI’s new battery great for electric cars: "The University of Dayton Research Institute’s new solid-state technology for a rechargeable lithium battery, which would draw oxygen from the air around it, could offer the long service life that is needed for electric transport power in a car, according to the leader of UDRI’s battery technology team.
Manufacturers and owners of hybrid and all-electric cars would want power batteries that would last as long as the vehicle, perhaps a decade, said Binod Kumar, a research engineer and leader of UDRI’s electrochemical power group. The UDRI technology could meet that need, he said Thursday, Nov. 19.
Today’s hybrid cars have gasoline engines to supplement the electric motor. All-electric cars would require advanced batteries, with the capability to last longer between recharges.
Kumar and his team said they have developed and tested a completely solid-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery, which they said is much more stable than conventional lithium-ion batteries that contains liquid and can rupture, catch fire or explode if exposed to short-circuit or excessive heat. UDRI holds patents on parts of the technology and will apply for additional patents, Kumar said.
Dan Rastler, manager of the energy storage program for Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit independent research group funded by the electric utility industry, said his organization is interested in knowing more about UDRI’s work. Scientists at IBM Corp.’s Almaden Research Center in California, and researchers in Japan, also are trying to develop improved lithium rechargeable batteries because of the growing demand and potential markets as power sources in cars; laptop computers, electric utility grids and as backups to solar or wind power generating systems."
Manufacturers and owners of hybrid and all-electric cars would want power batteries that would last as long as the vehicle, perhaps a decade, said Binod Kumar, a research engineer and leader of UDRI’s electrochemical power group. The UDRI technology could meet that need, he said Thursday, Nov. 19.
Today’s hybrid cars have gasoline engines to supplement the electric motor. All-electric cars would require advanced batteries, with the capability to last longer between recharges.
Kumar and his team said they have developed and tested a completely solid-state, rechargeable lithium-air battery, which they said is much more stable than conventional lithium-ion batteries that contains liquid and can rupture, catch fire or explode if exposed to short-circuit or excessive heat. UDRI holds patents on parts of the technology and will apply for additional patents, Kumar said.
Dan Rastler, manager of the energy storage program for Electric Power Research Institute, a nonprofit independent research group funded by the electric utility industry, said his organization is interested in knowing more about UDRI’s work. Scientists at IBM Corp.’s Almaden Research Center in California, and researchers in Japan, also are trying to develop improved lithium rechargeable batteries because of the growing demand and potential markets as power sources in cars; laptop computers, electric utility grids and as backups to solar or wind power generating systems."
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Nissan to Offer an Array of Different Battery Packs For Leaf - All Cars Electric
Nissan to Offer an Array of Different Battery Packs For Leaf - All Cars Electric: "As it is right now, the Leaf is incapable of carrying a larger sized battery, but battery technology could soon diminish the size of batteries resulting in additional range from a comparably sized battery. Nissan suggests that a range of 150 to 200 miles could be possible in the Leaf within a few years.
Range is not the only aspect that Nissan discussed with the Detroit Bureau. The company also said that they could offer batteries with higher 'power density' which in turn would result in a higher performance vehicle. As auto analyst Stephanie Brinley of AutoPacifi, Inc said, 'Ultimately, people will want varied levels of performance. So, with an electric vehicle, instead of upgrading from a V-6 to a V-8, you'll get a different battery.'
Think about one more potential future option too. Aftermarket companies could at some point offer replacement upgrade batteries for vehicles like the Nissan Leaf. When Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was asked about this possibility he quickly sidestepped the question and stated, 'Without a doubt, Nissan would be open to working with such a vendor if one comes along with batteries better than ours.'"
Range is not the only aspect that Nissan discussed with the Detroit Bureau. The company also said that they could offer batteries with higher 'power density' which in turn would result in a higher performance vehicle. As auto analyst Stephanie Brinley of AutoPacifi, Inc said, 'Ultimately, people will want varied levels of performance. So, with an electric vehicle, instead of upgrading from a V-6 to a V-8, you'll get a different battery.'
Think about one more potential future option too. Aftermarket companies could at some point offer replacement upgrade batteries for vehicles like the Nissan Leaf. When Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn was asked about this possibility he quickly sidestepped the question and stated, 'Without a doubt, Nissan would be open to working with such a vendor if one comes along with batteries better than ours.'"
Breaking : Government Ruling a “Major Victory” for Solar | Solar Feeds News And Commentary Network
Breaking : Government Ruling a “Major Victory” for Solar | Solar Feeds News And Commentary Network: "Solar-proponents today hailed as a “major victory” a decision by Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that on-site solar generating projects (rooftop panels for example) owned by a third party are not subject to regulatory oversight by FERC.
Rhone Resch, CEO of the industry trade group, Solar Energy Industries Association, said that: “Recognizing that FERC does not have jurisdiction over on-site solar generating projects removes a great cloud of uncertainty about the role of third-party solar system owners and paves the way for greater, more cost-effective, solar deployments. In short, this decision allows solar companies to be just that – companies creating jobs and deploying more solar – and not have to be under the same regulatory system as utilities.”"
Rhone Resch, CEO of the industry trade group, Solar Energy Industries Association, said that: “Recognizing that FERC does not have jurisdiction over on-site solar generating projects removes a great cloud of uncertainty about the role of third-party solar system owners and paves the way for greater, more cost-effective, solar deployments. In short, this decision allows solar companies to be just that – companies creating jobs and deploying more solar – and not have to be under the same regulatory system as utilities.”"
Oregonians Unsure About Wave Energy | Natural Oregon
Oregonians Unsure About Wave Energy | Natural Oregon: "The drive to develop wave energy off the Oregon coast may be moving too quickly for many people in the state.
A new survey by Oregon State University shows that while a lot of Oregonians like the idea of wave energy, they’re also concerned about impacts on the coastal environment and commercial fishing.
One of the authors of the study is OSU sociology professor Flaxen Conway. Conway has been working for years with coastal residents, helping them try to understand the affects of wave energy and other demands being placed on the coast."
A new survey by Oregon State University shows that while a lot of Oregonians like the idea of wave energy, they’re also concerned about impacts on the coastal environment and commercial fishing.
One of the authors of the study is OSU sociology professor Flaxen Conway. Conway has been working for years with coastal residents, helping them try to understand the affects of wave energy and other demands being placed on the coast."
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Grid Enabled Vehicles – I Told You So! | Alternative Energy Stocks
Grid Enabled Vehicles – I Told You So! | Alternative Energy Stocks: "On Monday of this week the Electrification Coalition, a newly organized industrial lobby that styles itself as a 'nonpartisan, not-for-profit group of business leaders committed to promoting policies and actions that facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale in order to combat the economic, environmental, and national security dangers caused by our nation’s dependence on petroleum' released a 170 page policy paper titled, 'Electrification Roadmap, Revolutionizing Transportation and Achieving Energy Security.' Like most industrial lobbies jostling for position at the Federal trough, the coalition's core membership includes a baker's dozen of top executives from AeroVironment (AVAV), NRG Energy (NRG), Nissan (NSANY), Johnson Controls (JCI), FedEx (FDX) and A123 Systems (AONE), along with several lesser known private companies. Their basic pitch is that the economic, technical and practical challenges associated with a transition to PHEVs and EVs, which the cognoscenti will hereafter refer to as 'grid enabled vehicles,' or 'GEVs,' are insurmountable in a free market economy. Quoting from the preface:
'Ideally, the technology and deployment of electric vehicles would emerge through regular market mechanisms. Events conclusively demonstrate that this path to electrification is unlikely, however. Therefore, if the desired transformation is to occur anytime in the foreseeable future, focused and sustained public policy will be required.'"
'Ideally, the technology and deployment of electric vehicles would emerge through regular market mechanisms. Events conclusively demonstrate that this path to electrification is unlikely, however. Therefore, if the desired transformation is to occur anytime in the foreseeable future, focused and sustained public policy will be required.'"
Friday, November 20, 2009
Volt Drive: Great Ride, Interesting Interior and a Friendly Chirp - Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau - CNBC.com
Volt Drive: Great Ride, Interesting Interior and a Friendly Chirp - Behind the Wheel with Phil Lebeau - CNBC.com: "Because the Volt is a virtually silent extended range electric car, GM has built in a 'chirp' for drivers to announce/warn pedestrians when they are driving by. This chirp is gentler than a car horn blaring and drivers sound it by pulling on the turn signal much as you would for turning on your high beams. Volt drivers will love the chirp."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tesla Motors - Customers
Tesla Motors - Customers: "I reset the “trip” meter before the day began and checked it again when we were done, with just enough charge remaining to get home — 567 whrs per mile! Yikes! But what a fun way to use up electrons"
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Bicycle Pro Poker Peek Playing Cards
Bicycle Pro Poker Peek Playing Cards: "Bicycle Pro are premium playing cards for serious competitive and social card players. Developed with input from the world's top professional poker players, Bicycle created the PokerPeek face style as a solution to problems experienced in competition. Less experienced players were peeling up too much of the card edge, compromising security. Bicycle Pro provides more privacy for individual players, and better visibility for all players when the cards are face-up.
The exclusive PokerPeek design features a smaller, diagonally positioned corner marking to discreetly view and identify the card as well as a jumbo-like face positioned lower at the center of the card, making the cards easier to identify when revealed. The premium Bicycle Pro playing card is made of a durable, custom blend of cotton and paper, and features ProCut edges, a barely visible beveled edge that gently grips fingers for better control during shuffling. These Poker Peek playing cards are available in either red or blue colour schemes."
The exclusive PokerPeek design features a smaller, diagonally positioned corner marking to discreetly view and identify the card as well as a jumbo-like face positioned lower at the center of the card, making the cards easier to identify when revealed. The premium Bicycle Pro playing card is made of a durable, custom blend of cotton and paper, and features ProCut edges, a barely visible beveled edge that gently grips fingers for better control during shuffling. These Poker Peek playing cards are available in either red or blue colour schemes."
Heil Pro 40 Broadcast Microphone | MrFiveStar
Heil Pro 40 Broadcast Microphone | MrFiveStar: "The Heil PR 40 represents completely new dynamic microphone technology designed for a wide range of professional applications such as sophisticated recording, live sound, and commercial broadcast. Producing the widest frequency range available in a dynamic microphone, the PR 40 outperforms most condenser microphones, and can withstand huge amounts of SPL. At the same time, it maintains the 25 year Heil Sound tradition of superbly natural voice articulation.
Features:
•
The Best Studio mic I have ever used. Ron Crider Global American Enterprises
•
Much better than the EV RE 20"
Features:
•
The Best Studio mic I have ever used. Ron Crider Global American Enterprises
•
Much better than the EV RE 20"
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Whistleblower: World Running Out of Oil Faster Than IEA Says : Gas 2.0
Whistleblower: World Running Out of Oil Faster Than IEA Says : Gas 2.0: "According to two unnamed sources as reported in the Guardian—one current International Energy Agency (IEA) employee and one former—the IEA has been purposely painting an overly rosy picture of the remaining available world oil supplies to avoid panicking the public. Apparently this obfuscation has been a result of heavy pressure from the United States.
As one whistleblower put it, “Many inside the [IEA] believe that maintaining oil supplies at even 90m to 95m barrels a day would be impossible but there are fears that panic could spread on the financial markets if the figures were brought down further. And the Americans fear the end of oil supremacy because it would threaten their power over access to oil resources.”
* » See also: Study: Bio-Based Plastics Could Viably Replace Nearly All Plastics
* » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
The IEA plays a key role in determining the world’s energy outlook, and, as such, has a large influence on the price of, and demand for, oil. Historically many of the world’s largest governments have used IEA reports as the basis for driving energy and environmental policy.
At the heart of this issue is the looming question of Peak Oil and whether or not we’ve already entered a production decline or if the world can still increase oil production to meet demand into the near future. The IEA has consistently said that the world can increase production through at least 2030, but, according to the whistleblower, the IEA hass held back analysis and data showing that the world may have already entered the decline phase of Peak Oil.
According to another unnamed former IEA employee, while working at the agency it was “imperative not to anger the Americans” and “We have [already] entered the ‘peak oil’ zone” adding, “I think that the situation is really bad.”
Criticism of the IEA’s statistics is not a new phenomenon for sure, but the agency has been facing more and more scrutiny and has been having a hard time answering to its critics. If anything, this merely points out that, regardless of how much oil is actually left on the planet, it doesn’t really matter. We can’t trust any one organization’s outlook and we should be quickly weaning ourselves off of what is likely a finite energy source and could run out soon.
Source: The Guardian"
As one whistleblower put it, “Many inside the [IEA] believe that maintaining oil supplies at even 90m to 95m barrels a day would be impossible but there are fears that panic could spread on the financial markets if the figures were brought down further. And the Americans fear the end of oil supremacy because it would threaten their power over access to oil resources.”
* » See also: Study: Bio-Based Plastics Could Viably Replace Nearly All Plastics
* » Get Gas 2.0 by RSS or sign up by email.
The IEA plays a key role in determining the world’s energy outlook, and, as such, has a large influence on the price of, and demand for, oil. Historically many of the world’s largest governments have used IEA reports as the basis for driving energy and environmental policy.
At the heart of this issue is the looming question of Peak Oil and whether or not we’ve already entered a production decline or if the world can still increase oil production to meet demand into the near future. The IEA has consistently said that the world can increase production through at least 2030, but, according to the whistleblower, the IEA hass held back analysis and data showing that the world may have already entered the decline phase of Peak Oil.
According to another unnamed former IEA employee, while working at the agency it was “imperative not to anger the Americans” and “We have [already] entered the ‘peak oil’ zone” adding, “I think that the situation is really bad.”
Criticism of the IEA’s statistics is not a new phenomenon for sure, but the agency has been facing more and more scrutiny and has been having a hard time answering to its critics. If anything, this merely points out that, regardless of how much oil is actually left on the planet, it doesn’t really matter. We can’t trust any one organization’s outlook and we should be quickly weaning ourselves off of what is likely a finite energy source and could run out soon.
Source: The Guardian"
Nissan CEO is bullish for Leaf's success, says million plug-ins by 2015 - Beyond Fossil Fuel
Nissan CEO is bullish for Leaf's success, says million plug-ins by 2015 - Beyond Fossil Fuel: "Speaking at the U.S. launch of the Nissan Leaf this morning in Dodgertown, Los Angeles, Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn was supremely optimistic about the chances of his company's first electric vehicle – and plug-ins in general – in the U.S. market.
'This car should sell without advertising,' Ghosn said, noting that Nissan's plan to sell a normal-looking, family-style vehicle with the 'free premium' of an electric drivetrain will be an sure sell. Because the Leaf's batteries will be leased, Ghosn said, the Leaf will cost almost exactly the same as a similar gasoline-powered vehicle (it'll be one to two percent higher, without factoring in the cost of the battteries). For someone who drives between 12,000 and 15,000 miles a year, buying the Leaf and leasing the battery will be cheaper than owning a similar gasoline-powered car and filling up with liquid fuel. Using the 'free premium' strategy, Ghosn said, the U.S. can easily reach and then beat President Obama's goal of having a million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015.
Another bonus of leasing the battery, Ghosn said, is that the consumer won't have to worry about when to replace or upgrade it. Nissan will make that decision for the user, simplifying what it means to own an electric car. Nissan has publicly stated that they expect 10% of all cars sold in 2020 will be plug-ins, a number some criticized as too optimistic. But Ghosn said that Nissan's internal polling shows that even today, before most people have driven an EV, eight percent of Americans say they want their next car to be an EV. This gives Ghosn confidence that the 10% number is probably too low – and doesn't even account for possible dramatic political or social changes (wars, huge spikes in the price of oil, etc). The question might not be if Nissan can drum up enough interest in the Leaf, but if they can produce enough to meet demand."
'This car should sell without advertising,' Ghosn said, noting that Nissan's plan to sell a normal-looking, family-style vehicle with the 'free premium' of an electric drivetrain will be an sure sell. Because the Leaf's batteries will be leased, Ghosn said, the Leaf will cost almost exactly the same as a similar gasoline-powered vehicle (it'll be one to two percent higher, without factoring in the cost of the battteries). For someone who drives between 12,000 and 15,000 miles a year, buying the Leaf and leasing the battery will be cheaper than owning a similar gasoline-powered car and filling up with liquid fuel. Using the 'free premium' strategy, Ghosn said, the U.S. can easily reach and then beat President Obama's goal of having a million plug-in vehicles on the road by 2015.
Another bonus of leasing the battery, Ghosn said, is that the consumer won't have to worry about when to replace or upgrade it. Nissan will make that decision for the user, simplifying what it means to own an electric car. Nissan has publicly stated that they expect 10% of all cars sold in 2020 will be plug-ins, a number some criticized as too optimistic. But Ghosn said that Nissan's internal polling shows that even today, before most people have driven an EV, eight percent of Americans say they want their next car to be an EV. This gives Ghosn confidence that the 10% number is probably too low – and doesn't even account for possible dramatic political or social changes (wars, huge spikes in the price of oil, etc). The question might not be if Nissan can drum up enough interest in the Leaf, but if they can produce enough to meet demand."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Greentech Media: Car Charging Standard Set for Final Vote
Greentech Media: Car Charging Standard Set for Final Vote: "The Society of Automotive Engineers plans to vote on a standard for equipment to charge plug-in hybrid and all-electric cars this week, a move that would make it easier for consumers to refuel cars.
Automakers are expected to vote this week on a standard for cables and plugs that will be used to charge plug-in hybrid and electric cars.
The Society of Automotive Engineers has been working on the standard, called J1772, for the past two and half years, and it is expected to take a vote this week, said Britta Gross, director of global energy systems, infrastructure and commercialization at General Motors, over a web chat Tuesday.
'All major automakers are expected to agree to adhere to these charging standards. All infrastructure that goes in from now on should be J1772 compliant so all plug-in vehicles can use it,' Gross wrote.
The vote may not be a final one – the process of setting electrical and performance specs takes time and often undergoes many votes. If there are no objections to the technical specs during the vote, then J1772 would become official standard and published in about 10 weeks, said Gery Kissel, a GM engineer and chairman of the J1772 committee.
As carmakers get ready to launch plug-in hybrid or all-electric cars next year, they will be facing questions from consumers about the logistics of operating and fueling these cars.
The questions posed to Gross and fellow co-host of the webchat, Mark Duvall at the Electric Power Research Institute, provided a glimpse of the kind of inquiries that GM, Toyota, Nissan and others will have to answer as they set out to convince the public the merit of cars that use little or no gasoline.
GM is launching its first-ever plug-in hybrid, the Chevy Volt, in late 2010. The car could be charged with the 120-volt or 240-volt outlets, which could take eight hours and three hours respectively to fill up a depleted battery.
Many questions centered around the charging technologies and the performance and lifespan of the lithium ion batteries.
In particular, some participants wondered if charging cars at different rates would somehow damage the batteries. Plug-in or all-electric cars can be charged using a standard 120-volt or 240-volt outlet that can be found at home. Although the proposed standards technically would make it possible to directly plug into a 240-volt outlet at home, Duvall said an additional connector is desirable for safety reasons.
'We're still studying this to see if there is any significant or perceptible difference in impact to the battery from different charging rates,' said Gross.
Duvall said the same is true for the impact from fast-charging technologies, which are largely in the development and demonstration stages.
Some companies are working on technologies that can fill up a battery at five or even 10 times the rate of regular charging. Some are aiming for doing it 50 times faster. But not all plug-ins will be able to tolerate fast-charging, Duvall said. Car owners also will have to pay extra to get fast-charging equipment.
'This [50X technology] would likely have significant impact on battery life, and only certain battery technologies could even do it. We still have more work to do to fully understand this,' Duvall said.
Another participant also wondered whether the lifespan of a battery would be shortened if a driver recharges it often instead of waiting for the battery to be nearly depleted before filling up.
'Incremental battery charging should not decrease the life of a lithium ion battery. In fact two shallow recharges are probably a little easier on the battery than a single deep recharge,' Duvall said."
Automakers are expected to vote this week on a standard for cables and plugs that will be used to charge plug-in hybrid and electric cars.
The Society of Automotive Engineers has been working on the standard, called J1772, for the past two and half years, and it is expected to take a vote this week, said Britta Gross, director of global energy systems, infrastructure and commercialization at General Motors, over a web chat Tuesday.
'All major automakers are expected to agree to adhere to these charging standards. All infrastructure that goes in from now on should be J1772 compliant so all plug-in vehicles can use it,' Gross wrote.
The vote may not be a final one – the process of setting electrical and performance specs takes time and often undergoes many votes. If there are no objections to the technical specs during the vote, then J1772 would become official standard and published in about 10 weeks, said Gery Kissel, a GM engineer and chairman of the J1772 committee.
As carmakers get ready to launch plug-in hybrid or all-electric cars next year, they will be facing questions from consumers about the logistics of operating and fueling these cars.
The questions posed to Gross and fellow co-host of the webchat, Mark Duvall at the Electric Power Research Institute, provided a glimpse of the kind of inquiries that GM, Toyota, Nissan and others will have to answer as they set out to convince the public the merit of cars that use little or no gasoline.
GM is launching its first-ever plug-in hybrid, the Chevy Volt, in late 2010. The car could be charged with the 120-volt or 240-volt outlets, which could take eight hours and three hours respectively to fill up a depleted battery.
Many questions centered around the charging technologies and the performance and lifespan of the lithium ion batteries.
In particular, some participants wondered if charging cars at different rates would somehow damage the batteries. Plug-in or all-electric cars can be charged using a standard 120-volt or 240-volt outlet that can be found at home. Although the proposed standards technically would make it possible to directly plug into a 240-volt outlet at home, Duvall said an additional connector is desirable for safety reasons.
'We're still studying this to see if there is any significant or perceptible difference in impact to the battery from different charging rates,' said Gross.
Duvall said the same is true for the impact from fast-charging technologies, which are largely in the development and demonstration stages.
Some companies are working on technologies that can fill up a battery at five or even 10 times the rate of regular charging. Some are aiming for doing it 50 times faster. But not all plug-ins will be able to tolerate fast-charging, Duvall said. Car owners also will have to pay extra to get fast-charging equipment.
'This [50X technology] would likely have significant impact on battery life, and only certain battery technologies could even do it. We still have more work to do to fully understand this,' Duvall said.
Another participant also wondered whether the lifespan of a battery would be shortened if a driver recharges it often instead of waiting for the battery to be nearly depleted before filling up.
'Incremental battery charging should not decrease the life of a lithium ion battery. In fact two shallow recharges are probably a little easier on the battery than a single deep recharge,' Duvall said."
EVs and Energy: GM Insider Admits Company Knew Consumers Demanded Efficient Vehicles Decades Ago
EVs and Energy: GM Insider Admits Company Knew Consumers Demanded Efficient Vehicles Decades Ago: "I try to only talk about the future of EVs here, but this story from the past got my attention.
It's from a blog called All Cars Electric and is titled 'GM Insider Admits Company Knew Consumers Demanded Efficient Vehicles Decades Ago.'
This is a pretty astounding admission.
'As McManus said, 'The survey would estimate that people would estimate fuel economy fairly highly. Being a good economist, I said, 'No, they don't,' and I changed the results. [...] Our job was not to seek the truth, but to justify decisions that had already been made.'
So, as we go forward toward this new electric future, keep in mind that when big dollars are involved, you can expect that not everything the car makers, the utilities and even the regulators tell us is going to be true."
It's from a blog called All Cars Electric and is titled 'GM Insider Admits Company Knew Consumers Demanded Efficient Vehicles Decades Ago.'
This is a pretty astounding admission.
'As McManus said, 'The survey would estimate that people would estimate fuel economy fairly highly. Being a good economist, I said, 'No, they don't,' and I changed the results. [...] Our job was not to seek the truth, but to justify decisions that had already been made.'
So, as we go forward toward this new electric future, keep in mind that when big dollars are involved, you can expect that not everything the car makers, the utilities and even the regulators tell us is going to be true."
Plugs and Cars: GM CEO: FCVs 10X more expensive than electric
Plugs and Cars: GM CEO: FCVs 10X more expensive than electric: "GM CEO Fritz Henderson sat down with reporters and editors from the Washington Post yesterday. No real news on the Volt, but his comments on Fuel Cell Vehicles should cause a stir. Anyone at CARB in Sacramento paying attention?
Post: Is GM pulling back on its hydrogen car?
Henderson: 'Are we putting resources into it? Not as much. . . . We spent through the mid part of this decade a reasonably high portion of our research and our development money on hydrogen fuel cells. We put 100 vehicles into the market. Consumers have tested them . . . We've learned a lot. The vehicles work. The issue is always cost, 100 percent cost. [He put the cost of the vehicles at upwards of $400,000.]
'It's still a ways away from commercialization. No question.'"
Post: Is GM pulling back on its hydrogen car?
Henderson: 'Are we putting resources into it? Not as much. . . . We spent through the mid part of this decade a reasonably high portion of our research and our development money on hydrogen fuel cells. We put 100 vehicles into the market. Consumers have tested them . . . We've learned a lot. The vehicles work. The issue is always cost, 100 percent cost. [He put the cost of the vehicles at upwards of $400,000.]
'It's still a ways away from commercialization. No question.'"
Chrysler Disbands ENVI Electric Vehicle Group; Function Absorbed into Traditional Line Organization | Eco Friendly Mag
Chrysler Disbands ENVI Electric Vehicle Group; Function Absorbed into Traditional Line Organization | Eco Friendly Mag: "Chrysler Disbands ENVI Electric Vehicle Group; Function Absorbed into Traditional Line Organization
Reuters reports that Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI team, formed in 2007 to bring electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies to market. (Earlier post.) At the North American International Auto Show in January 2009, Chrysler had introduced two new EV concepts and updates on three earlier EV concepts developed by the ENVI group. (Earlier post.)
In April 2009, Chrysler unveiled four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the US Postal Service (USPS) in Washington, DC. Then, Chrysler announced that it intended to apply to the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant, which would enable Chrysler to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of zero-emission electric minivans that could be used by the US Postal Service for mail delivery. (Earlier post.)
And in May 2009, Chrysler LLC submitted three proposals representing a request for $224 million in funding to two US Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives: the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative. With a 50/50 cost share, the total investment represented by the proposals is $448 million. Proposed vehicles covered under the submission include Dodge Ram 1500 Plug-in Hybrid-electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Chrysler Town & Country PHEVs and Chrysler Town & Country Electric Vehicles (EVs). (Earlier post.)
In August, Chrysler took $70 million in grants from the US Department of Energy to develop a test fleet of 220 hybrid pickup trucks and minivans.
During the unveiling of the new five year (2010-2014) business plan last week, however, there was only one hybrid (the two-mode RAM) with plans for a PHEV demo fleet and a battery electric vehicle to follow sometime in mid plan.(Earlier post.)
Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said on Friday that an in-house team of electric car development engineers had been disbanded in favor of a more traditional organization. “ENVI is absorbed into the normal vehicle development program,” Cappa told Reuters.
Under the Marchionne plan, former ENVI chief Lou Rhodes will become the group line executive in charge of electric car development for both Fiat and Chrysler, Cappa said.
Marchionne told reporters and analysts electric cars would only represent “one to two percent” of Chrysler’s sales by 2014, equivalent to less than 60,000 vehicles—a percentage consistent with the current proportion of hybrid to conventional vehicle sales for all OEMs in the US with the exception of Toyota. (Earlier post.)
As outlined in the plan, Chrysler is putting a more immediate focus on downsizing its engines and improving fuel economy across the entire portfolio."
Reuters reports that Chrysler has disbanded its ENVI team, formed in 2007 to bring electric-drive vehicles and related advanced-propulsion technologies to market. (Earlier post.) At the North American International Auto Show in January 2009, Chrysler had introduced two new EV concepts and updates on three earlier EV concepts developed by the ENVI group. (Earlier post.)
In April 2009, Chrysler unveiled four all-electric Chrysler Town & Country minivan concepts to the US Postal Service (USPS) in Washington, DC. Then, Chrysler announced that it intended to apply to the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Transportation Electrification stimulus program for a federal grant, which would enable Chrysler to establish a nationwide demonstration fleet of zero-emission electric minivans that could be used by the US Postal Service for mail delivery. (Earlier post.)
And in May 2009, Chrysler LLC submitted three proposals representing a request for $224 million in funding to two US Department of Energy (DOE) initiatives: the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative and the Transportation Electrification Initiative. With a 50/50 cost share, the total investment represented by the proposals is $448 million. Proposed vehicles covered under the submission include Dodge Ram 1500 Plug-in Hybrid-electric Vehicles (PHEVs), Chrysler Town & Country PHEVs and Chrysler Town & Country Electric Vehicles (EVs). (Earlier post.)
In August, Chrysler took $70 million in grants from the US Department of Energy to develop a test fleet of 220 hybrid pickup trucks and minivans.
During the unveiling of the new five year (2010-2014) business plan last week, however, there was only one hybrid (the two-mode RAM) with plans for a PHEV demo fleet and a battery electric vehicle to follow sometime in mid plan.(Earlier post.)
Chrysler spokesman Nick Cappa said on Friday that an in-house team of electric car development engineers had been disbanded in favor of a more traditional organization. “ENVI is absorbed into the normal vehicle development program,” Cappa told Reuters.
Under the Marchionne plan, former ENVI chief Lou Rhodes will become the group line executive in charge of electric car development for both Fiat and Chrysler, Cappa said.
Marchionne told reporters and analysts electric cars would only represent “one to two percent” of Chrysler’s sales by 2014, equivalent to less than 60,000 vehicles—a percentage consistent with the current proportion of hybrid to conventional vehicle sales for all OEMs in the US with the exception of Toyota. (Earlier post.)
As outlined in the plan, Chrysler is putting a more immediate focus on downsizing its engines and improving fuel economy across the entire portfolio."
REPORT: BYD only sells 100 plug-in F3DM hybrids in eight months — Autoblog Green
REPORT: BYD only sells 100 plug-in F3DM hybrids in eight months — Autoblog Green: "The BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid went on sale in China last December. In the first eight months that the car has been on sale, only 100 have been sold, according to a new report from Gasgoo. This is well below the company's original stated goal of selling 10,000 in the first year, although they do have another four months to turn things around. Gasgoo says BYD changed its sales estimate to 3,000 to 4,000 units in the first 12 months earlier this year. In June, the F3DM went on sale in Hong Kong.
While the plug-in F3DM hasn't sold as well as expected, BYD is still planning on offering the all-electric e6 in China later this year. Overall, BYD sold 176,795 vehicles in the first half of 2009, an increase of 176 percent compared to the first six months of 2008."
While the plug-in F3DM hasn't sold as well as expected, BYD is still planning on offering the all-electric e6 in China later this year. Overall, BYD sold 176,795 vehicles in the first half of 2009, an increase of 176 percent compared to the first six months of 2008."
The Energy Producing Home »» MetaEfficient Reviews
The Energy Producing Home »» MetaEfficient Reviews: "Who says that a home with cutting-edge energy efficiency has to look like an ultra-modern pod? This recently completed Wisconsin home packs so much energy tech that it makes money by selling electricity back to the grid, and it still keeps a low neighborhood profile.
Neumann Developments, the creators of the home, state the following as the goal of the project:
“Constructing an economically viable mainstream home that will produce more energy than it consumes – allowing for a dramatic reduction in greenhouse emissions and dependency on foreign oil.”"
Neumann Developments, the creators of the home, state the following as the goal of the project:
“Constructing an economically viable mainstream home that will produce more energy than it consumes – allowing for a dramatic reduction in greenhouse emissions and dependency on foreign oil.”"
Peak water
Peak water: "You won't be startled to learn that Saudi Arabia has now depleted its aquifer and over the next eight years will stop growing wheat. If you've been following the news, you'll know that India and China have been doing the same thing: pumping their fresh groundwater sources dry in order to grow crops. At this rate it's hard to see how those nations won't revert to the famines they suffered before the Green Revolution of the late 20th century. Lester Brown has a great blog on this issue in today's Climate Progress.
At the same time, the New York Times reports that when coal-fired power plants scrub toxic pollutants from their smokestacks, those toxins wind up in the water, for downstream communities to drink. In our July/August issue of SOLAR TODAY, Robert Ukeiley noted the capacity of thermal pollution to kill river-dwelling wildlife.
We may be able to live without coal. We certainly can't live without fresh water."
At the same time, the New York Times reports that when coal-fired power plants scrub toxic pollutants from their smokestacks, those toxins wind up in the water, for downstream communities to drink. In our July/August issue of SOLAR TODAY, Robert Ukeiley noted the capacity of thermal pollution to kill river-dwelling wildlife.
We may be able to live without coal. We certainly can't live without fresh water."
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Technology Review: Betting on a Metal-Air Battery Breakthrough
Technology Review: Betting on a Metal-Air Battery Breakthrough: "A spinoff from Arizona State University says it can develop a metal-air battery that dramatically outperforms the best lithium-ion batteries on the market, and now it has the funding it needs to prove it.
Liquid salt: This image shows ionic liquids (the blue globules) in a beaker of mineral oil.
Credit: John Wilkes
The U.S. Department of Energy last week awarded a $5.13-million research grant to Scottsdale, AZ-based Fluidic Energy toward development of a metal-air battery that relies on ionic liquids, instead of an aqueous solution, as its electrolyte.
The company aims to build a Metal-Air Ionic Liquid battery that has up to 11 times the energy density of the top lithium-ion technologies for less than one-third the cost. Cody Friesen, a professor of materials science at Arizona State and founder of Fluidic Energy, says the use of ionic liquids overcomes many of the problems that have held back metal-air batteries in the past. 'I'm not claiming we have it yet, but if we do succeed, it really does change the way we think about storage,' says Friesen, who was named one of Technology Review's top innovators under 35 in 2009."
Liquid salt: This image shows ionic liquids (the blue globules) in a beaker of mineral oil.
Credit: John Wilkes
The U.S. Department of Energy last week awarded a $5.13-million research grant to Scottsdale, AZ-based Fluidic Energy toward development of a metal-air battery that relies on ionic liquids, instead of an aqueous solution, as its electrolyte.
The company aims to build a Metal-Air Ionic Liquid battery that has up to 11 times the energy density of the top lithium-ion technologies for less than one-third the cost. Cody Friesen, a professor of materials science at Arizona State and founder of Fluidic Energy, says the use of ionic liquids overcomes many of the problems that have held back metal-air batteries in the past. 'I'm not claiming we have it yet, but if we do succeed, it really does change the way we think about storage,' says Friesen, who was named one of Technology Review's top innovators under 35 in 2009."
REPORT: Generation Y will "redefine" automotive market, trends green and big — Autoblog Green
REPORT: Generation Y will "redefine" automotive market, trends green and big — Autoblog Green: "study from AutoPacific, which finds that Generation Y will 'redefine' the automotive market. It seems our generation is 'willing to embrace new brands, new technology and alternative powertrains.' That means electric cars, hybrids and clean diesels. We're also likely to want lots of electronic gadgetry in our cars and we expect that all that computing power will improve fuel mileage and environmental friendliness. Oh, and we don't necessarily want small cars.
So, to recap, we want large cars with good fuel economy, lots of technology and without too big a price increase... No problem, right? Click past the break for the official press release."
So, to recap, we want large cars with good fuel economy, lots of technology and without too big a price increase... No problem, right? Click past the break for the official press release."
EV WORLD CURRENTS: Golf Cars Do NOT Qualify for Tax Credit, NEVs Do!
EV WORLD CURRENTS: Golf Cars Do NOT Qualify for Tax Credit, NEVs Do!: "I hate to disappoint John Stossel, but golf carts do not qualify for IRS tax credits as he bemoans in his Fox News blog. Just because some enterprising salesman in Florida named Tony Colangelo appears to be skating on thin ice with the IRS by advertising free golf cars, doesn't mean the Obama Administration has suddenly sanctioned yet another taxpayer giveaway.
A reader wrote me today admonishing me to let everyone know about the tax credit on golf carts/cars, something I had totally missed; so thanks for the heads up. Apparently few in the media understand the difference between a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle and a golf cart, so allow me to illuminate my colleagues."
A reader wrote me today admonishing me to let everyone know about the tax credit on golf carts/cars, something I had totally missed; so thanks for the heads up. Apparently few in the media understand the difference between a Neighborhood Electric Vehicle and a golf cart, so allow me to illuminate my colleagues."
Local man wins patent for generator-powered car | DailyComet.com | The Thibodaux Daily Comet | Thibodaux, LA
Local man wins patent for generator-powered car | DailyComet.com | The Thibodaux Daily Comet | Thibodaux, LA: "HOUMA — The idea that will put Joseph Boudreaux on record with the U.S. patent office came to him in the middle of a traffic jam.
Boudreaux and his wife, Jeanne, were stuck in New Orleans in a wreck involving a streetcar in 2000.
'I told her, ‘That's electric,' ' Boudreaux, now 76, said of the streetcar. 'Why can't a car be made electric?'
Once they got home, Boudreaux, a retired technician for BellSouth, slept on it.
Boudreaux got to thinking about an electric car that could be powered by a generator, like the generator he had just purchased to use during storms and power outages.
With the help of a lawyer, the opinions of generator companies, and support from his sons and daughter, they produced drawings and submitted them for a patent in 2006.
The engine could travel 100 to 150 miles on a gallon of gas, Boudreaux said.
Then they waited.
Last week, almost four years later, they finally heard back from the government office: He had won the patent.
Boudreaux doesn't plan to produce the patent himself — a prototype could cost $200,000. He says he might sell it to put toward his grandkids' retirement.
Still, the official recognition of his invention meant a lot, his son, Mark, said, particularly since the inventor's biggest cheerleader, his wife, had passed away in July 2007.
'My mom really encouraged him,' Mark Boudreaux said. 'When it came in, it was a heartfelt moment.'"
Boudreaux and his wife, Jeanne, were stuck in New Orleans in a wreck involving a streetcar in 2000.
'I told her, ‘That's electric,' ' Boudreaux, now 76, said of the streetcar. 'Why can't a car be made electric?'
Once they got home, Boudreaux, a retired technician for BellSouth, slept on it.
Boudreaux got to thinking about an electric car that could be powered by a generator, like the generator he had just purchased to use during storms and power outages.
With the help of a lawyer, the opinions of generator companies, and support from his sons and daughter, they produced drawings and submitted them for a patent in 2006.
The engine could travel 100 to 150 miles on a gallon of gas, Boudreaux said.
Then they waited.
Last week, almost four years later, they finally heard back from the government office: He had won the patent.
Boudreaux doesn't plan to produce the patent himself — a prototype could cost $200,000. He says he might sell it to put toward his grandkids' retirement.
Still, the official recognition of his invention meant a lot, his son, Mark, said, particularly since the inventor's biggest cheerleader, his wife, had passed away in July 2007.
'My mom really encouraged him,' Mark Boudreaux said. 'When it came in, it was a heartfelt moment.'"
Green Fuels Forecast
Green Fuels Forecast: "Toyota expects retail sales of a plug-in Prius to begin in 2011-12."
ISA | Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap
ISA | Software will bridge plug-in hybrid, grid gap: "oogle is trying to figure out how to manage the impact of having millions of future electric vehicle owners plugging in their vehicles at the same time.
The company is in the early stages of looking at ways to write software that would fully integrate plug-in hybrid vehicles to the power grid, minimize strain on the grid, and help utilities manage vehicle-charging load.
“We are doing some preliminary work,” said Dan Reicher, Google’s director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives. “We have begun some work on smart charging of electric vehicles and how you would integrate large number of electric vehicles into the grid successfully.”
In 2007, Google announced a program to test Toyota Prius and Ford Escape gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles that they converted to rechargeable plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity.
One of the experimental technologies that was being tested by the web search giant allowed parked plug-ins to transfer stored energy back to the electric grid, opening a potential back-up source of power for the system in peak hours.
“One of the great things about plug-ins is this opportunity for the first time to finally have a storage technology,” he said.
“We got to be careful how we manage these things,” Reicher said. “On a hot day in July, when 5 million Californians come home, you don’t want them all plugging in at the same moment.”
He laid out a scenario where power utilities, during a time of high demand, could turn on or off the charging of electric vehicles. The owner of these vehicles, who have agreed to such an arrangement, would get a credit from the utility in turn."
The company is in the early stages of looking at ways to write software that would fully integrate plug-in hybrid vehicles to the power grid, minimize strain on the grid, and help utilities manage vehicle-charging load.
“We are doing some preliminary work,” said Dan Reicher, Google’s director of Climate Change and Energy Initiatives. “We have begun some work on smart charging of electric vehicles and how you would integrate large number of electric vehicles into the grid successfully.”
In 2007, Google announced a program to test Toyota Prius and Ford Escape gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles that they converted to rechargeable plug-in hybrids that run mostly on electricity.
One of the experimental technologies that was being tested by the web search giant allowed parked plug-ins to transfer stored energy back to the electric grid, opening a potential back-up source of power for the system in peak hours.
“One of the great things about plug-ins is this opportunity for the first time to finally have a storage technology,” he said.
“We got to be careful how we manage these things,” Reicher said. “On a hot day in July, when 5 million Californians come home, you don’t want them all plugging in at the same moment.”
He laid out a scenario where power utilities, during a time of high demand, could turn on or off the charging of electric vehicles. The owner of these vehicles, who have agreed to such an arrangement, would get a credit from the utility in turn."
Reinking: electric cars "could threaten some manufacturers' survival" — Autoblog Green
Reinking: electric cars "could threaten some manufacturers' survival" — Autoblog Green: "Electric vehicle pessimist – or realist, depending on your POV – Guido Reinking is back with another critical look at EVs. Earlier this year, Reinking wrote that it'll take 15 more years for electric cars to become widespread; this time his target is explaining how EVs hurt the auto industry as a whole. Here's how he comes to that conclusion:
1. Developing all the parts that EVs need costs money.
2. That money 'will not be available for the additional development that the internal combustion engine requires.'
3. Since ICEs will be 'the definitive technology for individual transportation for decades to come,' EVs are sucking money away from where the OEMs need to be putting it – making better liquid fuel vehicles.
Reinking also says that, 'we are playing with fire if we bet solely on the electric car. It will remain insignificant in reducing carbon dioxide emissions for the foreseeable future because of low production volumes.' Right, and the way to avoid the low production/sales volumes is to not spend money on it?"
1. Developing all the parts that EVs need costs money.
2. That money 'will not be available for the additional development that the internal combustion engine requires.'
3. Since ICEs will be 'the definitive technology for individual transportation for decades to come,' EVs are sucking money away from where the OEMs need to be putting it – making better liquid fuel vehicles.
Reinking also says that, 'we are playing with fire if we bet solely on the electric car. It will remain insignificant in reducing carbon dioxide emissions for the foreseeable future because of low production volumes.' Right, and the way to avoid the low production/sales volumes is to not spend money on it?"
Friday, November 6, 2009
The Top 9 Green Viral Videos : Planet Green
The Top 9 Green Viral Videos : Planet Green: "Viral videos make the internet go round. Well known fact. Charlie biting fingers, bands on treadmills, dancing babies, Chris Brown infused weddings, and so on. The biggest viral videos are as much a part of culture as any hit TV show. And yes, there are green ones.
Green viral videos have the added charge of carrying a beneficial environmental message along with quirky, irresistible footage. When effective, they can transport valuable information across the web faster than just about anything else.
Here are 9 of the best--and one that's so bad, it might just be worth watching.
9. The MEATRIX"
Green viral videos have the added charge of carrying a beneficial environmental message along with quirky, irresistible footage. When effective, they can transport valuable information across the web faster than just about anything else.
Here are 9 of the best--and one that's so bad, it might just be worth watching.
9. The MEATRIX"
EV WORLDwire: Growth of Hybrid Cars to Drive Demand for Ultracapacitors
EV WORLDwire: Growth of Hybrid Cars to Drive Demand for Ultracapacitors: "Ultracapacitors, with their quick charging and discharging capabilities, are best-suited for short duration boost power applications in hybrid vehicles. Advancements in ultracapacitor technology are expected to displace the lithium-ion battery as the dominant automotive battery technology. The expected takeoff in hybrid electric vehicles sales will drive the demand for ultracapacitors in the automotive sector. Revenues from ultracapacitor applications in the transportation sector are expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.5% during the forecast period of six years, from 2009 to 2015. From 2010 onwards, in automotive sector applications, ultracapacitors are expected to experience an annual revenue growth of 50% or higher.
R&D initiatives for hybrid battery/fuel cell automobiles are gathering pace with automotive majors such as Honda and Toyota testing prototypes of hybrid fuel vehicles. Ultracapacitors, due to their higher energy efficiency and power density features, are ideally suited for fuel-cell based vehicles.
Utilities are looking for alternatives for battery banks as they move ahead with the modernization of the power grid. Battery banks have been the traditional choice of utilities for the short-term electricity supply needs during power outages. However, Utilities are increasingly using modern storage devices such as ultracapacitors to ensure the continuous supply of power during the period between a power blackout and the resumption of back-up power. The deployment of ultracapacitors in the power grid is expected to gain momentum with smart grid initiatives forging ahead in key economies of the globe.
The substantial increase in the peak power needs of modern vehicles, industrial applications, and consumer electronic gadgets is expected to offer opportunity for sales growth of ultracapacitors. Ultracapacitors provide quick, short-duration energy spurts for peak power applications such as elevators, forklifts, consumer electronic gadgets and robotics applications."
R&D initiatives for hybrid battery/fuel cell automobiles are gathering pace with automotive majors such as Honda and Toyota testing prototypes of hybrid fuel vehicles. Ultracapacitors, due to their higher energy efficiency and power density features, are ideally suited for fuel-cell based vehicles.
Utilities are looking for alternatives for battery banks as they move ahead with the modernization of the power grid. Battery banks have been the traditional choice of utilities for the short-term electricity supply needs during power outages. However, Utilities are increasingly using modern storage devices such as ultracapacitors to ensure the continuous supply of power during the period between a power blackout and the resumption of back-up power. The deployment of ultracapacitors in the power grid is expected to gain momentum with smart grid initiatives forging ahead in key economies of the globe.
The substantial increase in the peak power needs of modern vehicles, industrial applications, and consumer electronic gadgets is expected to offer opportunity for sales growth of ultracapacitors. Ultracapacitors provide quick, short-duration energy spurts for peak power applications such as elevators, forklifts, consumer electronic gadgets and robotics applications."
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Tata envisioning big sales of Indica Vista EV? — Autoblog Green
Tata envisioning big sales of Indica Vista EV? — Autoblog Green: "Could it be that Tata is expecting to move lots of Indica Vista EVs when they bring them to the market, beginning with Norway later this year? If the tea leaves are being read properly, then yes. A short press release from the American offices of the South Korean battery maker Energy Innovation Group Ltd. (EIG) announces that they will supply their lithium polymer cells to Miljøbil Grenland AS, the Indian giant's Norwegian subsidiary until 2012. The agreement anticipates as many as two million of the large formats cells being shipped in that time frame which, we think, translates to thousands of cars.
Of course, Electrovaya is already a battery supplier to Miljøbil Grenland but according to that company they need a bit more time to put up a new factory in Norway where Indica gliders are currently being shipped for drivetrain integration. Eventually, at least some production of the car will shift to the UK which recently granted (after taking its sweet time) Tata a £10 million loan to enable it to build the car there. The EIG press release awaits your scrutiny after the break."
Of course, Electrovaya is already a battery supplier to Miljøbil Grenland but according to that company they need a bit more time to put up a new factory in Norway where Indica gliders are currently being shipped for drivetrain integration. Eventually, at least some production of the car will shift to the UK which recently granted (after taking its sweet time) Tata a £10 million loan to enable it to build the car there. The EIG press release awaits your scrutiny after the break."
Bosch moves quietly into solar
Bosch moves quietly into solar: "Very quietly, with hardly a press release, the huge German automotive parts maker Robert Bosch is setting up to be a major player in both PV and EV.
Bosch is at least a $50 billion company. It's been selling solar water-heating equipment for several years. Last year Bosch bought controlling interest in Ersol, a leading German maker of solar cells and modules, in silicon and thin-film formats. A couple of days ago the company bought a controlling share of Aleo, a leading German thin-film module manufacturer. This latest announcement suggests that Bosch will make controllers and other circuitry for EVs and possibly make inverters for its own PV modules.
Bosch is a unique company and does things in ways that would be considered odd in any other corporation. It's the world's largest maker of electrical parts for cars and trucks, and so it's been hurt badly by the downturn in the automotive business. Setting up for EVs would be a normal reaction to this situation - the company will naturally be the major supplier of components for European-built EVs, including products from VW, Mercedes, BMW and Fiat.
Bosch is 92% owned by a charitable foundation -- it's as if the Ford Foundation got 92% of the profits from Ford Motor Co. The company is run by a board of trustees who themselves hold less than 1% of the stock but vote the 92% of shares owned by the foundation - and the Bosch family owns the remaining 7%. So the company makes decisions quickly and based on long-term planning, not on short-term stock price considerations. One result is they spend twice as much on R&D, as a percent of their budget, as anyone else in the automotive business.
A little historical background: Founder Robert Bosch was a farmer's son who trained as a technician and then went to America, where he worked for Thomas Edison for a few years (he also helped found a Siemens division in the UK). Back home in Germany, in 1897 he invented the first commercially successful magneto for motor vehicles; five years later his firm marketed the first reliable spark plug. He set up factories around the world, including in the United States. During the Depression, instead of pulling in his horns, Bosch expanded and diversified; he had a reputation for very progressive labor and social policies, which didn't do him much good after the Nazis came to power. Bosch died in 1942, and after the war the family restructured the company's finances to support charities worldwide.
I think Bosch is going to be huge in solar and electric transport, and very quickly. Those of us who grew up tinkering with old cars and motorcycles have deep respect, if not warm fuzzies, for Bosch. When the Triumph or Fiat wouldn't start, you could blame Joseph Lucas or Magneti Marelli. But no one ever cursed the name of Robert Bosch."
Bosch is at least a $50 billion company. It's been selling solar water-heating equipment for several years. Last year Bosch bought controlling interest in Ersol, a leading German maker of solar cells and modules, in silicon and thin-film formats. A couple of days ago the company bought a controlling share of Aleo, a leading German thin-film module manufacturer. This latest announcement suggests that Bosch will make controllers and other circuitry for EVs and possibly make inverters for its own PV modules.
Bosch is a unique company and does things in ways that would be considered odd in any other corporation. It's the world's largest maker of electrical parts for cars and trucks, and so it's been hurt badly by the downturn in the automotive business. Setting up for EVs would be a normal reaction to this situation - the company will naturally be the major supplier of components for European-built EVs, including products from VW, Mercedes, BMW and Fiat.
Bosch is 92% owned by a charitable foundation -- it's as if the Ford Foundation got 92% of the profits from Ford Motor Co. The company is run by a board of trustees who themselves hold less than 1% of the stock but vote the 92% of shares owned by the foundation - and the Bosch family owns the remaining 7%. So the company makes decisions quickly and based on long-term planning, not on short-term stock price considerations. One result is they spend twice as much on R&D, as a percent of their budget, as anyone else in the automotive business.
A little historical background: Founder Robert Bosch was a farmer's son who trained as a technician and then went to America, where he worked for Thomas Edison for a few years (he also helped found a Siemens division in the UK). Back home in Germany, in 1897 he invented the first commercially successful magneto for motor vehicles; five years later his firm marketed the first reliable spark plug. He set up factories around the world, including in the United States. During the Depression, instead of pulling in his horns, Bosch expanded and diversified; he had a reputation for very progressive labor and social policies, which didn't do him much good after the Nazis came to power. Bosch died in 1942, and after the war the family restructured the company's finances to support charities worldwide.
I think Bosch is going to be huge in solar and electric transport, and very quickly. Those of us who grew up tinkering with old cars and motorcycles have deep respect, if not warm fuzzies, for Bosch. When the Triumph or Fiat wouldn't start, you could blame Joseph Lucas or Magneti Marelli. But no one ever cursed the name of Robert Bosch."
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Innovative new panels could extend solar reach « Daily Journal of Commerce
Innovative new panels could extend solar reach « Daily Journal of Commerce: "A transistor technology developed at Oregon State University could literally change the face of building. Solar panels that use the technology could be light, cheap and attractive enough to grace façades.
Colin Williams, CEO of Xtreme Energetics, based in Livermore, Calif., realized he needed better transistors for solar panels his company was developing. A Web search turned up the transparent transistors developed at Oregon State and licensed to Hewlett-Packard.
“They had, by far, the best technology,” Williams said. “HP has a tremendous reputation for high-quality manufacturing and process control, and OSU has very high standards in doing cutting-edge research in this field.”
Researchers hadn’t imagined that the transistors would find their way into solar panels. “We were just trying to create something brand new,” said Douglas Keszler, distinguished professor of chemistry at OSU. “It didn’t come across our minds immediately.”"
Colin Williams, CEO of Xtreme Energetics, based in Livermore, Calif., realized he needed better transistors for solar panels his company was developing. A Web search turned up the transparent transistors developed at Oregon State and licensed to Hewlett-Packard.
“They had, by far, the best technology,” Williams said. “HP has a tremendous reputation for high-quality manufacturing and process control, and OSU has very high standards in doing cutting-edge research in this field.”
Researchers hadn’t imagined that the transistors would find their way into solar panels. “We were just trying to create something brand new,” said Douglas Keszler, distinguished professor of chemistry at OSU. “It didn’t come across our minds immediately.”"
Monday, November 2, 2009
Alt Codes List of Alt Key Codes Symbols
Alt Codes List of Alt Key Codes Symbols: "Alt Codes, list of alt key codes alt symbols and characters.
This is the alt code characters table from 0-255 decimal numbers.
Check how to use alt code characters to learn the use of alt codes.
Symbol Number
☺ 1
☻ 2
♥ 3
♦ 4
♣ 5
♠ 6
• 7
◘ 8
○ 9
◙ 10
♂ 11
♀ 12
♪ 13
♫ 14
☼ 15
► 16
◄ 17
↕ 18
‼ 19
¶ 20
§ 21
▬ 22
↨ 23
↑ 24
↓ 25
→ 26
← 27
∟ 28
↔ 29
▲ 30
▼ 31
space 32
! 33
' 34
# 35
$ 36
% 37
& 38
' 39
( 40
) 41
* 42
+ 43
, 44
- 45
. 46
/ 47
0 48
1 49
2 50
3 51
4 52
5 53
6 54
7 55
8 56
9 57
: 58
; 59
< 60
= 61
> 62
? 63
@ 64
A 65
B 66
C 67
D 68
E 69
F 70
G 71
H 72
I 73
J 74
K 75
L 76
M 77
N 78
O 79
P 80
Q 81
R 82
S 83
T 84
U 85
Symbol Number
V 86
W 87
X 88
Y 89
Z 90
[ 91
\ 92
] 93
^ 94
_ 95
` 96
a 97
b 98
c 99
d 100
e 101
f 102
g 103
h 104
i 105
j 106
k 107
l 108
m 109
n 110
o 111
p 112
q 113
r 114
s 115
t 116
u 117
v 118
w 119
x 120
y 121
z 122
{ 123
| 124
} 125
~ 126
⌂ 127
Ç 128
ü 129
é 130
â 131
ä 132
à 133
å 134
ç 135
ê 136
ë 137
è 138
ï 139
î 140
ì 141
Ä 142
Å 143
É 144
æ 145
Æ 146
ô 147
ö 148
ò 149
û 150
ù 151
ÿ 152
Ö 153
Ü 154
¢ 155
£ 156
¥ 157
₧ 158
ƒ 159
á 160
í 161
ó 162
ú 163
ñ 164
Ñ 165
ª 166
º 167
¿ 168
⌐ 169
¬ 170
Symbol Number
½ 171
¼ 172
¡ 173
« 174
» 175
░ 176
▒ 177
▓ 178
│ 179
┤ 180
╡ 181
╢ 182
╖ 183
╕ 184
╣ 185
║ 186
╗ 187
╝ 188
╜ 189
╛ 190
┐ 191
└ 192
┴ 193
┬ 194
├ 195
─ 196
┼ 197
╞ 198
╟ 199
╚ 200
╔ 201
╩ 202
╦ 203
╠ 204
═ 205
╬ 206
╧ 207
╨ 208
╤ 209
╥ 210
╙ 211
╘ 212
╒ 213
╓ 214
╫ 215
╪ 216
┘ 217
┌ 218
█ 219
▄ 220
▌ 221
▐ 222
▀ 223
α 224
ß 225
Γ 226
π 227
Σ 228
σ 229
µ 230
τ 231
Φ 232
Θ 233
Ω 234
δ 235
∞ 236
φ 237
ε 238
∩ 239
≡ 240
± 241
≥ 242
≤ 243
⌠ 244
⌡ 245
÷ 246
≈ 247
° 248
∙ 249
· 250
√ 251
ⁿ 252
² 253
■ 254
255"
This is the alt code characters table from 0-255 decimal numbers.
Check how to use alt code characters to learn the use of alt codes.
Symbol Number
☺ 1
☻ 2
♥ 3
♦ 4
♣ 5
♠ 6
• 7
◘ 8
○ 9
◙ 10
♂ 11
♀ 12
♪ 13
♫ 14
☼ 15
► 16
◄ 17
↕ 18
‼ 19
¶ 20
§ 21
▬ 22
↨ 23
↑ 24
↓ 25
→ 26
← 27
∟ 28
↔ 29
▲ 30
▼ 31
space 32
! 33
' 34
# 35
$ 36
% 37
& 38
' 39
( 40
) 41
* 42
+ 43
, 44
- 45
. 46
/ 47
0 48
1 49
2 50
3 51
4 52
5 53
6 54
7 55
8 56
9 57
: 58
; 59
< 60
= 61
> 62
? 63
@ 64
A 65
B 66
C 67
D 68
E 69
F 70
G 71
H 72
I 73
J 74
K 75
L 76
M 77
N 78
O 79
P 80
Q 81
R 82
S 83
T 84
U 85
Symbol Number
V 86
W 87
X 88
Y 89
Z 90
[ 91
\ 92
] 93
^ 94
_ 95
` 96
a 97
b 98
c 99
d 100
e 101
f 102
g 103
h 104
i 105
j 106
k 107
l 108
m 109
n 110
o 111
p 112
q 113
r 114
s 115
t 116
u 117
v 118
w 119
x 120
y 121
z 122
{ 123
| 124
} 125
~ 126
⌂ 127
Ç 128
ü 129
é 130
â 131
ä 132
à 133
å 134
ç 135
ê 136
ë 137
è 138
ï 139
î 140
ì 141
Ä 142
Å 143
É 144
æ 145
Æ 146
ô 147
ö 148
ò 149
û 150
ù 151
ÿ 152
Ö 153
Ü 154
¢ 155
£ 156
¥ 157
₧ 158
ƒ 159
á 160
í 161
ó 162
ú 163
ñ 164
Ñ 165
ª 166
º 167
¿ 168
⌐ 169
¬ 170
Symbol Number
½ 171
¼ 172
¡ 173
« 174
» 175
░ 176
▒ 177
▓ 178
│ 179
┤ 180
╡ 181
╢ 182
╖ 183
╕ 184
╣ 185
║ 186
╗ 187
╝ 188
╜ 189
╛ 190
┐ 191
└ 192
┴ 193
┬ 194
├ 195
─ 196
┼ 197
╞ 198
╟ 199
╚ 200
╔ 201
╩ 202
╦ 203
╠ 204
═ 205
╬ 206
╧ 207
╨ 208
╤ 209
╥ 210
╙ 211
╘ 212
╒ 213
╓ 214
╫ 215
╪ 216
┘ 217
┌ 218
█ 219
▄ 220
▌ 221
▐ 222
▀ 223
α 224
ß 225
Γ 226
π 227
Σ 228
σ 229
µ 230
τ 231
Φ 232
Θ 233
Ω 234
δ 235
∞ 236
φ 237
ε 238
∩ 239
≡ 240
± 241
≥ 242
≤ 243
⌠ 244
⌡ 245
÷ 246
≈ 247
° 248
∙ 249
· 250
√ 251
ⁿ 252
² 253
■ 254
255"
Toyota to release solar charger for electric vehicles
Toyota to release solar charger for electric vehicles: "Toyota Industries Corporation's announcement follows similar press releases in August by Nissan Motor Co Ltd and Showa Shell Sekiyu KK.
Toyota's solar charging station will consist of solar cells capable of generating 100/200V of electricity. The station includes storage batteries to store the electricity generated until it is required to recharge electric vehicles. The station also has a communication facility to authenticate users' identification information, and to communicate the amount of charge and other data to a remote data center. The communication system is expected to use LANs and Mobile networks.
Earlier this year Toyota Industries unveiled a new public charging station for electric vehicles, which went on sale a few months ago at a cost of 450,000 Yen (around 4,600USD). Both the earlier public charging station and the new solar charging system were developed in collaboration with Nitto Kogyo Corporation.
A variety of charging station options is needed to address the potential range limitations of electric vehicles, and a significant network of charging stations will need to be deployed to make electric vehicles viable for longer distance travel. Virtually all major car manufacturers are planning to launch electric or plug-in hybrid cars starting next year.
Charging stations for electric cars are gradually becoming more widespread. In the UK the Department of Transport estimates there will be about two million electric vehicles by 2020. In the US, SolarCity and Rabbobank have created a partnership to provide free electric charging for electric vehicles traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles along Highway 101. SolarCity has also bought SolSource Energy, which is in the business of installing charging stations for electric cars.
Toyota made the announcement and exhibited the charging station and battery charger at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show being held from October 23 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba City, Japan. The solar charger is scheduled for release late next year or in 2011 at a price of several hundred thousand Yen.
Via: TechOn"
Toyota's solar charging station will consist of solar cells capable of generating 100/200V of electricity. The station includes storage batteries to store the electricity generated until it is required to recharge electric vehicles. The station also has a communication facility to authenticate users' identification information, and to communicate the amount of charge and other data to a remote data center. The communication system is expected to use LANs and Mobile networks.
Earlier this year Toyota Industries unveiled a new public charging station for electric vehicles, which went on sale a few months ago at a cost of 450,000 Yen (around 4,600USD). Both the earlier public charging station and the new solar charging system were developed in collaboration with Nitto Kogyo Corporation.
A variety of charging station options is needed to address the potential range limitations of electric vehicles, and a significant network of charging stations will need to be deployed to make electric vehicles viable for longer distance travel. Virtually all major car manufacturers are planning to launch electric or plug-in hybrid cars starting next year.
Charging stations for electric cars are gradually becoming more widespread. In the UK the Department of Transport estimates there will be about two million electric vehicles by 2020. In the US, SolarCity and Rabbobank have created a partnership to provide free electric charging for electric vehicles traveling between San Francisco and Los Angeles along Highway 101. SolarCity has also bought SolSource Energy, which is in the business of installing charging stations for electric cars.
Toyota made the announcement and exhibited the charging station and battery charger at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show being held from October 23 to November 4, 2009 at Makuhari Messe, in Chiba City, Japan. The solar charger is scheduled for release late next year or in 2011 at a price of several hundred thousand Yen.
Via: TechOn"
10 Week Old Oil Spill's Rig is Now On Fire : TreeHugger
10 Week Old Oil Spill's Rig is Now On Fire : TreeHugger: "You might recall back, in mid August 2009, when Matthew noted that an oil rig of the NW coast of Australia had sprung a leak. A rather bad leak that was expected to take some time to plug. Well, it's now November 2009, more than 70 days and four failed attempts later, the oil continues to gush into the Timor Sea, at an estimated rate of somewhere between 400 and 2,000 barrels per day. (A barrel contains 159 litres or 42 US gallons.)
But the news gets worse. On Sunday 1 November the West Atlas oil rig caught on fire, and oil company PTTEP Australasia admit they don't know how they are going to put it out. Should the rig collapse, the opportunities to plug the still leaking oil, pouring from the well bore 2.6km under the seabed, decline markedly. And the bad news keeps on coming.
West Atlas Oil Spill Chris Twomey photo
Photo: Chris Twomey, via The Greens>
Bob Brown, leader of the Greens in Australia, has called for the resignation of the government's Resources Minister over the 10 week catastrophe, particularly given that the he has apparently award PTTEP new drilling licenses while all this has been unfolding.
The Australian newspaper reported in mid October that over $5 million AUD of taxpayers' money has been spent at that time, to try an quell the oil spill, and yet PTTEP Australasia had only repaid the Australian Maritime Safety Authority $3.8 million.
Because such little information has been forthcoming on the environment impact of the oil spill in the Montara oil field, from either the government or the oil company, WWF Australia sent their own team to investigate.
They observe that PTTEP, the company responsible for the oil slick, reported high levels of mortality among oil- affected seabirds.
WWF's Director of Conservation Dr Gilly Llewellyn, noted that, 'Clearly, wildlife is dying and hundreds if not thousands of dolphins, seabirds and sea-snakes are being exposed to toxic oil. The critical issue is the long term impact of this slick on a rich marine ecosystem, taking into consideration the magnitude, extent and duration of the event. '
'We know that oil can be a slow and silent killer. Impacts from the Exxon Valdez disaster are still being seen 20 years later, so we can expect this environmental disaster will continue to unfold for years to come.'
Of particular concern is the largely remote north Australian coast line in an area known as the Kimberley. Eariler in 2009, Dr Steve Blake, Chief Executive of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), remarked that, 'Undoubtedly the Kimberley is one of the last true marine wildernesses in the world.' He was commenting on the discovery that the Kimberley region is not only home to oil exploration, but what be one of the largest humpback whale nurseries in the world. Which has moved the West Australian government to look at creating a Marine Park to protect their habitat.
A Wikipedia page has been posted on the Montara Oil Spill, providing updates as they come to hand, which were almost weekly, but at the moment seems to be daily, what with PTTEP issuing media statements in a constant flurry."
But the news gets worse. On Sunday 1 November the West Atlas oil rig caught on fire, and oil company PTTEP Australasia admit they don't know how they are going to put it out. Should the rig collapse, the opportunities to plug the still leaking oil, pouring from the well bore 2.6km under the seabed, decline markedly. And the bad news keeps on coming.
West Atlas Oil Spill Chris Twomey photo
Photo: Chris Twomey, via The Greens>
Bob Brown, leader of the Greens in Australia, has called for the resignation of the government's Resources Minister over the 10 week catastrophe, particularly given that the he has apparently award PTTEP new drilling licenses while all this has been unfolding.
The Australian newspaper reported in mid October that over $5 million AUD of taxpayers' money has been spent at that time, to try an quell the oil spill, and yet PTTEP Australasia had only repaid the Australian Maritime Safety Authority $3.8 million.
Because such little information has been forthcoming on the environment impact of the oil spill in the Montara oil field, from either the government or the oil company, WWF Australia sent their own team to investigate.
They observe that PTTEP, the company responsible for the oil slick, reported high levels of mortality among oil- affected seabirds.
WWF's Director of Conservation Dr Gilly Llewellyn, noted that, 'Clearly, wildlife is dying and hundreds if not thousands of dolphins, seabirds and sea-snakes are being exposed to toxic oil. The critical issue is the long term impact of this slick on a rich marine ecosystem, taking into consideration the magnitude, extent and duration of the event. '
'We know that oil can be a slow and silent killer. Impacts from the Exxon Valdez disaster are still being seen 20 years later, so we can expect this environmental disaster will continue to unfold for years to come.'
Of particular concern is the largely remote north Australian coast line in an area known as the Kimberley. Eariler in 2009, Dr Steve Blake, Chief Executive of the Western Australian Marine Science Institution (WAMSI), remarked that, 'Undoubtedly the Kimberley is one of the last true marine wildernesses in the world.' He was commenting on the discovery that the Kimberley region is not only home to oil exploration, but what be one of the largest humpback whale nurseries in the world. Which has moved the West Australian government to look at creating a Marine Park to protect their habitat.
A Wikipedia page has been posted on the Montara Oil Spill, providing updates as they come to hand, which were almost weekly, but at the moment seems to be daily, what with PTTEP issuing media statements in a constant flurry."
Fossil Fuel Subsidies More Than Double Those for Renewables - Renewable Energy World
Fossil Fuel Subsidies More Than Double Those for Renewables - Renewable Energy World: "The largest U.S subsidies to fossil fuels are attributed to tax breaks that aid foreign oil production, according to research from the Environmental Law Institute (ELI). The study, which reviewed fossil fuel and energy subsidies for Fiscal Years 2002-2008, revealed that the lion's share of energy subsidies supported energy sources that emit high levels of greenhouse gases.
The research demonstrates that the federal government provided substantially larger subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables. Fossil fuels benefited from approximately US $72 billion over the seven-year period, while subsidies for renewable fuels totaled only $29 billion."
The research demonstrates that the federal government provided substantially larger subsidies to fossil fuels than to renewables. Fossil fuels benefited from approximately US $72 billion over the seven-year period, while subsidies for renewable fuels totaled only $29 billion."
Energy Tribune- Clean Coal, a Global Failure in the Making
Energy Tribune- Clean Coal, a Global Failure in the Making: "Here’s a bit of unalloyed pessimism for you: Carbon capture and sequestration, more widely known as clean coal technology, is not going to work out. Governments and the coal industry are trying to bite off too much at once.
In theory, clean coal is a fine idea. The process of burning coal releases gases, which all modern plants already “scrub” of harmful substances like sulfur dioxide. To fight global warming, coal mine and plant owners want to do the same for carbon dioxide.
Sounds great, except that a fairly average-sized 1,500 megawatt coal plant produces about three billion tons of CO2 yearly. All that CO2 has to be separated out, a process that uses up a lot of the energy the plant produces. Then, according to current thinking, we must bury the CO2 and hope that it doesn’t come back up.
That’s a hell of a challenge. A report released Thursday by the pro-CCS Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute helps outline just how much. A few bullet-points:
* Clean coal research is currently moribund; only seven CCS projects exist today, and all are attached to gas plants
* The GCCSSI expects national governments to coordinate to give $100 billion yearly to CCS research
* Provided the money is forked over immediately, we might have 20 plants by 2020
* And if those initial plants work out as expected it will take until 2030 to have a significant number operating
* If the technology works as expected, it will add an average of 78 percent to the cost of electricity from coal
Anyone familiar with the basics of risk wouldn’t bet on that many “ifs”, especially given the looming difficulty of not only coaxing governments to throw trillions of dollars into research, but also share the technology as it develops.
Nevertheless, everything could work out perfectly and clean coal could be spreading in 2030. By that time, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere may be over 500ppm. That’s no problem if the climate change skeptics are right; if the 97 percent of climatologists who study climate change are right, that number would mean we’re in for some major upheaval.
In other words, we need better solutions, right now. For coal, there are already some available. Old, inefficient plants can be shut down in favor of new ones that operate at a much higher thermal efficiency, and work onnew concepts like underground coal gasification could be accelerated.
The $2.4 trillion the International Energy Agency says we should spend researching clean coal sould also be spent other ways; research and investment into renewables like geothermal and solar power come to mind, and it’s also enough money to buy several hundred nuclear plants.
If we do insist on clean coal, the concept needs a rethink. Trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to scrub CO2 is enough of a challenge. The additional problem of permanently sequestering it underground adds too much expense and uncertainty.
There are better ways. One would be to use the CO2 to create liquid fuels for transportation. Oddly, this idea is rarely brought up in the debate over clean coal, although scientists are already working on ways to use CO2 they captured from ambient air for fuel."
In theory, clean coal is a fine idea. The process of burning coal releases gases, which all modern plants already “scrub” of harmful substances like sulfur dioxide. To fight global warming, coal mine and plant owners want to do the same for carbon dioxide.
Sounds great, except that a fairly average-sized 1,500 megawatt coal plant produces about three billion tons of CO2 yearly. All that CO2 has to be separated out, a process that uses up a lot of the energy the plant produces. Then, according to current thinking, we must bury the CO2 and hope that it doesn’t come back up.
That’s a hell of a challenge. A report released Thursday by the pro-CCS Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute helps outline just how much. A few bullet-points:
* Clean coal research is currently moribund; only seven CCS projects exist today, and all are attached to gas plants
* The GCCSSI expects national governments to coordinate to give $100 billion yearly to CCS research
* Provided the money is forked over immediately, we might have 20 plants by 2020
* And if those initial plants work out as expected it will take until 2030 to have a significant number operating
* If the technology works as expected, it will add an average of 78 percent to the cost of electricity from coal
Anyone familiar with the basics of risk wouldn’t bet on that many “ifs”, especially given the looming difficulty of not only coaxing governments to throw trillions of dollars into research, but also share the technology as it develops.
Nevertheless, everything could work out perfectly and clean coal could be spreading in 2030. By that time, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere may be over 500ppm. That’s no problem if the climate change skeptics are right; if the 97 percent of climatologists who study climate change are right, that number would mean we’re in for some major upheaval.
In other words, we need better solutions, right now. For coal, there are already some available. Old, inefficient plants can be shut down in favor of new ones that operate at a much higher thermal efficiency, and work onnew concepts like underground coal gasification could be accelerated.
The $2.4 trillion the International Energy Agency says we should spend researching clean coal sould also be spent other ways; research and investment into renewables like geothermal and solar power come to mind, and it’s also enough money to buy several hundred nuclear plants.
If we do insist on clean coal, the concept needs a rethink. Trying to figure out the most cost-effective way to scrub CO2 is enough of a challenge. The additional problem of permanently sequestering it underground adds too much expense and uncertainty.
There are better ways. One would be to use the CO2 to create liquid fuels for transportation. Oddly, this idea is rarely brought up in the debate over clean coal, although scientists are already working on ways to use CO2 they captured from ambient air for fuel."
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Ford's new electric chief offers glimpse of future projects -- chicagotribune.com
Ford's new electric chief offers glimpse of future projects -- chicagotribune.com: "Ford said it expects to manufacture as many as 2 million electric and gas-electric cars and trucks over the next decade to meet what it sees as increased consumer interest in the fuel-friendlier segment as oil prices push higher.
The battery-powered Focus will be built in Michigan on the same assembly lines that put together the traditional gas version, and it is slated to be released in 2011."
The battery-powered Focus will be built in Michigan on the same assembly lines that put together the traditional gas version, and it is slated to be released in 2011."
Future May Involve Getting Paid to Charge Your Plug-in Vehicle : Gas 2.0
Future May Involve Getting Paid to Charge Your Plug-in Vehicle : Gas 2.0: "They say that nothing is free, but I may have come across the exception. In West Texas and Illinois, electric customers are being paid to use electricity. With the growth of wind energy in areas like Texas, Iowa and Minnesota, electric companies are occasionally producing more energy—especially during off-peak hours—than they can use. Why not store it you ask? Because there are not yet any good ways to store energy; a quest since electricity was created.
According to expert Terry Boston, who is the CEO of PJM, a company that manages the electricity grid in 13 mid-Atlantic states and Washington, the oversupply of electricity has forced prices into the negative range. The result: some customers are paid to use electricity."
According to expert Terry Boston, who is the CEO of PJM, a company that manages the electricity grid in 13 mid-Atlantic states and Washington, the oversupply of electricity has forced prices into the negative range. The result: some customers are paid to use electricity."
Plug-in electric cars: New technology, familiar feel | Green Tech - CNET News
Plug-in electric cars: New technology, familiar feel | Green Tech - CNET News: "In the past few weeks, I've had an opportunity to experience the cutting edge in plug-in electric vehicle technology. In some cases, you'd think you're just driving a regular car.
The bulk of production plug-in electric vehicles available now are either utility trucks, small cars that top out at 25 miles per hour, or the pricey Tesla Roadster sports car. Now automakers are building plug-in sedans and SUVs with lithium ion batteries designed for the mass market.
Judging from the cars I've driven, automakers are trying to strike a balance between enticing consumers with new technology but not asking them to make sacrifices. So even though electrification is shaking up the auto industry, the biggest learning curve for owners may be around fueling rather than driving. And if the goal is to make plug-ins mainstream, that's probably a good thing.
Consider the electric Ford Focus which is due out in 2011. It runs entirely on batteries for a range of about 100 miles and will be manufactured side-by-side with the gasoline edition.
During my drive two weeks ago, I was eager to feel the acceleration. Vehicles that run off electric motors have 'instant torque,' which means you get the car's top acceleration at all speeds. The Focus was indeed zippy and responsive, but when I asked if it was better than the gasoline Focus, Ford's director of global electrification Nancy Gioia told me that it'd be the same--on purpose."
The bulk of production plug-in electric vehicles available now are either utility trucks, small cars that top out at 25 miles per hour, or the pricey Tesla Roadster sports car. Now automakers are building plug-in sedans and SUVs with lithium ion batteries designed for the mass market.
Judging from the cars I've driven, automakers are trying to strike a balance between enticing consumers with new technology but not asking them to make sacrifices. So even though electrification is shaking up the auto industry, the biggest learning curve for owners may be around fueling rather than driving. And if the goal is to make plug-ins mainstream, that's probably a good thing.
Consider the electric Ford Focus which is due out in 2011. It runs entirely on batteries for a range of about 100 miles and will be manufactured side-by-side with the gasoline edition.
During my drive two weeks ago, I was eager to feel the acceleration. Vehicles that run off electric motors have 'instant torque,' which means you get the car's top acceleration at all speeds. The Focus was indeed zippy and responsive, but when I asked if it was better than the gasoline Focus, Ford's director of global electrification Nancy Gioia told me that it'd be the same--on purpose."
Waiting in the Wings, Rechargeable Zinc Batteries | Green Energy News
Waiting in the Wings, Rechargeable Zinc Batteries | Green Energy News: "If it ain’t cheap it can’t compete. That coarse sentence should be the motto of every company wishing to replace oil with something else.
Anyone who thinks oil is going away soon is mistaken. Government (ours in particular) doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to demand a significant cut in consumption, like upping the fuel economy standard to 100 mpg.
Oil isn’t running out either, but oil is getting more and more difficult to find and retrieve. (BP announced a giant Gulf of Mexico find this week – at 35000 feet, one of the deepest wells drilled to date, illustrates this fact.)
Oil companies, too, are drooling over the prospect of drilling at the North Pole. If that happens you can bet that oil companies hope to eventually weaken the resolve of Antarctic’s managing governments to allow for drilling in the now-pristine continent. There’s no reason to think that there isn’t any oil there. Every other continent has oil, why shouldn’t Antarctica?
Oil will disappear as a basis for transportation fuel when something comes along that offers the same basic features: power-packed, cheap, stored energy that’s easy to handle and quick to refuel with."
Anyone who thinks oil is going away soon is mistaken. Government (ours in particular) doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to demand a significant cut in consumption, like upping the fuel economy standard to 100 mpg.
Oil isn’t running out either, but oil is getting more and more difficult to find and retrieve. (BP announced a giant Gulf of Mexico find this week – at 35000 feet, one of the deepest wells drilled to date, illustrates this fact.)
Oil companies, too, are drooling over the prospect of drilling at the North Pole. If that happens you can bet that oil companies hope to eventually weaken the resolve of Antarctic’s managing governments to allow for drilling in the now-pristine continent. There’s no reason to think that there isn’t any oil there. Every other continent has oil, why shouldn’t Antarctica?
Oil will disappear as a basis for transportation fuel when something comes along that offers the same basic features: power-packed, cheap, stored energy that’s easy to handle and quick to refuel with."
Metal Fuels on My Mind | Green Energy News
Metal Fuels on My Mind | Green Energy News: "For example, the theoretical energy density of a Zinc-air battery (1370 Watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg)) is significantly higher than average commercial Li-ion batteries (about 200 Wh/kg). Although previously relegated to hearing aid batteries, recent advances, including those provided by QSI, have enabled new applications for metal-air, such as portable electronic devices and light electric vehicles."
Metal Fuels on My Mind | Green Energy News
Metal Fuels on My Mind | Green Energy News: "Among my favorites are metal-air fuel cells and metal-air batteries. Metal-air technology, for now, includes Zinc-air (Zn-air), Magnesium-Air (Mg-air), Aluminum-air (Al-air). Lithium-air (li-air) is apparently possible and one would think many other metals could be used to store and generate electricity when exposed to the stuff we breathe.
The roots of metal-air goes back a century or more – much more – but I won’t get into that in this story.
I like the zinc, magnesium and aluminum in metal-air batteries and fuel cells because, unlike Lithium, all are abundant on the planet, particularly aluminum. (It’s the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.) All are easily recyclable too. The use of any of those three metals with the “air” technology would allow for unlimited, low-cost energy storage for stationary and mobile applications. The hurdle of energy storage would be leaped."
The roots of metal-air goes back a century or more – much more – but I won’t get into that in this story.
I like the zinc, magnesium and aluminum in metal-air batteries and fuel cells because, unlike Lithium, all are abundant on the planet, particularly aluminum. (It’s the most abundant metal in the earth’s crust.) All are easily recyclable too. The use of any of those three metals with the “air” technology would allow for unlimited, low-cost energy storage for stationary and mobile applications. The hurdle of energy storage would be leaped."
Sopogy Brings CSP to Rooftop Market | Green Energy News
Sopogy Brings CSP to Rooftop Market | Green Energy News: "Sopogy has introduced SopoFlare is the first commercially available Concentrating Solar Power technology designed specifically for rooftop installations. The technology is used to create steam, solar thermal air conditioning, drying, dehumidification, desalination, hot water. In addition SopoFlare utilizes Sopogy’s proprietary integrated tracker and storage solutions and is priced at 30% cheaper than competing rooftop solar technologies, according to the company. The system retrofits into existing facilities reducing natural gas consumption giving users an estimated 3 year payback on installation.
SopoFlare combines the revolutionary features and applications of Sopogy’s award winning SopoNova (tm) 4.0 concentrating solar thermal collector, in a smaller, lightweight, environmentally rugged collector. SopoFlare’s compact design at 8 feet long by 2.5 feet wide is perfect for quick and easy installation by local HVAC and plumbing professionals."
SopoFlare combines the revolutionary features and applications of Sopogy’s award winning SopoNova (tm) 4.0 concentrating solar thermal collector, in a smaller, lightweight, environmentally rugged collector. SopoFlare’s compact design at 8 feet long by 2.5 feet wide is perfect for quick and easy installation by local HVAC and plumbing professionals."
Ford and Azure Dynamics Team to Deliver Battery Electric Commercial Van | Green Energy News
Ford and Azure Dynamics Team to Deliver Battery Electric Commercial Van | Green Energy News: "Ford Motor Company has announced that Azure Dynamics Corporation has joined in a collaborative effort to deliver a pure battery electric Ford Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will integrate its Force Drive(TM) battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use.
The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft."
The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft."
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