Oregon gets huge windfarm project: "he Columbia River gorge, running east from Portland, Ore., funnels Pacific winds so efficiently that Hood River, about 120 miles (200 km) inland, is world famous as a windsurfing site. 60 miles (100 km) further east, the farming town of Arlington is rapidly becoming one of the largest producers of wind power in the nation.
The 97 MW Wheatfield Wind Farm went online last July, consisting of 56 2.1 MW Suzlon turbines. Now General Electric has signed a contract to provide 338 2.5 MW turbines for Caithness Energy's massive 845 MW Shepherd's Flat wind farm, with a 20-year contract to send power to Southern California Edison. The $2 billion project will employ about 400 workers beginning in 2011, with construction scheduled to complete in 2012."
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Technology Review: Nissan's Leaf: Charged with Information
Technology Review: Nissan's Leaf: Charged with Information: "'Most people think that the charging infrastructure is the Achilles' heel of an electric vehicle project. But it's really not,' says Mark Perry, Nissan's director of product planning and advanced technology strategy. 'We are doing this to address peace of mind. We think people will recharge at home 80 percent of the time. But this lets people feel comfortable with the what-ifs,' he added.
Perry sees the dashboard information offered by the Leaf going even further in the future. 'Eventually what will be available is not only charging station locations, but if they are occupied and unoccupied, and even a reservation process,' says Perry."
Perry sees the dashboard information offered by the Leaf going even further in the future. 'Eventually what will be available is not only charging station locations, but if they are occupied and unoccupied, and even a reservation process,' says Perry."
The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2009 �� MetaEfficient Reviews
The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2009 �� MetaEfficient Reviews: "LaCrosse Technology BC-900 Alpha Battery Charger and Recovery System
This is a “smart” charger with automated recondition features, and even a test feature. It shows battery voltage and charge status on its built in digital display. It has four separate charge channels so you can charge one, two three or four batteries at a time – even on individual charge programs, that is, you can test one battery while charging the others. It comes with four AA and four AAA batteries, four battery adapters (which convert AA sized battery to C and D sizes) and a carry case. It available from Amazon for about $40."
This is a “smart” charger with automated recondition features, and even a test feature. It shows battery voltage and charge status on its built in digital display. It has four separate charge channels so you can charge one, two three or four batteries at a time – even on individual charge programs, that is, you can test one battery while charging the others. It comes with four AA and four AAA batteries, four battery adapters (which convert AA sized battery to C and D sizes) and a carry case. It available from Amazon for about $40."
The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2009 �� MetaEfficient Reviews
The Best Rechargeable Batteries and Chargers Of 2009 �� MetaEfficient Reviews: "Eneloop Rechargeable Batteries by Sanyo
Eneloop batteries are Ni-MH batteries made by Sanyo in Japan. Like the Hybrios, Eneloops come fully charged out-of-the-box, and have a slow self-discharging range. They can also be recharged in any Ni-MH charger. Sanyo says Eneloops can be recharged up to 1000 times, and they will retain their charged capacity even after 6 or 12 months of storage. (According to Sanyo the specs are: 90% of charged capacity retained after 6 months, and 85% capacity after 12 months at 20 degree Celsius). The AA-sized (R6) batteries are rated at 2000mAh, and the AAA-sized (R03) cells are rated at 800mAh. The price is similar to the Hybrios: a pack of four AA Eneloops costs about $12. The charge times are as follows: AA Eneloops charge in 230 minutes, and AAA Eneloops charge in 135 minutes."
Eneloop batteries are Ni-MH batteries made by Sanyo in Japan. Like the Hybrios, Eneloops come fully charged out-of-the-box, and have a slow self-discharging range. They can also be recharged in any Ni-MH charger. Sanyo says Eneloops can be recharged up to 1000 times, and they will retain their charged capacity even after 6 or 12 months of storage. (According to Sanyo the specs are: 90% of charged capacity retained after 6 months, and 85% capacity after 12 months at 20 degree Celsius). The AA-sized (R6) batteries are rated at 2000mAh, and the AAA-sized (R03) cells are rated at 800mAh. The price is similar to the Hybrios: a pack of four AA Eneloops costs about $12. The charge times are as follows: AA Eneloops charge in 230 minutes, and AAA Eneloops charge in 135 minutes."
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Nissan Leaf
The Nissan Leaf: "Range: 100 miles
Passengers: 5
Doors: 4 rear hatch
Motor: 80KW
Top speed: 90 mph
All-LED lighting
Backup camera
Cell phone accessible for checking charge state, programming charge cycle, etc.
Navigation system is standard equipment
Batteries (24KWH Li-ion) manufactured by Nissan
Batteries will be leased in markets outside the U.S. but may be available for purchase in the U.S.
8-hour charge time with standard 240V home charger (conductive)
Less than 30-minute charge time with Nissan fast charger (440/480 VDC)
Charge port(s): front/center under Nissan badge plate
Regenerative braking upon releasing accelerator (i.e. AC Propulsion style)
12VDC auxiliary electronics with separate battery (solar charger backup on rear of car roof)
Spare tire - undetermined
Availability: 2010 in some states (signups in Feb. 2010), 2012 planned mass production in U.S.
Price: undetermined, but targeted at under $35K for vehicle purchased battery pack"
Passengers: 5
Doors: 4 rear hatch
Motor: 80KW
Top speed: 90 mph
All-LED lighting
Backup camera
Cell phone accessible for checking charge state, programming charge cycle, etc.
Navigation system is standard equipment
Batteries (24KWH Li-ion) manufactured by Nissan
Batteries will be leased in markets outside the U.S. but may be available for purchase in the U.S.
8-hour charge time with standard 240V home charger (conductive)
Less than 30-minute charge time with Nissan fast charger (440/480 VDC)
Charge port(s): front/center under Nissan badge plate
Regenerative braking upon releasing accelerator (i.e. AC Propulsion style)
12VDC auxiliary electronics with separate battery (solar charger backup on rear of car roof)
Spare tire - undetermined
Availability: 2010 in some states (signups in Feb. 2010), 2012 planned mass production in U.S.
Price: undetermined, but targeted at under $35K for vehicle purchased battery pack"
LBNL Study: Wind Power Projects Do Not Decrease Land Values - Renewable Energy World
LBNL Study: Wind Power Projects Do Not Decrease Land Values - Renewable Energy World: "With more than 30,000 megawatts of wind energy capacity installed across the United States and more on the way, many communities are concerned about the impact of wind farms on the property values. A new report released today by the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) evaluates that concern. The report found that that proximity to wind energy facilities does not have a pervasive or widespread adverse effect on the property values of nearby homes.
The new report, funded by the DOE, is based on site visits, data collection and analysis of almost 7,500 single-family home sales in areas where wind farms have been developed.
“Neither the view of wind energy facilities nor the distance of the home to those facilities was found to have any consistent, measurable, and significant effect on the selling prices of nearby homes,” said report author Ben Hoen, a consultant to Berkeley Lab. “No matter how we looked at the data, the same result kept coming back - no evidence of widespread impacts.”"
The new report, funded by the DOE, is based on site visits, data collection and analysis of almost 7,500 single-family home sales in areas where wind farms have been developed.
“Neither the view of wind energy facilities nor the distance of the home to those facilities was found to have any consistent, measurable, and significant effect on the selling prices of nearby homes,” said report author Ben Hoen, a consultant to Berkeley Lab. “No matter how we looked at the data, the same result kept coming back - no evidence of widespread impacts.”"
America's Right: 'The Promise of the Electric Vehicle'
America's Right: 'The Promise of the Electric Vehicle': "Lost in a lot of the hubbub, however, is the reality that it is indeed in the best interests of us all to be responsible stewards of our planet and make best use of our resources, not for concern that the seas will catastrophically rise or that the thriving polar bear population will drown, but because true energy independence is in our national interests, and because--like Boy Scouts striking camp and leaving a campsite--we have an overall responsibility to leave this place cleaner for the next generation than it was for us."
Left or right, EVs are a good idea.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)