Archive for December, 2009
Caterpillar’s D7E Diesel-Electic Hybrid Tractor is an Earth Friendlier Earth Mover
As a construction industry giant, Caterpillar is best known for moving earth, and now the company seems ready to move the entire off-road vehicle and equipment sector into more sustainable technology that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and cuts reliance on fossil fuels. With its new D7E tractor, Caterpillar is out to demonstrate that a diesel-electric [...]
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Inside Aptera’s Troubles: Part II
[Editor's Note: This is part two of an ongoing expose that Karen Pease started last month. She has developed many personal relationships with people inside and out of Aptera over the years and has been able to get the best picture we've seen so far of the quirky EV manufacturer's troubles from her inside sources. [...]
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Will Saab’s Saad Saga End Happily with an Electric Car?
Lately, iconic Swedish automaker, Saab, has been the hottest potato in the world of nearly-doomed-but-possibly-still-alive auto brands. On the heels of a collapsed deal with Swedish luxury car maker, Koenigsegg, GM looked set to sell the Saab brand to little-known Dutch-run but Russian-backed luxury car maker, Spyker. In fact, everything about the Spyker-GM deal started [...]
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Ford Improves Fleet Fuel Efficiency By 20% Over Last Five Years
I’ll admit upfront, I’m a Ford fanboy. I bleed Ford blue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a car fanboy in general, but Ford is numero uno in my book… and now I have another reason to love the Blue Oval. According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency, Ford has improved its average fleet [...]
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Hydrogen Backers Punch Back at Plug-in Car Supporters
The Washington Post used a report from the National Research Council to criticize government subsidies for plug-in hybrids, such as the Fisker Karma. After pouring billions of dollars of federal money into fuel cell car research over decades, the US Department of Energy recently cut way back on hydrogen funding—making long-time hydrogen supporters look like [...]
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7 Shape-Shifting Green Concept Cars in 2009
Last year at this time, we profiled the Top 10 Wackiest Green Concept Cars of 2008. Here we go again. This year, we kept our list to seven—all of which fall into the theme of cars that can change shape or otherwise be radically transformed. None of these cars stand a chance of going into [...]
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Hurricane Wind Power releases wind generators with high efficiency patented technology
Hurricane Wind Power LLC of Virginia in response to much consumer interest is releasing a new Permanent Magnet Alternator that is highly efficient. This product is targeted for the do -it-your-self builder of wind generators. This product in testing has outperformed ever other generator head on the market. email this article to a friend
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Surrette Battery Launches Additional 2V Batteries
Surrette Battery, manufacturer of the Rolls Battery line of leading North American lead-acid batteries, has introduced two (2) higher capacity 2V battery models to our Renewable Energy line-up. email this article to a friend
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SolarReserve & NV Energy Sign 100-MW CSP Deal
SolarReserve this week signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with NV Energy for the sale of electricity from SolarReserve’s Crescent Dunes concentrating solar power (CSP) project. Developed and owned by SolarReserve’s subsidiary, Tonopah Solar Energy, LLC, the 100-megawatt project will supply approximately 480,000 megawatt hours of electricity annually. email this article to a friend
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Associatesfortune.com: Profiling Energy Quest, Inc. & Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. – Trading Markets (press release)
Associatesfortune.com: Profiling Energy Quest, Inc. & Nevada Geothermal Power Inc.Trading Markets (press release)The syngas generated by the gasification process can be utilized to generate electricity and or process heat. The Energy Quest process results in a … and more » email this article to a friend
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Geothermal projects get funding boost – The Ecologist
Geothermal projects get funding boostThe EcologistGermany already has an estimated 150 geothermal power plant projects in the pipeline. Geothermal energy involves pumping water usually up to 5km underground … and more » email this article to a friend
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Geothermal power plant gets funds – BBC News
BBC News Geothermal power plant gets fundsBBC NewsThe power plant – using "hot rocks" technology – is to be based at Redruth and would provide electricity and heat for homes and businesses. … and more » email this article to a friend
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Hot rocks for Cornwall gets a boost – Falmouth Penryn Packet
Hot rocks for Cornwall gets a boostFalmouth Penryn PacketChief Technical Advisor of the company is Dr Tony Batchelor who has been involved in geothermal energy for some years and led a team drilling the granite at … and more » email this article to a friend
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EDITORIAL: Geothermal energy: Feds should fund Jemez Pueblo project – istockAnalyst.com (press release)
EDITORIAL: Geothermal energy: Feds should fund Jemez Pueblo projectistockAnalyst.com (press release)The tribe is looking at using the geothermal energy to develop a power plant. If the source isn't sufficient for that, scaled-back plans include a spa, … and more » email this article to a friend
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In Copenhagen, 14 of World’s Biggest Cities Commit to EVs
Fourteen of the world’s largest cities agreed to take steps over the coming year to make their cities more electric vehicle-friendly. The announcement was made at the ‘Climate Summit for Mayors’, which is being held alongside the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Half the world’s population lives in cities that account for more than [...]
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Volvo Bringing Updated Electric C30 To Detroit, Will Start Trials in 2011
Last September, Volvo introduced a proof of concept version of its all-electric C30 compact car. That car was more of a novelty than anything else; but now Volvo has done up the interior and added a complete set of instruments to bring the C30 EV to the prototype stage of a distant production version. They [...]
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More Than Half of Londoners Could Have Their Groceries Delivered by EV in 2010
Sainsbury’s has been testing a fleet of 20 Smith Electric Vehicles for delivering groceries for several years and has found that they easily get the job done. Now it’s just ordered 50 more of the three and a half ton Edison vans—making the grocery chain (at least for now) the world leader in EV grocery [...]
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2011 Mazda Miata MX-5 To Get Fuel Sipping SKY-G Engine
The Mazda Miata (or MX-5 as it is now called) is one of those quiet-yet-consistent cars that rarely gets much press, positive or negative. Yet it has been leading the roadster revolution for two decades now. It is a light, agile car that dominates autocross and road racing events across the country due to its [...]
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Electric Vehicles: 10 Predictions for 2010
A new era of the electrified vehicle will soon be upon us. That’s incredibly exciting for everyone who wants our cars and trucks to have a smaller environmental footprint, and for those who understand the importance of reducing our dependence on oil. At the same time, it’s critical that enthusiasts, companies, and governments take a [...]
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Civic Hybrid Mileage Brouhaha Continues
2003 Honda Civic Hybrid In March 2007, two Honda Civic Hybrid owners filed a class action lawsuit against Honda because their cars were averaging 31 miles per gallon—well below the advertised 49 mpg in the city and 51 mpg on the highway. The news this week that Honda offered to settle the suit has done [...]
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For Electric Cars, What’s In a Name?
As the Bard might have put it, “That which we call an all-electric emissions-free vehicle, by any other name would drive as sweet.” To gain mainstream acceptance by mainstream car buyers, electric cars will face all kinds of real economic and technical challenges—such as limited driving range, hefty price premiums, and lack of charging stations. [...]
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Aries Ingeniería y Sistemas secures the feed-in-tariff for three 50 MW CSP plants
• The total investment required for the three ARIES projects combined (ASTE 1A, ASTE 1B and ASTEXOL-2) will be in excess of EUR 900 million ($1400M). 1.500 jobs will be created during construction and another 150 jobs during plant operation. • The three ARIES plants, totaling 150 MW, are being built in Alcázar de San [...]
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New approaches for better energy economy: Efficiency concepts for NORD drive solutions
Savings are a big issue in all industry branches, today more than ever, which leads many users to try and reduce the power consumption of drive systems. However, such considerations should not merely focus on optimizing the consumption of individual electric motors, but should instead encompass drive systems solutions as a whole. Providing user-specific, customized [...]
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Free Renewable Energy Really Does Make A Difference
If everyone used solar panels and wind generators at home they would save a bundle of money for themselves and help the environment more than the politicians talking at Copenhagen ever will! email this article to a friend
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