Archive for April, 2010
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas Industries Butt Heads; Natural Gas May Not be as Clean as Thought
As we chugg along into whatever alternative transportation and energy future we’re creating for ourselves, it is clear that it shouldn’t involve such a singular dependence on one energy source as we’ve had. If anything, our last 100 years have taught us that relying so completely on oil can have many disastrous effects, ranging the [...]
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2010 Mazda CX-7 Diesel Test Drive | Popular Mechanics
A diesel-powered SUV from Japan is just over the horizon. This post originally appeared on the Popular Mechanics website, where you can read it in its entirety. Written by Ken Gross. Despite widespread acceptance of diesel engines in Europe (approximately 90 percent of the cars in the U.K. use diesels), Americans still shudder at the [...]
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With 115,000 People on the Interest List, Nissan LEAF Reservations Start Tomorrow
Just a friendly, EV enthusiast reminder: the official process of buying a new Nissan LEAF starts tomorrow! Up until now the world of LEAF waiting lists involved a non-committal “interest” list that you could sign up for through the Nissan website. Although there are now 115,000 people on that list, it in no way put [...]
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U.S. Navy Targets Microbe that Feasts on Mud for New Fuel Cell
“Think of it as a battery that runs on mud,” says the U.S. Office of Naval Research, and there in a nutshell is the concept behind the Navy’s new microbial fuel cell. The Navy has been using small lightweight microbial fuel cells to power sensors (to track sea turtles, for example) and now its goal [...]
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Four Reasons Why a Prius Minivan Matters
Toyota launched the Estima Hybrid minivan in Japan in 2001. A new report indicates that the company will launch a Prius hybrid minivan in 2011. The Japanese Nikkei business daily reported on Friday that Toyota will launch a Prius-badged hybrid minivan. Toyota is not officially confirming the story—so the timing and any other details should [...]
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Fisker Hits Heartland with Karma Plug-in Hybrid Tour
Fisker Karma. The Fisker Karma might be the only plug-in hybrid available in smaller cities in the heartland for some time. Next week, Fisker will kick off a whistle-stop North American tour of the Fisker Karma $87,000 plug-in hybrid sports car. Unlike the electric-drive competition, Fisker is hitting uncharted EV markets, such as Plano, Tex., [...]
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OPEL Solar, Inc. and Tecneira, S.A. Launch Partnership with One Megawatt Solar Plant
Shelton, CT and Toronto, ON, April 20, 2010 – OPEL Solar, Inc., a leading global developer and supplier of high concentration photovoltaic (“HCPV”) solar panels and other solar products, including ground-based and rooftop tracker systems, today announced it has signed an agreement with Tecneira, S.A., the Portugal renewable energy company of the ProCME Group. The [...]
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British Columbia to Proceed with Site C Hydropower Project
The government of British Columbia announced it is moving forward with the 900-MW Site C hydropower project on the Peace River. email this article to a friend
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International Energy Agency: Triggering the CSP revolution
This month, the International Energy Agency will release its ‘IEA CSP Roadmap’, a sector appraisal and set of policy recommendations requested by the G8 leaders, which the IEA believes, will trigger a global energy revolution. CSP Today speaks to Cédric Philibert, senior analyst at the IEA’s Renewable Energy Division, to gain insight into the IEA’s [...]
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MyFord Touch Driver Interface is Light Years Better Than the Rest; Adds Useful Fuel Economy Coaching Features
In my view, one of the most important aspects of next generation vehicles is how well their drivers (and passengers) can interact with them. As our cars become much more complicated machines that provide increasing access to valuable information available through features such as detailed navigation, energy usage statistics, vehicle status reports, and Internet access, [...]
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Aptera Unveils 200 MPG 2E Prototype | Popular Mechanics
Aptera unveils a design-intent version of its all-electric 2E and insists that it’s on the road to financial stability. This post originally appeared on the Popular Mechanics website, where you can read the entire post. Written by Basem Wasef. CARLSBAD, Calif.—On Wednesday, Aptera’s vice president and chief engineer Tom Reichenbach unveiled a design-intent prototype of the [...]
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GM, NASA Sending ‘Robonaut’ to Space Station; GM Aims to Improve Manufacturing
It’s a bit of a NASAriffic day in the next generation automobile world! First we heard about a burgeoning relationship between Chrysler and NASA, and today brings word that GM has also teamed with the space agency to work on building advanced robotics for both automobile manufacturing and future missions to space. (more…) email this [...]
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Renault Finalizes Designs of Fluence and Kangoo EVs, Accepting Pre-Reservations
Not to let its sister company Nissan get away with all the electric car press, Renault has also been busy finalizing its plans for releasing electric cars to Europe and Israel early next year. Today Renault showed off the finalized designs of its Fluence electric sedan and its Kangoo small commercial electric delivery van. In [...]
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Despite Caveats, Prius Plug-in Hybrid Could Be Surprise Hit
The Prius Plug-in Hybrid, in La Jolla, Calif., on the route of our first test-drive of the vehicle. Nearly 70 percent of our 18.5 mile drive was in pure electric mode. Nissan says the all-electric Nissan Leaf will leapfrog the Toyota Prius as the greenest car on the market. GM says the Chevy Volt plug-in [...]
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Senate Leaders Consider New Gas Tax
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., are planning to release a plan for a climate and energy bill by Earth Day on April 22. In a rare occurrence, these leaders are considering a new tax on gasoline to help win Republican and oil industry support for proposed legislation. In fact, [...]
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GM: Chevy Volt On Schedule, Dodges 230-MPG Claim
2011 Chevy Volt With the countdown to the introduction of the Chevy Volt now at seven months, General Motors held a one-hour technical update Monday on the vehicle’s progress. The engineering team focused on actual test numbers, and steered away from broad marketing messages—as if to say that it’s time to get real about what [...]
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Michigan Powers Job Creation with Electric Car Battery Production
Ford will build battery packs for hybrid and electric cars, such as the Ford Focus Electric, at its Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti Township. The move is part of a $450 million investment that will bring new jobs to the area. Hybrid and electric cars offer a range of benefits, including reduced emissions and enhanced [...]
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Calpine’s The Geysers Wins Ninth Consecutive Environmental Award from … – MarketWatch (press release)
Calpine's The Geysers Wins Ninth Consecutive Environmental Award from …MarketWatch (press release)To learn more about The Geysers and about geothermal energy, visit the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center in Middletown. Since opening in 2001, the Visitors … and more » email this article to a friend
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Iceland could pay off debt with geo-power – NRC International
NRC International Iceland could pay off debt with geo-powerNRC InternationalFuel costs account for 30 to 50 percent of the total cost of electric power generated in a coal-fired power plant. For a gas-fired plant this can be as much … and more » email this article to a friend
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Indonesia’s hotbed of power – Industrial Fuels and Power (blog)
Indonesia's hotbed of powerIndustrial Fuels and Power (blog)Moreover, increasing environmental concerns have also led to a greater interest in the use of renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy. … and more » email this article to a friend
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MHI to Collaborate with Reykjavik Energy of Iceland in Developing Geothermal … – MarketWatch (press release)
MHI to Collaborate with Reykjavik Energy of Iceland in Developing Geothermal …MarketWatch (press release)OR, one of the world's leading geothermal power generation companies, is looking to promote geothermal energy use globally and has already begun development … and more » email this article to a friend
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Waratah Coal gives geothermal boost in the Galilee – The Australian Journal of Mining
Waratah Coal gives geothermal boost in the GalileeThe Australian Journal of MiningIf it is commercially viable for a power plant to produce electricity for 10 cents per kilowatt hour, then there are going to be power plants by 2020,” … email this article to a friend
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KACO NEW ENERGY USA partners with distributor Aten Solar
KACO new energy the world’s second largest inverter manufacturer; with over 2GW of PV inverters in the field to date is thrilled to announce the most recent partnership with distribution specialist Aten Solar. email this article to a friend
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