6) Cambridge, Mass.
In 2008, Prevention Magazine named Cambridge "the best walking city." Thoreau's Walden Pond can be found in nearby Concord, and education powerhouses Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University are located here. In 2002, city officials implemented a major climate protection plan and today most city vehicles are fueled by B20 biodiesel or electricity. All new construction or major renovations must meet LEED standards. And a project called "Compost that Stuff" collects and processes organic waste from residents, restaurants,
There was an aggravating beer commercial that wouldnt move to allow the rest of the sentence to be captured.
Showing posts with label electric vehicles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electric vehicles. Show all posts
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Obama Lauds Nellis Solar Array
President Obama is at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada today. Not to talk to the drone pilots or network warfare specialists stationed there — but to highlight the installation’s king-sized solar array.
For years, the U.S. military has been on a lurching, irregular march towards green power and green energy. Along the way, it’s built biodiesel generators in Baghdad, bought thousands of electric vehicles, installed wind farms at bases around the country — and put together America’s largest solar array, at Nellis.
The 140-acre array, made from more than 72,000 solar panels, went online in December, 2007. It’s designed to generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
“That’s the equivalent of powering about 13,200 homes during the day. It’s a project that took about half a year to complete, created 200 jobs, and will save the U.S. Air Force, which is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, nearly $1 million a year,” Obama said. “It will also reduce harmful carbon pollution by 24,000 tons a year, which is the equivalent of removing 4,000 cars from our roads. Most importantly, this base serves as a shining example of what’s possible when we harness the power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.”
The military, for its part, is pushing ahead with alt-energy and alt-power efforts. The recent stimulus bill gives the armed forces an extra $300 million to fund 51 energy research projects, plus another $120 million to go towards energy conservation. The Pentagon’s new budget contains an extra $75 million in new energy projects — from “Landfill Gas Energy Capture” to a “Tactical, Deployable Micro-Grid.” And plans are proceeding for a 500-megawatt solar array at Ft. Irwin, California that would make the Nellis panel collection look teeny by comparison
For years, the U.S. military has been on a lurching, irregular march towards green power and green energy. Along the way, it’s built biodiesel generators in Baghdad, bought thousands of electric vehicles, installed wind farms at bases around the country — and put together America’s largest solar array, at Nellis.
The 140-acre array, made from more than 72,000 solar panels, went online in December, 2007. It’s designed to generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year.
“That’s the equivalent of powering about 13,200 homes during the day. It’s a project that took about half a year to complete, created 200 jobs, and will save the U.S. Air Force, which is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, nearly $1 million a year,” Obama said. “It will also reduce harmful carbon pollution by 24,000 tons a year, which is the equivalent of removing 4,000 cars from our roads. Most importantly, this base serves as a shining example of what’s possible when we harness the power of clean, renewable energy to build a new, firmer foundation for economic growth.”
The military, for its part, is pushing ahead with alt-energy and alt-power efforts. The recent stimulus bill gives the armed forces an extra $300 million to fund 51 energy research projects, plus another $120 million to go towards energy conservation. The Pentagon’s new budget contains an extra $75 million in new energy projects — from “Landfill Gas Energy Capture” to a “Tactical, Deployable Micro-Grid.” And plans are proceeding for a 500-megawatt solar array at Ft. Irwin, California that would make the Nellis panel collection look teeny by comparison
Sunday, February 15, 2009
alternative fuels
Best for: Battery-powered vehicles are most efficient — and most affordable — as small, short-range cars. Companies such as Zap! are already marketing their all-electric models as ideal second cars for daily errands and short commutes, with zero emissions and practically no fuel cost (less than a dollar to charge). As the technology becomes more robust, electric vehicles are still likely to remain short-range, everyday vehicles, and could become a necessity for urban drivers in cities such as London, where petroleum-powered automobiles are charged a steep congestion tax.
Where to fill up: Recharging stations will appear only if plug-ins become extremely common, and even then, many gas stations or other businesses could supply multiple vehicles with electricity without upgrading their infrastructure. Some equipment may be necessary to determine how much power is being supplied and what it should cost, but the short-term solution is likely to be ad hoc and disorganized. Unless electric vehicles are supplanted by hydrogen fuel cells or some other petroleum-free, zero-emissions technology, the gas stations of the world will gradually adopt some form of recharging.
Other Gases
In a field packed with fringe fuels, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are among the least-talked-about alternative fuels. Honda is making a push for natural-gas-powered cars with its Civic GX, and with T. Boone Pickens still making the case for a combination of CNG and wind power to wean the United States off foreign oil, people are starting to pay attention. In theory, the domestic reserves are already in place. Honda is selling refilling stations that use your home's existing gas lines. LPG, which can include propane and butane, is somewhat common in Europe, where many vehicles work on both LPG and petroleum, but it requires an extensive conversion to work with vehicles in the U.S.
MSN Auto
Where to fill up: Recharging stations will appear only if plug-ins become extremely common, and even then, many gas stations or other businesses could supply multiple vehicles with electricity without upgrading their infrastructure. Some equipment may be necessary to determine how much power is being supplied and what it should cost, but the short-term solution is likely to be ad hoc and disorganized. Unless electric vehicles are supplanted by hydrogen fuel cells or some other petroleum-free, zero-emissions technology, the gas stations of the world will gradually adopt some form of recharging.
Other Gases
In a field packed with fringe fuels, compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) are among the least-talked-about alternative fuels. Honda is making a push for natural-gas-powered cars with its Civic GX, and with T. Boone Pickens still making the case for a combination of CNG and wind power to wean the United States off foreign oil, people are starting to pay attention. In theory, the domestic reserves are already in place. Honda is selling refilling stations that use your home's existing gas lines. LPG, which can include propane and butane, is somewhat common in Europe, where many vehicles work on both LPG and petroleum, but it requires an extensive conversion to work with vehicles in the U.S.
MSN Auto
Electric vehicles in our future?
Electricity
The momentum for battery-powered vehicles — both all-electric and hybrid models — appears unstoppable. American carmakers are finally rising to Toyota's challenge, offering steadily cheaper and more efficient models. To prepare for an influx of plug-ins, politicians have called for upgrades to the country's power grid, based on the assumption that drivers will charge their vehicles at home, overnight. But some will want to refuel on the road, either topping up their batteries to avoid turning on the gas engine, or recharging their all-electric vehicles out of necessity. The prospect of recharging stations is complex and a little confusing. Some experts have proposed removable battery packs that can be quickly swapped out for a fully charged pack, while others predict that drivers will simply have to wait at a rest stop for an hour or more as their parked cars remain plugged in. This is seen primarily as a business dilemma, and however the market sorts itself out, the technological hurdles are relatively minor.
The momentum for battery-powered vehicles — both all-electric and hybrid models — appears unstoppable. American carmakers are finally rising to Toyota's challenge, offering steadily cheaper and more efficient models. To prepare for an influx of plug-ins, politicians have called for upgrades to the country's power grid, based on the assumption that drivers will charge their vehicles at home, overnight. But some will want to refuel on the road, either topping up their batteries to avoid turning on the gas engine, or recharging their all-electric vehicles out of necessity. The prospect of recharging stations is complex and a little confusing. Some experts have proposed removable battery packs that can be quickly swapped out for a fully charged pack, while others predict that drivers will simply have to wait at a rest stop for an hour or more as their parked cars remain plugged in. This is seen primarily as a business dilemma, and however the market sorts itself out, the technological hurdles are relatively minor.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Japan is a Better Place?
Japan wants to make recharging electric cars as easy as filling a gas tank. The country is hosting the EV evangelists from electric-vehicle startup Better Place, encouraging them to build battery-exchange stations that might bring cars with cords into the mainstream.
The California company joins Subaru and Mitsubishi in helping the Japanese government get on the road toward toward its goal: half of all cars sold by 2020 will be electric. The pilot program announced Tuesday will allow consumers to swap depleted batteries for fresh ones easily when they don't have time to plug in. Limited to municipal fleets, the program is the first step toward electrifying Japan's vehicle fleet.
"Better Place is honored to participate in this groundbreaking program in a country with so much auto-manufacturing expertise," said Shai Agassi, the entrepreneur behind the venture. "Japan is moving one step closer to the next-generation, Car 2.0 model of electric cars fueled by renewable energy."
The deal comes one week after Hawaii said it will work with Better Place to roll out as many as 100,000 EV charging spots by 2012. Better Place demonstrated the technology for the first time Monday in Israel, and the first battery exchange stations could appear in Japan early next year.
The California company joins Subaru and Mitsubishi in helping the Japanese government get on the road toward toward its goal: half of all cars sold by 2020 will be electric. The pilot program announced Tuesday will allow consumers to swap depleted batteries for fresh ones easily when they don't have time to plug in. Limited to municipal fleets, the program is the first step toward electrifying Japan's vehicle fleet.
"Better Place is honored to participate in this groundbreaking program in a country with so much auto-manufacturing expertise," said Shai Agassi, the entrepreneur behind the venture. "Japan is moving one step closer to the next-generation, Car 2.0 model of electric cars fueled by renewable energy."
The deal comes one week after Hawaii said it will work with Better Place to roll out as many as 100,000 EV charging spots by 2012. Better Place demonstrated the technology for the first time Monday in Israel, and the first battery exchange stations could appear in Japan early next year.
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