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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, Toyota
While the main storyline for Consumer Reports‘ February issue revolves around the new Hyundai Genesis and its toppling of the mighty Lexus ES350 as the mag’s top-rated entry-level luxury sedan, another tidbit of information regarding next month’s rag caught our attention. Apparently, CR purchased a Hymotion L5 plug-in Prius conversion kit from A123 Systems, and testing proved to be a mixed bag. We don’t have full details to share regarding the kit’s installation or full fuel mileage statistics, but CR’s press release indicates that the PHEV managed to increase its mpg rating from 42 to 67 over the first 35 miles of driving. Perhaps this will be an ongoing series from the consumer-oriented publication. While that kind of mileage increase is meaningful, it would take a very long time to recoup the $11,000 purchase price of Hymotion’s kit. Still, “the technology itself proved viable,” according to CR.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Continue reading Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking
Consumer Reports tests plug-in Prius conversion, finds it lacking originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in, Green Daily
When he’s not taunting Tesla, Dale Vince is pretty focused on building his wind-powered car. The Zero Carbonista project (previous post) is moving along and the fourth (of six) video about the project is new ready for your viewing pleasure. The front of the car is taking shape and now it needs a name. On the shortlist are: The Zero, The Storm and The Nemesis. I think the Zero Storm would be a good compromise, and I think it’ll sound good with a British accent.
In the video, the biggest problem the team is facing seems to be figuring out the fingerprint entry and startup system. What’s more exciting is the torque potential the designers and engineers discuss towards the end of the video. Check it out after the jump and see what the (indirectly) wind-powered Exige is up to these days.
[Source: Zero Carbonista via Treehugger]
Continue reading Dale Vince’s wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis
Dale Vince’s wind-powered car could be the Storm, the Zero or the Nemesis originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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EcoGeek.org:
EcoGeek - Technology for the Environment Blog Feed
I just thought this was kind of funny: A boutique finance firm in California called Solutions 4 Solar Finance (S4SF) is offering a free Lexus RX 400h hybrid SUVÂ… with an investment of $1 million. But itÂ’s a $50,000 value! And they are promising an 8-13% return on investment!
Presumably, if one were to invest one million dollars, the amount of money to be gained or lost would probably outweigh the value of the car. Still, the notion of receiving a “complementary” luxury SUV as a reward for investing in solar energy is amusing, to say the least.
Via Newsfodder
Coconuts are notoriously difficult to open. If you’ve ever tried it (I have), you know that even before you get to the rock-hard shell, there is a thick, matty, impossible-to-pull-off husk encasing the nut entirely. While most of us would simply curse the stuff as we try to rip it away, scientists in Texas have instead thought “Hey, this stuff would make a really strong composite material!”
And so it does. Although the material made by said scientists requires the coconut husks to be mixed with polypropylene, which is a fossil-fuel based polymer (boo), it is pretty good, as materials go. ItÂ’s light, strong and stiff. Also, since coconut husks donÂ’t burn very well, the resulting composite is pretty un-flammable. These guys, working out of Baylor University, like the material so much that they are building floorboards, truck liners and car door interiors.
Is this really practical on a large scale? For those of us living in parts of the world where coconuts are limited to the grocery store, itÂ’s hard to imagine. But in more equatorially located countries, coconuts are everywhere. WhatÂ’s more, in places like Ghana coconut husks tend to get piled up around villages in mounds (pictured above), collect water and subsequently invite malaria-spreading mosquitoes to breed inside. So hopefully a market for husk-based material would help do away with these mounds.
The scientists are already working with a fiber manufacturer to produce some test batches of their materials. Seriously, if you put your mind to it, you can find a use for ANYTHING.
Via Livescience
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Green Commodities for a Complete Green Portfolio
An excellent article giving readers some green investment ideas:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/83720-green-commodities-for-a-complete-green-portfolio
