Renewable power on the move
Need renewable power on the move? Going to be close to river or stream? Then maybe Bourne Energy’s new RiverStar BackPack Power Plant is for you. The backpack is a small man-portable renewable hydro energy generator that is only 3 feet long and weighs less than 30 pounds. Eack pack is self contained with it’s own integrated power, control, cooling and sensor systems. The generator folds into a backpack sized unit (see image) with the generator, hub and folded blades stored inside.
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Filed under: Energy
Tags: backpack, bourne, Energy, generator, hydro, plant, power, renewable, riverstar
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Diesels Cleaner Than Electrics Over Lifetime Says One Study
[Transport]
I’m going to go out on a limb and assume most of our dear readers are fans of fuel efficient cars. I too, like my gas-sipping 4-cylinder Mustang, mostly because it saves me a lot of money compared with the rest of my gas-guzzling fleet. Other people are just trying to lessen their carbon footprint, and common sense suggests that an electric car would have a smaller footprint than any fossil fuel-powered car, right?
Not according to one Swiss study. Compared to diesel-powered cars that get over 60 mpg, electric vehicles may have a larger environmental impact… especially if the electricity comes from non-renewable sources.
Read more of this story »
[Gas 2.0]
Volt Can Use California's HOV Lanes… In 2012
[Transport]
I have survived Southern California’s horrendous traffic jams, though just barely. How anybody could stand to sit in traffic for hours on end, day in and day out, is beyond me. People do it though, and it seems to have bred a special kind of patience in the residents of Southern California. California also is a bastion of green living, and there are many advantages to owning a hybrid car in the state, like use of their HOV lanes.
While California recently announced that the Nissan LEAF would have access to HOV lanes immediately, the Chevy Volt was shunned. That has changed though, as Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill allowing the Volt to use HOV lanes… starting in mid-2012.
Read more of this story »
[Gas 2.0]
SKY-powered Mazda3 Gets Over 40 MPG
[Transport]
It is all about fuel economy right now, and the automakers are pulling out all the stops to ensure they might weather the stiffening CAFE standards in the coming years. Electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, diesels… all are about to become a lot more commonplace. Yet, still, there remains a seat at the table for fuel-efficient combustion engines, and there is plenty of room for improvement in the old standby.
Forgoing much of the hybrid craze, Mazda is focusing on clean petrol and diesel engines. And their work has not gone unrewarded. Comments from spokesmen suggest that the compact Mazda3 with a SKY-G engine got around 40 mpg on the highway. Not too shabby!
Read more of this story »
[Gas 2.0]
Green is the New Fast, Part 2: Maybach Lives!
[Transport]
When it was introduced several years ago, Mercedes’ ultra-luxury Maybach line was originally intended to compete with offerings from BMW’s Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen’s Bentley. To put it mildly: Maybach flopped, selling only a fraction of the cars Rolls and Bentley did year after year. Maybach was such a spectacular failure that many industry analysts predicted Mercedes would discontinue the brand altogether.
They were wrong, and Mercedes has confirmed that green is the new fast, committing to a series of new Maybachs that tick all the right green boxes.
Read more about the whys and hows of Mercedes’ greenwashing of Maybach, after the jump.
Read more of this story »
[Gas 2.0]
Cult Classic Peel P50 Microcar Returns
[Transport] The Peel P50 was built on the Isle of Man in the 1960’s and powered by a 49cc gas engine that pushed the car to a 40 mph top speed and delivered more than 80 mpg. It was the smallest production automobile ever built, and—despite only 70 examples being produced —has become wildly popular in microcar circles, especially since appearing in a 2007 segment of the BBC’s hit show TopGear.
This new-found popularity and BBC visibility has breathed new life into the Peel concept, and new investment dollars mean that Peel is back in business!
More, including the hilarious TopGear sketch, after the jump.
Read more of this story »
[Gas 2.0]
Go bald for charity
[Lifestyle] Having a bad hair day? Shave your head (for real or for fun) to raise funds for charity. [Lighter Footstep]
Arctic ice: Less than meets the eye
[Science] The ice may not retreat as much as feared this year, but what remains may be more rotten than robust [New Scientist]
Get the latest buzz from Climate Crunch
Diesels Cleaner Than Electrics Over Lifetime Says One Study
[Transport] I’m going to go out on a limb and assume most of our dear readers are fans of fuel efficient cars. I too, like my gas-sipping 4-cylinder Mustang, mostly because it saves me a lot of money compared with the rest of my gas-guzzling fleet. Other people are just trying to lessen their carbon footprint, and common sense suggests that an electric car would have a smaller footprint than any fossil fuel-powered car, right? Not according to one Swiss study. Compared to diesel-powered cars that get over 60 mpg, electric vehicles may have a larger environmental impact… especially if the electricity comes from non-renewable sources. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]
Volt Can Use California's HOV Lanes… In 2012
[Transport] I have survived Southern California’s horrendous traffic jams, though just barely. How anybody could stand to sit in traffic for hours on end, day in and day out, is beyond me. People do it though, and it seems to have bred a special kind of patience in the residents of Southern California. California also is a bastion of green living, and there are many advantages to owning a hybrid car in the state, like use of their HOV lanes. While California recently announced that the Nissan LEAF would have access to HOV lanes immediately, the Chevy Volt was shunned. That has changed though, as Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill allowing the Volt to use HOV lanes… starting in mid-2012. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]
SKY-powered Mazda3 Gets Over 40 MPG
[Transport] It is all about fuel economy right now, and the automakers are pulling out all the stops to ensure they might weather the stiffening CAFE standards in the coming years. Electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, diesels… all are about to become a lot more commonplace. Yet, still, there remains a seat at the table for fuel-efficient combustion engines, and there is plenty of room for improvement in the old standby. Forgoing much of the hybrid craze, Mazda is focusing on clean petrol and diesel engines. And their work has not gone unrewarded. Comments from spokesmen suggest that the compact Mazda3 with a SKY-G engine got around 40 mpg on the highway. Not too shabby! Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]
Green is the New Fast, Part 2: Maybach Lives!
[Transport] When it was introduced several years ago, Mercedes’ ultra-luxury Maybach line was originally intended to compete with offerings from BMW’s Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen’s Bentley. To put it mildly: Maybach flopped, selling only a fraction of the cars Rolls and Bentley did year after year. Maybach was such a spectacular failure that many industry analysts predicted Mercedes would discontinue the brand altogether. They were wrong, and Mercedes has confirmed that green is the new fast, committing to a series of new Maybachs that tick all the right green boxes. Read more about the whys and hows of Mercedes’ greenwashing of Maybach, after the jump. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]
Cult Classic Peel P50 Microcar Returns
[Transport] The Peel P50 was built on the Isle of Man in the 1960’s and powered by a 49cc gas engine that pushed the car to a 40 mph top speed and delivered more than 80 mpg. It was the smallest production automobile ever built, and—despite only 70 examples being produced —has become wildly popular in microcar circles, especially since appearing in a 2007 segment of the BBC’s hit show TopGear. This new-found popularity and BBC visibility has breathed new life into the Peel concept, and new investment dollars mean that Peel is back in business! More, including the hilarious TopGear sketch, after the jump. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]
Go bald for charity
[Lifestyle] Having a bad hair day? Shave your head (for real or for fun) to raise funds for charity. [Lighter Footstep]
Arctic ice: Less than meets the eye
[Science] The ice may not retreat as much as feared this year, but what remains may be more rotten than robust [New Scientist]
Get the latest buzz from Climate Crunch
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