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[ 2 Comments ]Posted on February 28, 2009 by admin in Clean & Green, Technology
Saturday, February 28th, 2009Sticker Shock With evMotorcycles? Charge It!
My only friends who are into motorcycles are obsessed with Harleys and Ducatis, and laugh me out of the room every time I say I want a hydrogen-powered Suzuki Crosscage. Well they’d laugh even harder at my fascination with ELECTRIC motorcycles. Especially the solar-powered SunRed concept bike pictured here, which resembles a snail in appearance, but not likely in performance, if it’s anything like other electric bikes. The evDaytona for instance, does an amazing 0-60 mph in 2.7 seconds. The caveat, of course, is that it only has a fifteen-mile range, and costs 77 grand. For the more practical shopper, Best Buy – of all places – will be selling the Brammo Enertia electric motorcycle at several locations on the west coast beginning May, 2009. And at a much more affordable US$11,995. Feeling a little sticker shock? Why? You can always charge it!
Fuel The Movie
[ Comments Off ]Posted on February 26, 2009 by admin in Clean & Green, Popular Media
Thursday, February 26th, 2009How Innovation Can Power The Future
Although I’m still convinced America would reap multiple benefits by fueling itself with its own fat, my mind is open to other possibilities. Which is why I’m intrigued with the Sundance Award winning documentary Fuel, directed by activist Josh Tickell, and based on his book Biodiesel America
Norwegian Bus Fuel Going To Waste
[ Comments Off ]Posted on January 31, 2009 by admin in Clean & Green, Technology
Saturday, January 31st, 2009Finally Citizens Are Giving A Doo-doo
We’ve touched on the environmental impact of cow farts and human waist as fuel before, but this time we’re going to talk about a new (ahem) movement in clean & green energy: biomethane as vehicle fuel. This is apparently a booming industry, but in Norway, where there’s such a firm commitment to clean and green policy that carmakers aren’t allowed to call their cars either, they’re taking this to a new level of efficiency by powering buses with biomethane produced from human waste. Presumably major energy producers will get in on the action; perhaps with BP making a big shift from investing in Europe to investing in the US, Exxon could step in and expand on last year’s record profits. The new division would also require only a subtle logo alteration (see image).
Solution To Auto Industry’s Cash Problems? Charge It!
[ Comments Off ]Posted on January 13, 2009 by admin in Clean & Green, Technology
Tuesday, January 13th, 2009A Day Late And A Petrodollar Short
It’s a bit of shame that the American auto industry’s sudden excitement about electric cars comes across more as a knee-jerk reaction than an insightful foray into new technology. Someday American automakers may again be recognized as innovators in vehicle technology, but this year the Green Car of the Year award goes to the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, which is actually powered by “clean diesel”. Funny that the first electric car was built in the 1830′s and Detroit is still trying to figure things out. If you haven’t been keeping up with what’s going on with EV’s, TreeHugger.com has a nice overview of 23 electric cars that are driving the revolution. By the way, if you’re intrigued by the stylish electric Cadillac Converj pictured here but intimidated by the likely price tag, don’t worry. It doesn’t really exist yet.
Reducing America’s Carbon Fatprint
[ 3 Comments ]Posted on December 23, 2008 by admin in Clean & Green, Technology
Tuesday, December 23rd, 2008Would you like Lowfat or Thigh Octane?
 The Ultimate In Renewable Energy? |
Apparently it’s occurred to more than one medical professional to reduce waist (that’s not a typo) while fueling our cars more efficiently. Recently Beverly Hills doctor Craig Alan Bittner fled the country after coming under investigation for allowing unlicensed staff to perform liposuction procedures, but prior to this was making quite a name for himself by fueling his SUV with biodiesel made from human fat. He wasn’t the first to have this idea. Although ultimately shown to be a hoax, it was widely reported by credible news sources in 2006 that Norwegian entrepeneur Lauri Venoy had a deal with an American hospital to do the same thing. It’s possible that this hoax was perpetrated by The Yes Men, who pulled a similar stunt at an oil industry convention in 2007. In spite of all the scandals and disinformation, fat-as-fuel is a viable alternative; researchers are making biodiesel from chicken fat (watch for the new “Chicken Coupe” at 2010 auto shows ), turning fat into jet fuel, and in the case of Earthrace biofuel promoter Peter Bethune, using human fat to set world speed records on the oceans. With over 600,000 liposuction procedures performed annually, I think this is a great idea; the only real problem (much like the the one faced by the makers of Soylent Green