Stanford's nanowire battery holds 10 times the charge of existing ones

Stanford's nanowire battery holds 10 times the charge of existing ones: "Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to reinvent the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power laptops, iPods, video cameras, cell phones, and countless other devices.

The new version, developed through research led by Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, produces 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion, known as Li-ion, batteries. A laptop that now runs on battery for two hours could operate for 20 hours, a boon to ocean-hopping business travelers.

'It's not a small improvement,' Cui said. 'It's a revolutionary development.'"

Move over corncobs, these guys run on air - International Herald Tribune

Move over corncobs, these guys run on air - International Herald Tribune: "In the push to free the auto industry from its dependence on oil, all kinds of alternatives are being tried. Consider now the refreshing concept of cars that run on air. The idea sounds simple: compress air and release it to operate a piston engine. But the execution is difficult, and in one form or another it has occupied engineers since the 19th century. One of the latest is Guy N�gre, a Frenchman who founded Motor Development International, now MDI Enterprises, in Carros, France, in 1991. He produced his first compressed-air engine five years later. 'We've developed 14 vehicles and have three running prototype cars,' N�gre said."

Hydrogen fuel comes a step closer - Telegraph

Hydrogen fuel comes a step closer - Telegraph: "The dream of using hydrogen, the most plentiful element in the universe, as a green fuel to cut climate change moves a step closer today with the announcement that it can be made with the help of bacteria."

Ecooter - the bizarre new Chinese electric car that shall not be named in polite company - AutoblogGreen

Ecooter - the bizarre new Chinese electric car that shall not be named in polite company - AutoblogGreen

Ecoter pictures

Ecoter pictures

Taiwan News Online

Taiwan News Online: "The Hsinchu-based Industrial Technology Research Institute unveiled yesterday a new 'concept' model of an ecology-friendly 'Ecooter' electric two-person vehicle aimed at providing a safe and energy-saving urban transportation option."

11 Most Bike Friendly Cities in the World – Bicycle friendly cities | Virgin Vacations

11 Most Bike Friendly Cities in the World – Bicycle friendly cities | Virgin Vacations: "The 11 most accessible and bike friendly cities are listed below, but these are merely a sampling of the bike friendly paradises that exist throughout the world."

TRAMPE - THE BICYCLE LIFT

TRAMPE - THE BICYCLE LIFT

Novel energy sources | Heat from the street | Economist.com

Novel energy sources | Heat from the street | Economist.com

Hydrogen Fuel Bike Debuts in Shanghai -- china.org.cn

Hydrogen Fuel Bike Debuts in Shanghai -- china.org.cn: "A concept bike driven by an environmentally clean hydrogen fuel cell was unveiled at an international fair in Shanghai yesterday, with the local producer promising to extend its patented technologies to more pollution-free products."

New patent by EEstor promises replacement of electrochemical batteries - Tech

New patent by EEstor promises replacement of electrochemical batteries - Tech: "“The Achilles' heel to the electric car industry has been energy storage. By all rights, this would make internal combustion engines unnecessary.”"

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?: "A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a 'game changing' energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles."

Is EEStor delaying its power system for cars? | Tech news blog - CNET News.com

Is EEStor delaying its power system for cars? | Tech news blog - CNET News.com: "'We intend to be in production on or before the middle of next year,' he said. Although that means that the company could be in production by tomorrow, the time frame is a little wider, and extends about six months or so further into the future than previously stated. Back in January, the company stated that it would start shipping 15 kilowatt hour electrical energy storage units to Canada's Zenn Motors, its first customer, in 2007. Zenn's cars will mark the first commercial application of EEStor's technology."

Power to the People: Run Your House on a Prius - New York Times

Power to the People: Run Your House on a Prius - New York Times: "WHEN Hurricane Frances ripped through Gainesville, Fla., in 2004, Christopher Swinney, an anesthesiologist, was without electricity for a week. A few weeks ago, Dr. Swinney lost power again, but this time he was ready. He plugged his Toyota Prius into the backup uninterruptible power supply unit in his house and soon the refrigerator was humming and the lights were back on."

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics: "India’s largest automaker is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy N�gre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008. "

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics

Air Car - First Air-Powered Car - Zero Emissions - Behind the Tech - Popular Mechanics: "India’s largest automaker is set to start producing the world’s first commercial air-powered vehicle. The Air Car, developed by ex-Formula One engineer Guy Nègre for Luxembourg-based MDI, uses compressed air, as opposed to the gas-and-oxygen explosions of internal-combustion models, to push its engine’s pistons. Some 6000 zero-emissions Air Cars are scheduled to hit Indian streets in August of 2008. "

The Prophet of Garbage - Popular Science

The Prophet of Garbage - Popular Science: "Joseph Longo's Plasma Converter turns our most vile and toxic trash into clean energy—and promises to make a relic of the landfill"

Plasma Gasification Transforms Garbage into Clean Energy | Inventor Spot

Plasma Gasification Transforms Garbage into Clean Energy | Inventor Spot: "A sealed, stainless steel vessel is filled with a stable gas, such as pure nitrogen. When a 650-volt current passes between two electrodes, electrons are ripped from the air, converting the gas into plasma. As current continues to flow, it creates an intense energy field with plasma arcs, which are like lightning. The radiant energy of the 30,000˚F plasma arcs disintegrates trash into its basic elements by tearing apart the materials' molecular bonds. Tile, wood, nails, glass, metal, plastic, diapers-almost any material can be broken down with Startech's technology, eliminating the time-consuming, tedious and costly process of sorting waste by hand. (Nuclear waste is an exception due to its indestructible isotopes.)"

PopSci's Future of the Car - Concept Cars - Tesla - Page 1

PopSci's Future of the Car - Concept Cars - Tesla: "Straubel has proven that he can build an electric car that's as good as gas—one that doesn't sacrifice power, range or speed. But does that mean the Tesla Roadster heralds a new era of electric vehicles on every street corner, as he believes? Or will the Tesla, impressive as it is, be remembered as just another electric-vehicle science-fair project?"

Storing electricity | It looks good on paper | Economist.com

Storing electricity | It looks good on paper | Economist.com: "Cellulose and nanotubes combine to bring flexible batteries to the world"

Can Think's electric car revolutionize the auto industry? - August 1, 2007

Can Think's electric car revolutionize the auto industry? - August 1, 2007: "Did someone kill the electric car? You wouldn't know it on this bright May morning in Scandinavia, where the idea of a mass-produced battery-powered vehicle is being resurrected and actual cars are scheduled to begin rolling off the production line by year's end."

Electric Racers Speed Past Fuel Dragsters | LiveScience

Electric Racers Speed Past Fuel Dragsters | LiveScience: "PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Straddling a 619-pound motorcycle, Scotty Pollacheck tucks in his knees and lowers his head as he waits for the green light. When he revs the engine, there's no roar. The bike moves so fast that within seconds all that's visible is a faint red taillight melting in the distance.

Pollacheck crosses the quarter-mile marker doing 156 mph; he's traveled 1,320 feet in 8.22 seconds, faster than any of the gas-powered cars, trucks or motorcycles that have raced in the drag sprints on this weekend at Portland International Raceway.

It's particularly impressive given Pollacheck is riding a vehicle that uses no gasoline and is powered entirely by lithium-ion batteries.

Electric vehicles are making their presence felt at amateur drag races across the country, challenging gas-powered cars and motorcycles. The 'amp heads,'' computer geeks and tree-hugging environmentalists driving the electron-powered vehicles are starting to kick some major rear end."

British racing greens - from zero to 150mph on potatoes and cashew shells | the Daily Mail

British racing greens - from zero to 150mph on potatoes and cashew shells | the Daily Mail: "The one-seater racing car - called Eco One - has been built by experts from Warwick University to dispel the perception that 'green' motoring means dull little electric runarounds or filling your fuel tank with chip fat."

Vehicles keep inching up and putting on pounds - USATODAY.com

Vehicles keep inching up and putting on pounds - USATODAY.com: "The average 2007 midsize SUV has grown 10 inches in length, 4 inches in width and gained 474 pounds over the past decade, according to Edmunds.com, an auto-buying research site."

Sympatico / MSN - Autos : Breaking News - A Breath of Fresh Air: MDI Makes World's First Air Powered Car

Sympatico / MSN - Autos : Breaking News - A Breath of Fresh Air: MDI Makes World's First Air Powered Car: "French automaker MDI has come up with a clever solution that’s affordable and produces zero emissions to boot. How did they do it? The car is powered by air!"

transatlantic21: transatlantic21

transatlantic21: "Using solar power only, the catamaran 'sun21' undertook the first motorized crossing of the Atlantic with solar power to promote the great potential of this technology for ocean navigation. The 'sun21' arrived in New York City on 8 May 2007, 3 pm, having covered about 7000 sea miles."

Clean energy claim: Aluminum in car tanks - Green Machines - MSNBC.com

Clean energy claim: Aluminum in car tanks - Green Machines - MSNBC.com: "Woodall says the method makes it unnecessary to store or transport hydrogen — two major challenges in creating a hydrogen economy.

"The hydrogen is generated on demand, so you only produce as much as you need when you need it," he said in a statement released by Purdue this week.

So instead of having to fill up at a station, hydrogen would be made inside vehicles in tanks about the same size as today's gasoline tanks. An internal reaction in those tanks would create hydrogen from water and 350 pounds worth of special pellets."

Gasoline-Free Cars Test Drive Successfully - 13WHAM.com

Gasoline-Free Cars Test Drive Successfully - 13WHAM.com: "(Tarrytown, N.Y./Honeoye Falls, N.Y.) -- A trip that began at the General Motors plant in Honeoye Falls Tuesday morning could bring drivers a step closer to gasoline-free cars.

The two 'Sequel' cars traveled more than 300 miles to Tarrytown, Westchester County, on a single tank of fuel. Instead of gasoline, the fuel cells run on energy produced from a mix of hydrogen and oxygen; the only byproduct is water vapor. "

Solar Sky Scraper: Over 7000 Panels | EcoGeek | Panels, Solar, Building, Power, Tower

Solar Sky Scraper: Over 7000 Panels | EcoGeek | Panels, Solar, Building, Power, Tower: "The Solar Sky Scraper, owned by the CIS insurance group, is the largest UK skyscraper outside of London and, when the project is complete (very shortly) it will be the largest solar installation in all of the United Kingdom!"

Bricklin is Back -- With a Plug-In

Bricklin is Back -- With a Plug-In: "Legendary automotive maverick Malcolm Bricklin is planning a luxury plug-in that gets 100 mpg with a Chinese-built lithium ion battery"

2007 – Year of the electric car | COSMOS magazine

2007 – Year of the electric car | COSMOS magazine: "The company claims that their battery shows a cycle life in excess of 20,000 charges and discharges while still retaining 85 per cent of its capacity to store energy. If proven, this would be a revolutionary breakthrough, especially since Altairnano also claims their battery can be recharged not in hours, but in less than 10 minutes.

By way of comparison, the typical lithium battery takes from two to six hours to recharge, its power density is less than 1,000 watts per kilogram (w/kg), and it operates over a temperature range of 0�C to 40�C. In contrast, Altairnano's data show that their battery has a power density of 4,000 w/kg and the ability to safely operate from -50� C to 75� C. But just how safe is 'safe'?

To answer this question, Gotcher gave me a description of the various tests to which the company subjected the battery: short circuit, forced discharge, over charge, over discharge, nail puncture, crush, over temperature, and a drop test. The battery survived all these trials without any smoke or fire."

Business 2.0: A car that could save the planet—fast - May. 5, 2006

Business 2.0: A car that could save the planet—fast - May. 5, 2006: "SAN FRANCISCO (Business 2.0 Magazine) - Ian Wright has a car that blows away a Ferrari 360 Spider and a Porsche Carrera GT in drag races, and whose 0-to-60 acceleration time ranks it among the fastest production autos in the world. In fact, it's second only to the French-made Bugatti Veyron, a 1,000-horsepower, 16-cylinder beast that hits 60 mph half a second faster and goes for $1.25 million."

YouTube - ZapRoot Unearthed | The G-Wiz in the UK

YouTube - ZapRoot Unearthed | The G-Wiz in the UK: "ZapRoot Unearthed | The G-Wiz in the UK"

TRAMPE - THE BICYCLE LIFT

TRAMPE - THE BICYCLE LIFT

Ethanol-blend auto emissions no greener than gasoline: study

Ethanol-blend auto emissions no greener than gasoline: study: "'Looking at tailpipe emissions, from a greenhouse gas perspective, there really isn't much difference between ethanol and gasoline,' said Greg Rideout, head of Environment Canada's toxic emissions research.

'Our results seemed to indicate that with today's vehicles, there's not a lot of difference at the tailpipe with greenhouse gas emissions.'"

Automotive X PRIZE: News and Events: Press Releases

Automotive X PRIZE: News and Events: Press Releases: "Santa Monica, Calif. (April 2, 2007) - The X PRIZE Foundation, the organization behind the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE that successfully challenged teams to build private spacecraft to open up the space frontier, is taking a step toward launching an Automotive X PRIZE (AXP) that will inspire super-efficient vehicles that exceed 100 miles per gallon or its equivalent."

The Recorder

The Recorder: "The Toyota Prius has become the flagship car for those in our society so environmentally conscious that they are willing to spend a premium to show the world how much they care. Unfortunately for them, their ultimate ‘green car’ is the source of some of the worst pollution in North America; it takes more combined energy per Prius to produce than a Hummer."

Top Green Cars�Geneva Motor Show 2007 - MSN Autos

Top Green Cars - Geneva Motor Show 2007

GM targets 2010 for an electric car - Automotive - MSNBC.com

GM targets 2010 for an electric car - Automotive - MSNBC.com: "A running Volt prototype is expected by the end of 2007, he said, adding that GM would take the unusual step of opening much of its development process to the media."

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?: "A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a 'game changing' energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles."

MIT researchers design stackable car of the future - The Boston Globe

MIT researchers design stackable car of the future - The Boston Globe: "That's the vision of a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab. With backing from General Motors Corp., they are building a prototype of a lightweight electric vehicle that can be cheaply mass-produced, rented by commuters under a shared-use business model, and folded and stacked like grocery carts at subway stations or other central sites."

Tesla Electric Car

Electric Cars, Green Vehicle :: Phoenix Motorcars, Inc.

Electric Cars, Green Vehicle :: Phoenix Motorcars, Inc.: "Phoenix Motorcars manufactures zero-emission, freeway-speed fleet vehicles. It is an early leader in the mass production of full-function, green electric trucks and SUVs for commercial fleet use."

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?

Technology Review: Battery Breakthrough?: "A secretive Texas startup developing what some are calling a 'game changing' energy-storage technology broke its silence this week. It announced that it has reached two production milestones and is on track to ship systems this year for use in electric vehicles.

EEStor's ambitious goal, according to patent documents, is to 'replace the electrochemical battery' in almost every application, from hybrid-electric and pure-electric vehicles to laptop computers to utility-scale electricity storage.

The company boldly claims that its system, a kind of battery-ultracapacitor hybrid based on barium-titanate powders, will dramatically outperform the best lithium-ion batteries on the market in terms of energy density, price, charge time, and safety. Pound for pound, it will also pack 10 times the punch of lead-acid batteries at half the cost and without the need for toxic materials or chemicals, according to the company."

EBW - Electric Big Wheel

EBW - Electric Big Wheel: "LA PRAIRIE - Paul Laprade se donne deux ans pour construire rien de moins que la première voiture électrique de conception entièrement québécoise."

Silence

L'association de deux compagnies québécoises (EBW et T-REX) a donné naissance au véhicule électrique Silence. Ses performances laissent loin derrière plusieurs véhicules nettement plus dispendieux et bruyants.