We take a ride in the Tesla Roadster, a 100-percent electric car inspired by PC technology. Due on the market this fall for under $100K, the Roadster does zero to 60 in 4 seconds.
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Tesla Motors
A few days ago Sebastian put up a tip that one of the Tesla Roadster prototypes would be on display for one day in Norwich, England. The Roadsters are being tested at Lotus and will actually be assembled at their factory just outside of Norwich. Electric car fan and ABG reader Danny happened to be in the vicinity of the show that featured the car and headed out with his video camera. The result can be found at Danny's blog.
[Source: ABG reader Danny]
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Filed under: Etc., Transportation Alternatives
Zipcar, the carsharing service, is expanding its offerings in Massachusetts, and it's a seriously mass transit combo. The expansion is taking place in Malden, Quincy, Newton, and Braintree at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's (MBTA) T locations along the Green, Orange and Red lines. The new Zipcar stations were announced yesterday. This is the first time a transit agency is keeping some of Zipcar's vehicles at the transit stations. Exact location are listed in the release after the jump, and more vehicles will be coming in the next few months. Related:
- Zipcar launches new web 2.0 reservation system
- Zipcar in San Francisco: 5,000 members strong and growing
Zipcar, MBTA Enhance Partnership to Reduce Car Ownership, Increase Commuting Options
Partnership introduces Zipcars to additional stations, brings car sharing to Malden, Quincy, Newton, and Braintree
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 28 /PRNewswire/ -- To reduce car ownership and provide more commuting options, Zipcar and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) today announced a multi-faceted partnership that will expand the Zipcar program to a dozen T locations along the Green, Orange and Red lines, making it easier for people to live and work car-free in the city.
Partnered with Zipcar since 2002, the MBTA is the first transit agency in the country to house vehicles at various transit stations throughout its service area. Through this partnership, the MBTA will expand Zipcar locations from three to twelve. Currently, a Zipcar is available at Alewife, Forest Hills, JFK/UMass, and Savin Hill stations. Over the next few months, 20 more spaces will become available at 8 stations along the Red, Orange, and Green lines.
By placing more than 24 vehicles at a dozen T stops, including Alewife, Woodland, Riverside, Savin Hill and Forest Hills, the partnership will allow residents to rely on public transportation for most trips, while utilizing Zipcars for the "last mile" of their travels. Zipcars placed at Oak Grove, Malden Center and three Quincy stations also expand Zipcar's footprint further outside of Boston, bringing the convenience of car sharing to Malden, Quincy, as well as Newton, and Braintree for the first time.
The partnership also includes website integration with Zipcar incorporating T maps, locations and details into its new web reservation system, as well as cross, in-station co-marketing, and a joint effort to roll-out the new CharlieCard to riders and tens of thousands of local Zipcar members. To kick-off their work together, Zipcar and MBTA will host a launch event at South Station on March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the event, people can learn more about Zipcar and the partnership as well as take advantage of special promotions and meet executives from Zipcar and the MBTA.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is the nation's first public transportation system. It is also the fifth largest in the country. The T provides service to 175 cities and towns, which comprise the MBTA's district in eastern Massachusetts. Customers are using the T for work, school, medical appointments, entertainment, and shopping purposes each day. The T has become the way to get you where you want to go, from the city to the suburbs. With the high cost of gas these days, more people are considering public transportation, and being aware of the variety of options can increase the level of convenience with which people can get from Point A to Point B.
"Here at the T, we are continuously examining methods to improve transportation options while protecting the environment," said MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas. "Using both the T and Zipcar to get around town reduces congestion and pollution, while at the same time saves people time and money."
As the world's largest car sharing service, Zipcar has proven that combining car sharing and public transit is a real catalyst for change in urban communities. Through established partnerships with San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART), New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) and Washington DC's Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) and District Department of Transportation (DDOT), Zipcar has found that members report a 46% average increase in public transit use once joining the service. Nearly 60% of Zipcar member also state that cars being located at Metro stations is a key factor in joining the service and 40% of members say that joining Zipcar has led them to get rid of their car or put off a purchasing decision.
According to Dan Curtin, Regional Vice President for Zipcar, the partnership with the MBTA makes perfect sense. "A recent survey of Zipcar members in Boston revealed that 96% regularly ride the T, and we are seeing an increasing number of commuters electing to take transit to work and utilize Zipcars during the day." he said. "In this way, our relationship with MBTA is natural. It will bring the mix of car sharing and public transit to more Massachusetts residents and reduce the number of cars coming into the city."
Zipcar currently has more than 550 vehicles in more than 250 locations throughout Greater Boston. With more than 40% of members reporting that Zipcar led them to sell or put off purchasing a vehicle, Zipcar estimates that its service has eliminated more than 5,000 vehicles from the Metro Boston streets. Zipcar members also report that on average they drive more than 4,000 fewer miles each year and save more than $435 each month compared to when they owned a private vehicle.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is a leading urban lifestyle brand that provides an alternative to car ownership to more than 85,000 consumer and business drivers worldwide. By providing urbanites with hourly and daily access to cool, affordable and conveniently-located vehicles, Zipcar has grown to be the world's largest and fastest growing car sharing service, currently operating more than 2,500 vehicles in London and 13 North American states and provinces, including metropolitan New York, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Minneapolis, Toronto and Washington, DC. With Zipcar's award-winning technology, accessing and using a Zipcar is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Zipcar members have automated access to any Zipcar across North America and the United Kingdom using a "Zipcard" to simply unlock the door and drive away. For more information, visit www.zipcar.com.
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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Coal to Liquid
Coal is a dirty word. Coal is also a four letter word. That is never going to change, or is it? If Silverado Green Fuels has its way, it just might. I don't have a great understanding of coal power to begin with, and reading this information didn't help too much. But, from what I can tell, the reason they are referring to this as a green fuel is that the fuel burns clean, giving a "carbon burnout of over 99%", as opposed to 97 percent for standard coal in their tests. Additionally, the fuel is cheap, because they are able to use a type of coal previously unwanted. The coal they use contains much higher concentrations of water than more desirable coal types, and the water is reused in the making of the liquid fuel. It appears that the main use of this "Greenfuel" is for burners set up to use coal gasification. I will take a "wait and see" attitude towards this new fuel, but if what they are claiming is true, the U.S. in particular could gain much from the use of this new fuel source.
The company has set up operations in Mississippi and has begun building a plant in that state. The Department of Defense plans to purchase fuel from this new plant, and the Department of Energy is keeping tabs on their progress.
[Source: Silverado Green Fuels via News.com]
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Filed under: Vegetable Oil
So Julia Roberts and main squeeze Danny Moder were caught at a gas station with their Prius. That warrants an army of paparazzi to surround the pumps and record the action. PopSugar picked up on the event to link to an interview with Roberts in Life & Style where she says wants a car that runs on vegetable oil. "I think it's a small price to pay to smell like a french fry," she quips.
[Source: PopSugar.com]
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Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Etc., Hydrogen, Transportation Alternatives
Boeing is getting an early start on what it sees as a possible emerging market, that of hydrogen fuel cell powered electric airplanes. They have created an electric airplane which generates its electricity from a fuel cell. The machine is a standard propeller driven plane with a 53.5 foot wingspan which was converted to store the lithium ion batteries, the fuel cell and the hydrogen storage tanks. During takeoff, where the highest draw of power is required, the lithium ion batteries provide the power to the motor, and at constant cruising speed of 62 mph, the Proton Exchange Membrane fuel cell provides the power.
Alternatively, Boeing is investigating the possibility of using fuel cells to generate the electricity for secondary systems, as opposed to fossil fuel powered generators or a take off from the primary engine. The full press release is after the break.
Continue after the break to read the entire press release.
[Source: Boeing]
MADRID, March 27, 2007 -- In an effort to develop environmentally progressive technologies for aerospace applications, Boeing [NYSE: BA] researchers and industry partners throughout Europe plan to conduct experimental flight tests this year of a manned airplane powered only by a fuel cell and lightweight batteries.
The systems integration phase of the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane research project, under way since 2003 at Boeing Research and Technology -- Europe (BR&TE), was completed recently. Thorough systems integration testing is now under way in preparation for upcoming ground and flight testing.
"Given the efficiency and environmental benefits of emerging fuel cell technology, Boeing wants to be on the forefront of developing and applying it to aerospace products," said Francisco Escarti, BR&TE managing director. "The Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane project is an important step in that direction."
A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat without combustion. Fuel cells are emission-free and quieter than hydrocarbon fuel-powered engines. They save fuel and are cleaner for the environment.
The Boeing demonstrator uses a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor, which is coupled to a conventional propeller. The fuel cell provides all power for the cruise phase of flight. During takeoff and climb, the flight segment that requires the most power, the system draws on lightweight lithium-ion batteries.
Flight tests, which will take place in Spain, will demonstrate for the first time that a manned airplane can maintain a straight level flight with fuel cells as the only power source.
"While Boeing does not envision that fuel cells will provide primary power for future commercial passenger airplanes, demonstrations like this help pave the way for potentially using this technology in small manned and unmanned air vehicles," Escarti said. "It also gives us hands-on experience to complement other fuel-cell studies being carried out throughout the company."
Boeing researchers see promise in other types of fuel cell technology as well as the PEM system. An example is a Solid Oxide Fuel Cell that could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units. This technology could be mature enough in 10 to 15 years for potential use in commercial aviation.
BR&TE, part of the Boeing Phantom Works advanced R&D unit, which is chartered to provide innovative technology and system solutions to meet future aerospace needs, has worked closely with its colleagues in Boeing Commercial Airplanes, its Spanish partners, and with companies in Austria, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States to design and assemble the experimental airplane.
The PEM fuel-cell system used on the flight demonstrator, for instance, was designed and built by the UK-based firm Intelligent Energy.
The demonstrator aircraft is a Dimona motor glider, built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, which also performed major structural modifications to the aircraft. With a wing span of 16.3 meters (53.5 feet), the airplane will be able to cruise at approximately 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) using fuel cell-provided power.
The Madrid-based avionics group Aerlyper performed airframe modifications, as well as the mounting and wiring of all components; SAFT France designed and assembled the auxiliary batteries and the backup battery; Air Liquide Spain performed the detailed design and assembly of the onboard fuel system and the refueling station; the Electronic Engineering Division of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (School of Industrial Engineering) collaborated in the design and construction of the power management and distribution box; post-integration bench testing is being conducted in a facility that belongs to the Polytechnic University of Madrid (INSIA); and SENASA (Spain) will provide a test pilot and facilities for flight tests.
Other suppliers for the Fuel Cell Demonstrator Airplane include UQM Technologies Inc. (United States), MT Propeller (Germany), Tecnicas Aeronauticas de Madrid (Spain), Ingenieria de Instrumentacion y Control (Spain), GORE (Germany), Indra (Spain) and Inventia (Spain).
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Filed under: Biodiesel, Ethanol
Readers will likely remember at least some of the biofuel progress that Chevron has been a part of in the recent past (see links below for refreshers), but a new group called Oil Watchdog says that the oil giant is stopping biofuels where they're needed most: at the pump. The group sent a letter to Chevron CEO David O'Reilly today that claims that even though the press releases promote Chevron's involvement with bifuels, the company "does not sell either E85 high-ethanol gasoline or biodiesel under its brand, and strongly discourages its contract dealers from independently selling such cleaner, lower-petroleum fuels." Oil Watchdog says independent Chevron franchises would have to install entirely separate fuel tanks and credit card systems to be able to sell biofuels. To quote: "provisions inserted [into the fuel contract] by your legal department that make it all but impossible for a Chevron dealer to deploy E85 or biodiesel." You can read the entire letter here (in PDF).
There is no official response yet from Chevron. The company's most recent release is "Chevron Announces Inauguration of the World-Class Bibiyana Gas Field." I've put in an email to see what the company's side of the tale is. I'll let you know if they respond.
Oil Watchdog was launched today by the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights.
Related:
- ConsumerWatchdog goes after "Hot Fuel Rip-off" and "Big Oil U"
- Chevron moving into biodiesel production
- Chevron in the crosshairs for conflicting Proposition 87 statements
- Chevron energy solutions prepares proposal for high-efficiency ethanol plants for Ethanex Energy
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Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Transportation Alternatives
Former Tesla engineer Ian Wright has developed a super-quick electric vehicle called the X1. It's still a concept car and test platform but runs 0-30 in less than 2 seconds and 0-100 in just 6.8 seconds. No doubt it's fast, and a short video shows it blowing away a VW Beetle with a jet engine in its tail.
What? You heard right. Now, if I'm going to hold a stunt to publicize the amazing quickness of my vehicle, I'm not going to match it against a vehicle that is quite interesting and will draw attention away from my pride and joy. I want to know more about this VW. It doesn't look as if this small jet adds a whole lot of thrust to the car but it's got a flaming butthole that will stop traffic at every cruise night I've attended. And a word to the timid photographer; get a little closer. I've been right on the starting line snapping pics of two fullsize jet dragsters blasting down the 1320. You may lose a hat and get your hair mussed but you're not going to be a flambe dessert. Anyway, too bad the race wasn't at a sanctioned drag strip so we could get the times.
Related:
- The electric car revisited: PHEVs, Wrightspeed X-1, and the future
- Wrightspeed builder touts his electric car
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