EcoGeek of the Week: Karl Schroeder

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:47:41 GMT

Karl Schroeder is the second science fiction writer to come out of the southern Manitoba Mennonite community (after A.E. van Vogt). Born in 1962, Karl grew up in a household full of books. He moved to Toronto in 1986 to pursue a dream of being a novelist, and now lives there with his wife and daughter. Karl has been a fixture in the Canadian SF writing community since the late 1980s, establishing a growing reputation with acclaimed and award-winning short stories. Since his first appearance in the American market, he has enjoyed continued and increasing success. His previous novels Ventus (2000) and Permanence (2002), received a New York Times notable selection and the Aurora Award for Best Novel, respectively. He is also the author of Lady of Mazes, Sun of Suns (Book One of the Virga Cycle), and most recently, Queen of Candesce (Book Two of the Virga Cycle). Karl writes hard science fiction with a humanist twist, focusing not just on technology and discovery but on the human costs of technological development. His website is www.kschroeder.com. He is also a contributing blogger for World Changing Canada and maintains the philosophical blog Age of Embodiment. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Gavin D.J. Harper

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 12:42:22 GMT

A year ago when we saw an article at MAKE: on how to make a fuel cell out of a band aid we knew we had to get in touch with this guy. Gavin D.J. Harper is a frequent contributor to EcoGeek and has written several books in McGraw Hill's "Evil Genius" series. Most recently, Gavin completed "50 Solar Power Projects for the Evil Genius." The book, filled with projects on how to harness the sun for your own personal gain was forwarded by Willie Nelson and has been sitting on my nightstand for the last few days. We're happy to have Gavin as this week's ecogeek of the week. EcoGeek: When I think of evil geniuses, I don't generally thing of solar power. That's more for benevolent geniuses. Where do evil geniuses fit with solar? ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: How Can I Make My Computer Efficient?

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 21:16:38 GMT

Dear EcoGeek, My parents are always bugging me about computer usage and how the computers are sucking up energy. I want to know what I can do so that my computer doesn't waste so much energy? I totally wanna go green and save the Earth from Global Warming! - Lukas Hey Lukas, You probably won't be surprised to discover that I spend quite a bit of time thinking about this very question. First, you should let your parents to know that your computer, with all of it's amazing opportunities for educational, economic and social advancement likely uses less power than the light bulbs in that share the room with it. Most desktop computers use between 100 to 150 watts. Now, this goes way up if you've got some kind of monster high-end gaming system, but 100 watts is a pretty good energy investment for what these glorious machines give us...in my opinion anyhow. But that doesn't mean that they're aren't steps you can take to decrease your computer's power usage. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Josh Dorfman

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 22:47:39 GMT

I've just finished reading The Lazy Environmentalist by Josh Dorfman. While not every chapter was for me (babies and children?!) the book contains a gigantic amount of information on how to make good, informed, green decisions. Without condescension or guilt trips Dorfman lays down easy to digest information on how to live a cleaner greener life that isn't a big pain in the ass. We recently had a chance to talk to Josh about his book, which you can get at Amazon.com EcoGeek: What is a Lazy Environmentalist?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Walking Worse than Driving? No.

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:55:35 GMT

Dear EcoGeek, I just saw a kinda disturbing article on fark.com and wondered what you would think of it. Could walking really be worse of the environment than driving? - Seulswalker Seulswalker, When I read your question, I assumed that there was no way the article had any credibility... that it was written by an angsty high school student who was sick of people telling him what to do. But I was wrong, and that is scary. Someone took the results of a scientific study on how inefficient our food production system is, did some really bad math, and then found themselves a glorious headline that would send shock waves throughout the blogosphere. You could call it sensationalism...I just call it evil. Here's the "scientific" basis for their thesis: "Driving a typical UK car for 3 miles [4.8km] adds about 0.9 kg of CO2 to the atmosphere ... If you walked instead, it would use about 180 calories. You'd need about 100g of beef to replace those calories, resulting in 3.6kg of emissions, or four times as much as driving." Now I hope we can all see some gaping holes here, but maybe not all of them at first glance. So let's go through the five I came up with one by one.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Ron Hochstetler on Airships

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 17:29:13 GMT

When Ron Hochstetler graduated from Purdue with a degree in aviation technology, he didn't know how different his path would be from the other graduates of his class. Though trained to work with the helicopters and jets that we today associate air travel, Ron became fascinated with a different type of craft. An aircraft that "belongs in the sky." Now, twenty years later, Ron is one of the world's leading experts in "lighter than air" technology. It's an industry that many believe died with the Hindenburg. But Ron makes his case...the golden age of airships may be yet to come. And we're happy to have him as this week's EcoGeek of the Week. EcoGeek: How does someone go about becoming an internationally recognized airship expert? Ron Hochstetler: When I graduated from college I saw lots of people going into major technical fields where pretty much everything had already been developed and the technologies they'd be working on were very mature. Not much room for a new guy to make a new mark. But then I read an article about a little company in Britain (Airship Industries) that wanted to build modern technology airships. I figured here was a part of aviation that was cool, was still pretty much unexploited, and was made up of such a small cadre of people that just about any contributions I could make would have some significance. The short answer is: if you pick a small pond a lot of the splashes you make will be big ones.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Can I Have My EV Now?

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:46:53 GMT

Dear EcoGeek, Who killed the electric car? Seriously, why can't I buy one yet and when will I be able to? Alan Carney Dallas Texas Hey Alan, Much love to the people who made Who Killed the Electric Car, because they got a lot of stuff right. It wasn't any one person, corporation or technicality that killed the EV1. As with all product failures it was a combination of tons of factors. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Jonathon Colman

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 22:17:51 GMT

Jonathon D. Colman is the Senior Manager of Digital Marketing at The Nature Conservancy. As such, it's kinda his job to understand the wild ways of the internet and then to harness it's raw power for the forces of awesome. Of course, The Nature Conservancy is one of the big players in the "International Alliance for Awesomeness." He'll be giving us his take on the web, digital media, and saving this world. We're excited to have Jonathon as this week's EcoGeek of the Week.

EG: OK...lets get this out of the way...briefly, what do you actually do...

... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Durable Bio-Plastics

Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:08:19 GMT

Dear EcoGeek, Have there been any developments in the pursuit of sustainable, cost-effective alternatives to plastics? I am aware of the recent gains in using corn starch to produce biodegradible plastics (chocolate candy trays, shopping bags, etc.), but what about durable goods such as toolboxes, exercise equipment, or any other product made from plastic that is designed to last. Thanks for your time and expertise. Jim Hey Jim, It does seem a bit silly that we wouldn't solve two problems at once here. I mean, as long as we're removing oil from the process, why don't we move away from our foolish disposable-everything culture as well? But this all becomes more clear if we ask a different question. Instead of "why aren't there durable bio-plastics?" we should first ask "what's wrong with durable petro-plastics?" Lets start by listing the reasons why oil sucks.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Tobias Buckell

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:09:48 GMT

Tobias S. Buckell is a Caribbean-born speculative fiction writer who grew up in Grenada, the British Virgin Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He has published stories in various magazines and anthologies. He is a Clarion graduate, Writers of The Future winner, and Campbell Award for Best New SF Writer Finalist. We at EcoGeek are huge fans of his novels and his blog, and we're happy to have him as our first Sci Fi EcoGeek of the Week. The first 1/3 of two of his novels Crystal Rain and Ragamuffin are available online. EcoGeek: What is your vision of life on Earth 100 years from now? Tobias Buckell: More of the same, I hope. We're inching forward in our own way, and we've dodged a lot of big mistakes. I hope we're able to fumble on, and I hope that we're able to bring in all the other countries that are developing right now along instead of viewing them as competitors. EG: You posted a piece on your blog (tobiasbuckell.com) a couple of months ago where you decided you were a "nuclear power loving environmentalist." Can you elaborate further about how you consider yourself an environmentalist?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Green Driving at Six Feet Tall

Thu, 19 Jul 2007 22:00:34 GMT

Hi, I'm considering purchasing a 2007 Mercedes Bluetec e320 Diesel. My question is "Is this car really green?" My 04 Prius has 60k miles and is worse for wear and I'm too tall to comfortably drive it any longer. I can't help but think the Bluetec is a step in reverse for me personally and that I really want to move forward with a Plug-in Hybrid or full EV, but no options exist. I'm tired of driving a constrictive tiny car built for the 95% of Japanese people, I'm not willing to accept a hybrid SUV, the notion is ridiculous. I want 50mpg+! and I want to stop BURNING fuel. What's my next car? Thanks! Lex Hey Lex, Is the Mercedes Bluetec e320 Diesel green? Well, one thing's for certain...it doesn't feel as green as a Prius. Unfortunately, it's hard to get both the green feeling and the headroom. Green cars aren't small because they're built for Japanese people, they're small because to be efficient, cars need to be light, and present a low profile to the 70 mph winds that constantly buffet highway cars. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Ron Pernick

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:23:57 GMT

Maybe my ears are just pointed in a very specific direction, but it seems rare when a day passes and I don't hear someone extolling the possibilities of clean technology. But it's not entirely clear what clean technology encompasses and how this very broad new category of technology is going to benefit our world in the coming decades. I honestly don't know...but Ron Pernick does. Ron is the head of the leading clean tech research firm, Clean Edge. His experiences at Clean Edge working with experts from industries ranging from carbon composites to water filtration has made him a leading clean technology expert, and uniquely qualified to write a book entitled "The Clean Tech Revolution." We're very happy to have Ron Pernick as our EcoGeek of the Week. EcoGeek: The work that Clean Edge does seems extremely important, even though I don't really have any idea what you do there. Can you tell us about Clean Edge and your work?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: The Power Cost of Solar

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 15:27:43 GMT

Dear Mr. EcoGeek, I've heard that it takes more energy to produce photovoltaic cells than the cells will ever produce throughout their lifetime. Is there any truth to that, or are those naysayers just saying nay? David Spokane, WA Short Answer: Those naysayers are just saying nay! But that doesn't mean there's not more to this story. Long Answer: This myth was probably perpetuated by studying solar panels created for NASA. If you need something extremely efficient for use in outer-space, yes, then it doesn't matter how much energy you use to create the panel. But for use hear on Earth, it's ridiculous for anyone to say that solar panels consume more energy than they produce.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Daniel Quinn

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 13:05:43 GMT

Daniel Quinn, I think, is more a thinker than a writer. His ideas are what change the world, his books are merely attempts to explain his somewhat unique worldview. In his most famous work, Ishmael, and throughout his other works, both fiction and non, his ideas repeat: the need to examine the cultural myths which we are steeped in from birth, the necessity of adopting new ways of thinking in order to change our behavior, and the drastic differences both in form and functionality between "civilization" and those we term "uncivilized". While his way of thinking may seem odd at first, Quinn's ideas are extremely rational and widely acclaimed. His work has been translated numerous times, and is assigned reading for anthropology students, business majors, and students of biology, ethics, ecology, and history worldwide. Quinn's broad, sweeping documentation of our society's ills are never without hope for the future, and though he's a bit reluctant to bear the title of "EcoGeek", we're thrilled to welcome him that way, as EcoGeek of the Week. EcoGeek: In many of your books, you tackle the subjects of sustainability and the environment, but from a perspective that may seem odd to many environmentalists. It seems you are not the typical "tree hugger"...... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Muscle Power

Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:13:54 GMT

Instead of solar and wind power to supply to your own house - which are both weather dependent - has anyone thought about systems that might require some actual work, but provide a usable amount of power? I was thinking, what if each member of my family carried a 40lb bag up 3 floors an hung it on a hook that was connected to a generator; would an effort like that actually provide a significant amount of energy? Just a thought. Regards, Jens, London Oh Jens...you don't even know what you've done! Your question is totally a word problem from a physics exam. And as much as this will likely frighten most people reading this, I'm going to treat it as such.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

EcoGeek of the Week: Scott Cronce, CTO of EA

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 16:00:44 GMT

Just because I love the actual world doesn't mean I'm not a pretty big fan of virtual worlds as well. Some have said that actively seeking out fake worlds to explore and enjoy is be a symptom of alienation from or even disdain for the environment. But I can't help but feel that's absolute crap. And today I've got someone who very likely agrees with me, and he happens to be one of the biggest gamers in the world. Scott Cronce is the Chief Technology Officer of Electronic Arts. Scott's worked on dozens of video games over the last two decades and when I noticed his name pop up on the EcoGeek mailing list (don't you want to join too) I had to get in touch with him. I was excited to learn that he's an even bigger EcoGeek than I am, and was happy to oblige us with an interview. EcoGeek: CTO of Electronic Arts eh? That sounds a lot like "Head of Video Games for the Entire World" what are your responsibilities with EA?... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Ask the EcoGeek: Recycling CDs

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:16:17 GMT

Dear EcoGeek, Is it possible to recycle old CD's or DVD's? Thanks, Rob The perpetual scourge of EcoGeekiness is obsolescence. We pay good money for what we see as a good product, and then five years down the line we're surrounded by useless junk! But I can't help but answer this seemingly straightforward question with several different answers. First, I'll actually answer the question: Yes, you can, but it's not as simple as curbside pickup. CDs and DVDs do contain valuable materials (CDRs even sometimes contain gold) and there are techniques to harvest that material for reuse, but those same materials make them too complicated for regular recycling centers. Unfortunately, the materials aren't expensive enough that someone will pay for them. To recycle CDs you'll have to ship them to a special recycling center. Several are listed at the bottom of this post.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Book Review: The Clean Tech Revolution

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:00:15 GMT

We Treehuggers know there's something big going down. Every week there's more and more clean technology news and we're happy to report it. Bigger wind farms, better solar panels, alternative fuels, and ultra efficient architecture are all part of a trend that is making the world a better place. But while we often focus on how much good these technologies are doing for the world, some folks are focusing on how much money there is to be made. Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder's new book "The Clean Tech Revolution" is subtitled "The next big growth and investment opportunity," and they are very probably right about that. Ten percent of U.S. venture capital money is now going to "clean technology" investments. Everything from solar power, to efficient air conditioners; all signs point to an economic boom on the horizon. Good for the planet and for the economy? Absolutely.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Staples Will Recycle Anything (for $10)

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:10:24 GMT

Today Staples launched its national "Computer and Office Technology Recycling Program." Thus becoming the first national store to offer everyday, in-store recycling of pretty much any sort of electronic equipment. Just bring in your computer, monitor, printer, fax machine, scanner, etc. and they'll recycle it "in accordance with environmental laws." Of course, we haven't yet hit the golden moment...when a big box store will recycle a computer for free (or better yet, pay you for all of those nice expensive materials inside your old equipment). Staples will gladly accept your equipment as long as you give them $10. They will, however, recycle mice and keyboards for free. Frankly, it's worth $10 to me. I've got two broken down printers sitting in my basement, but I'll be darned if they ever see the inside of a trash bin. We'd all be better off if the original manufacturer would take the equipment back, and a good number of them (Dell, Toshiba, Apple and others) do. But for equipment that has no other destiny besides leeching into our groundwater, Staples is the way to go. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Help Re-Name Glacier National Park

Fri, 11 May 2007 15:20:01 GMT

Today, Glacier National Park turns 97. Unfortunately, it's looking like this year might be one of the last years in which a birthday celebration at Glacier National Park actually has glaciers present. In 1850 there were over 150 glaciers in the park, today there are a couple dozen. Experts estimate that the final glacier will melt from the park in the next twenty to thirty years. So the National Environmental Trust is asking residents of Montana (and the world) what we will call the park when that day comes. Anna Swanson, who represents the National Environmental Trust from Montana says, "Glacier National Park is Montana's icon and our nation's crown of the continent. If Congress doesn't act soon to address global warming, we're going to have to rename Glacier." ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Soda Can Solar Panel

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:23:44 GMT

Passive solar is just so easy, it's a wonder we don't all do it. Right now, in my little basement office in Montana, I could use a little heating up. And, with a few 2x4s and a bunch of aluminum soda cans, it turns out I can have my own passive solar heater without much work. A clever DIYer, Daniel Strohl, painted some aluminum cans black, drilled some holes in the cans, stacked them, and then put them in a box and, voila, air coming out of the box was fifteen degrees warmer than air going into the box. He then pumped the warm air directly into his garage. And with just a little bit more work, this exact same design could be a passive water heater. We tend to think of solar power as a high investment advanced technology, but when it comes to heat, that's something the sun does awfully well all on its own. We should all do a TreeHugger search for "passive solar" every once in a while. ::Engadget... Read the full story on TreeHugger

USBCELL: I am not an Alkaline

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:48:48 GMT

The USBCELL, a AA battery that charges via USB port, has kinda taken the internet by storm, and for good reason. The batteries are sturdy, powerful, and take the annoying clutter of a charger completely out of the equation. This new advertising campaign isn't just touting the virtues of the USBCELL, it's also shining some negative light on the alkaline industry. And, frankly, that negative light is justified. The "I Am Not An Alkaline" campaign is good for the the world, and for consumers. These certainly are the most convenient rechargeable battery around, lets hope they put help a dent in alkaline sales. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Go Watch TV: Saved by the Sun

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 19:32:52 GMT

Tonight (April 24th) at 8pm, Nova is airing a special solar power episode called "Saved by the Sun." So run to your TV, turn on PBS and find out if solar power is going to save the world or not. Innovations in thin film, silicon, solar concentrators and plastic cells make the topic more confusing daily, and it's great to see public television taking on the challenge of making sense of the solar power industry. Less than 1% of America's power comes from solar, while Germany is on the way to 20% solar power production. What are the differences? How can their success be duplicated. In a world where solar is generally at least twice as expensive to produce as fossil fuel power, it might not seem possible. But every year we understand the true costs of fossil fuels more while innovations in solar cells make them cheaper and cheaper. So...Go watch TV! Not something you'll hear us TreeHugger's say very often. You should heed our advice when we do. Cool story about "Saved by the Sun" at Cosmic Log.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Green Machine Guide

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:07:09 GMT

ComputerShopper magazine is currently featuring a guide on How to Buy a Green PC which was authored by Treehugger's own Jasmin Malik-Chua. The article walks readers through the most important aspects of environmental home computing. The article is broken down into six parts: Buy a smaller computer, avoid hazardous substances (always check for RoHS compliance), check for energy efficiency, get an efficient power supply, find a good multi-core processor, set your software on power-save and, finally, make sure to recycle anything that might otherwise be thrown away. As an introduction to environmental computer buying, I have never seen a better guide. See Also ::How to Green Your Electronics the Treehugger Guide... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Chemical Test for Organic Standards

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 22:10:18 GMT

Organic veggies make us all happier. They're safer, use fewer petrochemicals and have a smaller carbon footprint. But how do we know that vegetables with that organic label are truly organic? Well, generally some government employee goes to a farm every once in a while and makes sure that the producer is following all the organic standards. Generally, the system works pretty well. But if there's concern that a producer is only following organic protocols occasionally, there aren't many ways to catch them in the act. Researchers at the University of East Anglia in Norwich have created a new test that can detect very subtle differences between vegetables grown organically and non-organically. The test actually detects nitrogen isotopes within the plant, so there's no way to wash off the evidence. The process isn't meant to replace inspection, but it is a great backup is fraud is suspected. And as the market for organic products grow, it's important to be able to detect the differences between conventional and organic produce. Because a few perfectly beautiful apples covered in petrochemical pesticides can ruin the whole bunch. ::Discovery.com... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Free Real-Time Energy Meters for the U.K.

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:30:31 GMT

The government of the United Kingdom has decided that people should know how much energy they're using all the time, and which appliances are the biggest draws on their power. The U.K. will soon be giving a free real-time energy meter to any household in the country that requests one. The initiative is part of the United Kingdom's commitment to cut CO2 emissions 60% by 2050. The ability visualize energy use, in kilowatts, pounds of carbon, and pounds and pence is vital to decreasing household carbon footprints. These real-time monitors are simple to install and easy to use. Of course, there's no guarantee that the devices will be of high quality. In order for consumers to really use these they have to provide meaningful information, namely, the amount of money being spent and saved. Some worry that electric companies will provide households with tiny and difficult to decipher meters that will, in effect, just be another lousy piece of plastic in the junk drawer. It will probably be another year before citizens are able to ask for the meters, but by 2008, the U.K. should be the first country who's citizens always know what's going into their houses. ::BBC... Read the full story on TreeHugger

3D Solar Cells Make Trackers Obsolete

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 17:20:51 GMT

A basic problem with solar panels is that they are almost always flat. In order to maintain maximum efficiency they have to be directly perpendicular to the sun. So, either we deal with sub-par efficiency through 95% of the day, or we build expensive motor-driven sun-trackers. Jud Ready, at the Georgia Tech Research Institute has come up with another solution. But building solar panels that are basically composed of millions of tiny photovoltaic skyscrapers on a conducting grid. Because the skyscrapers are oriented veritically with gaps between them, photons are readily absorbed and converted to electricity even when the hit the panel at an angle. This also makes the cells perfect for cloudy climates, when the amount of light is the same, but the clouds scatter the sunlight in lots of directions. The photovoltaic material being used in these 3D cells is currently cadmium, which is unfortunately toxic, and less efficient than some other materials, but Ready says that many other light-active substances could be used in the panels. They aren't sure how much the can boost efficiency compared to current panels, but millions of tiny skyscrapers can't be all wrong. ::Newswise... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Cataclysmic Climate Change in Second Life

Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:40:52 GMT

In an extremely bizarre and ironic twist, fake cities in the popular massively multiplayer game Second Life were submerged by Adventure Ecology to remind folks that there's a real world outside their doors and if Second Life's server farms get flooded, their avatar could face a premature demise. Creating the floods, which covered London, Tokyo and the Netherlands was no simple task. Cities in Second Life are owned by individual players, sometimes hundreds of them, and getting everyone to agree to a date and time for the flood was on par with some of the biggest Step it Up events. Apparently, the Second Lifers took the floods in stride. A few pub-goers just converted their tables to boats and kept drinking their pints, though the topic of conversation had shifted...to global warming. ::Hugg and ::Inhabitat... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Which BioFuel Produces the Least NOx?

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:31:36 GMT

There's more to environmental friendliness than carbon neutrality. And while biofuels certainly promise to reduce our world's carbon emissions, we've got to keep tabs on things like nitrous oxide emissions as well. This is exactly what folks at the University of Colorado and the USDA are doing. Nitrous oxides (NOx) are greenhouse gases and contribute to poor air quality and smog. While all bio-fuels produce less NOx than fossil fuels, some are quite a bit better than others. Gasoline produces 40% more NOx than corn and soy biofuels, 85% more than reed canary grass and 115% more than switch grass. Another, but somewhat underdeveloped source of biofuels, fast growing poplar trees, also hit the 115% mark. So the lesson learned here is that we're just at the beginning of this journey. As cellulosic sources of ethanol become more economically viable, biofuels will become even more environmentally friendly. ::CNet Science Blog and ::ESA Press Release... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Electric Motorcycle Breaks Speed Record

Sun, 08 Apr 2007 23:28:55 GMT

An Electric Motorbike powered entirely by lithium ion batteries has just broken the record for the electric motorbike quarter mile. The bike broke 155 mph and finished the quarter mile in less than nine seconds. Of course, the real story here isn't the 'zero to sixty' numbers, it's the technology behind the bike. The batteries were developed by A123 systems and are already delivering more power more safely than any other lithium ion battery. A123's batteries don't yet have the power density of the Tesla Roadster's batteries, but they're catching up. The batteries in this bike have a good chance of being the batteries that finally start to chip away at internal combustion's stranglehold over the automobile industry. And while this is just a motorcycle that happens to be faster than any other electric motorcycle, the possibilities for the technology are extremely exciting. ::Green Car Congress... Read the full story on TreeHugger

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