Fuel-Cell Powered Aircraft Ready For Take Off

Thu, 14 Jun 2007 21:22:20 GMT

Czech company Jihlavan Airplanes' Rapid 200 will be used as a flying test bed. A European research project, led by Turin Polytechnic University, is designing a fuel-cell powered, manned inter-city aircraft. "Hydrogen and fuel cell power technologies have now reached the point where they can be exploited to initiate a new era of propulsion systems for light aircraft and small commuter aircraft," says Romeo Giulio of Turin Polytechnic University and the project coordinator. The Environmentally Friendly Inter-City Aircraft powered by Fuel Cells (ENFICA-FC) project will receive 2.9 million (US$3.9 million) in funding from the European Union as part of the aeronautics and space priority of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). The fuel cell system will be installed in several aircraft, which will be flight and performance tested. The results of the project will be presented at both on-ground and in-flight public events at the end of the three-year research project.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Electric Car Revolution Only Three Years Away (Maybe)

Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:28:17 GMT

Mitusbishi's i MiEV (i Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle), will be on sale in just three years time We could all be driving electric powered cars sooner than we thought possible as new developments in battery technology gather pace, new companies form to develop the next generation lithium-ion cells, and the imminent opening of massive new battery producing factories in Asia gets underway. Among the latest news - leading battery maker A123Systems is planning to introduce lithium-ion cells for use in gas-electric hybrid and plug-in hybrid cars, trucks, and buses - a move that pushes one of the key technologies for alternative vehicles closer to market at a time when fuel prices are soaring. The new lithium-ion batteries have 10 times the capacity of those now used in hybrid electric vehicles, such as Toyota's Prius. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

GE's Hybrid Locomotive Prototype On Track

Mon, 04 Jun 2007 12:11:37 GMT

GE unveiled a prototype hybrid locomotive at its Ecomagination event in Los Angeles last week. The 4,000 hp locomotive uses a set of sodium nickel chloride (Na-NiCl2) batteries to capture and store energy dissipated during dynamic braking, as well as an on-board fuel optimizer system. The energy stored in the locomotive batteries will reduce fuel consumption and emissions by as much as 10% compared to most of the freight locomotives in use today. Railroads account for about 2.5% of national fuel usage in the US. In addition to reduced emissions, a hybrid will operate more efficiently in higher altitudes and up steep inclines.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Toyota Drives Ultimate Eco-car a Step Closer

Tue, 29 May 2007 10:35:06 GMT

Toyota has brought what it claims - with some justification, if it works -the ultimate eco-car a step closer to reality. The fuel cell hybrid vehicle (FCHV) was seen by Treehuggers last year following our report on testing of the vehicle in California's Death Valley. Toyota says the FCHV is the closest vehicle yet to the ultimate eco-car. It features an electric-motor hybrid system powered by a battery and fuel cells supplied with high-pressure hydrogen gas. The FCHV has moved a step closer to a real on-sale date as it starts long-term trials with a transport company in Nagoya, Japan. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Pressure For Change from Air Car

Mon, 28 May 2007 14:48:03 GMT

Not the prettiest, maybe.... but there are no emissions. 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 Negre 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. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Tesla Electric Sports Car Plugged In

Sun, 27 May 2007 13:39:52 GMT

Tesla: Nearer to launch thanks to half million dollar grant The California Air Resources Board and California Energy Commission has given Tesla Motors $561,000 for the development of a 16 kw public commercial charging station as part of almost $25 million worth of grants for the Alternative Fuel Incentive Program. Other funds went to building or upgrading ethanol and compressed natural gas stations, various biofuel start-ups, transit programs, and more. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Climb Aboard For 90 Percent Less CO2

Fri, 25 May 2007 12:26:12 GMT

Sweden's Scania has produced a standard-sized low-floor city bus that cuts CO2 emissions by up to 90 percent when fuelled with ethanol and saves at least 25 percent fuel, compared with a bus running on conventional petrol or diesel. Twelve of the hybrid-drive buses equipped to run purely on ethanol will start regular operation in Stockholm in 2008 and 2009 in cooperation with the city's public transport operator, SL (Storstockholms lokaltrafik). Ten of these are partly financed by the Swedish Energy Agency. The new bus also meets some of the world's toughest emission levels - Euro 5 and EEV - and it uses technology which is designed to last the life of the vehicle. For example, energy storage is by way of supercapacitors, which are much more robust than batteries, especially in heavy-duty applications such as trucks and buses (where there is also room for the capacitors' bulk).... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Hybrid Citaro Bus On The Move

Fri, 25 May 2007 11:13:54 GMT

DaimlerChrysler is developing a hybrid version of its Citaro bus, with pilot operation to begin next year and full-scale production planned for 2009. The Citaro hybrid uses a downsized diesel engine to provide power for a lithium-ion battery pack on the roof. When drawing into, standing at, or accelerating away from bus stops, the hybrid bus operates in electric-only mode. DaimlerChrysler says the hybrid will offer 20-30 percent lower fuel consumption than conventional diesel Citaros. The hybrid will use four electric wheel hub motors on the center and rear axles of the vehicle, with a total output of 320 kWs of power.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

People-Power To Hybrid Power

Tue, 22 May 2007 07:33:41 GMT

Can people-power move the world's automakers over to hybrid power? If the results of a campaign being run by the Hybrid Center.org are anything to go by, it looks like it just could. Just over a month ago, Hybrid Center (an off-shoot of the Union of Concerned Scientists launched their Earth Day Challenge '07-a petition urging Toyota to focus on fuel-efficient use of hybrid technology in the US market, such as the Estima Hybrid minivan which Toyota sells in Japan (it's sold in other markets as the Tarago or Previa) but which is not available in the world's biggest auto market. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Aluminium To Kick-Start Hydrogen Cars

Mon, 21 May 2007 13:19:58 GMT

Three men looking at a test tube...but a very interesting test tube... Pellets made out of aluminum and gallium can produce pure hydrogen when water is poured on them, offering a possible alternative to petrol-powered engines, US scientists have discovered. Hydrogen is seen as the ultimate in clean fuels, especially for powering cars, because it emits only water when burned. The trouble is, so far no-one has found an efficient way to produce or store hydrogen. There are also questions about the infrastructure needed - think of a network similar to the petrol stations in your neighborhood - to transport and supply hydrogen to car owners. This development could change all that and make hydrogen both accessible and useable. Indeed, the metal compound pellets may offer a simple way to utilize hydrogen, says Jerry Woodall, an engineering professor at Purdue University in Indiana who invented the system. Purdue are no strangers to Treehugger - they have already come up with several innovative developments across the fuel spectrum which we've reported on earlier.... Read the full story on TreeHugger

On Yer Hydrogen Bike

Sun, 20 May 2007 07:32:55 GMT

We all know pedal power can make you fitter but if you opt for this hydrogen-powered bike you could also be making the planet a lot fitter too. Developed by UK-based Valeswood Environmental Technology Development (VETD), the Hydrocell Bike is on sale now, powered by a lightweight hydrogen fuel cell placed behind the seat and able to send you on your green way for 60 miles. The Hydrocell power unit is available in three different sizes, producing between 14 to 156 volts individually or up to 220 volts when used as part of a power pack. The Hydrocell holds 40 liters of hydrogen. Hydrocell is a lightweight, rechargeable hydrogen fuel cell with an internal metal hydride store. It's not as expensive as most other hydrogen systems because the battery pack is alkaline-based rather than based on the more normal - and expensive - platinum core. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Honda and Toyota get Green Vote

Fri, 18 May 2007 12:00:12 GMT

A report just released by the Union of Concerned Scientists gives Honda and Toyota the thumbs up in the who-is-the-greenest-auto-maker-of-them-all sweepstakes, while ranking Daimler Chrysler bottom of the league. It's not only because Honda and Toyota are leaders in hybrid vehicle technology that they've got the kudos... Don Mackenzie, vehicles engineer at UCS who penned the report - Automaker Rankings 2007 - says the ratings result from the Japanese companies doing well across their vehicle ranges. This means areas like smog production (based on fuel consumption, and emissions across vehicle ranges), were firmly taken into account. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

ZAP Reinvents the Wheel

Thu, 17 May 2007 11:45:32 GMT

We've reported before on US electric car maker ZAP's soon-to-be launch of their crossover SUV, the ZAP-X powered by an electric motor in each of its four wheels and built by Lotus. Well, the latest good news is, the company has signed a deal with UK-based PML FlightLink to supply the wheel motor technology, which PML has already successfully showcased in a BMW Mini Cooper. This move brings the ZAP-X closer, though there is still no news on its official launch date. ... Read the full story on TreeHugger

TreeHugger Welcomes Writer Tony Bosworth

Tue, 01 May 2007 11:44:01 GMT

Tony Bosworth is a journalist, lecturer in media law, media consultant and green car nut. He's written for UK newspapers The Financial Times, The Guardian, The Times, The Independent, Daily Star, Investors Chronicle, and Australia's news weekly, The Bulletin. He's the author of five motoring books. Tony launched Which Car? magazine when he was 24 then spent the next 15 years swanning around in expensive cars and going on press trips to exotic locales. Eventually of course he grew up and realised there was more to life than speeding around in a red Ferrari in Monte Carlo (no really, there is...) and has since become something of an expert on alternative and green automotive technologies, as well as the cars and other vehicles they are increasingly used in. Tony lives in Sydney, Australia in a suburb where pretty much everything is picked up for recycling, which is a super thing. He walks and cycles and swims, but he still loves cars, and one day he hopes to have a drive in a totally green Ferrari. Now that would be a thing of beauty. Tony can also be found on www.blognow.com.au/realtart (he means his comments are real tart...just in case you wondered).... Read the full story on TreeHugger

Recent Posts by TreeHugger's Tony Bosworth, Sydney, Australia