Green Transportation

This spring President Bush gave a speech at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference. He was saying we have to “get off oil” and listed reasons including the reality that the sources of oil are often countries that don’t like us. Bush then spoke about a green future where Texas farmers grow switchgrass that’s turned into fuel for our cars, city people drive plug-in hybrids that have a 40-mile electric-only range and, in the long term, hydrogen-powered cars that produce only water as a waste product. Bush even talked about a flight by the Air Force with alternative fuels and, as we mentioned earlier, a recent flight on biofuels by Virgin Atlantic. What he just described, Bush says, is the “beginning of a new era,” one that’s almost equal to the era started by the Model T.

[via] www.autobloggreen.com

We at Big Green Monster were of course also represented at Washington International Renewable Energy Conference, and the trip from Atlanta to Washington was worth it. We came home with enough material to last us quiet a while!

We found this video on Youtube that gives a fairly good idea of all the exciting things to come.
Enjoy

We are in the midst of an air-car revolution.  From France to Australia the technology is exploding across the world.  The race is on!

France (you can read more from the French side further down in the blog)

And Australia

Yet another hybrid car has seen the day of light. This time it is Toyota who is showing us their idea of the future.

This 1/X plug-in hybrid concept shaves off plenty of pounds to save energy, tipping the scales at a third the weight and using half the juice of the Prius. Its frame is made of a polymer using renewable plants and reinforced with carbon fiber, and even its see-through roof is made of hard, light and exotic man-made materials. It all sounds too expensive to be true. We especially like that snazzy bank of LED headlights across the front.

I know we all have our different ideas about what looks good and I am sure there will be very different opinions about this baby. Some will feel that this car is crazy looking, where as others who will love it. It is different, but all species have to change and adapt to survive, even humans!

[via] scifi.com/tech

By Jon Alain Guzik.

“I’ve seen the future and it has four wheels, an electric motor and moves like the wind. The future is painted bright red, made of carbon fiber and is powered by 6,831 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The future has a top speed of close to 130 miles an hour and has a fuel efficiency–if you could refer to something without a gas tank and an internal combustion engine as fuel efficient–of about one penny a mile. The future has a range of 250 miles when topped off on clean-burning electric power.

Oh, the future also does 0-60 in 4 seconds and kicks you in the chest with more torque than you are used to. Drop the future into gear, hold onto your hats and glasses and away you go, off into the wild blue yonder. I’ve driven the future, its name is the Tesla Roadster and, to tell the truth, it’s pretty darn awesome.

I’ve driven Audis at top speed on the autobahn, Lamborghinis on racetracks, Ducati’s through the mountains outside of Bologna, Italy. I once sat shotgun in a vintage 1950s Mercedes-Benz SL Gullwing as we bombed up the Pacific Coast Highway at 125 miles an hour, the straight-six screaming, the ocean blowing past. But now that I’ve driven the Tesla at close to top speed on Caribbean Road in Sunnyvale, my perspective has changed. Now, to tell the truth, I’m spoiled rotten.”

The ZAP Alias performance:
• 0 – 60 mph : 7.7 seconds
• Vmax: 100 mph
• EV range: 100+ miles (160.9 kilometer)
• Vehicle kerb mass: 1612.6 lbs (733 kg)

ZAP-3 Homologated as a motorcycle with Enhanced safety features:
• Seatbelts
• Roll hoop

Development Updates:
• CAD Walk-a-round:
http://www.zapworld.com/files/news/ZAP_AliasVideo.wmv
• Prototype now being developed. See presentation here:
http://www.investorideas.com/Forums/Media/Green2/zaap/default.aspx

With over 100,000 fuel efficient vehicles sold, ZAP (Zero Air Pollution®) plans to deliver the three-wheeled Alias electric vehicle in 2009. The expected MSRP is US$32,500 and you can reserve one for $5,000.

ZAP has assembled a complete line of products for the environmentally conscious consumer. With its new product offerings, the Company is positioned to become a leading brand and distribution portal of advanced technology vehicles.

ZAP is based in Santa Rosa, CA, USA.

[via] www.zapworld.com

Images have been released of the hydrogen fuel cell-powered Crosscage being ridden on a closed course. Details are sparse, but the bike has retained allot of its design cues from the 2007 concept like the high end single-sided front fork and rear swing arm and a full digital dash atop the bars.

The hydrogen fuel cell Suzuki Crosscage motorcycle is a partnership between the Japanese motorbike manufacturer and Intelligent Energy from the United Kingdom.

Check out the concept video.

Genepax’s “Water Energy System (WES), generates power by supplying water and air to the fuel and air electrodes using a proprietary technology called the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) The WES system uses a metal hydrides method where metal or a metal compound causes an oxidation reaction with water. The main feature of the Water Energy System is that it can be operated for a longer period of time by controlling the reaction of the metal or the metal compound.  According to the company, 1 liter of water keeps the car running for about an hour with a speed of 80 kilometers or 50 miles an hour.  In fact, any kind of water to be exact, whether its river, rain, seawater, or even Japanese tea will work. Its an electric powered car that runs solely on hydrogen dioxide. Considering the commercialization of the system, Genepax is conducting evaluation tests and plans to release test data. Have some faith folks. 

[via] www.genepax.co.jp

Boeing Hydrogen Fuel Cell Lithium Ion Battery Powered Manned Airplane Boeing Photo

In March, 2007 Boeing announced that in an effort to develop environmentally progressive technologies for aerospace applications, they along with researchers and industry partners throughout Europe planned to conduct experimental flight tests of a manned airplane powered only by a fuel cell and lightweight batteries.

Later the same year students at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia tested a scale model hydrogen powered unmanned aircraft. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell using compressed hydrogen, powered the aircraft to an altitude of 25 meters, followed down an automotive track by a chase car at the Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, Georgia.

First Hydrogen Powered Manned Flight April 3, 2008 Boeing Photo

On April 3, 2008 Boeing announced the first hydrogen-powered manned flight in aviation history, see photo above. The propeller driven, single-seat plane climbed to 3,300 feet over Madrid, Spain, using only electricity. According to Boeing researchers, PEM fuel cell technology potentially could power small manned and unmanned air vehicles. Over the longer term, solid oxide fuel cells could be applied to secondary power-generating systems, such as auxiliary power units for large commercial airplanes.

A fuel cell is an electrochemical device that converts hydrogen directly into electricity and heat with none of the products of combustion such as carbon dioxide. Other than heat, water is its only exhaust.

A two-seat Dimona motor-glider with a 16.3 meter (53.5 foot) wingspan was used as the airframe. Built by Diamond Aircraft Industries of Austria, it was modified by BR&TE to include a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell/lithium-ion battery hybrid system to power an electric motor coupled to a conventional propeller.

[via] www.us-tech.com/RelId/660275/ISvars/default/October_07_-_Fuel_Cells_Power_.htm

French writer Jules Verne predicted in his book of 1860, “Paris in the 21st Century,” that the transportation system would be using compressed air. MDI, a Luxembourg-based auto maker, has finally developed a way to make this prediction work.

Zero Pollution Motors and MDI announced that they are among the first teams to commit to participate in the multi-million dollar Automotive XPrize competition. The goal of the XPrize competition is to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles with over 100 MPG equivalent. The compressed air vehicle was showcased at the Automotive X Prize booth at the 2008 New York Auto Show (see story).

Zero Pollution Motors (ZPM) plans to distribute the world’s first air-powered cars to the United States by 2010. Its developer MDI, and ZPM expect to produce over 10,000 cars in the US. Six-seater models with 75 hp will sell for below $18,000.

The hybrid version, CityCat, comes with an eight gallon gas tank has a range as far as 1,000 miles at 96 mph. ZPM will also build the OneCat, a two seater, and the MiniCat, a three seater.

[via] http://zeropollutionmotors.us/