Transportation

Conventional transportation technologies usually involve the use of fossil fuels for vehicle propulsion. Rising fuel prices are causing mainstream awareness and interest in alternative transportation technology. Many automobile companies are working hard to develop more sustainable vehicles in order to combat fuel costs and the harmful environmental effects of petroleum as a fuel source. This section has articles about the development of sustainable transportation alternatives.

Infinyte I4: A Purely Electric Catamaran Cruiser

While solar-power electric hybrid vehicles are a proven success story on the roads, the time is ripe for the appearance of solar-electric watercraft. Already a pontoon boat - Loon - is available in the market. It is solar-electric powered and can seat eight passengers. Now a smaller one - the purely electric run, Infinyte I4- is the new kid in the block. Plans for a bigger boat solar-electric type are also on the anvil. 18 Comments

06APR

Common Algae for Biofuel Butanol Production

There have been various methods tried for reducing fossil fuel dependency and containing carbon footprints for a healthier and more eco-friendly future. Corn-produced ethanol has been used for mixing with gasoline but there have been side effects like corrosion from ethanol. Also huge tracts of precious farmlands need to be diverted for corn production. But now new research has thrown up results that show common algae can be used for biofuel production. 4 Comments

30MAR

MiraQua: A Tiny Miracle

Today there seems to be more and more and yet more vehicles on the road than ever. Everybody wants to have their own transport and a smaller car with least carbon emission seems to be an ideal solution for this inexhaustible number of cars that seem to be coming up. Tiny cars electrically driven but looking unique in design and performance may be the ideal solution, according to Chaoyi Li, designer of the MiraQua car. Though he designed this as a solution for Australia and China's excessive traffic congestion, this car can become popular all over. 4 Comments

25JAN

Solar Powered Wheelchair Sets World Records

Haidar Taleb, a 47 year old man from UAE, displayed a rare combination of human spirit and willpower when he took up a 200-mile long journey on a wheel chair that he has built for himself which runs on solar power. Being a person with polio since the age of 4 has not stopped him from taking up this challenge on this wheelchair, a piece of technological innovation. 7 Comments

24JAN

Best Green Car of 2011: Chevrolet Volt

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt became the first electric car to be chosen as the Green Car of the Year 2011. Chevrolet Volt received this honor at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which is held every year by the Green Car Journal. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt electric car was chosen as the electric car of the year by an eminent jury, which consisted of the editors of Green Car Journal, Jean Michel President of Ocean Futures Society, Carl Pope Chairman of Sierra Club, and the host of Tonight Show Jay Leno, who happens to be a big fan of cars. 12 Comments

27SEP

Cheapest Green Car – Honda Fit Hybrid

In tune with its focus on continuing with combining hybrid attempts and smaller size, Honda is offering another hybrid - the smallest and cheapest. This fall, Honda's Fit will be on sale in Japan priced at 1.6 million yen hoping to become an instant hit. Honda will be launching the cute little car in the 2010 Auto Show at Paris in October under the name Honda Fit Hybrid. Its petrol version, called Jazz/Honda Fit is already in the markets. The Hybrid Fit will have the distinction of being the first hybrid subcompact car model marketed by Honda. What do you think?

21SEP

Hydrogen-Powered Personal Helicopter

A personal helicopter weighing just 230 lb created sizzling news when it flew on hydrogen with zero emission. With an ability to carry payloads up to 800 lbs, this pocket Hercules can fly for 90 minutes. Fitted with easy controls, this reaches a speed of 100 knots thanks to a pair of small yet powerful motors mounted on it. Two common and easily available things - Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and a catalyst - combined to bring about a milestone in personal aviation history with attention to the environmental issues as well!Avimech has combined these two to power engine in to an innovative machine. 9 Comments

23AUG

Audi Testing Water in Electric Car Production

The entrepreneurial Audi is planning to take advantage of changes portended in the automobile market with an eye towards emission-free vehicles. Until now Audi has not shown any interest in electric car production but now that there is a growing demand for small and electronically-driven cars, Audi is keen to join the race.4 Comments

09AUG

USPS Goes Green

In strict adherence to guidelines released by theDepartment of Energy, the United States Postal Service gets on a fast track to reach the goal for energy reduction. Green roofs, green buildings and an optimally efficient management system of energy consumption form part of the energy-reduction strategy. 10 Comments

26JUL

New Battery Warranty for Chevy Volt Owners

The Chevrolet Volt is giving its extended range electric vehicle customers a great deal with an eight year/100,000 mile (whichever comes first) warranty for its lithium-ion battery. The battery pack has some 161 components, nine modules and 288 cells. The warranty is offering coverage for all the parts. The battery is basically made up of Chem. cells by LG but almost 95% of other battery components have been designed and are manufactured by GM. The thermal management system, electric drive system and the charging system also come under the warranty coverage. 8 Comments

01JUL

eCRP Electric Motorcycle Launches for TTXGP

A trip around the eCRP plant headquarters at Modena: The eCRP is the first of its kind of purpose-built electric superbikes, and today it is pitting against the legendary gas-powered Ducati, MV Agusta et al in the Italian TTXGP. With classic gorgeous looks and efficiently designed high performing parts, Moto2 bikes are packed with top-notch specifications. Agni 95 DC twin motors, battery packs from 7.4KWh, Marzocchi D.43 Superbike forks, CRP-built aluminum cast alloy Chassis and other features make the eCRP 1.2 a great bike. CRP has strictly adhered to the TTXGP rules and specifications in the making of eCRP 1.2. 3 Comments

22JUN

Dock Here for Clean Renewable Solar Energy!

This can very well happen in the near future with billboards advertising - bold and strong, beckoning electric vehicles for recharging. Already in Berlin-Adlershof, this is happening. The largest independently functioning solar charging station is offering high-quality, computerized and completely safe kind of solar charging to electrical cars. Electric-power cars' handicap - finding a place for recharging on the run - is now being conquered by this power refill station. Precise calculated billing, electronic identification for access and automatic safety flaps are added attractions. And no queues to bug you! At a time, eight vehicles can be recharged! Components of solar station: What makes this station so unique? Three great components - a mover to generate electricity, a battery to store the power efficiently and an intelligent and totally computerized connector system -for charging and billing - add to up to ... 18 Comments

15JUN

Mira EV Travels 1000km on Single Charge

Mira EV has created a world record with completing 1000 km run on a single battery charge non-stop, powered by Sanyo's lithium-ion battery systems. This experiment took place on the world’s longest race course in Japan, in Shimotsuma. Organized by Japan Electric Vehicle Club, this long marathon driving was accomplished by a relay team of 17 auto-racers from a training school in Ibraki, Japan. 6 Comments

01JUN

Giant Inflatable Airship Powered by Algae

This summer, piloted by Captain Allan Judd, Bullet 580 will usher in the return of inflatable giant airships. The 235 ft long and 65ft diameter ship is covered with a type of Kevlar, a material 10 times-stronger than steel but only one sixteenth of an inch thick. An E-greendesign special costing £5.5million, this giant runs on algae - latest bio-fuel that can be developed from brackish and waste water. 9 Comments

26MAY

Eco-Friendly Planes Designed by MIT-Led Team on the Anvil

The NASA Research Program 'N+3' has thrown open a challenge for exploring the potential to develop quieter subsonic commercial planes as well as supersonic commercial aircraft that burn less fuel and pollute less. The team led by MIT are working on developing two models to meet the NASA criteria as well to accommodate the demands created by increased air traffic by 2035 A.D. 1 Comment

25MAY

Future Air Travel will have Less Noise, Less Exhaust

EU's 'Clean Sky' - the 1-6 billion euro research project - with 86 participating partners from 16 nations - has goals like developing unique application-specific technologies and evaluation and advancement of the entire aeronautic system. Aviation experts fromACARE (Advisory Council for Aeronautics Research in Europe) are expecting to achieve 50% reduction of noise and carbon dioxide emission and 80% reduction of nitrogen oxide output by 2020. Thanks to better drive concepts and better adapted logistical designs and innovative and newer manufacturing of structural concepts and aerodynamic profiles, European aviation history will be rewritten under ACARE's new guidelines. Air travel will soon get more environmental-friendly, quieter and cleaner. What do you think?

14APR

NASA’s Puffin: The Personal Electric Air Vehicle

Mark Moore, an aerospace engineer, is the person who dreamed about the Puffin. Puffin is a single seated electric powered airplane. Moore conceptualized the idea of electric aircraft for his doctoral degree. Operating it from your house is as simple as taking out your car from the garage. You can launch this aircraft from your own home because of vertical take-off and landing. Mark Moore is trying to combine the best feature of a plane and a helicopter into a hybrid known as the Puffin. The Puffin is not some abstract reality that is not going to take a concrete shape. What do you think?

05APR

Car Fuel from Carbon Dioxide?

If a car is running smoothly on the road and its consuming carbon dioxide from air as fuel instead of petrol, what a dream world that would be. Researchers from the South West are working on a £1.4 million project to turn the above dream into a reality. This car of future will consume one of the root causes of greenhouse effect. What a greener world that would be. Scientists and engineers from many universities will combine their efforts to produce that dream car running on carbon dioxide. The University of Bath is leading the research. They are joined by the University of the West of England and members from the University of Bristol. What do you think?

10MAR

Prototype Solar Power-Assist for Buses

Sunpods Inc. is California-based manufacturing company. They produce modular, fully integrated and tested solar power generation systems. Recently they have come out with an idea of the first solar power-assist system for buses. They should be applauded for developing it in a mere six weeks. Their partner isBauer Intelligent Transportation. The system developed by Sunpods will help Bauer to meet strict anti-pollution standards laid down by the State of California. California state law since 2008 has disallowed diesel vehicles to remain idle for more than five minutes. Now more than 25 states across the United States have anti-idling laws. 1 Comment

04MAR

World’s Largest Solar Boat Prepares for World Tour

PlanetSolar enjoys the distinction of being the largest solar-powered boat in the world, and it's ready to take on the world. This beauty’s vital stats are: weight: 60-ton, a 470-square-meter are covered by 38,000 solar cells to generate 103.4 kW of energy. 18 million euro ($24.4 million) was spent to adorn this beauty in environmentally friendly way. SunPower Corporationhas provided the all vital 38,000 black photovoltaic cells to generate power for this catamaran. These solar panels have a pretty decent conversion rate of 22%. This solar powered ship will be launched this month to get the real taste of water from the Knierim Yacht Club in Kiel, Germany. What do you think?