Nissan’s LEAF electric car will be on the West coast by December of this year. The rest of the company should see the car in 2011. The initial cost is projected to be around $32,780 before government tax credits. That price is higher than the cost of Toyota’s high end Prius V which costs $28,070. Two trim styles will be offered the SV and SL. The SL will cost an additional $940.
Technology for a greener future
Archive for March, 2010
Safer nuclear reactors could be in our future
Researchers at the Los Alamos National Laboratory have discovered an unexpected mechanism in nanocrystalline materials that allows them to heal after radiation damage. The mechanism was discovered using three different computer simulation methods.
Sheep’s wool insulation is green
No not the color green but the renewable resource green. Like cellulose and cotton insulations, sheep’s wool is a renewable resource with a twist. Cellulose insulation recycles paper and cotton insulation recycles the bits of blue jean material that would normally be tossed in the trash. Sheep’s wool insulation is naturally renewable because sheep grow new coats yearly.
Genencor and Goodyear create tires from BioIsoprene
Genencor and Goodyear have teamed up to create, if not a better tire, at least one as good. These tires will actually be better because they are made with less petroleum. Genencor has created a tire for Goodyear made out of BioIsoprene, a material created from renewable resources.
Ingredients from fabric softener and hair conditioner scrub CO2
Scientists have found a cheaper more efficient way to scrub CO2 from coal burning flues with ingredients similar to those found in fabric softener and hair conditioner. The aminosilicones performed excellently during testing and promise to be the solution to improving the air quality of coal plant emissions.
Plasma TV innards make biofuels from waste
Researchers at Etudes Chimiques et Physiques in France have discovered a new low cost method of making clean biofuels. By using a GlidArc reactor found in plasma TV’s various different waste products can be converted to clean fuels.
Surgical screws are now biodegradable
Fraunhofer Institute has come up with a biodegradable screw. Until now most attempts at biodegradable screws have resulted in holes left in the bone once the screw dissolved. Fraunhofer’s screws leave no holes behind. Many surgeries require the use of screws to hold bones or ligaments in place. Most such surgeries use Titanium screws, like those on the right in the picture, that have to be removed or replaced at a later time.
AT&T”s ZERO Charger stops vampire draw
If you leave your phone charger plugged in all of the time it will continue to draw power whether or not your phone is plugged in and charging. This continued sucking of energy is called “vampire draw”. AT&T’s ZERO Charger stops drawing power when your phone is fully charged completely eliminating vampire draw.
Jackie Chan will be selling Brammo’s Enertia in Asia
Jackie Chan has teamed up with Brammo to sell its motorcycles in Asia through his company JCAM Advanced Mobility Company Ltd. Brammo’s initial offering is the Enertia, a motorcycle that will reach speeds of 60+ miles per hour and will travel 20 to 40 plus miles depending on your driving habits and route.
Mac-Gray and Carbonfund.org make student laundry GHG free
Mac-Gray Corporation, provides debit-card and coin-operated laundry equipment to various universities for student use. Besides offering water and energy efficient equipment, Mac-Gray also provides green house gas (GHG) free equipment by partnering with Carbonfund.org.