Better Place has one of the more unique ways of dealing with exhausted electric car batteries. While it does offer charging stations which take quite a while to charge your battery, it also offers the option of simply switching it out. A 100 car fleet of electric vehicles will now begin testing the infrastructure which stretches across Israel.
Technology for a greener future
Archive for January, 2012
UK Ministry of Defense installs wind farm proof radar
The UK Ministry of Defense is installing radar that is imperious to wind farms. Previously wind farm applications were denied because they were too close to radar towers that were adversely affected by wind turbine blades. The new radar installations don’t have that problem which will allow more wind farms to be built.
Will algae or seaweed solve our fuel problems
Earlier this week Joule Unlimited secured $70 million in funding. The company happens to have algae facilities that turn carbon dioxide and sunlight into biodiesel and ethanol. Meanwhile Bio Architecture Lab was able to get seaweed to create chemicals and biofuels. Both processes use patented organisms to create the biofuel.
iNature cases will protect your iPhone in an eco-friendly way
As cellphone contracts come up for renewal most people look for a new phone to replace their last one. One of the top phones to consider is the iPhone and when you purchase a new phone, you always have to get a new case. INature has developed a fashionable protective case out of biodegradable plastic.
California’s new efficiency standards would do away with battery charger vampire draw
The California Energy Commission has created new standards for battery chargers that would go into effect in February of 2013. The new chargers would contain technology that would shut the charger off once a gadget was fully charged, reducing wasted energy. That wasted energy is sometimes referred to as vampire draw.
Austin Energy has the largest utility scale solar project in Texas
Energy companies are beginning to put Texas’ vast amount of sunshine to use. Having the largest utility scale solar project in the state is something to brag about. Texas likes things big and Austin Energy’s 30MW solar farm fits that the bill while also providing clean energy to thousands of homes.
Tata Motors will present a new vaporware car at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show
Many automakers unveil concept cars at the various auto shows around the world and every now and then they actually make it into production. Mostly they showcase new technology and design ideas. Tata Motors will be showcasing the eMO at this years Detroit Auto Show in the Michelin Challenge Design. Unlike many concept cars, Tata has basically said that this car won’t ever see a production line but the company has built a nice little imaginary retail experience around the car.
All Chevy Volts are recalled to reinforce battery pack
Add Chevy Volt to the list of environmentally friendly cars that are being recalled this year. The reason for the recall however, has less to do with the safety of the passengers than the safety of the junkyards where totaled cars are stowed.