Hydrogen Powered Electric Car to Race at Le Mans

This is simply amazing news in my opinion - the Swiss Green GT company has been invited to race its car at Le Mans. The fact that something that is as radical as a Hydrogen powered car will race in the toughest race in the world is an achievement itself, whether the Green GT wins or not. In recent years, Le Mans racing has become a very interesting form of racing with alternative fuels like diesel - and now hydrogen - being used in cars that compete with gasoline powered racers. Unlike Formula 1 which seems to look more and more like a silly parade with every passing year - I can't recall when I last bothered to even read Formula 1 results whereas, through the 80s and 90s, I was an addict - Le Mans has been working overtime to pit competing technologies against each other in its grueling racing format. At some point, one or another technology will win by demonstrating a clear superiority over others. But in that victory, the whole world will win because this will be a technology that will eventually filter down to the cars that everyone of us drives.

Green GT's website is well worth a visit.

First Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes recognizes Yuneec, Sonex and Antares [w/video] — Autoblog Green

First Lindbergh Electric Aircraft Prizes recognizes Yuneec, Sonex and Antares [w/video] — Autoblog Green

Along with the development of electric cars, there has been a simultaneous (if somewhat less well known to the public) development of electric aircraft. A part of the problem is that aircraft need to be built light and current batteries are heavy, even for cars. However, I do think that technology will find a way to improve these airplanes. Who would have dreamt, when Wilbur and Orville Wright managed to fly a few hundred meters, that someday there would be aircraft that would reliably fly hundreds of people across the world? I do think that this is the beginning of a golden age in electric powered flight. I am happy to be a spectator through this phenomenal process!

Do check out all of the videos and links on this Autoblog Green page.

SolarBullet Campaign shoots for high-speed solar train

SolarBullet Campaign shoots for high-speed solar train

This is something that could have fantastic implications for a country like India if it becomes successful. Imagine a train that is fast, clean and capable of carrying people from point to point with very low fuel costs - while this may or may not be practical on long distance routes, in the numerous mass transit trains that are being planned in the cities, this would be fantastic. My guess is that the monsoon would probably be the only time that these trains may need an external supply of electricity to run. At all other periods, they would simply be perfect.

I recall the days of steam engined trains from when I was a boy - people would advise anyone who traveled on Indian Railways back in those days not to take the first three or four compartments on any train or else they would end up looking like chimney-sweeps at the end of their journey. It is not all that different with diesel engined trains these days. A clean solar powered train that works on the light of the sun would be a magnificent clean alternative.

I do hope planners in India are looking at this project carefully. The Solar Bullet Website is: Link.

Algae Biofuel a Hoax?

I just saw this very interesting article on the website of a magazine that I had not heard of before: Biodiesel Smarter via Autoblog Green The article is short and sweet - I recommend it for anyone who visits here.

For all you guys interested in the Biodiesel business, it may be a good idea to subscribe to the magazine too. Very reasonably priced and they do seem to talk very clearly and honestly.

Near Production Version of the Aptera 2 e on Autoblog Green

I seriously wish that this car is either sold in Chicago, or that I am out of this city and in Austin, where I am almost certain it will be sold very shortly: Lovely, isn't it? The rumors are that Best Buy who recently started selling the Brammo Enertia Electric Motorcycle will also sell the Aptera. I have been a regular client of Best Buy since I moved to the USA seven years ago and I am definitely going to have a look at these cars when they come to the showroom floors near where I am.

I also wish that these cars are marketed outside the USA. There is fantastic scope for them to sell in countries like India and Sri Lanka in South Asia and in much of the Carribbean. Here's waiting to see Fossil Fuel finally shown the fist

Good News from India - New Reva Cars Look Like a Major Improvement

While Autoblog Green's post does seem designed in a tongue in cheek fashion to attract readers with talk of "remote charging" in the new Reva cars, there is a lot that is positive in the news that this post offers: New Reva Cars The old Revas managed to attract a dedicated following among anti fossil fuel people especially in Europe, but the fact is that the cars were badly engineered, unsafe and uncomfortable to drive. The new designs do look a lot better and should be safer as well. Hopefully, this means that a lot more of them will sell and that fossil fuel can be shown the fist for every one of these that sells! For the relatively short distances that people drive in India and for the mostly warm weather that is experienced across most of the country (electric and hybrid car performance falls in cold weather) these are a superb option for those who are environmentally concerned.

The French Plant Their Collective Fist in Fossil Fuels' Solar Plexus

The Wall Street Journal did a very good thing several times while the Cap and Trade fraud was being touted by vested interests, in telling US politicians that if they had any courage, they would bring in a carbon tax, instead of coming up with a crappy proposal like Cap and Trade that was only going to make a few entrenched political bandicoots rich. Now a nation that has virtually no fossil fuel reserves of its own, has taken a powerful step in this direction - the French plan to impose a progressively increasing carbon tax on their country. Surprisingly, this has the support of a vast majority of Frenchmen and women: http://www.alternatives-economiques.fr/taxe-carbonne---vive-la-taxe-carbone-_fr_art_633_43699.html (Received Vide Autoblog Green).

The French are already working in a big way to fund alternative energy research and elecxtric transport. They also have a huge nuclear industry with the world's safest record of operation. I think this new carbon tax will prompt their engineers to take up the challenge of working in the area of clean energy and bring in some very interesting products and ideas in the future. This will be a pleasure to watch, considering this blog's raison d'etre.

Why Is Tamilnadu Looking at Dredging the Cooum but not at Converting the Sewage to Motor Fuel?

Autoblog Green has this piece about a Texas company called Terrabon that is using a process developed by Texas A&M University to convert non food biomass into a gasoline fuel: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/07/13/green-gasoline-coming-soon-to-a-pump-near-you/ The company has a trial going on to sell this "green gasoline" and it has been used in cars with no conversion required to the engines. The sources from which Autoblog Green got this article are the Houston Chronicle, whose original article on the subject is at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6522394.html and there is a comment on Green Car Advisor at: http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/07/texas-firm-developing-green-gasoline-derived-from-most-organic-materials.html

Yesterday, the Tamilnadu government announced that Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin would be visiting San Antonio TX to check on their river dredging system - quite pompously, this was referred to as the "San Antonio Model" by the Indian media. My question is simple - San Antonio and Houston are both in Texas. Why on earth isn't whoever is advising Mr Stalin to visit San Antonio to find out how sewage in the COoum could be gotten rid of by being pushed into the sea, arranging for him to meet this company and figure out how to cash in on a huge resource that is available in Chennai? No one expects the Deputy CM to be a technical man who keeps abreast of the latest in technologies all over the world, but surely, the IAS officers and engineering college professors in India who claim to be turning out the best students in that part of the world ought to know better? And what about the Indian media? Don't they have science and technology writers?

Somehow, I am amazed at the sheer lack of knowledge that is almost always exhibited by the Indian bureaucracy, and even more, by the technical educators in that part of the world. Sometimes, like in the case of the now curiously silent N N Sachitanand of DNA India, the "expert" comments on new technology that come out seem to be idiotic to put it mildly. And then, when the question of converting waste into a very valuable resource comes up, again, the Indian bureaucracy can be expected to not do its homework. What a tragedy! Is it any wonder that despite having so many resources, India is still a backward, third-world nation?

Terrabon LLC's website is: http://terrabon.com/

A Website That Can Teach You to Save Fuel and Money by Hypermiling

I have written about hypermiling before, but it was through Autoblog Green that i came to learn about Clean MPG: http://www.cleanmpg.com/cmps_index.php?page=hypermiling a nice site that I signed up on at once. I am no expert - and I am happy to admit this whenever asked. As a learner, I do think that many who visit my blog would find this a useful site. DO try and use some of the techniques that they talk about to save fuel and post back to let me know how you find this. And, of course, do sign up.

Thanks and happy saving through hypermiling!

When Fuel-Efficient Hybrid Cars are a Bad Idea - Toyota's Environmentally Harmful Plan for Manufacturing the Prius

Toyota's Prius hybrids have been a huge hit since the first version was launched some years ago. The cars are very fuel efficient, though the technology used is not quite the be all and end all as Toyota and the Prius's many fans would have you believe, because lower tech cars like the Volkswagen Jetta diesel have proven as fuel efficient in a combined in-city and highway cycle. Some experts have criticized the use of Nickel in the Prius's batteries as a major environmental issue, though I am not sure if the alternative of emitting more burnnt petrol gases into the atmosphere is an acceptable substitute.

However, there is a completely different reason why Toyota needs to be opposed and the Prius boycotted, that is, unless they reverse their decision over where to manufacture it. Autoblog Green has this piece about Toyota planning to destroy 17th century rice paddies to build more Priuses. It is not only the destruction of the paddies that I am concerned about. The cars will be built in Japan and then shipped to the USA and other countries burning (and polluting the atmosphere at that) huge amounts of oil. Why on earth can't Toyota just build them in the USA, their biggest market for these cars? They do build excellent trucks here in Texas and cars in California and some other locations, after all . . . The Autoblog Green post about Toyota's ridiculous plan is at this link: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/22/toyotas-push-to-build-green-cars-may-destroy-17th-century-japan/

Fortunately, for someone contemplating a hybrid in order to show fossil fuels a tiny fist (they do burn gasoline after all) there are options other than the Prius. Honda's new Insight is a nice car if somewhat smaller than the Toyota. And, if you want a bigger car, Ford has its Fusion Hybrid (and its up-scale Mercury Milan version which I plan to buy shortly) which is less fuel efficient than the Prius but a lot bigger, mroe comfortable, and, if you want a Toyota comparison, a better car by every report out there than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

Please do your bit to knock some sense into Toyota - if you are contemplating buying a Prius, don't. At least, not until the company decides to preserve the paddies and adopt less environmentally harmful manufacturing practices. Thank you!

Electric Airplane Sets Speed Record

Yes, there are road cars that can go faster than this airplane and for longer. But this is an achievement that is absolutely on the right path ahead: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/15/new-electric-airplane-sets-world-record-for-speed-w-video/ Autoblog Green Must be thanked for giving this achievement publicity.

The world's car manufacturers are making decent strides (albeit sometimes reluctantly) as far as fuel efficiency is concerned. But aircraft and watercraft have been a different cup of tea so far. All work in these areas has been on a small scale and laws pishing these companies to do something significant have been few. That said, airlines like Emirates, Japan Air Lines and Air India have done some work in reducing the amount of fuel burned in take offs and landing by tinkering with time schedules and similar. However, it is only technological breakthroughs in electric aircraft power that will help reduce the use of fossil fuels in the air significantly. That said, algae based fuels have been successfully tested by the Japanese as well as by the US Air Force, though, there again, carbon is emitted into the air. My hat's off to the Sky Spark team. Their website is: http://www.skyspark.eu/web/eng/index.php

Tata to Build Extended Range Electric Jaguars

There were more than a few rumors some months ago about a strangely silent Jaguar that had been filmed at the Nurburgring and considerable speculation took place on dedicated blogs on the subject at the time. Now, Autoblog Green has confirmed that Jaguar have an extended range electric version of their XJ under development: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/12/jaguar-to-build-extended-range-ev-version-of-new-xj-in-2011/ My first reaction is to congratulate the Tatas on this. Yes, an Indian company that has bought a leading Norwegian Electric Vehicle Engineering business, offered Electric only versions of its Indica for sale in Europe and which is also collaborating with various other technology developers like the designers of the French Air Car, was not going to let an opportunity to use this technology on its prize brand, Jaguar, go idle. The speed with which the Tatas have gone ahead, needs to be praised.

Yes, there are the usual idiots screaming about problems with the cars before they have been built, skeptics who claim that the Tatas have no money - they just got a huge loan for Jaguar today - and those who just say that this can't be done. I remember a lot of clowns saying this about the Nano too. I cannot, but laugh at the collective "expertise" of these dolts and must thank Autoblog Green too for bringing this news from Autocar magazine to their huge readership. I shall be eagerly watching this development process.

After a Controversial Initial Model, Tesla Motors Launches an Electric Family Saloon Car

For a company that has sold less cars than the average car dealership anywhere in the world sells in a month, Tesla Motors has received an enormous amount of attention for its initial roadster offering. Widely praised for its acceleration and occasionally criticized for its price and the very short range that the car is capable of, battery technology not quite being what it needs to be to make it more capable, the company just unveiled a four door family car which costs less than the roadster and offers a better range, if they manage tog et the money to build the thing: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/26/tesla-model-s-50-000-ev-sedan-seats-seven-300-mile-range-0-6?icid=sphere_blogsmith_inpage_autobloggreen Autoblog Green, of course, is the site that I would choose to get news about something like this.

The car looks beautiful to my eyes and I do hope that they manage to build it. Not sure where the company will put it together, though - the roadster is basically a battery-powered Lotus Elise assembled to spec in the UK. Let's hope for the best - cars like these deserve to succeed if fossil fuels are to be shown the fist. Tesla Motors' website is: http://www.teslamotors.com/

British Wind Power Company Works on Advanced Electric Car

I like this post on Autoblog Green a lot because it features a very interesting (and frank) video interview with Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity and his plan to build an electric sports car that would outperform a Lotus: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/19/zero-carbonistas-wind-powered-car-with-no-name-keeps-moving-for/

What struck me were VInce's explanations about why he decided to get into the wind power business - the exact, same reasons apply to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh etc as well. Yes, I know that Pakistan and Bangladesh have extensive natural gas reserves but I would, much rather that these countries use these reserves for more than just powering their vehicles considering that both countries have abundant wind and sunlight as well . . .

In any case, the Vince interview is very interesting. He is working on a name for his car - anyone with ideas might want to post on the thread. Also, do check his website out. The man is an inspiration to anyone who likes cars and motorcycles and wants to pursue his / her enjoyment without using fossil fuels. Now, what do I have to do to make the money to buy an electric sportscar, ha, ha! http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/

Video Reviews of Electric Trucks on Autoblog Green

Again a very interesting concept that should be dynamite on Indian roads - if the country could generate electricity without 8 hours of power cuts a day, that is. Autoblog Green has this series of expert video comments and a review in progress of Smith Truck's Newton, a new electric truck design that is being tested right here in Chicago. I shall keep an eye open for these trucks and all I can say is that Tata, Ashok Leyland or one of the van manufacturers in India needs to seriously look at making one of these.

Check out the Autoblog Green link at: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/13/video-smith-electric-trucks-get-pro-reviews-at-work-truck-show/

Smith Electric Vehicles have a website that is equally interesting at: http://www.sev-us.com/default.html

Superb Show India! Now When Will These Cars be Available to Indians?

The Geneva Auto Show is the world's biggest and the most important in terms of new car models that come to be displayed every year. So why am I celebrating during a time of gloom? India's Tata Motors have managed to hog a considerable portion of the limelight with their Euro spec Tata Nano (a car that many so-called "experts" said could never be built - the same "experts" who gave AAA+ ratings to crappy Wall Street Banks, I'm sure) and, more importantly, since this is a blog meant to show Fossil Fuels the Fist, because of Tata's new Norwegian engineered Indica Electric car: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/03/04/geneva-2009-euro-spec-tata-nano-its-bigger-and-all-electric/ When a prestigious website like Autoblog Green raves about this, there is something for everyone to cheer.

This is a good beginning, no doubt, but there is competition that is certain to come. Several Chinese manufacturers have started working on electric cars and countries as diverse as South Africa and the UK have designed commercial vehicles that work on electricity. But I do think that if Tata have made it this far, there is no reason why they would not go further - a lot further in fact. And yes, I am rooting for them to succeed - and rooting for every other designer of electric vehicles to succeed as well. This means YOU Aptera, Tesla and all other creative companies out there. All the very best and may you all win!

Some Very Positive News from India: A Solar Powered Pontoon Boat Design

Autoblog Green has this entry (along with two videos which are well worth watching) of a ride on a solar powered pontoon boat designed by Navgathi Marine in India: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/18/solar-powered-pontoon-boat-gets-official-thumbs-up-w-video/ The design impressed a British engineer who heads a green boat design group and was filmed when he was invited for a test ride. Unfortunately, the videos do not have much information - or views for that matter - of the Navgathi designs.

The Navgathi website, too, has only illustrations of their 6.2 meter Sunrider design: http://sunrider.navgathi.org/ Hopefully, we shall have more news very soon. Congratulations, Navgathi, and very best wishes! I am always as optimistic about Indian engineers as I am critical of the Indian government and bureaucracy - tell me, after this, if I am wrong in any way!

This Should Work in India and Very Well at That

There was an attempt at getting India to convert to biomethane when I was a boy many decades ago - the Indian government called biomethane "Gobar Gas" after the name for cow dung in Hindi. Somehow, the whole project didn;t take off at all and the whole business died. India, as many know, has the world's largest cow population. The problem, from the perspective of caring for the cows in a country where they are worshipped is concerned, is that Indian cow breeds do not produce anywhere near as much milk as western breeds produce. Historically, bullock-carts (as oxcarts are called in India) were a popular mode of transportation in India with Arnold Toynbee writing in the 1950s that the total number of these vehicles in India exceeded the total number of cars in the rest of the world. But this was not to be as "progress" turned India's cities into urban ghettos stinking of untreated sewage and diesel exhaust fumes.

As the title suggests, there is a very interesting on Autoblog Green (Click on the title to go there) about using biomethane to run trucks that would normally run on diesel. India has a number of diesel vehicles and diesel gensets in factories etc. The country also has charitable Pinjrapols which are retirement centers for cows which are fed and cared for daily with donations. Well, now, there is an opportunity to get rewarded for this care that some give these cows - Cummins and the other companies involved in this Autoblog Green entry are already present in India. So, how about getting them to reconfigure diesel engines, gensets etc that they already sell in India to run on biomethane? And, who is going to look at this as an opportunity to make money from? I hope to send a link to this post to several friends who are keen animal livers and also business people as well as to my former classmates at St Mary's, Sherwood Hall, the Madras Christian College etc and to the Blue Cross of India, the organization that gave me Jack, my best buddy in the world.

Here's to hoping that someone in India, somewhere, gets bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and makes billions out of this idea.

One Very Interesting Electric Car

Autoblog Green has this interview with Cyril Lacroix of Heuliez, the designers of the nicely named "Friendly" electric car at: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/02/04/video-interview-with-cyril-lacroix-about-the-heuliez-friendly/ for all my friends who understand French. The commentary in English is equally detailed. Basically, this car is simply a highway speed capable electric vehicle which can run 100 Kn om a full charge, or, with the optional extra battery pack, run 250 Km on a single charge. Unlike the much more expensive offerings from companies like Tesla in the USA or Lightning in the UK, this is a bread and butter car which Heuliez offer at Euro 10,000 or the equivalent of US $ 14,000. And in the USA, if this is ever offered here, you would see tax incentives which make it even cheaper.

And, Heuliez are no newcomers to the car business. They have been coachbuilders with a record for good work dating back many decades. I do think that this would make a great second car if it were available here - the price is considerably lower than even that of the Think car and this thing seats four. Believe me, if it were available here, I would certainly buy one. So, if it were offered elsewhere, would many more people, not only to save money by using cheap electricity, but also, from my discussions with many people these days, to show fpssil fuel the dist.

The Future of Car Racing comes to Montreal

As someone who has been following Formula 1 since the late 1970s, I have lately grown bored with the sport and with the shenanigans of its organizers. And the dropping viewership has been telling - no one wants to watch a pathetic parade, which is what F-1 is these days. And the focus on dumbing the sport down is likely to hurt it further. It is a good thing, IMO, as the bandicoots who dominate the sport would find themselves kicked in the groin shortly and consigned to the dustbin of history. And there comes the possible beginning of a new, more relevant and interesting sport if a proposal coming from Montreal is to be considered: Autoblog Green reports that Montreal, knocked off the Grand Prix calendar despite having been loyal to the sport, is planning an electric car endurance race. Link: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/11/02/could-montreal-replace-its-grand-prix-with-an-electric-car-endur/

This is likely to be a tough sport to organise but I do hope that our good friends aacross the border would be able to do it, and thus, herald the beginning of a new era in motorsport. I can see visions of the Mile Miglia and other famous old endurance races being revived for electric cars if this goes off well. Oh, be still, my feeble heart!