Gas 2.0 |
- Rare Earth Metals In China’s Backyard Could Stall Hybrid Cars
- 5,000 Barrels Of Oil Being Dumped Into Gulf Of Mexico Per Day
- Dept. of Energy Gives Out $106M in Research Grants for “Electrofuels” and Better Batteries
- Fiat To Bring MultiAir Engines To Chrysler
- New York City To Add 200 Hybrids To Police Fleet
- Germany Study Says Electric Car Incentives Could “Plunder Treasuries”
| Rare Earth Metals In China’s Backyard Could Stall Hybrid Cars Posted: 30 Apr 2010 03:59 PM PDT
Cars are, without a doubt, much more complicated bits of machinery than they were in the past. Where once the most complicated device in a car was the battery, nowadays they have catalytic converters, computerized fuel injection, and batteries made from rare earth elements in the case of hybrid cars. It is those elements that some have expressed concern about, as these elements are predominantly mined in places like China and Bolivia. Lanthanides and other rare earth metals are in demand not just for laptops and other consumer electronics, but for cars as well. And much of the Lanthanum supply is concentrated in China. Could they hoard it for themselves and their increasingly mobile population? |
| 5,000 Barrels Of Oil Being Dumped Into Gulf Of Mexico Per Day Posted: 30 Apr 2010 03:49 PM PDT
As many of you are for sure now aware, on April 20th a massive explosion rocked the Deepwater Horizon, an oil rig situated off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico. The resulting explosion sunk the rig two days later… unserendipitously on Earth Day. As a result we won’t soon forget Earth Day 2010. Initial reports started that the oil spill wasn’t that bad, leaking about 1,000 barrels of oil a day into the Gulf. Still sounds terrible to me, but it doesn’t sound so bad a week later. New estimates say that 5,000 gallons of oil are leaking into the Gulf of Mexico per day. BP, who leased the platform, has not been able to plug the leak yet. The Coast Guard has suggested lighting the slick on fire. And what could be one of the worst oil spills in history shows no sign of slowing down. |
| Dept. of Energy Gives Out $106M in Research Grants for “Electrofuels” and Better Batteries Posted: 30 Apr 2010 10:10 AM PDT
In a Recovery Act cabinet meeting yesterday, US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Vice President Biden announced a large amount of research funding for three different types of advanced projects directly related to the future of transportation. The funding comes from the Advanced Research Projects Agency — Energy (ARPA-E) stimulus funds and will go to 37 different institutions in 17 states. The projects will attack three goals: using microbes and electricity to directly convert materials into biofuels (“electrofuels”), developing a new generation of low-cost, ultra-high energy density batteries, and creating revolutionary new carbon capture technologies to make coal power zero emissions. |
| Fiat To Bring MultiAir Engines To Chrysler Posted: 29 Apr 2010 06:49 PM PDT
Chrysler is in a sad state these days, but it is not beyond saving. Much has already been said about the unlikely alliance between Chrysler and Fiat, though little in the way of new products have been announced. We know Fiat plans on bringing the 500 to America, and there was the Chyrsler/Lancia Delta concept car. But nothing else we can wrap our eyes around. Fiat has more than just small cars though. They have their own version of variable valve timing, called MultiAir. This system can increase power by 10% while decreasing fuel consumption by up to 30%. It was recently revealed that the MultiAir technology will be making its way into Chrysler cars. |
| New York City To Add 200 Hybrids To Police Fleet Posted: 29 Apr 2010 06:46 PM PDT
I have a love/hate relationship with officers of the law. I was a bit of a wild child in my youth and ran afoul of the law more than once. On the flip side, I’ve been helped out by the police a number of occasions too, and I have several friends who have joined their ranks. Even with my checkered past, I always thought the police deserved better vehicles though. As good as the Crown Victoria was, it was basically the same car for the better part of three decades. New York City, that perpetual metropolis, has recently decided to double its fleet of hybrid police vehicles by placing an order for 200 Ford Fusion and Escape Hybrids. This will add to their already sizable fleet of Altima Hybrids and Prius patrol vehicles. |
| Germany Study Says Electric Car Incentives Could “Plunder Treasuries” Posted: 29 Apr 2010 06:43 PM PDT
However, a recent study by a collection of German environmental groups says that not only are the benefits of electric cars to the enviroment minimal, but the billions in incentives will “plunder treasuries” of governments worldwide. I wonder if pirates conducted the study? |
Electric cars are coming; this much we know. After decades of promises, it seems like electric cars will finally be a reality. But it isn’t happening organically, or rather, due to consumer demand. Instead governments around the world are dolling out billions of dollars in low-interest loans and tax incentives to get people to buy electric cars. It is sort of like encouraging a kid to be nice by giving him candy.| You are subscribed to email updates from Gas 2.0 To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
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