Thursday, August 26, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Florida Researchers Moving Closer to Using Termite Guts For Better Ethanol

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 11:39 AM PDT

Last time I reported on the topic of using termite guts to make next generation cellulosic ethanol cheaper and easier, it was 2008. Back then a team of researchers from the University of Florida had just started on the path to analyzing the more than 7,000 genes associated with the production of special enzymes within the termite guts that can break down woody fibers so that the termites can digest them and use them for energy.

This process that goes on in the bellies of hundreds of millions, perhaps trillions, of termites all around the world, day-in and day-out—a process that many homeowners fear in the depths of their hearts—is exactly what the next generation ethanol crowd needs to make fuel from woody waste such as thinned forest debris and agricultural residues.

In a paper published in the journal Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the researchers are now providing an update of sorts. The researchers have reportedly found that a group of enzymes found in termite salivary glands may just do the trick.

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Americans Slowly Warm to the Electric Car, Show Willingness to Try New Things

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 08:44 AM PDT

A new study published by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has found that more and more Americans are warming to the idea of driving electric vehicles, citing environmental concerns as the main reason for making the change.

Over a quarter of the people surveyed described themselves as familiar with electric cars while 42% of respondents said they were likely to follow news reports about electric vehicles. Nearly a third of respondent described themselves as familiar or very familiar with hybrid vehicles.

Of those who said they would consider buying an electric car, nearly 80% said their greatest advantage was the fact they run without gasoline, while 67% cited the reduction in pollution.

However, when it came to reasons not to buy an electric car the survey showed that a definite gap remains between the public’s perception of the accessibility and applicability or electric vehicles and the technical reality.

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Buckeye Bullet Shoots to Near-300 MPH Electric Car Speed Record at Bonneville

Posted: 26 Aug 2010 07:59 AM PDT

Ohio State’s “Buckeye Bullet” EV claimed a new FIA battery-powered land speed record yesterday at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, going nearly nearly three-hundred-miles-per-hour on lithium-ion power.

Find out more about Ohio’s incredible record run, after the jump.

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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Morgan Planning Diesel-Electric Hybrid Car

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 11:39 AM PDT


Morgan Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary last year. Though the world is much different from when the company was first founded in 1909, Morgan still hand assembles every car it builds. It makes just a few hundred vehicles a year, but they are of the highest quality and are some of the most sought after cars ever built.

Despite the exclusive nature of the Morgan automobile though, the company must be admired for its ability to look forward. Hybrids, hydrogen-power, and electric cars are the future, and Morgan doesn’t plan on being left behind. They have announced that they will be building a diesel-electric hybrid car with a 1,000 mile range.

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Honda Debuts Fit Hybrid; Nowhere Near 60-70 MPG as Speculated?

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 11:24 AM PDT

In preparation for its official debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show next month, Honda released some pics and a few details for the much anticipated Honda Fit Hybrid today (called the Jazz in Europe and Japan). The car will be the first modern subcompact parallel hybrid to reach consumers since the release of the original Honda Insight back in 1999—and it is rumored to cost between $16,500 and $18,600 when it goes on sale in Japan next year. At that price it would be the cheapest hybrid available on the market.

Yet, as the news fans out on the internet today, one bit of info buried rather vaguely in the press release that hasn’t been picked up elsewhere piqued my curiosity. Up till now, speculation about the expected fuel economy of the Fit Hybrid ranged anywhere from 60-70 mpg, but according to Honda, the Fit Hybrid will have about the same fuel economy as the current Insight.

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As Sales of Hybrids Slow, Toyota Cuts Back Production Target

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 10:27 AM PDT

When anybody says “hybrid”, the first car that comes to mind is the Toyota Prius. For Toyota, this is a good thing, as they have become synonymous with “green” vehicles. The Prius has dominated the hybrid car market for over a decade, and you cannot go anywhere without seeing at least a few of them in a parking lot.

Still, overall sales of hybrids have slowed as gas prices remain low. Consumers are instead, once again, turning towards pickups and SUV’s and shunning hybrids. In light of lower sales, Toyota has lowered its targeted hybrid production for 2011 from 1 million units to around 740,000.

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HKS + Honda CRZ = Seriously Fun Hybrid

Posted: 25 Aug 2010 09:56 AM PDT

When Honda first announced the CRZ Hybrid, they promised a spiritual successor to the “totally 80’s” CRX Si—a car that set the standard for small, fun-to-drive commuters.

When the final production version debuted, many felt that the CRZ program had failed. The new car was slower, heavier, and fuel economy was lagging behind the 80’s CRX… not exactly a recipe for automotive fun.

ENTER: HKS (let the fun begin!).

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