• Category Archives: Transport

    Senate to decide on new emissions bill

    global_warming_1.jpg Senate on Monday is to debate a Democratic-backed bill to dramatically cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.The bill uses a “cap-and-trade” system wherein the government would cap the amount of pollution a company is allowed to emit — which would be lowered each year — but would also give companies some flexibility by allowing them to buy pollution credits from companies whose emissions fall below their caps. Under the bill, the government would auction off the credits and use some of the proceeds to help consumers who are expected get hit by higher energy costs. The defense thinks these higher temperatures are going to cause terrible problems all over the world — more extreme weather events, vectors that we haven’t seen before. The military people say that it’s going to be a cause of wars in the future. But many Republicans say the bill’s costs are too high. Speaking at a White House event Monday, President Bush warned the additional costs associated with the bill, which he estimated at $6 trillion, would be too much of a burden on the American economy.

    Posted in Transport on June 4, 2008
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    Texan computer geek pimps out his car to cost just $7 for every 300miles

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    David Murray from north Texas has been doing something that most of us could easily envy. The self-described computer geek from Kennedale bought a 1993 Eagle Talon from a junkyard for just $750. He then converted it into an all electric vehicle, spent about $4,000 more to convert the gas-guzzler to run on electricity alone, doing all the work himself in his garage at home.

    Posted in Transport on May 23, 2008
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    Tesla – The Green rocket electric sports car

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    Until now the electric cars presented to u have been rather crude in design, both in looks and functionality. So only the Toyota Prius has made it to the popularity list that too not as a fully electric, rather as a hybrid which is powered by the petrol engine for the vast majority of normal driving, with an electric motor kicking in at low speeds or to provide extra power for acceleration. Two Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, who struck up a deal with internet tycoon Elon Musk – founder of the internet payment system PayPal – to design and produce the world’s first ‘green’ sports car. We are guessing they even contributed their cash via PayPal for goodwill. Their first production model, the Tesla Roadster, is based on the design of the Lotus Elise, and is assembled at the Lotus production line in Norwich, using parts from all over the world. But what make the car so special are the lithium-ion batteries that power it. These batteries are essentially a giant version of the sort you can find in your mobile phone have never been used in electric vehicles before, and are what give the Tesla its astonishingly zippy performance.

    Posted in Transport on May 22, 2008
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    The Vectrix – A powerful yet stylish electric scooter

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    For those who still think that electric powered vehicles have a long way to go, think again. The Vectrix is a very powerful electric powered scooter that accelerates faster than cars at stop signs and claims to go upto 68mph at top speed. The Vectrix is powered by a low-mounted, 3.7 kilowatt NiMH battery pack that re-charges to 80 or 90 percent of capacity in two hours. Three hours is usually enough for a full charge, four if you start from flat empty.

    Posted in Transport on May 22, 2008
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    Komatsu PC200-8 Hybrid World’s 1st Hybrid Excavator

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    Komatsu PC200-8 Hybrid hydraulic excavator combines a capacitor and a diesel engine. While construction machines normally use hydraulic motors to turn their upper structures, Komatsu’s new Hybrid model uses an electric motor for this movement. The electric motor collects energy generated when the upper structure of the excavator slows down while turning. The energy collected is converted into electric energy to be stored in the capacitor. The stored electricity is utilized via a dynamo-electric motor to assist the engine when it is accelerating. As a result, the engine can be used in a low-rotation zone with high-efficiency combustion. In addition, the rotation can be maintained at 700rpm when the engine runs idle (during deceleration), thereby reducing the fuel consumption.

    Posted in Transport on May 15, 2008
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    Toyota Prius Sales Top 1 Million Mark

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    Toyota has announced today that worldwide cumulative sales of the Toyota Prius have passed the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,028,000 units sold as of the end of April this year. The Prius was launched in Japan in 1997 and began selling in Europe, North America and other markets in 2000. In 2005, Toyota began first overseas production of the Prius in Changchun, China, and sales of Prius vehicles in South Korea are expected to begin in the latter half of 2009. Based on sales figures and a lot may complex calculations Toyota claims Prius’s have led to a reduction in CO2 emissions (considered a cause of global warming) by producing approximately 4.5 million tons less CO2 when compared with gasoline-powered vehicles in the same class and of similar size and driving performance.

    Posted in Transport on May 15, 2008
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    Volkswagen and Sanyo join hands to develop new lighter batteries

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    Volkswagen AG along with Japan’s Sanyo Electric is in the process of developing a lithium-ion battery, a key component of hybrid and electric cars. Sanyo is going through a restructuring and believes its battery business is key to its turnaround. Sanyo is currently manufacturing nickel-hydrogen batteries that can be recharged repeatedly and supplying them to Honda Motor Co. and Ford Motor Co. Volkswagen and subsidiary Audi AG will also adopt Sanyo-made nickel-hydrogen batteries for use in the Volkswagen group’s first hybrid model, to be rolled out as early as next year. Toyota, which has enjoyed enormous successes with Prius hybrid model, has worked with Matsushita Electric Industrial, known for its Panasonic brand, to start mass-production of a lithium-ion battery for use in Toyota’s hybrid models by 2010.

    Posted in Transport on May 13, 2008
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    Smith Edison electric van selected by CitySprint for its London fleet

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    After satisfactory road testing, CitySprint has concluded that the greater capital cost of the Smith Edison electric van would be offset by potential cost savings in fuel and maintenance. CitySprint is the UK’s leading courier network offering Same Day Courier, Next Day Courier, International Courier, and Specialist Services on a 24/7 basis. Commenting on the driving experience CitySprint’s Fleet & Specialist Services Director said that the electric van is a superb drive; smooth, surprisingly quick and, with no need to change gears and without the noise, rattle and emissions of a typical diesel, very courier friendly.

    Posted in Transport on May 7, 2008
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    Washington introduces public bicycle sharing plan

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    After Paris it’s now time for Washington to have its own bike sharing program. A new bike-sharing venture in Washington called SmartBike DC will allow people to rent bicycles using only a membership card, Washington Transportation Department official Jim Sebastian said the new public venture will have 10 locations throughout the district and will have 120 bicycles available for rent, The New York Times reported Sunday. The automated rental program comes thanks to a deal with advertiser Clear Channel Outdoor, which will have advertising rights to all district bus shelters. Sebastian told the Times if the program enjoys similar success as other plans in Paris and Barcelona, the number of available bikes could one day reach 1,000.

    Posted in Transport on April 29, 2008
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