Toyota Auto Body, a subsidiary of Toyota began providing four of its single-seat electronic vehicles to post office branches in central Japan for pickup and delivery duties on a trial basis. The vehicle called Coms, will be the first electric vehicles in Japan to be used for mail delivery. The cars can reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometers an hour, and can run about 50 kilometers between charges.
With the world’s increasing focus on sustainable energy options, energy harvesters are sharpening their focus on wind energy. This may be among the cleanest modes of power-generation but can also be impractical and expensive most of the time. A lot has to do with the amount of space needed by wind-turbines and the overburdening freight that the blades can lead to. A Spanish company ‘Vortex Bladeless’ has developed a unique design for a wind-energy generator that has a bladeless cylinder oscillating and vibrating within it, thus generating kinetic energy, which is converted to electricity through a linear generator. The cylinder is comparatively light weight and comes without gears or bearings, thus making it more convenient to install and maintain.
Kyocera TCL Solar has completed construction of its third floating mega-solar power plant in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Kyocera and Century Tokyo Leasing jointly established Kyocera TCL Solar LLC in August 2012 for the purpose of constructing and operating multiple solar power plants in Japan. Due to the rapid implementation of solar power, securing tracts of land suitable for utility-scale plants is becoming increasingly difficult in Japan. In order to utilize Japan’s abundant water surfaces, Kyocera TCL Solar began installing floating solar power generation systems last year.
It doesn’t get any more convincing than this. The fact that using biogas to fuel the vehicles of tomorrow could take years of research is but a myth now. The Bus Hound (a smart spinoff ‘Bloodhound’) may look like a Friesian cow but it’s got its vigor on. Powered by biomethane derived from cow-dung, the bus managed to conjure enough power to gallop away at 123.5 kmph (or 76.8 mph). Chief engineer John Bickerton describes the sound of the roaring engine to be like that of a Vulcan bomber and we’re not doubting that one bit. The Bus Hound went on to break the land speed record for a regular bus service.
Backpacking is one thing and pitching tents to perfection is another. Travels needn’t be a rugged experience every time. With something as cool as the Ecocapsule house you can expect to enjoy your travels while smartly making your home with nature, luxuriously. Nice Architects have designed this cool micro-home, that is powered with solar and wind energy. It’s a delightful living space that offers all the simple comforts of a holiday home. It is portable and looks quite snug to step into. The house is rigged with solar panels on the roof and a 750W wind turbine to harness natural energy. That’s not all, the capsule also accommodates a unique rainwater collection method.
MOVE Systems is a start-up in NYC that has joined hands with the NYC City Council to change the way we look at food carts. Being among the busiest cities in the world means a lot of people who do not have the time to nestle down in a restaurant for a snack. Food carts are among the most popular eateries across the Big Apple. MOVE is committed to provide 500 new energy-efficient food carts to street food vendors around the city. Called the MRV100, the hybrid cart is equipped with solar power, offers rechargeable batteries, plug-in hybrid technology and alternative fuel hookups. This will help do away with the propane tanks that are currently used, which are neither safe nor environment-friendly. The carts proposed by MOVE are said to reduce climate change-causing gases by 60% and smog-causing NOx pollution by 95%. A little number crunching and we can deduce that this is equivalent to cancelling the pollution from 200 propane-fuelled carts!
Many businesses do not have a comprehensive understanding of the effects of their supply chain on the environment. Here are 10 tips that can help you “green” and protect the environment through your business.
Switching over to renewable energy is perhaps the only way to preserve fossil fuel reserves and keep the environment cleaner. Adding a dash of green to its surroundings, Vancouver, Canada, has now committed to a future powered by 100% renewable energy. The announcement was formally made by the city authorities at the ICLEI World Conference 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. The city is now one amongst more than 50 around the world that have made this pledge for a greener tomorrow.
Disposing off a used battery isn’t child’s play and these little devices that power up small gadgets are known to be extremely polluting. Apparently, a single battery can pollute more than 20 square meters of the ground around it. This is also why there is an urgent need to recycle batteries as often as possible. To encourage this, Volkswagen and DDB Russia came up with a solution, as part of the Think Blue campaign. Together, the agency and the automobile manufacturer developed a vending machine that only accepts batteries as currency!
Being a technology giant and keeping the environment intact at the same time isn’t an easy task. However, Apple is doing all it can to preserve nature and do minimal harm to planet earth! To begin with, the company has partnered with The Conservation Fund to purchase about 36,000 acres of private forestland. This land is located in Maine and North Carolina. The area will be sustained and harvested for packaging products in the future!