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1. PHOTOS: 10 Geneva Motor Show Cars — The Future of Efficient Transport?
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2. Daily Sprout
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3. Mapping Out Traffic Pollution
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4. Nissan's EV Network at Fast Food Joints
PHOTOS: 10 Geneva Motor Show Cars — The Future of Efficient...
Josie Garthwaite - Automotive
For automakers, this year’s annual industry trade shows have been exercises in restraint. Their challenge? Flaunt the shiniest, greenest, fastest and most futuristic vehicles in their lineups, all while appearing frugal in a way befitting the gloomy state of the both industry and the global economy.
The 79th annual International Motor Show, which got under way this week in Geneva, has few world premieres. But taken together with the real-world hybrids and electric vehicles unveiled at the Detroit, Paris and Washington auto shows, as well as several concept cars developed with an all-things-possible mindset, they offer a glimpse of where the industry is heading.
The Car: Renault Z.E. Concept The Trends: All-electric, aerodynamic design (example: small cameras instead of side mirrors), compact size, heat-reflective paint.
The Car: Rinspeed E2 The Trends: Dual-mode engine (for commute and city driving), high efficiency (59 mpg city, only 33 highway).
The Car: Magna Steyr Mila EV The Trend: Electric and hybrid vehicle components (platform can be used for different body styles and powertrain configurations).
The Car: Mitsubishi i Miev The Trends: Extended-range electric, quick-charging lithium-ion battery pack.
The Car: Dodge 200C EV The Trends: All electric.
The Car: Opel Ampera The Trends: Extended-range electric.
The Car: Citroen C4 WRC Hybrid 4 The Trends: Hybrid sports car, optional all-electric mode, regenerative braking.
The Car: Lexus Rx 450h The Trends: High-end hybrid.
The Car:Toyota Prius 3 The Trends: Hybrid, solar-powered A/C.
Photos courtesy 79th International Motor Show: Geneva 2009 — Photo Galleries
Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM’s Green:Net.
Daily Sprout
Josie Garthwaite - Misc
Cleantech Deep Dive: The first report in a thorough three-part series on how companies are navigating this make-or-break period for cleantech looks at why startups that look a little like Google may be the big winners. — CNET’s Green Tech
Green Dreams Dashed: The 2007 climate summit in Bali laid out emissions reduction targets of 25 percent to 40 percent by 2020 for industrialized nations. Obama’s top climate negotiator Todd Stern says yeah, right: "It's not possible to get that kind of number.” — WSJ’s Environmental Capital
Dirtiest Tech on the Planet?: Looking for a clear cut definition of what’s clean technology, and what’s not? Here’s a definite “not”: The bucket-wheel excavator, which leaves a trail of destroyed villages, bad soil and salty water as it scours western Germany’s lignite fields. — CleanTechnica
Hon Hai Breaks Into Carbon Tracking: Electronics manufacturing giant Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. plans to acquire technology from International Business Machines to help corporations monitor their emissions and gather data that can be used as a basis for carbon trading. Wall Street Journal
Act Solar Seeking $9M: Act Solar, which is developing technology to boost solar panels’ energy output, has entered talks with investors to raise $9 million in early-stage capital. — VentureBeatS
Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM’s Green:Net.
Mapping Out Traffic Pollution
David Ehrlich - Automotive
Traffic tie-ups aren’t just a headache for drivers, they can also be a significant source of pollution. But new, low-cost, wireless sensors could offer real-time information on traffic hotspots, potentially helping to clear up the congestion, and clear the air. UK researchers are showing off a network of pollution sensors today at a government-backed technology conference in London.
Called the MESSAGE project — for Mobile Environmental Sensing System Across Grid Environments — the research is led by the Imperial College London. The government’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, which organized the conference and is partially backing the sensor research, said the network is the first of its kind in the world.
Set up in Gateshead, in northeast England, the pilot sensor network collects data on carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other pollutants, as well as temperature, humidity and noise levels, and keeps a count of passing vehicles. The info is all sent back to a central computer, which can power an updated, online pollution map of the area.
The researchers are aiming to demonstrate the potential of a small, low-cost system that can be used for planning, management, and control of the environmental impacts of transport. It looks like it’s still in the research stage, so it’s unclear what the plans are, if any, for commercialization of the project.
The Gateshead network has around 50 wireless sensors attached to railings and streetlights along major roads in the area. A team from Newcastle University designed the Gateshead system using ZigBee-based sensors. The group, which also includes the University of Cambridge, plans to set up more sensors in Cambridge, Leicester, and London, with all of the networks beaming their data back to a common central server. The Cambridge researchers are looking at using cell phones to support a sensor network, while the Imperial College plans to build a system using Wi-Fi and WiMAX for communications and positioning.
The systems could be a boon to cities trying to keep a lid on traffic buildups, and allow drivers, or even pedestrians who are keeping an eye on the real-time data on their iPhone, to change their route to avoid the extra pollution. “Other cities in the UK and around the world, such as New York and New Delhi, are interested in replicating what we’re doing here,” said Professor Phil Blythe of Newcastle University in a statement.
Hear Microsoft, IBM, Dell and Cisco execs at GigaOM’s Green:Net.
Nissan's EV Network at Fast Food Joints
khallgeisler - Bikes & Cars
Nissan North America wants to put fast food to good use — by starting a nationwide EV charging network in their parking lots. (Seems like Sweden is leading the way here.) The way Nissan figures, 30 minutes on a commercial charger (rather than you 110V outlets at home) could give batteries up to an 80% charge. That’s about the time it takes to order, take a seat, get your food, scarf it down, and make a quick trip to the rest room before continuing on your merry, electrified way.
Customers would pay for the electricity at the curbside charger with a credit card. Drivers who need to top off for free might be able to do so at Nissan dealerships. The company is asking its sellers to install recharging stations as a courtesy for drivers just passing through.
Why does Nissan care so much? Well, they’ve got plans to get a five-seat EV sedan with a 100-mile range into showrooms by 2012. Without an easy-to-use infrastructure, the venture may be dead in the water. The company hopes the charging network will expand to workplace parking and shopping center parking, like malls and movie theaters. Maybe theaters could bring back the double feature so movie-goers can get a full charge.
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