Automobiles

I was struck by how great some of the contenders were that did not win final awards at Clean Tech Open.  Below are some of the stand-outs in my opinion.  Check them out below!... read more

Remember how hitchhiking was an accepted mode of transit in America years ago? Well, now we have ride sharing. With approximately ¾ of commuters driving alone to work in the U.S. every weekday, alternative transportation modes bring many benefits.

Photo by dreamstime.com

Ride sharing is a simple way to save money, reduce one’s carbon footprint, provide opportunities to network and expand one’s contacts, reduce driving stress, as well as pleasant. Find friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are traveling the same way you are – for school, work, events or leisure – and share a ride.

There are several variations of sharing transit: carpooling, where pool members use their own private cars. Ride-share also refers to members jointly share the costs of a rented car; or sharing a ride in a hired vehicle with a hired driver, like a shared taxi, shuttle, vanpools, etc.... read more

Safety concerns in the auto industry: electric vehicle (EV) batteries are going through a change.

The emergence of small lightweight and long-running lithium-based batteries has helped propel many technological products in several industries. Lithium-based batteries are used in portable electronic devices, such as laptops, cell phones, MP3 players, iPod, cameras, as well as, implantable electronic medical devices, and in electric vehicles.

Some environmentally conscience people are concerned that a hybrid bliss might turn into a toxic chaos, when today's hybrid vehicles batteries end up in landfills. With the development of hybrid cars, the evolvement of alternative batteries for the hybrid industry have re-opened the environmental debate about conventional car battery technology.

According to environmental researchers, there are many types of batteries, where some are very toxic and others are less: lead acid or nickel cadmium batteries have a harmful impact on the  environment. Then, the current batteries used in hybrids today, the nickel metal hydride, have a much lower toxicity level.... read more

Good Clean Tech just ran a piece about the newest affliction of electric car owners.  No, it is not static shocks (even though this makes sense in my mind), but fear over the driving in excess of the range of the vehicle.

Avelion and Tokyo Electric Power Co. performed a survey on electric car drivers habits last year.  What it found was surprising. Drivers of electric vehicles are unwilling to push their cars to the limits, usually going less then half of the maximum distant on a full charge.  The study included a specific group of drivers and one charge station.  Some drivers were so worried about being stranded that they would not go over 10 miles from the nearest charging station.  As an additional charging station came online, drivers were willing to go much farther.... read more

Last year, the City of Boston ordered that all cabs must be converted to hybrids by 2015.  However, last April, taxi drivers sued the city over this and today the judge ruled that Boston cannot force cabbies to buy hybrids.

Currently, most of the taxis are refurbished police cars (mostly Crown Victorias) and cab owners are required to keep all cabs in their fleet under 6 years old.  The taxi drivers said that this ordinance could put them out of business and that they aren't against ultimately greening the fleet.... read more