Alt Energy Workers Bushwhacked
Now Playing: Johnny Paycheck
Topic: Alt Fuel
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden Colorado is home to many of the top energy researchers in the country, but now there are fewer of them. This week 32 NREL staffers who were working on biomass, hydrogen and basic research were axed as the division of the DOE ran out of money.
The NREL press release blamed Congressional pork for the lack of funds to continue projects.
"Congressionally directed projects, or earmarks, reduced the budget available to the Department of Energy for funding renewable energy and energy efficiency research at the Laboratory, leaving $28 million less in operating funds for NREL for fiscal year 2006."
NREL scientists are expected to contribute to the Advanced Energy Initiative, which was announced by the President last week during the State of the Union Address, but now the department will have fewer brains and hands to advance the technologies aimed at reducing oil imports.
This seems to be a continuation of the current government's "less is more" philosophy (see Healthy Forests and Clear Skies Initiative) where greater results are expected from fewer things like trees, regulations, and scientists.
Thursday, 9 February 2006
PC Wants to Kill Radio Star
Now Playing: The Buggles
Topic: Entertainment
Car computing company MP3Car wants to replace your car stereo with a PC. The "Enabler" hardware includes FM and satellite radio tuners (the company didn't elaborate on XM or Sirius compatibility, so there may be licensing issues yet to resolve), and Bluetooth networking.
Since all of this functionality is readily available today, the Enabler had better be much cheaper than the components it would replace. MP3Car would have to untangle the tight relationships between auto manufacturers and stereo components companies to become factory-installed equipment, which may be a challenge.
Perhaps the low-end of the market (sub $16K) would be a likely first step to get the product to market. And a word to the marketing folks there -- lose the Enabler moniker, while the definition is to "make possible", it immediately brought to mind spouses who permit addictive behavior.
Now Playing: The Buggles
Topic: Entertainment
Car computing company MP3Car wants to replace your car stereo with a PC. The "Enabler" hardware includes FM and satellite radio tuners (the company didn't elaborate on XM or Sirius compatibility, so there may be licensing issues yet to resolve), and Bluetooth networking.
Since all of this functionality is readily available today, the Enabler had better be much cheaper than the components it would replace. MP3Car would have to untangle the tight relationships between auto manufacturers and stereo components companies to become factory-installed equipment, which may be a challenge.
Perhaps the low-end of the market (sub $16K) would be a likely first step to get the product to market. And a word to the marketing folks there -- lose the Enabler moniker, while the definition is to "make possible", it immediately brought to mind spouses who permit addictive behavior.
Wednesday, 8 February 2006
MIT Advances Hybrid Battery Replacement
Now Playing: Depeche Mode
Topic: Hybrids
Ultracapacitors are to batteries what fuel cells are to combustion engines: a clearly advantageous technology that may someday reshape how vehicles are powered.
MIT researchers say they have greatly increased the efficiency of ultracapacitors by using nanotubes to store electrical charges. Per MIT, "Capacitors store energy as an electrical field, making them more efficient than standard batteries, which get their energy from chemical reactions."
Ultracapacitors can provide much more power than lithium ion batteries, but because they have less energy density, they must be much larger. The new ultracapacitors could offer the benefits of longer life, power and ability to work under extreme temperatures while offering the same energy density.
The DOE is working with Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler on ultracapacitor research as part of the FreedomCar initiative.
The cost of ultracapacitors must come down too, so it's likely that in the future hybrid and electric vehicles would include both ultracapacitors (for acceleration) and batteries (for maintaining speed and the electrical system).
(Add Autopia to your RSS feeds by copying this link into your reader or news page.)
Now Playing: Depeche Mode
Topic: Hybrids
Ultracapacitors are to batteries what fuel cells are to combustion engines: a clearly advantageous technology that may someday reshape how vehicles are powered.
MIT researchers say they have greatly increased the efficiency of ultracapacitors by using nanotubes to store electrical charges. Per MIT, "Capacitors store energy as an electrical field, making them more efficient than standard batteries, which get their energy from chemical reactions."
Ultracapacitors can provide much more power than lithium ion batteries, but because they have less energy density, they must be much larger. The new ultracapacitors could offer the benefits of longer life, power and ability to work under extreme temperatures while offering the same energy density.
The DOE is working with Ford, GM and DaimlerChrysler on ultracapacitor research as part of the FreedomCar initiative.
The cost of ultracapacitors must come down too, so it's likely that in the future hybrid and electric vehicles would include both ultracapacitors (for acceleration) and batteries (for maintaining speed and the electrical system).
(Add Autopia to your RSS feeds by copying this link into your reader or news page.)
FORD: Frequently Off and Routinely Delayed
Topic: Fuel Economy
Ford announced this week that it will enlist the aid of Mazda in designing a new subcompact, according to Edmund's Inside Line.
Ford will have a competitor to new Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Chevy Aveo models ready within a few years, again showing how Ford is consistently late in reacting to industry changes, such as the current trend towards fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ford is catching up on hybrids with it's Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrid SUVs, but has no hybrid cars in the works as yet. The company is developing an Escape Hybrid that can run on E85 and the company will produce 250,000 flex fuel vehicles in an effort to keep pace with GM.
Ford's leadership needs to be held accountable for the 40 percent drop in earnings, and should take a page from GM and slash the salaries of execs, and not just take it out on workers.
If quality is job 1, it should start with the guys at the top.
Topic: Fuel Economy
Ford announced this week that it will enlist the aid of Mazda in designing a new subcompact, according to Edmund's Inside Line.
Ford will have a competitor to new Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, and Chevy Aveo models ready within a few years, again showing how Ford is consistently late in reacting to industry changes, such as the current trend towards fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ford is catching up on hybrids with it's Escape and Mercury Mariner hybrid SUVs, but has no hybrid cars in the works as yet. The company is developing an Escape Hybrid that can run on E85 and the company will produce 250,000 flex fuel vehicles in an effort to keep pace with GM.
Ford's leadership needs to be held accountable for the 40 percent drop in earnings, and should take a page from GM and slash the salaries of execs, and not just take it out on workers.
If quality is job 1, it should start with the guys at the top.
Tuesday, 7 February 2006
Hybrids and Diesels Won't Pass Gas
Now Playing: AC/DC
Topic: Hybrids
While vehicles with hybrid gasoline-electric powertrains and those with diesel engines will grow rapidly over the next few years, the gasoline ICE will continue to dominant the light vehicle market in the U.S., according to research firm The Freedonia Group.
While diesels are closing in on 50 percent of the market in Europe, they will reach 12 percent of light vehicles sales by 2014, according to the "Hybrid Electric Vehicles & Competing Automotive Powerplants" report.
Consumers will snap up approximately 800,000 hybrid vehicles in 2009, or nearly five times as many as were purchased in 2005. In 2014, approximately 1.8 million hybrids will be sold, according to The Freedonia Group, a far cry from the 14.7 million expected ICEs.
Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but these numbers seem a bit conservative to me. The actual sales volumes will greatly depend on the price of gasoline. If gas hits $5 a gallon by 2009 (don't laugh, that's what they pay in Europe now), then we can expect greater demand for hybrids, but if the price retreats (less likely), then we'll see more ICEs being purchased.
Now Playing: AC/DC
Topic: Hybrids
While vehicles with hybrid gasoline-electric powertrains and those with diesel engines will grow rapidly over the next few years, the gasoline ICE will continue to dominant the light vehicle market in the U.S., according to research firm The Freedonia Group.
While diesels are closing in on 50 percent of the market in Europe, they will reach 12 percent of light vehicles sales by 2014, according to the "Hybrid Electric Vehicles & Competing Automotive Powerplants" report.
Consumers will snap up approximately 800,000 hybrid vehicles in 2009, or nearly five times as many as were purchased in 2005. In 2014, approximately 1.8 million hybrids will be sold, according to The Freedonia Group, a far cry from the 14.7 million expected ICEs.
Maybe I'm just being optimistic, but these numbers seem a bit conservative to me. The actual sales volumes will greatly depend on the price of gasoline. If gas hits $5 a gallon by 2009 (don't laugh, that's what they pay in Europe now), then we can expect greater demand for hybrids, but if the price retreats (less likely), then we'll see more ICEs being purchased.
OnStar Provides Audio Navigation
Now Playing: Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach
Topic: Telematics
GM Subsidiary OnStar has upgraded its GPS-enabled safety system to now offer voice-enabled directions.
As an alternative to GPS navigation systems that require entering a destination on a touch screen and provide primarily visual queues on when to turn, drivers using the OnStar system call a live advisor and ask for directions, which are then downloaded to the vehicle.
Turn by turn directions are delivered through the vehicle's speaker system, automatically quieting the stereo when informing drivers about upcoming turns. The GPS system has been upgraded to provide more precise location information, and the directions are automatically adjusted should drivers make a wrong turn.
The system uses voice recognition, so you can ask for directions to be repeated. The new OnStar will be factory installed on the 2006 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and STS, and on 1 million GM vehicles in 2007.
I like the idea of being able to get directions without taking your eyes off the road as a safety and convenience factor, but I'm a visual guy and would also like to be able to review a map before leaving, so a printed map or touch screen would be a necessary compliment for me.
Now Playing: Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach
Topic: Telematics
GM Subsidiary OnStar has upgraded its GPS-enabled safety system to now offer voice-enabled directions.
As an alternative to GPS navigation systems that require entering a destination on a touch screen and provide primarily visual queues on when to turn, drivers using the OnStar system call a live advisor and ask for directions, which are then downloaded to the vehicle.
Turn by turn directions are delivered through the vehicle's speaker system, automatically quieting the stereo when informing drivers about upcoming turns. The GPS system has been upgraded to provide more precise location information, and the directions are automatically adjusted should drivers make a wrong turn.
The system uses voice recognition, so you can ask for directions to be repeated. The new OnStar will be factory installed on the 2006 Buick Lucerne, Cadillac DTS and STS, and on 1 million GM vehicles in 2007.
I like the idea of being able to get directions without taking your eyes off the road as a safety and convenience factor, but I'm a visual guy and would also like to be able to review a map before leaving, so a printed map or touch screen would be a necessary compliment for me.
Monday, 6 February 2006
Clean Diesel Takes a Backseat
Topic: Alt Fuel
The President's 2007 budget recommendation cuts funding for cleaning up diesel engines by 75 percent. By a vote of 92-1 last year Congress approved $200 million per year in federal funds to retrofit older diesel vehicles with technologies that reduce emissions, legislation that was signed into law by the President as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
But the budget submitted by the Bush administration slashes that funding to $50 million for 2007. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, "we urge Congress to finance this important clean air program at $200 million as originally authorized."
According to the DTF, more than "200 organizations representing state and local government officials, diesel users, environmental groups and diesel manufacturers sent the President a letter in November" requesting the full funding so that companies could meet the new EPA regulations for reducing diesel emissions.
Now I'm not saying that taxpayers should necessarily be financing all of the costs of adopting technologies that clean the air, but if we are to issue mandates and making promises to industry, we need to be consistent. Let's hope that the agreed upon rules aren't later waved because there's not enough funding.
Topic: Alt Fuel
The President's 2007 budget recommendation cuts funding for cleaning up diesel engines by 75 percent. By a vote of 92-1 last year Congress approved $200 million per year in federal funds to retrofit older diesel vehicles with technologies that reduce emissions, legislation that was signed into law by the President as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
But the budget submitted by the Bush administration slashes that funding to $50 million for 2007. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, "we urge Congress to finance this important clean air program at $200 million as originally authorized."
According to the DTF, more than "200 organizations representing state and local government officials, diesel users, environmental groups and diesel manufacturers sent the President a letter in November" requesting the full funding so that companies could meet the new EPA regulations for reducing diesel emissions.
Now I'm not saying that taxpayers should necessarily be financing all of the costs of adopting technologies that clean the air, but if we are to issue mandates and making promises to industry, we need to be consistent. Let's hope that the agreed upon rules aren't later waved because there's not enough funding.
Washington Pushing Renewable Standard
Now Playing: Billy Joel
Topic: Alt Fuel
Legislators in Washington want all of the fuel used in the state to contain at least two percent renewable fuel by 2008. Bills approved by a House committee would require that all gasoline and diesel be mixed with ethanol and biodiesel, respectively.
The proposed legislation, which is anticipated to receive bipartisan support, would also set up loans for companies wishing to purchase machinery for processing biodiesel. Washington is already using a 20 percent biodiesel blend in its city buses, and Seattle metro area buses will switch to all biodiesel by the end of the year.
Biodiesel production tripled last year, but it's still just a drop in the bucket, constituting less than two-tenths of one percent of diesel production.
Washington is following the lead of Minnesota, which was the first state to require biodiesel blending. Most of the focus has been on subsidizing biodiesel from crops instead of reclaiming waste vegetable oil, which is a waste of a readily available resource.
If financial incentives were in place for MickeyD's, Wendy's and Burger King and the rest of the fast food fryers to coordinate the collection and processing of their waste oil (they all seem to have "eateries" within a few hundred feet of each other) into biodiesel, we could substantially increase the inventory without having to plant a single soybean.
Now Playing: Billy Joel
Topic: Alt Fuel
Legislators in Washington want all of the fuel used in the state to contain at least two percent renewable fuel by 2008. Bills approved by a House committee would require that all gasoline and diesel be mixed with ethanol and biodiesel, respectively.
The proposed legislation, which is anticipated to receive bipartisan support, would also set up loans for companies wishing to purchase machinery for processing biodiesel. Washington is already using a 20 percent biodiesel blend in its city buses, and Seattle metro area buses will switch to all biodiesel by the end of the year.
Biodiesel production tripled last year, but it's still just a drop in the bucket, constituting less than two-tenths of one percent of diesel production.
Washington is following the lead of Minnesota, which was the first state to require biodiesel blending. Most of the focus has been on subsidizing biodiesel from crops instead of reclaiming waste vegetable oil, which is a waste of a readily available resource.
If financial incentives were in place for MickeyD's, Wendy's and Burger King and the rest of the fast food fryers to coordinate the collection and processing of their waste oil (they all seem to have "eateries" within a few hundred feet of each other) into biodiesel, we could substantially increase the inventory without having to plant a single soybean.
Friday, 3 February 2006
VW to Offer Solar Charger
Now Playing: KC and the Sunshine Band
Volkswagen has licensed thin-film solar panel technology from ICP Solar and will offer a private label solar chargers.
ICP's solar panels can prevent batteries from losing their charge, which can happen during extreme temperatures or if the vehicles are not started for lengthy periods of time.
I'm guessing you would periodically recharge your battery to keep it from unexpectedly dying, as opposed to waiting for enough daylight once your battery is already kaput. ICP offers a charger for small cars for $35, and a larger version for $90.
Now Playing: KC and the Sunshine Band
Volkswagen has licensed thin-film solar panel technology from ICP Solar and will offer a private label solar chargers.
ICP's solar panels can prevent batteries from losing their charge, which can happen during extreme temperatures or if the vehicles are not started for lengthy periods of time.
I'm guessing you would periodically recharge your battery to keep it from unexpectedly dying, as opposed to waiting for enough daylight once your battery is already kaput. ICP offers a charger for small cars for $35, and a larger version for $90.
Ethanol: Good Today, Better Tomorrow
Now Playing: Roger Williams
Topic: Alt Fuel
According to a new study in Science magazine, ethanol is not a net energy loser, but the article says that cellulosic-based ethanol will be the basis of increasing the biofuel's adoption.
A report titled "Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals" in the January 27th edition of Science states that "All studies indicated that current corn ethanol technologies are much less petroleum-intensive than gasoline but have greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline... Nonetheless, it is already clear that large-scale use of ethanol for fuel will almost certainly require cellulosic technology."
The survey of six studies said that in the two studies that indicated ethanol was a net energy loser, the researchers incorrectly failed to incorporate the value of the byproducts of ethanol creation such as corn feed and corn oil. "Coproducts of ethanol have positive economic value and displace competing products that require energy to make."
One of the leading companies exploring ethanol from biomass is Novozymes, which is developing an enzyme that turns corn stovers, wood chips, switchgrass and other agricultural waste into glucose sugar that can be converted into ethanol.
According to Novozymes president Glenn Nedwin, the cost of converting biomass into ethanol is currently between 2-3 dollars, while cornstarch is $1.07. Nedwin predicts that Novozymes' process will be cost competitive with corn-based ethanol within a few years.
Switchgrass is particularly attractive as a cellulosic material because very little maintenance is required to grow it, and it has high energy density. Cellulosic-based ethanol is the future; it's just a matter of when.
Now Playing: Roger Williams
Topic: Alt Fuel
According to a new study in Science magazine, ethanol is not a net energy loser, but the article says that cellulosic-based ethanol will be the basis of increasing the biofuel's adoption.
A report titled "Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals" in the January 27th edition of Science states that "All studies indicated that current corn ethanol technologies are much less petroleum-intensive than gasoline but have greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline... Nonetheless, it is already clear that large-scale use of ethanol for fuel will almost certainly require cellulosic technology."
The survey of six studies said that in the two studies that indicated ethanol was a net energy loser, the researchers incorrectly failed to incorporate the value of the byproducts of ethanol creation such as corn feed and corn oil. "Coproducts of ethanol have positive economic value and displace competing products that require energy to make."
One of the leading companies exploring ethanol from biomass is Novozymes, which is developing an enzyme that turns corn stovers, wood chips, switchgrass and other agricultural waste into glucose sugar that can be converted into ethanol.
According to Novozymes president Glenn Nedwin, the cost of converting biomass into ethanol is currently between 2-3 dollars, while cornstarch is $1.07. Nedwin predicts that Novozymes' process will be cost competitive with corn-based ethanol within a few years.
Switchgrass is particularly attractive as a cellulosic material because very little maintenance is required to grow it, and it has high energy density. Cellulosic-based ethanol is the future; it's just a matter of when.
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