Volvo is apparently working on a plug-in hybrid Diesel. Which is pretty sweet for our folks who are lucky enough to have access to biodiesel. No word yet on a time frame for market availability, but hey, at least they're working on it.
Based on the BMW 7 series, the German vehicle maker has plans to release a BMW that can run on both gasoline and hydrogen. When running in hydrogen mode, the car emits nothing but water vapor. If you can't find a hydrogen fill up station, you can switch the power mode over to regular gasoline at the touch of a button. The car can be filled with both fuels and it will use the hydrogen when it can, when it runs out, it will automatically switch to gasoline power which results in a very long range for the vehicle.BMW plans to launch hydrogen cars in 2007 - [Turkish Daily News]
The Mini Power Minder, a two port powerstrip has a nifty feature. You plug your always-on computer to the top plug and connect your Computer to it via USB. Then when you power you computer on and off, the device will toggle the bottom power port on and off with it. If you hook a standard powerstrip to the bottom port, you can put all your power hungry computer devices to sleep when they're not in use. It's not a bad little gadget for it's $14.99 price tag and it's good for the environment too.
The holiday's are coming up so it might make a great gift for that gadget hungry environmentally conscious person on your list… common we all have one on our list don't we?
Another Stake Through the Heart of Vampire Power - [Amazon.com via Treehugger]
YouTube.com has a neat little clip via the Discovery Channel on a new solar lighting technology being developed for release in early 2007. The installation consists of a mirrored-dish solar collector connected to fiber optic cables which distribute the light to the interiors of the buildings. The resulting light is then paired with fluorescent lights for when the sun isn't shining.
Although the system is going to cost around $10,000 when it's first released, the cost should drop shortly thereafter as demand increases and production is stepped up. The potential energy savings are huge and the quality of light is great as well. I can't wait for the uber-cheap Ikea version to come out.
New York City Home Depot and perhaps other locations, are selling 4-packs of 100watt or 60watt equivalent compact fluorescent light bulbs for under $10 bucks. I bought two packs and used all 8 bulbs in my apartment and they work great. I'm going to head back tomorrow for more. $10 dollars for 4 bulbs is a great deal, I bought a couple CFL's about a month ago and spent $15 dollars on each of them.
Here are some reasons you should pick some up.
A small micro-brewery in Greenland is producing a beer with some of the purest water available. The water comes from the melting greenland ice cap and is said to be completely free of contaminants and at least 2,000 years old.
It's good to know that someone's putting that melt water to good use.
A positive effect of global warming: The world's purest beer » [The Beerist]
Sweet looking car isn't it. It goes zero to 60 in 4 seconds, has a range of 250 miles, it's engine runs at 13,500 rpm and runs off of nothing but electricity. Tesla Motors is a car company you have probably never heard of but I think you'll be hearing a lot more about them soon. The company is backed by several very successful silicon valley executives including the founders of Google. The Roadster is slated to go on sale next year and the cost is well, who knows but my guess is that it'll be somewhere in the 1/2 million range, $100,000 range.
For more info on the car visit: TeslaMotors.com
Tesla Roadster: Redefining the Electric Car » [AutoBlog.com]
Volvo's hedging their bets when it comes to alternative fuels. They have developed a prototype vehicle that runs on almost any fueld that is produced in your area. It can run on ethanol, methane, hydrogen, natural gas, or regular gasoline. Unfortunately it won't run on biodiesel, that really would have been an accomplishment. It doesn't look like it sacrifices much in the performance department or in looks for that matter, it's still got that traditionally boxy Volvo shape.
Volvo Releases Details on their flexible fuel vehicle » [Inside Line]
Ah… science and coffee. Check out this global warming mug, looks like a normal mug. Add hot liquids and watch the seas inundate the continents.
Global Warming Mug » [The Planet Shops via Gizmodo]
HorizonFuelCell.com is selling a toy car powered from Hydrogen that is generated from a solar powered fuel station. $80 bucks will snag you this little toy that is a great educational tool for adults and kids alike. Hydrogen fuel cell technology is the way of the future for sure, with the only generated emissions being 100% water.
World’s most cost-efficient hydrogen fuel cell car on sale today » [Gizmag]
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