AutoblogGreen

AlgaTech Technologies, with partner GreenFuel Technologies Corp., are looking at algae as another producer of biofuel. While the idea is not new, the two companies are also focusing on one of algae's growth factors: carbon dioxide.

Algae, as simple plants, needs sunlight, nutrients, and CO2 to survive and prosper. GreenFuel is looking at CO2 emissions from different types of factories to see which are absorbed by what algae. The idea is to use these algae to eventually create biodiesel or even ethanol. AlgaTech is in charge of finding the right algae since factories can be found in different environments and influence which one will grow the best. Theoretically, such "fine-tuned algae" could solve two issues at once: absorb harmful CO2 emissions while providing an alternative fuel to oil.

Related:

• Algae tapped for biodiesel production by PetroSun
• Turning sewage into biodiesel in New Zealand

[Source: United Press International]

The REVA electric car is a small, 3-door (formerly known as a "hatchback") electric vehicle built in India. A four-seater, the car can hold two adults and two small children. The electric motor can be fully charged in roughly seven hours and the EV has a range of nearly 50 miles. With a quick, 2½ hour charge, the REVA can travel up to 40 miles away.

While the REVA has a lot safety features like dent-proof ABS body panels, dual-braking, and comforts like climate control seating, what's really interesting is its colors. Consumers can chose from over 2000 shades to personalize their REVA.

Electric blue, anyone?

[Source: popgadget]

While competitors like Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Co. either plan to increase production or develop ethanol-powered vehicles, Honda Motor Co. had declared it has no plans to join the flex fuel bandwagon.

States U.S. sales chief John Mendel of Honda, "We're not against it. In the list of priorities right now, we haven't moved it up the list. It is less efficient from a fuel-economy standpoint."

Honda plans to focus, instead, on hybrid and diesel technologies as part of its alternatives to standard gasoline-powered vehicles.

Related:

• Honda's environmental strategy includes diesels, affordable hybrid
• Honda may sell LPG cars in India

[Source: Ottawa Citizen]

A U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reports states that the world will most likely reach its peak oil level within 10 to 20 years. "Peak oil" is the point where oil supplies are at their maximum; any further demand will force higher prices as remaining supplies plummet.

The report provided four alternatives: vehicles with better fuel economy; coal liquefaction; producing fuel from oil shale; and new methods and technology to continue extracting oil from spent fields. The DOE's report, though, shows that such options could not fulfill half the U.S.' fuel demand until 2025 and it would be disastrous if the oil peak is reached prior to that year.

Popular alternative technologies such as ethanol and electric vehicles were considered, then dismissed, since they would have no serious impact on fuel use in the next 20 years.

[Source: The New Mexican]

UBS, a Swiss investment bank, released a statement saying that ethanol is an "insufficient" replacement for oil. Based on a study initiated by the bank, ethanol production at its current rate would total around 30 billion gallons of fuel by 2020. Unfortunately, oil consumption for vehicles alone totaled 320 billion gallons just for 2005.

The bank concludes the only way ethanol could be a viable alternative would be production from many sources since current crops such as sugar and corn are subject to seasonal variation. Such multi-source production, continued the bank, is near impossible since it would require companies to set up production multi-nationally. Current high tariffs and other market restrictions by individual countries currently make such a scenario near-impossible.

[Source: Macauhub]

General Motor's Chevy brand has teamed up with MTV to promote a night of bio-fuel awareness at the MTV Music awards on Thursday, August 31st. States general manager Ed Peper of Chevrolet, "Going green never looked so good. The 2006 MTV Video Music Awards is a great opportunity for us to showcase our Flex Fuel, E85 ethanol-compatible vehicles, as well as spread the word about Chevrolet's product portfolio that boasts nine out of 10 cars with over 30 mpg fuel economy."

Chevrolet's "green" contribution will not only include 60 Flex fuel vehicles which are able to use both gasoline and ethanol, but a 2007 Chevy Tahoe Concept will be delivering celebrities to the red carpet as well. The popular GM brand will also host a pre-show concert, "Chevy Fly-Cam", and on-line advertising.

Looks like "yellow" is the "new black".

[Source: PaddockTalk]

While sales of fuel-efficient cars and even small SUVs have been up, Americans who previously purchased mid-sized to large SUVs are finding it increasing difficult to sell individually or even trade them at dealerships.

Gas prices are the biggest culprit with most older SUV models barely climbing into the twenties for fuel efficiency. Worse, since used car buyers tend to have lower incomes than new vehicle purchasers, sellers have been forced to price their SUV below blue book value. States Robert Jerkin of East Brunswick, New Jersey, "We had paid about $30,000 for it (2000 Dodge Durango); the Blue Book price when we went to sell it was $8,000. We started advertising at $7,900 and kept dropping it. Nobody wanted a gas-guzzler, and there were so many being advertised at the same time." Jenkins eventually found a buyer who purchased the SUV for $6,000.

Dealerships have been especially taxed since the value of large SUV fluctuates constantly. Serra Automotive president Joseph Serra sees appraised prices change weekly. Only well-equipped, top-of-the line large SUVs, agree analysts, sell well since such buyers are less concerned with fuel costs.

[Source: Detroit News via Mobilemag]

Toyota Motor Corp. continues its plans to introduce its luxury brand in its home country. (Lexus debuted in the U.S. in 1989 but did not arrive in Japan until last year.) According to spokeswoman Shiori Hashimoto, the Lexus LS will arrive in dealershipsnext month with the hybrid version to be available sometime in early 2007.

The LS is part of Toyota's plan to compete with foreign automakers like BMW who dominate the Japanese luxury segment. The world's second largest automaker plans to double its luxury lineup to eight by 2010 with a rumored SUV, a sports car, and two other models. It's unknown if any of these future vehicles will include hybrids.

[Source: AFX News via Forbes]

Ethanol or liquid petroleum gas (LPG)? Battle lines for alternative fuels are being drawn between automakers General Motors and Ford Motor Co. with much of the differences based on nationality.

Saab, which is owned by General Motors, is backing ethanol as the fuel of the future. Ford Australia is backing LPG. Both marques point out that their vehicles simply cannot support the other's fuel either technologically or, in most cases, nationally. States spokeswoman Sinead McAlary of Ford, "Cars in Australia are not built to run on E85, and there isn't an E85 network here to allow people to fuel their vehicles. It would take a total shift of the [automotive] market and sizeable resources [for E85 to become viable here]. And it would take significant steps for the fuel to become well recognised by people in Australia."

Saab counters that its ethanol-powered vehicles are exempt from certain charges and fees like parking in the city of Stockholm. Also, most European automakers have discontinued investment in LPG technologies, focusing instead on ethanol. Finally, the Swedish automaker points out that its Biopower Saab turbo engines actually perform more effectively with ethanol instead of LPG and can even run on unleaded fuel.

[Source: Sydney Morning Herald]

With gas prices to remain steady around $3 a gallon, the media's been having a field day, predicting that $4 may be reached by year's end.

Apparently, though, it'll take a lot of factors to jack up prices to such a level. States analyst Mark Routt of the Energy Security Analysis, Inc., "One of two things would have to happen for prices to increase 50 cents to a dollar. Either there would have to be a massive increase in demand globally, which is unlikely, or a massive drop in supply, which would push the price of crude up."

Factors that could affect prices include refinery problems, pipeline issues, or another hurricane. Currently, crude oil and gas prices are actually dropping as inventories build, cease-fire in the Middle East between Hezballah and Israel; and BP continues to pump fuel in Alaska.

At $4 a gallon, would most Americans cut back in their driving habits? Most analysts and consumers interviewed agree that the price will have little impact in their driving habits, stating the gasoline-powered car is too much of a necessity in their lives.

[Source: Detroit News]