Recent Comments:
Friends of the Earth: Oil companies can make it better {Autoblog Green}
May 5th 2008 12:13PM This is probably less of a dog bites man story than it first appears.
While it's not news that oil companies have an entrenched interest that they are acting upon to keep drivers dependent upon their product, it probably is news to many people that anywhere near 10% of the carbon intensity of petrol usage could be removed simply by measures such as flaring reduction and refinery efficiencies.
This particular report isn't calling for a reduction in driving or use of petroleum, it's simply calling for more efficient production of petroleum.
Perhaps it should be termed dog gives man sound advice about taking corporate responsibility and implementing those low hanging efficiency measures that don't impact revenues. Hopefully the man in this story will listen to reasoned barking without actually having to be bitten to take action.
SUNRGI tempts us with solar power for ¢5Kwh {Autoblog Green}
May 3rd 2008 10:43PM There is a grain of truth to the fact that solar PV could have some localized heating effect if tons of them were colocated. A solar panel likely reflects less light than desert sand.
However, even if we derived 50% of our power from solar it wouldn't pose a major problem. The entire electrical needs of the U.S. could be met by solar panels on less land than is currently covered in black asphalt and dark shingles... and that hasn't driven global temps up multiple degrees.
SUNRGI tempts us with solar power for ¢5Kwh {Autoblog Green}
May 3rd 2008 8:43PM Ron,
Take a look at the labels for the chart at
http://www.sunrgi.com/energy-output-comparisons.html
You'll see that they state it is dual tracking. The genius of what you describe is probably all yours if it could work.
From the picture it also looks like the PV chip is far smaller than 1/16 of the lens.
First Tesla store opens in Santa Monica, now we just need some cars {Autoblog Green}
May 3rd 2008 4:13PM I thought the Tesla showroom was just East of the 405. Wouldn't that be Santa Monica adjacent?
Remote hybrid helper concept turns any semi into a hybrid {Autoblog Green}
May 2nd 2008 2:08PM I'm not sure I see where the inverted pendulum effect applies here. The motors are at the axles of the existing trailer with that extra trailer being just batteries. Since a majority of the weight of a full rig is the trailer as long as the cab is still providing net power to the trailer (which would almost certainly be the case going up hill) it's not an inverted pendulum.
A big trucking company would simply need a small facility at each side of a mountain range... such as the Grape Vine outside of Los Angeles. A truck would hitch up a charged set of batteries on one side, discharge them going up, charge them going down and leave them for the next truck heading in the opposite direction. Add in much smaller batteries for non hill operation and the whole system would likely be quite cost effective.
Geneva '08: Fiat 500 Aria, diesel, auto-manual and start-stop {Autoblog Green}
Mar 10th 2008 3:21PM I'm assuming that the statements regarding the Fiat fleet CO2 figures are bad translations... and that "inferior to" should read "less than"?
Daimler says fuel saving tech will be profit neutral {Autoblog Green}
Mar 7th 2008 6:26PM Actually, hybrids might be a better match for Mercedes than some other companies. Unlike huge pickup trucks where owners often purchase for the intent (if often only imaginary) to haul heavy loads or trailers, big inefficient engines in luxury sedans are mainly for acceleration. So adding high torque electric motors can allow smaller, cheaper engines helping to offset cost. With the large trucks and SUVs such as GM sells, they have to leave in the large engine for tow capacity and further add in more costly technology such as cylinder deactivation to get decent mileage for normal driving.
Bottom line is that GM may be telling the truth if U.S. consumers insist upon having big vehicles capable of towing the horse trailer they don't own up a mountain they never go to. My guess is that when faced with actually paying five grand extra, many consumers will decide their fictitious horse trailer or ski boat can stay at home.
Geneva '08: Opel Meriva concept {Autoblog Green}
Mar 3rd 2008 12:05PM I rather like this... and I'm not usually a big fan of hatchbacks or van-like vehicles. I wonder what the drag coeff is?
CAFE what? California law could require 40-plus miles per gallon by 2020 {Autoblog Green}
Feb 27th 2008 5:39PM A few thoughts on some posted comments...
The difference between 40 and 44 might have to do with the assumptions about diesel vs gas... maybe? I think this reg is actually CO2 emissions based rather than MPG.
It would seem that this stringent of a goal probably would have two effects. One, while maybe not removing certain models from CA entirely, car companies could just price them such that very few sold. Big SUVs would be even more of a status symbol. Two, there probably would have to be a fair amount of plug-ins by 2020... one wonders how they will assign an emissions rating for them. Given that CA electricity is approaching 50% non CO2 producing... the equivalent MPG based on emissions could be pretty high if battery only range matches the test cycles well.
VIDEO: NASA's catalytic converter could reduce pollution by 30% {Autoblog Green}
Feb 26th 2008 2:40PM Got a question...
From the first comment above it appears that the engine runs in closed loop mode while converter warms. This is closed loop idle? Is this so that as little pollutants as possible are sent to the converter before it's up to temp? Is the converter the main loss of fuel efficiency on a cold start or the fact that the block and fluids aren't hot yet? Or are these issues related?
