It’s a prototype hybrid car that gets 150MPG, and goes 40 miles on electricity alone, drawing its power from a combination of lithium-ion batteries and ultracapacitors. The ultracapacitors provide a burst of energy to the engine, when needed. They are then recharged by the lithium-ion batteries. This avoids the problem of emptying the batteries too fast, which can cause them …
2
It’s Official: Toyota Testing Plug-In Hybrid In Japan, U.S. and Europe
Toyota has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans the tests for the U.S. and Europe. (Cars that can run on electricity are much more efficient and economical than gasoline powered cars. They can recharged via renewable energy sources like the solar power and wind power. Even if the electricity is produced by burning …
2
Zero-Energy House: It Uses Solar Power and Hydrogen
The New York Times just published a report on home that uses a unique system to generate hydrogen using solar power. The system was built by Mike Strizki, the 50-year-old director of Advanced Solar Products, a solar installation company, designed a backyard power plant that provides all the house’s energy, using a combination of solar panels and solar-generated hydrogen. Here’s …
Citrus-Based Bike Degreasers
Citrus degreasers are powerful and much safer to use than traditional petroleum-based solvents like gasoline or kerosene. Citrus solvents are non-flammable and 100% biodegradeable. They are also strongly aromatic — so use them in a well-ventilated area or your house will smell like oranges! Best if used on metal parts like chains, bearings and some components. More non-toxic bike cleaning …
9
Multi-Fuel Lantern: Britelyt
This Britelyt lantern is a versatile lantern, which is able to burn no less than seven types of fuel, including biodiesel. The approved fuel types are: kerosene, biodiesel, diesel, gasoline, mineral spirits, charcoal lighter fluid and lamp oils. It’s made by Petromax who’ve been building these lantern since the 1920s. The lantern can also be fitted with a stove adapter.
Biopavers
We mentioned previously that using porous pavers is an effective alternative to paving with concrete. They make patios and driveways less erosion-prone and they do not get as hot as hard-surfaced pavement. Now a company called Biopaver is trying to take things a step further by introducing a new type of paver designed to catch storm water run-off but also …
2
ZAP! Smart Cars
ZAP, an electric vehicle company, is offering a 60 mpg gasoline powered SMART Car. The company says the SMART City Coupe has an impressive handling and a stylish, roomy interior for two passengers. The SMART Car is popular in Europe, so ZAP is bringing the Americanized version that is a U.S. compliant direct import automobile. Pricing runs between $12,000 for …
Recent Comments