RideLust

Congress passed a law, now they have to follow it. The law will make them go green whether they want to or not. And I for one believe it’s about darn time. Seriously enough is enough. Let’s force them to do something that makes sense instead of shoveling more money in Exxon’s already fat wallets.

A congressman’s campaign to force members of Congress to drive “green” is gassed up and ready to go.

Lincoln Navigators to tool around the old congressional district? Those were the days, my friend.

At a time when gasoline costs more than $4 per gallon, do lawmakers really want to sit behind the wheel of a big honking SUV or some other gas-guzzling symbol of luxury, and on the taxpayer’s dime?

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s three-year drive to bring fuel efficiency to the federal vehicle-leasing program finally got some wheels. The EPA finally has compiled a list of what can be leased under Cleaver’s 2005 proposal, which requires members of the House of Representatives who lease a vehicle taxpayer expense to pick one with low greenhouse-gas emissions.

Source:McClatchy DC

When Nations begin jumping into the automotive and oil business with big dollars to hand out, companies are more than willing to pony up there own cash to help make the changes.

I’m just wondering if the idea of a hydrogen powered vehicle is one that will succeed. I’m a fond believer in Electric powered vehicles and I think dumping this much money we are talking billions into technology that just may not be efficient enough to exceed other technologies already available is just not smart. What am I talking about? Check out the following excerpt.

European governments agreed Friday to spend $731 million developing fuel cells and hydrogen technology for cars that could slash oil consumption and carbon dioxide emissions within decades.

Car and energy companies such as Daimler AG and Royal Dutch Shell PLC are expected to match or exceed the EU funding for the six-year research project that should speed up research and make cleaner cars a commercial reality between 2010 and 2020.

The European Commission says hydrogen cars could cut the amount of oil used by road transport by 40 percent by 2040 and halve carbon emissions by 2050.

Source: MSNBC

For over 40 years Mackinac Island has been car free. Instead it has been dominated by horse drawn carriages. In fact Mackinac Island is also home to the only state highway that also has a ban on automobiles because it encircles the entire island.

I can see the need for a place without cars, especially since I lived for a good amount of time with the Amish. Getting away from the rush rush life of cars is a relief. Spending a few hours in a horse and buggy makes life seem just so peaceful. Besides feeling like you have jumped on a time machine and are back 100 years ago.

Gas 2.0 never ceases to amaze me with the crazy nonsense they dig up. Inflatable Cars is today’s latest gimmick.

The California Based Startup is called XP Vehicles, the technology is similar to those developed by NASA for the Mars Rover but they are for the Asian Consumer Market.

Not only does XP vehicles state that the Whisper™ will have a range of 2,500 miles using their “hot-swap XPack Multi-Core™ battery/fuel cell powerplant,” they are aiming for a price point of under $5,000. The cars will be sold direct online, initially only offered in Asian markets, and you will be able to configure them with a variety of different colors, decals, stereo systems, iPod mounts, and alarms – none of which will cover up for the fact that you’re driving a balloon.

Seriously will anyone buy an inflatable car? In a sidenote, the picture above is not from the startup company.

MIT is developing a concept vehicle called the Aware Car, which could revolutionize how elderly take the road. I have a friend who is nearing 100 years old and still has a drivers license although they no longer drive at night. Ive often wondered how safe it is for them to be on the road at all.

With MIT and others developing technology that will monitor how the elderly take the road I am certain we can see changes in the types of technology that ensure safety for elderly and disabled drivers.

A $1.5 million prototype is being tested at the AgeLab of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to perfect the Aware Car, which seeks to help specifically elder motorists to be safer while driving.

Using infrared cameras and mini cameras, the unit under construction measures the driver’s habits and would react if the one behind the wheel veers away from his usual response. The cameras monitors the driver’s eye and eyelid movements, while the driver’s heart rate, blood pressure and respiration are monitored and the data sent to a device on the trunk that could detect lane drifting. At the back seat is a computer monitor from where real-time data periodically show up.

Source: Gant Daily

You ever wonder what is holding back the development of All Electric Vehicles? I’d point to battery technology. Specifically it has a lot to do with battery technology. Large nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries to be exact.

Here’s some interesting history:
“In 1994, General Motors acquired a controlling interest in Ovonics’s battery development and manufacturing, including patents controlling the manufacturing of large nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries. In 2001, Texaco purchased GM’s share in GM Ovonics. A few months later, Chevron acquired Texaco. In 2003, Texaco Ovonics Battery Systems was restructured into Cobasys, a 50/50 joint venture between Chevron and Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) Ovonics. Chevron’s influence over Cobasys extends beyond a strict 50/50 joint venture. Chevron holds a 19.99% interest in ECD Ovonics. Chevron also maintains veto power over any sale or licensing of NiMH technology. In addition, Chevron maintains the right to seize all of Cobasys’ intellectual property rights in the event that ECD Ovonics does not fulfill its contractual obligations.” via Wikipedia

Much of what holds up the development of Electric Cars is patents that are held by one of the world’s largest oil companies.

We’ve covered Algae Based Fuel before and Sapphire Energy appears to be leading the way. This San Diego based Company has raised 50M in funding from the world’s second richest medical charity according to AlarmClock

San Diego’s Sapphire Energy says it plans to turn algae into oil, creating a clean fuel that can be used in unmodified cars and trucks. Sapphire and its alter-brand Green Crude Production, explains that it is using algae, sunlight, non-potable water and carbon dioxide to make a green crude that it boasts is the chemical equivalent of sweet crude oil. Moreover, production costs per barrel will be similar to petroleum-based fuel.

The company has raised $50M in funding from Wellcome Trust, a British charity, the world’s second richest medical charity after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as Arch Venture Partners and Venrock. Sapphire’s technology was developed collaborations with Scripps Research Institute, UC San Diego, the University of Tulsa and the Energy Department’s Joint Genome Project.

Only in a place like Sweden does something like this actually happen, and then work. Some municipalities in Sweden have facilities that transform sewage waste into biogas to run cars and city buses.

“Taking a road trip? Remember to visit the toilet first. This city is among dozens of municipalities in Sweden with facilities that transform sewage waste into enough biogas to run thousands of cars and buses.

Cars using biogas created a stir when they began to be rolled out on a large scale at the start of the decade. The tailpipe emissions are virtually odorless, the fuel is cheaper than gasoline and diesel, and the idea of recovering energy from toilet waste appealed to green-minded Swedes.

This idea wouldn’t be a bad one in some small farming communities in the US where Cow Manure is a plenty and time is of no importance.

Source: Planetizen

America is ripe with Vintage Car Museums,Landmarks, and some plain old cool vintage junkyards. This monument is also pretty amazing. And it’s right in the middle of America’s heartland Nebraska. It’s called CarHenge. It’s a replica of Stonehenge built with Vintage cars. It’s an amazing story.

“Carhenge, which replicates Stonehenge, consists of the circle of cars, 3 standing trilithons within the circle, the heel stone, slaughter stone, and 2 station stones, and the Aubrey circle, named after Sir John Aubrey who first recognized the earthworks and great stones as a prehistoric temple in 1648. It was not until excavations undertaken in the 1920′s that they were found to be holes cut to hold timber uprights. A total of 56 holes were discovered and named the Aubrey Holes in honor of John Aubrey’s observation.

The artist of this unique car sculpture, Jim Reinders, experimented with unusual and interesting artistic creations throughout his life. While living in England, he had the opportunity to study the design and purpose of Stonehenge. His desire to copy Stonehenge in physical size and placement came to fruition in the summer of 1987 with the help of many family members.

Thirty-eight automobiles were placed to assume the same proportions as Stonehenge with the circle measuring approximately 96 feet in diameter. Some autos are held upright in pits five feet deep, trunk end down, while those cars which are placed to form the arches have been welded in place. All are covered with gray spray paint. The honor of depicting the heel stone goes to a 1962 Caddy.

Carhenge was built as a memorial to Reinders’ father who once lived on the farm where Carhenge now stands. While relatives were gathered following the death of Reinders’ father in 1982, the discussion turned to a memorial and the idea of a Stonehenge replica was developed. The family agreed to gather in five years and build it. The clan, about 35 strong, gathered in June 1987 and went to work. They held the dedication on the Summer Solstice in 1987, with champagne, poetry, songs and a play written by the family.”

Source: CarHenge

In the UK, The Independent asks why it takes so long to produce a truly green solution to the rising costs of dirty car technology. I mean this is the same auto industry that killed the electric car.

My favorite part of the article follows:
“The car makers and oil companies will try to protect their old ‘brown’ technologies”

The Automotive Industry is one of the worlds biggest industries, right behind the Military Industrial Complex although I think we all know they are somewhat tied together. The whole lot will do whatever it takes to slow the progress of truly green technology.

Check out our Hybrid Car Guide and Alternative Fuel Guide for information on going green!