paul villinski: mobile artist studio

Emergency Response Studio
Paul Villinski makes art from found object, sculpting beer-can butterflies, work-glove wings, and scrap-metal flying machines. Villinski gutted a formaldehyde-ridden trailer, similar to the ones issued by FEMA, to create his sustainable, productive mobile artists studio, which he envisions as a symbol of hope for areas affected by natural disasters and war like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
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obama plans new high speed railroad

Sheesh, its about time! Obama's green part of the stimulus includes constructing a major high speed railroad. Maybe we can be as cool as Europe someday........Read more about it here.

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wind powered eco lotus: ecotricity

Ecotricity, an electric company known for harnessing nature and developing systems that provide green and affordable electricity to all, will develop a wind-powered car-- a retrofitted version of the Lotus Exige. It will have a transparent trunk, so that its inner workings can be seen by all.

The company’s founder, Dale Vince, states that he and his team are currently working to transform a Lotus Exige couple with no aspect of the car going untouched. The car would contain 96 batteries and it is expected that the car would have a top speed of over 100 mph and would be able to accelerate from standstill to 62 mph in about four seconds. The first prototype of the car is expected to be unveiled within the next few months with mass production to follow.

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electric car: peugot leonin

Concept car designer Liviu Tudoran has designed an eco-friendly electric car for Peugeot that complements the Lion image that we see in the car brand’s logo. The car, the Peugeot Leonin, has an electric engine mounted in the back of the car which is powered by a battery supply unit that rests under the front hood.
If developed, Tudoran's car could reach a speed of about 160 km/h and will have a range of around 500km. The car’s body will be made from aluminum composite, hard plastic, carbon fiber and glass. The car will be equipped with an LCD screen in the main console that shows the video captured by the hi-resolution camera mounted on the back of the car in place of a traditional rear view mirror.

If massed produced its cost could be somewhere between €18,000 and €25,000, depending on the level of technological equipment inside the car.


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haute news: the mini is going electric

BMW will introducing an electric version of its iconic MINI at the November LA Auto Show. Equipped with a 572-pound lithium ion battery, the MINI E reportedly has a range of 150 miles after an 8-hour charge. 204-horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 8 seconds and the top speed has been limited to 95 miles per hour. The entire car weighs in at a bit over 3,200 pounds and regenerative braking is used to extend the range. Body modifications are minimal, with unique badges and paint separating the E from its gas-powered siblings. On the inside, the gages are new: a multi-function unit in front of the driver, though the speedometer is still front and center in the middle of the dash.
via Auto Green Blog
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algae jet fuel: haute biofuel

Jet fuels result in significant greenhouse gas emissions, and in such a situation the use of renewable fuel is a brilliant idea. Solazyme Inc, a renewable oil production company, is known to produce the world’s first microbial-derived jet fuel. The company implements a unique algal conversion process that allows algae to produce oil in large tanks efficiently without sunlight. This algae-derived aviation fuel has also passed various tests for density, thermal oxidative stability, flashpoint, freezing point distillation, et-high efficiency.

An acre of algae can produce 50 times more oil than an acre of soy, and this oil can be used to make bio-diesel or synthetic forms of petroleum or both.




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era: electric raceabout sportscar

The Electric RaceAbout (ERA) is designed for the latest technology in electric powertrain and battery systems, as well as light-weight manufacturing techniques. Conceived by the Institute of Design, Lahti Polytechnic, the car is a picture of aerodynamic wizardry. The ERA design is based on the lightweight aluminum chassis of the Audi R8and and is powered by 4 in-wheel electric motors powered by Li-Ion (Fe) battery packs. Helsinki Polytechnic, which is working on this prototype, estimate this setup will give the ERA a 0-60 mph time of under 5 seconds and a top speed in the area of 120 mph.
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castagna electric fiat 500

The brand new Fiat 500 Tender Two by Castagna is an attempt to recreate the fiat powering it with a zero-emission electric engine. The new Fiat has a more compact look, wooden side panels, a striped canvas rooftop and brand new interiors.

The zero-emission electric engine power is supplied by MES-DEA. It has a top speed of 81 mph and a range of a good 87 miles for a single 4-hour charge.

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fuel cell passenger boat

The world's first Fuel Cell powered passenger boat has been unveiled in Hamburg Germany. The FCS Alsterwasser, is powered by twin fuel-cell motors similar to those already in use in the Germany Navy’s most modern submarines. It can accommodate 100 passengers on lake cruises in the city of Hamburg. The boat burns hydrogen to give heat and light (power) to the engine. This method of propulsion is completely emission-free.
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lotus omnivore: haute hybrid

Omnivore, a collaboration between Queen’s University Belfast, Jaguar Cars and Lotus is an amazing multi-fuel engine can run on almost anything while maximizing fuel efficiency. Operating on two-stroke cycles, unlike four-stroke used in most petrol-powered cars, this engine runs on both petrol and alcohol.

This bio alcohol fuel combo has a higher octane rating than regular gasoline, which offers more power, but with the ability for lower compression for running on lower-grade fuels as well. This Lotus has high mpg and sustainability without losing the convenience of the established gasoline. The new engine will be unveiled in the new Lotus Exige 270E Tri-fuel as part of the Lotus’ research into running mixtures of alcohol fuels and gasoline.
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toyota iq: haute new compact car

The Toyota IQ, the smallest 4 seater- city style car, will go into production in October this year. Read More..

electric mini for 2009: haute autos

Yes, I love minis--I have always wanted an electric version having seen some conversions on youtube. Unfortunately only 500 of these haute electric Minis will only be released. BMW must developing these to meet California’s strict emissions regulations, which require that automakers build and release a set number of zero emission vehicles in the state. The electric Minis will have a silver body and a yellow roof. Perhaps BMW will rethink this once everyone is clamoring for them.

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sailing a junk raft to hawaii

Junk Raft Dr Markus Erickson and Joel Pashal from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation are sailing to Hawaii from Long Beach California with a raft constructed from trash. This sailable raft is made from a 1961 Cessna airplane, tied to sailboat masts with plastic bag rope, and 15,000 PET bottles in fishing-nets that make it float. ‘We were looking for something that was lightweight and could stand the banging of the Ocean.’

Students from three high schools helped with the construction of the raft, they made rope from plastic bags and cleaned the PET-bottles. What a great school project!

With this action the men want to call attention to plastic soup which is now floating in the Pacific Ocean.

View all their videos at Annarubiecita.

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282 mpg car by volkswagon

Volkswagon will make ground with this hyper efficient vehicle-a one seater that is capable of 282 mpg.
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electric cars: mullen motors

The all-electric, 120 mph L1X-75 GT from Mullen Motor Company and Hybrid Technologies Inc. The L1X-75 GT costs $125,000, has less range of 100 miles and will be available later this summer. Hybrid Technologies has been working for years on the L1X-75 GT and plans to market it first to the wealthy in Japan, the United Arab Emirates and the US. The carbon fiber body and vehicle platform are made in L.A. and the electric drive system is made in Mooresville, North Carolina (that's another difference from Tesla). The 100-mile range comes after 4-6 hours of charging.

For more Electric Cars, check out:

Phoenix Motorcars
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think concept car: norway

Think Ox by a Norwegian car manufacturer, is an electric concept car that will use revolutionary low-cost, high-capacity sodium ion batteries as well as a lithium-ion battery.

The Think Cars will have solar panels on the roof for powering air-conditioning, sound system and other electrical equipments inside the car. Top speed is 130 km/hr and 0-100 in 8.5 seconds and fully charged using a 230-volt power supply jack in just 12 hours.
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fuel from algae: sapphire's research

San Diego's Saphhire Energy can turn algae into oil, producing a green-colored crude by using algae, sunlight, carbon dioxide and non-potable water for an oil chemically equivalent to crude oil.

Sapphire plans to introduce its first fuels in three years and reach full commercial scale in five years. The company already has produced green versions of jet fuel, diesel and clear, premium-grade gasoline already. Chief Executive Jason Pyle said that the company's green crude could be processed in existing oil refineries and that the resulting fuels could power existing cars and trucks just as today's more polluting versions of gasoline and diesel do.

The total greenhouse gas effects of the entire process, from production to combustion will be evaluated by an outside source before Sapphire's green crude becomes viable. Tthe fuel doesn't contain nitrogen or sulfurs, so harmful nitrogen dioxide should not be present from emissions.

The company is privately owned and backed with funding from Wellcome Trust, a British charity, and venture capital firms such as Arch Venture Partners and Venrock. Sapphire's technology was born out of collaborations with Scripps Research Institute, UC San Diego, the University of Tulsa and the Energy Department's Joint Genome Project. Pyle said the genome researchers helped the company pinpoint the kind of algae best suited to making oil.
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fiat supermini diesel: an italian gem

The Fiat the diesel powered mini with rear engine, first manufactured in 1957 (an Italian car manufactured in Poland), has won the 2008 European Car of the Year award amongst many others like the best small diesel car in the UK.
With wonderful fuel economy and a chic look, the 500 as it is called, is powered by Fiat’s 1.3 Multijet Turbo Diesel engine and has a top speed of around 100 mph. It’s said to get 56 miles per gallon and has long mechanical longevity.
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think: electric cars norway

Think Cars Norway offers environmentally friendly vehicles, produced in a low carbon Norwegian factory. Eco transportation with wonderful Scandinavian design. Porsche Consulting helped to make it the most efficient small assembly plant in Europe. The company already 17 years old, manufactures an electrical vehicle that meets the expectations of a modern city car. The TH!NK city is an emission free, safe vehicle-100% electric meeting all safety requirements. The cars have batteries good for 180 km on a single charge.
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lightning car company: electric car UK

Lighting Car Company will launch the Lightning GT this year, a British sports car design powered by four electric motors. Using state of the art NanoSafe battery packs, the GT has 700+hp and 0-60 in 5 seconds. Unlike a petrol engine, full power is available from zero rpm. The GT is built from a carbon fibre/aluminium honeycomb composite monocoque chassis making it light and safe.

The Lightning GT can be charged from a conventional power supply. Charging takes approximately 10 minutes -delivering 250 miles- approx.5 cents per mile, a tenth of the price of a petrol car.

Motors in each wheel, provide torque and power capability which is integrated in each wheel assemble. No gearbox, differential, axel, drive shaft or prop shaft to contend with--all power is generated at the wheels. The light weight and powerful motors also allow for regenerative braking on all four wheels. Heck yes, but prices start at 300K.


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