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The Electric Super-Car Arms Race Has Begun

michaelpopovici — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:52:01 +0000

Just under a week ago, Shelby Supercars (unrelated to the legendary Carroll Shelby) released the details for their 0-60 in 2.5 seconds, 1000 hp, 208 mph top speed electric super car called the Ultimate Aero EV. With the grandpappy of this niche, the Tesla Roadster, already being delivered and production of the Fisker Karma starting this year, it is safe to say that there is some competition in this high-end market.

If these companies can actually start churning out cars dependably, I am looking at you Tesla, I don’t think it is too much of a stretch to say that this technology will be used to create commuter cars that the mere mortal can afford. If you look back around the turn of the century to the beginning of the automobile era, you will see that they were originally high-end coach built machines that only the uber-rich could afford. Eventually, once they were able to be mass manufactured, they became much more affordable and eventually ubiquitous.

Something else to note about this is that most of this development in the electric vehicle space has been courtesy of free market forces (unless I am mistaken.) I am sure that public funding for green product and energy development is a positive, but perhaps truly sustainable and beneficial advances come from private sector activity.

And now, for no good reason really, a pic from the Tesla Roadster crash tests. Glorious and sad at the same time…

Pic from Autoblog.

Highway energy collection devices

michaelpopovici — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:58:35 +0000

Interesting approach to energy generation/collection. The force created from vehicles driving over a device generates electricity.

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/04/29/dragon-power-station-makes-electricity-from-traffic/

There are some interesting remarks in the comments, though, about it actually making the vehicles that drive over it less efficient. That energy needs to come from somewhere… The comments do discuss the possibility of installing it in areas where speed needs to be scrubbed anyways.

Human Footprint

michaelpopovici — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:34:50 +0000

Here’s a really great website that helps visualize the level of consumption of the average consumer in a developed country.

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/human-footprint/

It was originally a show on the National Geographic Channel, but has long since aired. Maybe they have reruns? Dunno, but the site still holds quite a bit of great info.

Props to Linksys

michaelpopovici — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:09:56 +0000

Happy New Year from Phoneraiser! Welcome to our first post of the New Year. We are going to start 2009 off with giving Linksys a pat on the back.

One of our worker bees received a new computer for Christmas. Her old one was slow and unresponsive, so we replaced it with a shiny, new, fast Dell. She will be able to use it to send out checks to our Phoneraiser partners even faster! We went ahead and added a USB wireless adapter to our computer order, specifically an WUSB600N. While setting up the new computer and wireless adapter, I was pleasantly surprised to see the minimalist packaging method that Linksys has employed. All of the materials used (except for maybe the wire ties, not sure if they are truly recycleable or not) are made of recycled materials and are recycleable.

I hope more companies take after Linksys’ lead and start using the minimum amount of packaging possible. Recycled/recycleable packing materials would be icing on the cake. And by the way, that applies to Dell as well. Sadly, the amount of packaging that surrounded the actual computer was excessive and consisted mostly of styrofoam. Thankfully, it looks as though they are aware of it and considering alternatives. The proof is in the pudding though. We will see if Dell can live up to Linksys’ example.

Green Holiday Gift Ideas

michaelpopovici — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 23:04:55 +0000

Have one more person on your list and can’t think of what to get them? How about a homemade gift made out of recycled materials? http://paperseed.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/recycled-gift-crafts/

Remember to wrap it in recycled or recyclable gift wrapping.

Latest Green Electronics

michaelpopovici — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:53:34 +0000

Advents’ Eco PC: http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/07/advent-eco-pc-gets-photographed-tested/

Solar LED Christmas Lights (no outlet required!): http://www.siliconsolar.com/solar-christmas-lights.html

New Electric Sports Car on the Scene (not the first, but looks good): http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/04/production-fisker-karma-gets-revealed-shakes-that-sexy-thang/

Techies are taking delivery of their electric auto’s: http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/11/24/autobloggreen-visits-our-founder-to-try-out-his-tesla-roadster/

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion

michaelpopovici — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:00:50 +0000

A fascinating proposed method for harvesting energy from the sea. Sounds limited in it’s usefulness in different locals, but it seems as though it would immensely benefit the areas where it could be deployed.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59MptHscxY&hl=en&fs=1]

WFAA Channel 8 Project Green

michaelpopovici — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:00:39 +0000

One of Dallas’s local news stations has set up a website chock full of green tips and news. It’s worth a visit. http://www.wfaa.com/projectgreen/

The site also links to a blog with local green news.

http://www.beloblog.com/green/

Phoneraiser Partners in the News #2

michaelpopovici — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:00:38 +0000

The second entry in our Phoneraiser Partners in the News.

Best Buddies is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=234416&src=3

The Electric Mini Cooper

michaelpopovici — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:00:42 +0000

Think it’s a great idea? Well, if you live in select locales in the U.S., you might be able to lease one. BMW has announced that they will be producing 500 electric Mini Coopers for a special pilot program. Only a lucky few, 490 to be exact, in southern California, New Jersey, and New York will be able to lease these little 204 hp pocket (electric) rockets for one year.

If you are in one of those areas and are interested, I would recommend high-tailing it to a Mini dealer to get specifics. There might be a line…

More info:

http://www.miniusa.com/#/learn/MINIE-m

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/bmw-electric-mini-cooper-california.php (tree-hugger incorrectly lists it as only available in California)