Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Just under two years ago, researchers at Boeing-Spectrolab managed to achieve 40.7% solar cell efficiency. Two years later, scientists at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory have demonstrated their nerve by trumpeting an all new world record… one that’s 0.1% points better than the last. Yes, your new record now sits at 40.8% — tremendous progress, wouldn’t you say? Looking outside of the numbers, you’ll find that these cells differ “significantly” from the prior record holders, which enable them to be thinner, lighter, cheaper and altogether swanker. That’s it for now folks — come back in a couple years, we hear 40.9% is just around the bend.

[Via CNET]

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Mitsubishi’s i MiEV electric car has spent some serious time on the streets of Japan, but before long, the fuel-shunning vehicle will be roughin’ it here in the US of A. The auto maker is teaming up with Southern California Edison and PG&E in order to see how it fares in LA traffic and how to best integrate it with the power grid. As of now, the whips should be cruising down the carpool lanes in Q4, though a few modifications may be needed in order to comply with US laws. Plans are to test the i MiEV for three solid years, and hopefully the $30,000 ride will be made available for purchase shortly thereafter (or earlier, if we’re fortunate). What now, MINI?

[Via Wired]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Oh sure, Rock Port, Missouri managed to snag the title of being “100% wind powered,” but Texas’ new plan will make the Show Me state’s gusty initiatives look awfully weak. Officials at the Public Utility Commission recently okayed a plan to “build billions of dollars worth of new transmission lines to bring pollution-free energy from West Texas to urban areas.” The ginormous Lone Star state is already the nation’s leader in wind power, but when said plan is fully implemented (pending final approval), it’ll produce more wind energy than the next closest 14 states combined. Granted, customers will be paying a touch more ($4 per month is the current estimate) for all this clean energy, but pundits assert that the cost is minor when looking at just how much this will help out Mother Earth. Look for everything to go live in four to five years, barring any unforeseen setbacks.

[Thanks, Adam]

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Filed under: Transportation

Look folks, just because Dyson can build a motor with enough oomph to power a vehicle, that doesn’t mean it’s actually going to. At least that’s the message a company spokesperson wants you to believe. Contrary to earlier reports, James Dyson is not looking to enter the electric automobile sector in any way, shape or fashion. Said spokesperson was quoted as saying that “James Dyson did say that [Dyson’s] new digital motor could power a car, but it is not working on, and [we] have no plans to create an electric car.” Okay, but can you at least make the Ball 2.0 street legal?

[Via AutoblogGreen, image courtesy of Telegraph]

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Filed under: Transportation

Dyson (yes, that Dyson) could be looking to play a role in the next great electric automobile. Just let your brain simmer on that a moment, and see if you can stifle any forthcoming laughter. Believe it or not, the British inventor famous for his iconic vacuum designs is actually developing a “powerful lightweight motor that could enable electric cars to zoom along for hundreds of miles without causing pollution.” In theory, the eventual vehicle would scoot about much quicker than the majority of sluggish electric vehicles and solar panels would be tacked on the roof for regeneration in sunlight. Of course, some analysts are suggesting that he continue to keep his innovative motors in household gizmos, and rather than strike out on his own to invent a new car, he could simply partner with an existing automaker and toss in his design genius to craft something that’s not horrifically ugly. Sounds pretty good to us.

[Via Core77, image courtesy of Telegraph]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Sharp has certainly been an integral part of these solar installations before, but the latest endeavor by the city of Sakai and the Kansai Electric Power Company isn’t anything to sneeze at. The initiative will see a pair of “mega solar plants” constructed, one of which will crank out around 10,000 kW while the other outputs 18,000 kW. Once the plants go online in 2011, expectations are that CO2 emissions will decrease on the order of 10,000 tons per year. Of course, a staggering ¥5.0 billion ($46.5 million) will be coughed up in order to make it happen, but you can bet Mother Earth will certainly see it as money well spent.

[Via CrunchGear]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Unlike Rock Port, Missouri, the entire state of Delaware won’t be 100-percent wind-powered after Bluewater Wind constructs a $1.6 billion wind park just off its shore, but the state will be able to “light about 50,000 homes a year” for the duration of the 25-year contract. Said agreement was just nailed down between the aforesaid firm and Delmarva Power, and it hopes to start powering homes via wind by 2012. The offshore site will sit around 12 miles off Rehoboth Beach, with a number of turbines to be planted 90-feet into the sea floor and sport three blades apiece measuring 150-feet long. It’s noted that vacationers and locals alike won’t be able to notice the park from the beach except on a few remarkably clear days, but if their energy bills sink because of it, we don’t really think they’ll mind, anyway.

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Converting residual industrial heat into something usable (read: electricity) has proven to be more than a novel concept on more than one occasion, and ElectraTherm’s giving the process one more vote of confidence by installing its Green Machine at Southern Methodist University. Just this past week, the firm flipped on its first commercial waste heat generator at the Dallas-based institution, with hopes to generate “fuel-free, emissions-free electricity at three to four cents per kW/hr during payback period and under a penny/kW hour thereafter.” The 50kW rig has so far exceeded expectations, and the firm is now forecasting that its units will have a “subsidy-free payback period of three years or less.” Of course, we aren’t told exactly how many zeros reside on the left of the decimal or anything, but folks in the area can get a tour of the installation later this month.

[Image courtesy of Jetson Green]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We have no real way of verifying whether or not these so-calls crystals were purchased alongside some bizarre time machine on eBay, but we’ll take this guy’s word for it and assume not for the time being. Reportedly, University of Queensland professor Max Lu has teamed up with researchers in order to grow “the world’s first titanium oxide single crystals with large amounts of reactive surfaces.” Put simply, these very crystals can “absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity.” It’s said that Lu has been working on the project for some 15 years, and even now, he doesn’t expect the creation to be commercially viable for another decade. Aside from morphing into fairies and making dreams come true, the things could also be used to “purify air and water.” Pair this up with an invisibility cloak and we’ll really be in business.

[Thanks, Brendan]

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Filed under: Transportation

Another day, another potential find to avoid the imminent fuel crisis. On the docket today is Ernie Brookins’ hybrid drive system, which “captures, compresses, and stores wasted drive-train energy produced when a vehicle’s engine is running.” Ernie here has concocted a hydraulic transmission that can reportedly power vehicles without the engine running all of the time, and he expects the solution to save motorists around 50-percent in fuel costs. Better still, the contraption could theoretically work on nearly any vehicle — from school buses to grain trucks to high-octane Power Wheel Jeeps. As these things seem to always go, the project has hit a roadblock without a source of funding, so if any VCs out there are looking for a somewhat solid place to shove $250,000, give this man a ring. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Thanks, Rachel]

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Filed under: Transportation

Another day, another potential find to avoid the imminent fuel crisis. On the docket today is Ernie Brookins’ hybrid drive system, which “captures, compresses, and stores wasted drive-train energy produced when a vehicle’s engine is running.” Ernie here has concocted a hydraulic transmission that can reportedly power vehicles without the engine running all of the time, and he expects the solution to save motorists around 50-percent in fuel costs. Better still, the contraption could theoretically work on nearly any vehicle — from school buses to grain trucks to high-octane Power Wheel Jeeps. As these things seem to always go, the project has hit a roadblock without a source of funding, so if any VCs out there are looking for a somewhat solid place to shove $250,000, give this man a ring. [Warning: read link requires subscription]

[Thanks, Rachel]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

We’ve seen some pretty far-fetched efforts meant to capture the sun’s rays and convert ‘em into energy, but this one holds a special place in our hearts. Rather than consuming acres upon acres of desert land or simply placing a plethora of panels atop some roof, ZM Architecture has an idea that would land a slew of large lily-shaped solar panels in the River Clyde. After winning the International Design Awards Land and Sea Competition, the concept has been passed on to the Glasgow city council in hopes of a trial going forward in the near future. Essentially, energy gathered by the discs would be transformed and exported to the national grid, and integrated motors could rotate the pads in order to “follow the sun for maximum output.” Just gotta watch for those sunbathers sure to swim over and kick back on a panel of their own.

[Via Inhabitat]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Far from being the first at-home biofuel kit we’ve seen, E-Fuel is hoping to target consumers with a hankering for fueling up their vehicle with homegrown goodness. The Micro Fueler claims to be the first backyard Ethanol brewer made specifically for use at one’s abode, and according to the outfit’s CEO, the premise behind it is quite simple. By mixing water, sugar and yeast, individuals can receive E100 Ethanol in a matter of hours. More specifically, it’s noted that a gallon of fuel can be derived from ten gallons of sugar, and while that may not sound like the most efficient conversion rate in the world, the company is quick to point out that costs can be lowered via federal, state and local credits along with carbon trading coupons. Those eager to start fueling up before they even leave the house can order one now for $9,995, though we’re told not to expect shipments until Q4.

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Filed under: GPS, Handhelds

MTI Micro is edging dangerously close to vaporware status, but until 2009 comes and goes, we suspect we still owe it the benefit of the doubt. The ever-boastful company is at it once again, this time showing off a purported fuel cell powered-GPS prototype at the International Small Fuel Cells Conference in Atlanta. The Mobion-powered device promises to provide “three times as much energy as GPS devices powered by four disposable AA batteries,” meaning that users could see up to 60-hours of continuous use on a large, full-color screen navigator. You’ll also find an integrated USB port for using it as an energy source, so you could theoretically utilize your NAV to charge your handset / PMP / ray gun. At this point, however, we wouldn’t get too excited here — it’s not like there’s any guarantee that we’ll ever see this thing in commercial form.

[Via I4U News, image courtesy of John S.]

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Filed under: Cellphones, Digital Cameras, Handhelds

If you’ll recall, we first got wind of MTI Micro’s fuel cell endeavors way back in 2004, but nearly four years later the firm is still at it and hoping to have something rolled out by 2009. Reportedly, the company has conjured up a few working prototypes which utilize methanol and are built to power small gizmos such as cellphones, handhelds and even DSLRs. Recharging the cells would be as simple as “squirting in some new fuel or putting in a new cartridge,” and MTI has even created a way to recycle the water within the unit. Still, it’s not handing out any specifics about what products it plans on churning out first, but given that we’ve been waiting on these things for quite some time already, it’s not like we can’t twiddle our thumbs for another dozen months or so.

[Via ElectronicsWeekly]

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Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Curious designs and solar-powered wares seem to go hand in hand, but honestly, the PowerCube 600 is going to be hard to top. In what appears to be a ginormous (and inexplicably uncomfortable) recliner, the creators have managed to shove enough solar panels in this foldable, “portable” generator to crank out 600-watts of power. You’ll also find 3,500-watts of continuous inverter output, 2,400 amp hours of battery storage and a rugged / watertight case. Even when closed up, this beast measures 72- x 124- x 50-inches, and while it technically is a mobile solution, 2,000-pounds isn’t exactly what you want to lug around each time you feel like hosting a LAN party in Zzyzx, California. Forget the fact that you’ll need to phone up Reluminati in order to acquire a price — just think of the shipping!

[Via MAKE]

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Filed under: Transportation

While oil prices continue to soar to new heights, the gurus at InnovaTek are peering into the future. After years of work, said company is finally testing its hand-sized microreactor that can reportedly “convert virtually any liquid fuel into hydrogen, producing a portable hydrogen stream for use in adjoining fuel-cells.” In a perfect world, the technology would come built-in to vehicles, where we’d bypass the dangerous act of transporting hydrogen and instead convert biodiesel (or similar) right within the confines of the car. As it stands, the outfit has already signed a half-million dollar joint development agreement with Chevron to “pursue fuel processing technology for hydrogen refueling stations,” and while this stuff isn’t apt to be an option on any showroom models next year, InnovaTek is still aiming to commercially license the microreactors by 2009.

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Filed under: Transportation

We’ll be honest, we’re not getting ourselves all riled up about this just yet — after all, it’s not like QuantumSphere is the first (nor the last) company to teeter on announcing a legitimate “solution” to ditching gasoline. Nevertheless, said startup has reportedly figured out a way to “make hydrogen at home from distilled water and ultimately bring the cost of hydrogen fuel cells in line with that of fossil fuels.” More specifically, the outfit claims to have “perfected the manufacture of highly reactive catalytic nanoparticle coatings that could up the efficiency of electrolysis, the technique that generates hydrogen from water.” Unbelievable though that may sound, it’s still looking to unveil a battery using its own technology later this year, so we’ll just wait and see what becomes of that initiative before bidding gas stations adieu for good.

[Via Autoblog, thanks Sean]

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Filed under: Transportation

Yeah, there’s already a few folks out there depriving themselves of adequate exercise by choosing to cruise on an electric bike, but those who’ve yet to take the plunge now have yet another alternative. Panasonic’s Titanium Flat Road EB electric bicycle isn’t likely to be certified for use in the Tour de France, but it can propel riders a maximum of ten kilometers in around half an hour (or up to 150 kilometers if you use your own strength every now and then). Additionally, the bike features a Smart Lithium-Ion Integrated Management System (SLIM) to display remaining battery life and the distance left before your legs will be forced to take over. No word on a price just yet, but there’s plenty of pics in the via link below.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

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Filed under: Transportation

Remember that elusive WhiteStar we first got wind of earlier this month? Apparently, Tesla Motors is doing its best to round up a quarter-billion dollars over the next two years in order to produce the aforementioned electric sedan. Reportedly, the firm is deciding between Albuquerque, New Mexico or the East Bay area in California to construct its plant, and if all goes to plan, it’ll use that facility to crank out the 2010 luxury sports sedan. As expected, concrete details are scant at the moment, but we are hearing that it hopes to launch the WhiteStar for around “half the price of its roadster,” which currently retails in the US for a shade under $100,000.

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