Of all places…!
“The Adelaide City Council’s electric solar bus is the first in the world to be recharged using 100% solar energy…Recent advances in battery technology have helped the successful development of pure electric buses with a suitable range between recharges. The Tindo solar electric bus uses 11 Zebra battery modules, giving it unprecedented energy storage capacity and operational range. The Swiss-made Zebra batteries use sodium/nickel chloride technology, with their benefits including:
-Designed for long life and reliability
-Not affected by external temperatures
-Can be stored indefinitely fully charged
-Lightweight
-High energy and power density
The Zebra batteries used in Tindo are virtually maintenance free, and are therefore expected to result in significant cost savings.”
http://www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/scripts/nc.dll?ADCC:STANDARD::pc=PC_151048
Rear Vision looks at the history of the automobile. Raises some interesting points as to why petrol cars have dominated and there has been very little progress in terms of efficiency. When the personal car was first invented t was a battle between the electric car, steam and petrol. Maybe it’s not too late for electric cars to make a comeback
RN Rear Vision - 17 February 2008 - Car crazy
There is some very interesting research at the moment looking into replacing batteries with Fuel Cells. Being able to replace Lithium-Ion batteries in consumer electronics with a Fuel Cell powered by a Hydrogen or Methanol canister has many advantages including longer power reserves and much faster recharging times. But one of the main sticking points in further developing this technology has been the reluctance of commercial airlines and aviators to allow Fuel Cell canisters onto their flights. The fears being that the flammable gas contained inside the canister poses a risk to the aircraft if it somehow catches fire.
Well this week we have seen the first steps towards approving the carriage on aeroplanes of these (so far unavailable) power sources. The US Department of Transportation has just made a ruling that will let passengers carry approved methanol fuel cells and up to two spare fuel cartridges in their carry-on bags.
FTA:
“Fuel cells also can’t spontaneously burst into flames. A person would have to apply a flame to a fuel cell to ignite methanol, which is an alcohol. Presumably, security will take lighters and matches away from someone at the gate. Lithium-ion batteries in rare instances have blown up, but those instances have been alarming.
Fuel cell technology, though, isn’t easy and fuel cells have faced several delays. Lim says fuel cells will likely begin to come out in 2009. MTI is working with Samsung on fuel cells for phones.
Canada, China, Japan, and the UK already let passengers carry their nonexistent fuel cells onboard.”
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9933408-54.html?tag=nefd.blgs
ONE of the first large cargo ships in 100 years to cross the Atlantic Ocean with the help of the wind will set off from Europe this month on a voyage that is due to make maritime history.
Green shipping blowing in the wind - World - theage.com.au
The car industry in Australia will have to start adopting efficiency standards if we are to meet our emissions targets and SUV’s are among the least efficient on our roads.
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2007/s2108538.htm
Hi all,
A piece on sustainable shipping I originally wrote for the RMIT student magazine ‘Catalyst’ in semester 1. Feedback welcome.
Christian
______________
Its recently been revealed that a serious source of air pollution comes from the cargo ships currently sailing the worlds oceans. I had heard this before and a claim that apparently you could trace the worlds shipping lanes by the brown haze above them but I hadn’t realized that ships actually contribute more pollution then the rest of the worlds transportation sector combined! A bit of research soon uncovered some startling statistics including this extract:
“…although emissions from road vehicles has declined sharply in recent decades, emissions from large ships have changed little while the volume of worldwide shipping has steadily increased. Those two factors have allowed pollutants from ships, estimated at 6 million metric tons in 2001, to surpass road vehicle emissions estimated at 2.2 million metric tons.
If no stringent international ship emission regulations are adopted by the International Maritime Organization, the study warns, ship emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides will soon surpass those of not just land vehicles, but all land sources, including power plants, factories and refineries.”
Continue reading ‘Sustainable Shipping’
Recent Comments