When it comes to crazy-cool engineering, nobody can top ze Germans. If it’s even vaguely plausible, you can bet that some German crackpot inventor has done it. Well, now two Germans – Stefan Simmerer and Dirk Gion – have broken three Guinness World Records in a ... wait for it ... wind turbine powered electric car.

That’s right, an EV that’s powered by a wind turbine, those big robotic looking windmills you may have seen in farms atop hilltops in Scotland or Pennsylvania. Here’s how it works:

At night, Simmerer and Gion park the Wind Explorer – that’s what it’s called – and erect a nifty looking collapsible wind turbine. While they sleep, the lightweight turbine generates enough energy to recharger the Wind Explorer’s batteries. If they’re running low on energy during the day, they can whip out a kite that helps powered the vehicle forward.

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This is the GENeco Bio-Bug, a methane-fueled VW Beetle cabriolet converted by The Greenfuel Company to showcase yet another alternative fuel possibility. Using "specialist equipment", GENeco processes waste using anaerobic digestion. Basically, anything biodegradable is eaten by bugs that, in an oxygen-free environment, release methane.

In order to make that methane usable as biogas (i.e. work without noticeable side effects), the CO2 has to be filtered out.

The firm claims that the Bio-Bug can run for up to 10,000 miles annually using gas collected from just 70 homes. Also, if it were possible to convert all the gas collected from the Avonmouth location, GENeco says it could potentially use this process to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 19,000 tons.

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Powertrains aside, automakers are also looking in other areas to make today's vehicles more environmentally friendly. One such example is a newly developed natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20 percent wheat straw bio-filler developed by the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, as part of the Ontario BioCar Initiative. Ford is the first automaker in the world to make use of this new bio-material on the 2010 Ford Flex's third-row interior storage bins.

According to the company, this application alone reduces petroleum usage by some 20,000 pounds per year and CO2 emissions by around 30,000 pounds per year while the bio-material is said to demonstrate better dimensional integrity than a non-reinforced plastic and weighs up to 10 percent less than a plastic reinforced with talc or glass.

But what makes this initiative even more impressive is that it also represents a sustainable usage for wheat straw which is the waste byproduct of wheat. Ford said that in Ontario alone, where the Flex is produced, more than 28,000 farmers grow wheat, along with corn and soybeans. At any given time, there are some 30 million metric tons of available wheat straw waste in Ontario.

"Wheat is everywhere and the straw is in excess," said Dr. Ellen Lee, technical expert, Ford's Plastics Research. "We have found a practical automotive usage for a renewable resource that helps reduce our dependence on petroleum, uses less energy to manufacture, and reduces our carbon footprint. More importantly, it doesn't jeopardize an essential food source."

Ford said that it is considering the use of natural fiber-based plastics for other applications in the near future including the center console bins and trays, interior air register and door trim panel components, and armrest liners.

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French energy giant EDF and Japanese carmaker Toyota today announced a new programme for a large-scale trial of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles (PHV) in Strasbourg, France. According to the Japanese automaker, about one hundred units of a next generation PHV equipped with lithium-ion batteries will be leased to selected companies and partners in the Strasbourg area starting from the end of 2009, for a duration of three years. Toyota did not reveal details on the type of vehicle, but it is rumored to be based on the 2010 Prius.

The programme is part of a global Toyota project that will also be deployed in Japan as well as in the USA from the end of 2009. The firm's main objective with this project is to objective is to investigate and further evaluate the technology and performance of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles in real life conditions.

EDF and Toyota began European road trials of Plug-in Hybrid Prius Vehicles in France in the autumn of 2007 expanding the programme to the UK in 2008.

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At next month’s Paris motorshow Opel will debut two new engines for the Insignia range that comprises a 4door sedan, a 5door fastback and the Sports Tourer which also makes its world premiere at the French capitol. The new powertrain options for Opel’s mid-size model are a 2.0-liter twin-turbocharged diesel with clean tech combustion system delivering an output of 190 HP and the downsized 1.6-liter gasoline turbo engine that generates 180 HP. The new additions complement the range of seven motors – all Euro 5-certified – that are already on offer for the Insignia. -Continued

In addition, Opel will unveil the new Insignia ecoFLEX that promises to offer lower CO2 emissions and reduced fuel consumption without compromising on performance. Although the German automaker hasn’t given out any further details, expect to see the same kind of modifications on the Insignia as with other ecoFLEX variants in Opel’s range, including improved aerodynamics, the addition of low rolling resistant tires, a longer axel ratio and reduced weight.

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Last year it was Porsche, now it was Mercedes-Benz’ turn to get a taste of how it feels to be targeted by Greenpeace. The self-proclaimed eco-warriors staged a protest in front of a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Cologne, Germany. As they did last year at Porsche central offices in Stuttgart, Greenpeace activists accused Mercedes-Benz of manufacturing “Climate Pigs”. And just in case someone did not value the meaning of the term, the demonstrators presented a pink ML-Class all dressed up in pig ears and snout. -Continued

We hope that next time Greenpeace decides to target a car manufacturer they’ll come up with something a bit more creative as to be totally honest, the piggy theme is starting to get old.

Photo: UP

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Former Formula One World Champion, Damon Hill will sit behind the wheel of a Tesla Roadster in the GreenFleet Capital Arrive ‘N’ Drive 08 event, which will start on London’s Horse Guards Parade on 31 July, 2008. The eco-friendly challenge aims to promote the latest innovations to reduce emissions and improve air quality in London. The Tesla Roadster will be among the 20 public and private sector drivers taking part in the 33 mile-course to demonstrate the use of electric power as a viable alternative to conventional fuel sources. -Continued

Talking about the event, Darryl Siry, senior vice president of sales, marketing and service, Tesla Motors said: “It is a huge privilege for Damon Hill to present the Tesla Roadster to car enthusiasts on the capital’s streets. This will be a perfect opportunity for people to witness high performance and fun motoring without the need to compromise the environment.”

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If anything else, we have to hand it to GM for at least trying to create a variety of products that confront the energy problems and the changing U.S. market. Aside from the Chevy Volt that we hear about every two or three days (…), GM is also working on another plug-in hybrid vehicle that has been approved for production and is undergoing early program development stages as we speak. We’re referring to the Saturn Vue (Opel Antara in Europe) PHEV which stands for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle.

Currently, GM is testing 11 Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles at the GM proving grounds in Michigan and Arizona. GM says that while early test cars used nickel-metal hydride battery technology, now their trying out lithium-ion batteries which are lighter and more powerful. -Continued

The Vue Plug-in Hybrid that’s set to arrive into the market before the end of 2010 will be equipped with a modified version of GM’s familiar Two-mode Hybrid system that uses a battery, a gas engine and a hybrid transmission to move the vehicle.

Via: GM's Fastlane blog

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In 2006, Ryan Mickle bought a $60,000+ Range Rover Sport mainly due a huge tax write off for heavy SUVs –or at least he says, to use for a short commute and weekly trips with friends. Two years later and having moved back to San Francisco, Ryan decided that he didn’t need a car anymore. But while most people would just put the Range Rover up for sale, “environmentally-conscious” Ryan decided to destroy his Landie so it would permanently stop polluting and using excessive quantities of gasoline. To do so, Ryan launched a website called “OneFewer” where online voters will decide the fate of his car.

Our take? First of all, if he wants to destroy his car, he can do so without opening up a website and making a whole fuss about it – unless he’s seeking for his 15 minutes of fame. There are other ways, less provocative (how long do you have to work to make $60k?) to convince people in becoming more environmentally conscious. If he wants to do something good for the environment he can sell the car and donate the money to a “green” organization or use the cash to make his house more energy-efficient. -Continued

We won’t even touch the subject about the harm he can cause to the environment if by chance the online voters decide to burn the Range Rover or throw it over a cliff into the wild…

Link: Onefewer

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Thanks to a new water recycling system that was just installed in Nissan’s manufacturing plant in Barcelona, the Japanese carmaker will save 21.6 million litres of water in its paint shop in 2008. The savings equal to a 20 percent reduction in water consumption over 2007.

In the past, the water used to wash the bodies-in-white before painting was purified and sent to the city’s main sewerage system. Now, the water used to wash almost 900 new bodies each day is filtered on site and immediately re-used, reducing the quantity previously sent to be purified by a significant 4,000 litres per hour.

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Lately we’ve been witnessing all sorts of alternative solutions to substitute petrol, but using 100% cooking oil from fish ‘n’ chips rather than a blend or manufactured biofuel, is a first.

The “culprit” is a New Zealand based tour bus company that gets its supply of recycled waste oil from the Gordonton fish and chip shop, near the company’s workshop in Auckland. The company’s managing director, Neil Geddes said the bus was used for city orientation tours aimed at new visitors to Auckland who expected sustainable tourism.

Via: NZherald

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Could Origo Industries and their new technology that turns CO2 emissions into usable fuel hold the key to the future? Well, if it actually works, why not. Origo Industries supports that it has developed a system that captures the CO2 from your vehicle’s engine and then allows you to turn these emissions into fuel at your own home to re-use on your car or eve to power your house.

The system uses a revolutionary new approach where CO2 that’s captured through a special cartridge is regenerated through algae in a home unit, allowing the user to produce bio-oil (up to 2500 litres per year tax-free).

We’ve yet to see the system in action, but Orgio Industries says that it’ll display its technology for the first time ever at the UK’s largest Green Motor Show, Green-Car-Guide Live! 2008 that takes place on Thursday 12th June 2008 from 10am to 4pm at the Arena & Convention Centre in Liverpool. Even though we have to admit that Orgio Industries’ system sounds too good to be true, we’ll wait and see.

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As with all motor shows the past few years, Geneva will host many eco-friendly vehicle premieres. Fiat on its behalf will debut the 500 Aria Concept that utilizes existing technologies to further lower its eco-footprint. In detail, the prototype is equipped with a Diesel 1.3 16v Multijet Euro 5 turbo diesel unit (with anti-particulate DPF filter) combined with robotic Dualogic shift transmission.

Furthermore, the 500 Aria is equipped with a Stop&Start system which allows to control the temporary switch-off of the engine and its subsequent ignition. In particular, Fiat supports that uniting the Stop&Start system and the Dualogic shift, it has managed to reduce consumption by around 10% in the urban cycle. Additionally, thanks to the solutions applied, the 500 Aria accomplishes an important lowering of the CO2 to 98 g/km. -Continued

The prototype 500 minicar also foresees the use of recycled materials. For example, the recycled rubber used for the floor is composed by rubber granules deriving from used tyres, “anchored” together with polyurethane binders. The seats have been upholstered with recycled and woven leather (called “mataleather, and supplied by the Matamata company) whilst the fabrics are in polyester and in a particular design similar to the raffia palm with natural whirls (supplied by the Apollo company).

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Speaking at the 40th Tokyo Show opening yesterday (October 24), Honda’s President and CEO, Takeo Fukui, announced the Japanese carmaker’s plans to unveil a production version of the hydrogen - powered FCX Concept at the LA Show in mid-November.

The FCX utilizes electricity generated by combining hydrogen and oxygen in a fuel cell stack, and electricity stored in its lithium-ion battery pack to power the vehicle's electric motor. According to Honda, the production version of the FCX Concept (pictured above) will go on sale to fleet and retail customers in the U.S. and Japan until the end of 2008.

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So there’s no misunderstanding, when we say Kumho we do actually mean the Korean tire manufacture. Well, the folks at Kumho seem to have found some time off from making tires to create an environmentally friendly Le Mans racing concept – on paper of course. The Epoch was penned by Kumho’s in-house designer, Rob Dolton who works at Kumho’s European Technical Centre in Birmingham, UK.

According to its Dolton, the single-seater Epoch, features a chassis made from bamboo while its lightweight body panels are formed from recycled tire tread rubber. Power in theory comes from Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) units integral to the four-wheel hubs (an electromagnetic technology used in the railway industry). -Continued after the jump

As you’d expect, the Epoch also features innovative tire technology. Kumho calls it EAP (Electro Active Polymer) and it allows the tread and even the shape of the tires to be altered simply by passing an electric current through the rubber. The latter is achieved by the positioning of magnets on the hubs and within the wheel rims allowing the characteristics of the tire to be altered at will in order to suit different tastes and conditions.

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