Fill Up Your Electric Car Tank with Aluminum
Electric cars are a fantastic innovation. No pollution, no fossil fuel consumption, and the government even gives you a tax break for owning one. The sticking point for widespread adoption of electric cars has, thus far, been the batteries that power the vehicles. Most batteries aren’t good for more than 100 miles of travel, and that at a fairly sedate pace of around 50 mph.
Israeli startup Phinergy claims to have a solution to the battery conundrum. The company’s metal-air battery system uses aluminum, air (specifically oxygen) and water to create battery which, according to Phinergy, can power an electronic car for up to 1,000 miles. Continue reading
New Approach to Processing Lithium for Batteries
A Vancouver start-up claims to have come up with a way to help reduce the cost of new lithium-ion battery technologies.
Lawn Mowers Go Green
I try not to think too much about my lawn (which should be readily apparent to my neighbors), but a few years ago I made the switch to an electric, battery-powered push mower. It’s a lot quieter than the gas mowers I used to have, and I no longer have to make runs to the gas station to fill up the can every few weeks or so.
Hydrogen-Powered Eye in the Sky
Boeing launched the second test of its new hydrogen-powered surveillance drone late last month. Dubbed The Phantom Eye, the unmanned craft could be used for search and rescue and disaster relief applications, too. Continue reading
ARPA-E Summit Showcases Alternative Energy Concepts
Alternative energy ideas were on parade last month at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Innovation Summit in the nation’s capital. The event allowed energy startups to pitch their ideas to potential investors and venture capitalists.
The folks over at the IEEE highlighted some of the more off-the-wall technologies on display.Eight companies were selected out of more than 300 applicants to make their pitches at the Summit.
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