A hydrogen fuel cell-powered hybrid electric bus supplied by UTC Power for the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District has set a performance record by operating for over 10,000 hours. The milestone is another step toward reducing the life cycle cost of hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicles, which produce zero emissions and are more than 50% efficient in terms of converting energy to power.
Converting hybrid vehicles — particularly the Prius and Ford Escape — into plug-in hybrids has become a profitable niche industry for a few specialty companies. But the net impact of this new mini-industry has been much greater by influencing consumer and industry opinions. Promoting the technical feasibility of PHEVs has … [continued]
Chalk up another reason to buy the Chevy Volt in 2011: a powerful, compact, energy-efficient sound system from Bose. According to the company, the system is 30% smaller, 40% lighter, and uses 50% less energy than conventional Bose sound systems.
The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) recently developed a surprisingly attractive solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The sugar cube-sized SOFC, which is made up of 25 needle-like modules measuring 0.8 mm, packs a serious punch due to a high ratio of electrode area to volume. And since … [continued]
It seems like new plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV) are being announced every day. If Coulomb Technologies has its way, you’ll be powering your next PHEV with the help of “Smartlet Charging Stations”— curbside plug-in charging machines that activate with “ChargePoint Smart Cards”.
Imara Corp. has announced a new generation of lithium-ion (li-ion) batteries made specifically for high power devices such as lawnmowers, power tools, hybrid vehicles and even grid storage. The company uses unique materials science technology to provide high-power, high-energy and extended cycle-life batteries and battery packs.
