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Chris Tutor

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Where's our horsepower joke book? Dubai firm envisions horse-powered hybrid

by Chris Tutor (RSS feed) on Aug 31st, 2007 at 6:38PM



All the talk of lithium batteries and biofuels as environmentally-friendly power sources always seems to leave out the environment. A Dubai firm, however, has nature at the center of its hybrid powetrain concept. Fleethorse is proposing that their horse-powered vehicle supplemented by electric motors is the greenest transportation system available.

Called Naturcar, it's not pulled by a horse like a modern-day apple cart, but powered by a horse. For now the concept is nothing but computer-generated video and renderings, but here's how it seems to work:

With the horse in back standing on a conveyor belt, driver and passengers sit up front. Instead of whips to motivate the horse, Naturcar uses electricity to power motors on the belt that gets the horse moving. If the horse stops walking, the belt nudges it back into action. The same belt moves the horse's "exhaust" into a holding area beneath the car.

Unlike its working ancestors, Naturcar's horse would be air conditioned, continually fed and watered and its temperature constantly monitored. The aforementioned electric motors could even be used to pull the car up hills instead of overexerting the horse.

Perhaps if the horse were merely being used as a means to keep the car's batteries charged this might make at least some sense. But horses take too much maintenance, upkeep and food to make much economic or ecological sense as mainstream automotive engines.

Check out our gallery of photos from Fleethorse or watch a CG video of the Naturcar.

Gallery: Naturcar by Fleethorse


[Source: Fleethorse]

Orlando gas station testing hydrogen-making device

by Chris Tutor (RSS feed) on Apr 29th, 2007 at 8:38PM

A Virginia company, H2Gen, makes a hydrogen-extraction device that basically (very basically) sucks the hydrogen right out of natural gas (see the graph for a (somewhat) more detailed explanation). An Orlando Chevron station has acquired one of their units and is currently testing the viability of using it for producing hydrogen right at the point of purchase. If the test works out, one more stumbling block, transportation of hydrogen, could be removed in some cases.

As you know, from an emissions standpoint, hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels available. Unfortunately, our most abundant source is water, and with current technology, breaking those two H atoms away from that one O atom (electrolysis) uses more energy that it creates. H2Gen claims its process is as much as six times more efficient than conventional electrolysis.

Now let's hope automakers' hydrogen programs, like BMW's test of its Hydrogen 7, work out. Then stand back and watch gasoline-powered cars go the way of the dinosaurs.

[Source: H2Daily via EvWorld]

Salford goes green with pink Rangers

by Chris Tutor (RSS feed) on Apr 27th, 2007 at 11:19AM



Situated about 200 miles north of London, Salford prides itself on having an eco-friendly image, with 60 percent green space, 30 miles of rivers and canals and 112 ponds and lakes. That's why the city ordered six biodiesel-fueled 4x2 Ranger pickup trucks fitted with tipper beds for their street-cleaning department.

Why pink? Salford's Public Relations Officer Ian Andrew tells us, "Yes, magenta is our colour! We want our city to stand out and for people to recognise when the city council is providing them with services."

"The Rangers are superb," said Salford City Council's Transport Manager Terry Dixie. "Our concern is with paper bulk, rather than weight. This provides an opportunity to reduce vehicle size. The Ranger is less expensive than a conventional 3.5-tonne tipper vehicle, provides superior fuel economy and its robust design promises a long life."

Read Ford's press release after the jump.

[Source: Ford]

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