The Magnetic Air Car: Another Perpetual Motion Machine, Or Real?

We wrote about the Tata motors air car and how it works a while ago. But now, another air car is getting some attention, the San Jose based Magnetic Air Car. The Magnetic Air Car supposedly uses the same compressed air technology as the Tata air car initially, but differs when it gets to the actual engine. Instead of a piston engine like the Tata has, the Magnetic Car is said to use three on-board air compressors to channel the air stream towards a magnetic motor.

I’m still a bit leery about the whole magnetic motor concept in general. I’ve seen too many “perpetual motion machines” that were powered by magnetic motors. There are very few specifics from the company website, but from my understanding, the magnetic motor works by harnessing the power of the magnets repelling each other.

If the Magnetic Air Car is real, it’ll be a really interesting technology for future cars. A prototype of the car is being built at Club Auto Sport in San Jose in the near future. Hopefully we’ll be able to see how it works before 2010.

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Solazyme’s Algae-Derived BioDiesel Passes Defense Departments Cold Weather Testing

In a recent news release from Solazyme and as reported at this years Worldwide Energy and Trade Show yesterday, their algae-derived biodiesel has passed its Department of Defense cold weather testing. To demonstrate the performance and readiness of their product an unmodified Ford F-450 diesel was driven to the conference fueled by Solazyme’s biodiesel by former Director of the CIA, James Woolsey.

Testing of Solazyme’s biodiesel was ordered by the Department of Defense and performed by the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI). Their conclusion proved that Solazyme’s product performed much better than any other biodiesel that has been tested in cold climates. That is good news for a military force with bases all over the world in all climates who is under a directive to substantially decrease its own dependency on foreign petroleum. Not only is the Algae BioDiesel usable in the F-450, but also in all military diesel fueled engines and can also be converted into Jet Fuel.

…Check out Solazyme’s video after the leap… (more…)

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ACEEE Releases their Top 12 Lists of the ‘Meanest’ and ‘Greenest’ Vehicles

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has released its 11th annual Top 10 listing of the Meanest and Greenest vehicles for 2008. Basing their rankings on results derived from what ACEEE calls a “Green Score”, “a singular measure that incorporates unhealthy tailpipe emissions, fuel consumption, and the emissions of gases that cause global warming.” Coming out on top of 2008’s Green list for the second year in a row is the limited production Honda Civic GX. Running on natural gas, which burns cleaners than gasoline, and averaging 39 mpg the Honda Civic GX is surely clean, but virtually impossible to buy.

Running the dubious honor of being #1 as 2008’s Meanest car is the VW Touareg. With fuel ratings at or below 20 mpg from all 3 engine variants (the diesel is rated at 20 mpg highway), yet still in the mid-to-high teens, there would seem meaner vehicles on the market. Part of what brought down the score for the VW Touareg would be its diesel engine’s emissions results. With higher nitrogen oxides and particulate matter being emitted from the tailpipe the VW Touareg TDI is a top ranked polluter according to ACEEE.    …Full Top 10 Lists and Press Release after the link… (more…)

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Project Better Place: Israel Targets 2011 for Electric Vehicle Infrastrutures Integration

As the rest of the world grows stymied over the multiple alternatives to oil that are combating for a market share the Israeli government in a cooperative effort with Project Better Place and Renault-Nissan is preparing for the future. …The very near future. The plan calls for the mass marketing of an electric vehicle (EV) with an inter-changeable battery system and a series of battery recharging/swapping stations through-out Israel by 2011. What appears like an overly ambitious plan with a short time-table is potentially a daring adventure based on a working model: the mobil phone.

Just as cell phone towers span the land to spread each cellular companies signals to all areas, so to will the refueling stations for the battery powered cars. The cars on-board computer will calculate the amount of charge remaining in the battery and will also calculate the distance to the nearest recharging station.

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