Popular Mechanics: 5 TurboCharger Innovations for Fuel Efficiency and Power

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Editor’s Note: Our friends at Popular Mechanics have written an in-depth piece about an essential piece of fuel-saving technology: the turbocharger. Read the rest of this story at PM. In the 1980s, it was difficult to escape the turbocharger. The twin energy crises of the 1970s forced automakers to produce cars that delivered better fuel economy. And [...]

Volkswagen Using B5 Biodiesel For 2009 Jetta TDI Cup Season

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Volkswagen, which introduced its Clean Diesel Technology on the race track in 2008, announced it’s using B5 biodiesel to power its race cars, transport vehicles and generators for the 2009 Jetta TDI Cup season.

Raleigh, N.C. to Install Plug-in Hybrid Charging Stations

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Last week, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom reported for us that the city had just installed 3 charging stations for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Yesterday, the News & Observer reported that Raleigh, N.C. plans to install eight plug-in charging stations over the next few months, under a program called Project Get Ready. Like the San [...]

MIT Study Says Cellulosic Ethanol Could Have "Unintended" Environmental Consequences

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The aggressive, worldwide production of cellulosic ethanol could both “contribute substantially to future global-scale energy needs” and have “significant unintended environmental consequences” says a study from MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.

Emerson Process Management's Alan Novak Sets Optimistic Tone for Advanced Biofuels Industry

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Alan Novak, Director of Alternative Fuels for Emerson Process Management and host of at least three BioEnergy Summits throughout the country, is optimistic for the future of advanced biofuels in meeting the nation and the world’s future transportation fuel needs.

VW, Toshiba Planning A Smart Car Killer?

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Last week, Toshiba and Volkswagen unveiled a partnership for developing next-gen electric car batteries. Mostly known for laptop computers here in the States, Toshiba is the General Electric of Japan. They build everything from consumer electronics to nuclear power plant components.

World's First Trash-Powered Electric Garbage Truck

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The small UK town of Huddersfield announced what might be a world’s first: a trash-powered electric garbage truck. The truck is a modified Smith Edison 3.5-ton Ford Transit municipal trash truck. The “leccy vehicle” has a  40kWh lithium-ion battery, and a range of about 100 miles. It can be fully charged in about 8 hours.

Italdesign: The Fastest Hybrid in the World is Coming to Geneva

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Italdesign, the Italian design firm responsible for the development of dozens of Lamborghini, Maserati, and Alfa Romeo production cars over the past 40 years, has announced plans to bring what it calls “the world’s fastest hybrid” to this year’s 2009 Geneva show, which will also be hosting the debut of the hotly-anticipated ethanol Bentley supercar. [...]