Super Soaker Guy Builds New PV System

The big problem with photovoltaics (solar cells) today is efficiency. The best systems currently in use use mirrors to focus the suns rays onto a pipe full of a special fluid that gets up to 800 degrees centigrade. That is seriously hot. The systems then (just like any steam system) makes steam that powers a turbine.

This new super soaker designed system relies on a different effect and can get Carnot efficiency. That means that with a 600 degree difference between the hot and cold sides, it could double the efficiency of today’s commercial plants. There may still be problems going from lab to power plant size, but it could be a serious advance in the technology.

You can read the Popular Mechanics (did I just link to Popular Mechanics? I need to go wash up.) article here.

Tata Nano gets 54 Miles per Gallon for $2500

Hey Detroit, ARE YOU LISTENING!?!?!?!1!

This car is underpowered by American muscle hungry standards, but let’s not forget the central point here; double the efficiency of most new American cars for a quarter the price.

You can read about the new car and see lots of pictures here.

Oil Reaches $100 per Barrel: What are we thinking?

I’ve been waiting to post about how I’ve been reading Winning the Oil Endgame. You can download the book for free or buy an actual paper copy.I wanted to wait until I finished the book, or the price of oil hit $100 per barrel. Guess which happened first. The New York Times reports that we are now less than $3 per barrel away from an inflation adjusted all time high in the price of crude ($102.81 in April 1980). If some obstetricians in Tulsa had been a bit more enthusiastic about maternity time tables two and a half decades ago, I wouldn’t be able to say that oil is more expensive now than at any time in my lifetime.The good news is this; oil is now as expensive as it was the last time the US actually payed attention. That is, the price of oil is at the same inflation adjusted value it was during the last period of innovation in the American car industry with regard to fuel economy.

New Way for Wind Energy

I’m coming to grips with my addiction to Google Tech Talks. The argument that they give me inspiration to do more work has finally outweighed the argument that I’m actually just sitting on my butt as more focused folks blitz past. Before I go cold Turkey on Google Tech Talks, I want to show one that has given me a ton of ideas to think about.

Li Ion Batteries in Cars Tested

Even since this article was written there have been several advances in Li Ion battery power. Earlier batteries had problems getting hot and expanding (think laptop battery explosions). Many of these issues have been worked out and Li Ion batteries are becoming a more reasonable alternative to other energy storage techniques.

If you remember as far back as a week ago (sometimes I can’t), even this month there have been huge advances in Li Ion battery technology.

Making Green and Being Green

I’ve been reading “Winning the Oil Endgame” for the last few days. It’s a slightly technical explanation of why the U.S. should get away from oil as fast as possible, how to do it and how it can make us all filthy rich. I intend to do a more thorough review after I’m finished with it, but you can get the punch line from the executive summary or from the the Rocky Mountain Institute website.

From /. I saw today how the NYPD is planning to switch part of it’s huge motorcycle fleet to electric scooters. The result is a better performing, quieter vehicle that saves money.