Plugging in: Why are automakers spending billions on hybrid, electric vehicles?

October 24, 2011 By

Plugging in: Why are automakers spending billions on hybrid, electric vehicles?

Hybrid and electric vehicles are far from becoming mainstream, so why are automakers throwing billions into a market that is anticipated to remain less than 10 percent of the industry in 2020?

According to analysts and the automakers themselves, it’s about making sure all areas of technology are covered, so if, or more likely when, a technology “breakthrough” occurs, they will be ready to quickly adapt.

“Nissan and their partner company Renault have spent more than $4 billion on electric vehicle technology and it remains to be seen if electric vehicles are the way of the future,” said Mike Omotoso, senior manager of global powertrain research at J.D. Power and Associates. “So, other carmakers have been more cautious and have spread their spending across hybrids, plugins and electric vehicles.

“they are kind of taking the latency approach to see what is the most successful before investing more money into one specific technology.”

This year, General Motors co. announced details of the all-electric Chevrolet Spark, along with a ramp-up in Chevrolet Volt production; Ford Motor co. is set to release its Focus Electric by the end of the year; and Chrysler Group LLC continues to develop and test its plug-in hybrid electric Ram 1500 pickup.

Omotoso said while each automaker is working on a different strategy — primarily fueled by government fuel economy standards — there is likely to be no one right, environmentally friendly solution for the near to mid-term.

GM appears to be leading the way with its technology in the Volt, which can drive up to 50 miles on battery power alone and then uses a small gasoline engine connected to a generator extend the driving range to about 300 miles; Ford has the best diversification strategy; and Chrysler – while not as involved as its counterparts due to bankruptcy, size and ownership – is making strides in fuel efficiency and is expected to release a Fiat 500 electric model next year.

Over the next week, MLive.com will examine the strategies of Detroit’s Big Three for hybrid and electric vehicles through a series called “Plugging-in.”

Monday– Plugging in: why are automakers spending billions on hybrid, electric vehicles?

Tuesday- Ford Director of Global Electrification Nancy Gioia discusses the Dearborn-based automaker’s ambitions for the electrification of vehicles and what customers should expect from the Focus Electric.

Wednesday- a look at how GM feels regarding its role-out of the Chevrolet Volt, along with the Detroit-based automakers plans for the Chevrolet Spark and EN-V.

Thursday- Abdullah Bazzi, senior manager of the Chrysler Group’s advanced hybrid vehicle project, talks about the Auburn Hills-based automaker’s fleet of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle Ram 1500 pickup trucks.

Friday- Tanvir Arfi, global president of SPX Service Solutions, which has deals with GM and Chrysler for the installation of charging stations, discusses the company’s reasoning for getting into the industry.

Saturday- An overview of the series, including test-drive reviews of some of the electric vehicles available today.

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Boeing: China Will Need 5000 New Planes by 2030

September 29, 2011 By

Boeing said Wednesday it expects Chinese carriers and others to spend $600 billion for 5,000 new commercial airplanes from Boeing, Airbus and other manufacturers, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Last year, Boeing (NYSE:BA) estimated that China would spend $480 billion on 4,330 planes over the next 20 years.

The forecast underlines the growing importance for plane makers of a complicated and increasingly competitive Chinese market.

Boeing released its 2011 Current Market Outlook (CMO) in June at the Paris Air Show, which projected a $4 trillion global market for 33,500 new airplanes over the next 20 years. The CMO did not provide a breakout for China as it typically does forcing tail spotters like me to say: “what up with that?”

This was especially disconcerting as Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes previously summed up China’s importance in the global aviation supply chain simply by saying: “There is not a plane we build that doesn’t have parts from China in it.”

In reference to “other manufacturers,” Boeing and Airbus face competition from China itself. China’s homegrown jet, the Comac C919, is slated to enter service in 2016 and will be a direct challenger to both the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families. I wrote about the C919 previously here.

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Boeing: China Will Need 5000 New Planes by 2030

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3 Tips For When You Put In Wind Generator Technology At Your Residence

September 27, 2011 By

3 Tips For When You Put In Wind Generator Technology At Your Residence

Initially, when you start considering wind turbine technology at your house, you don’t tend to think about the many details that you need to look at when installing a project of this size. It’s very easy to get caught up in all the benefits and not think about the mundane task of mounting the wind turbine and making it actually operate.

These three keys need to be considered in your windmill mounting analysis:

1. the particular location you want to install your wind turbine – this is probably the most critical thing you have to analyze. you want to make sure that you get the right mix of wind speed, lack of turbulence, and upfront cost minimization. As you probably know, the wind around your property takes many forms. in some locations it can be turbulent, like on your roof, or in some locations like above your tree line, it can be very steady and predictable. it is a good idea to create a diagram of where and how the wind flows on your property before you begin. This requires a little bit of data collection. the way to do that is to use a small device like an anemometer to collect wind speed and direction at various places on your property. This is not hard to do but it does require your time and attention to have it done right. the device usually cost less than $50 on Amazon. Also these are electronic devices that can be plugged into your computer and the data downloaded so you can sort it and make sense out of it.

2. how you will attach the turbine to the ground – many people first think they want to install the windmill on their roof. This can be an excellent location for making electricity, but you must make sure you put the device in the exact correct place. Roof Effect, when taken into consideration, will lead you to the exact right place to put your windmill. Roof Effect essentially means that wind speeds accelerate as the wind moves along the contour of the roof’s surface.

3. how you will get the mounting accomplished – many windmills built for the home come along with instructions on how to install them and mount them on your roof. with a vertical turbine for example, the underlying stresses on the roof structure are minimal and you can probably install it yourself. however with a larger turbine – and possibly any horizontal turbine – you will want to have a contractor to do the final hookup.

If you take the time to learn how to install a wind turbine at your home or business you will find this last part of the process of getting wind energy at your home can be done with minimal amount of effort. you just need to get your ducks in a row before you begin.

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The Mobility, Functionality and Convenience of Foldable Solar Panels

September 4, 2011 By

The Mobility, Functionality and Convenience of Foldable Solar Panels

The green revolution is in full swing and foldable solar panels are one uniquely creative way of taking advantage of one of nature’s most abundant renewable resources, the sun. Flexible and foldable solar panels have been used with great success in military applications for several years and the technology continues to advance, making them more mobile, smaller and even more powerful.

They are now available to the general public and are receiving rave reviews from those who have used them to:

*Charge and/or power all types of electronic devices such as MP3s, hand-held games, laptops, PDAs, cellular phones, satellite phones, cameras, etc

*Power up car, snowmobile, wheelchair and motorcycle battery chargers

*Provide emergency lighting

*Take camping, trekking, boating, mountain climbing

The fact is that foldable solar panels are an incredible convenience anywhere that electricity is not otherwise available. they are great for emergencies where the power is interrupted for extended periods of time; can be used to power up emergency communications equipment; even save someone from being stranded on the highway by functioning as car or motorcycle battery chargers.

These units are available in a wide variety of wattage ratings; from just a few watts to well over 100 watts. they generally weigh less than five pounds and, when folded, are only a few inches thick and no larger than a typical telephone book.

They are portable and can be easily packed in to a campsite to provide power for lighting, music, games and even laptop computer operation. they have been literally battlefield proven by the U.S. military and are both durable and rugged. they are also waterproof.

Solar technology is advancing rapidly as the government is pushing for renewable and environmentally-friendly energy alternatives. Private companies are stepping up to answer the call. Newer solar devices even work during periods of cloud cover, making them functional anytime during daylight hours.

Solar motorcycle battery chargers that deliver a trickle charge can be used during the months when the bike is sitting idle to ensure the battery doesn’t go dead. Construction vehicles out in the field away from electrical connections can be ensured of having available battery power with the use of the same technology.

Foldable solar panels are also available configured into backup generators that deliver up to 1800 watts of power for myriad applications. These units store the power until you need it. they make no sound and produce no fumes during operation, unlike typical emergency generators.

Foldable solar panels have so many useful applications it’s no wonder so many are discovering their utility. they are offered online through numerous outlets.

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Study: Can We Balance Air Conditioning & Saving Energy?

July 2, 2011 By

1309578013 21 Study: Can We Balance Air Conditioning & Saving Energy?

When it’s 100-plus degrees outside, all you want to do is turn up the air conditioning inside. Because of all of this cooling, some government-mandated incentive programs are aimed at getting us to buy more efficient air conditioners to save energy and money. however, a recent study from the W. P. Carey School of Business, a top ranked business school at Arizona State University, explains that even if we buy the more efficient devices, the plan won’t necessarily work.

Assistant Research Professor Matthew Croucher, who authored the study, says, “Utility companies, energy-efficiency advocates and the Arizona Corporation Commission may be forecasting a certain amount of energy savings that won’t materialize, and homeowners may not save as much money as expected.”

He points to a program where a California utility company subsidized purchases of energy-saving light bulbs for consumers. The bulbs were expected to help dramatically improve overall state energy efficiency. In reality, many of the bulbs just sat in customers’ garages and the ones used were later shown to have burned out much sooner than previously estimated. The Wall Street Journal says regulators found the $92-million rebate program was a whopping 73-percent less effective than predicted, but the government paid a bonus to the utility company anyway.

In Arizona, state regulators want to reduce electricity usage by at least 22 percent by 2020. In the service area covered by utility company APS, air conditioning currently accounts for 35.5 percent of all residential electricity usage and 22 percent of commercial and industrial usage. therefore, incentives are being offered for customers to buy more energy-efficient air conditioners. however, we may face the same uncertainty as California.

“It’s like when you go to the gym every day and ‘reward’ yourself with a pint of ice cream on the way home; then you wonder why you’re not losing weight fast enough,” says Croucher, an economist at the L. William Seidman Research Institute at W. P. Carey’s top ranked business school and a senior sustainability scientist at ASU. “Sure, a more energy-efficient air conditioner can potentially reduce your electricity usage and save you money, but not if you just use the air conditioner more or spend the savings on other energy-consuming devices. That’s when we see something called ‘the rebound effect.’”

Croucher says “the rebound effect” describes what happens when the technical efficiency of something, such as an air conditioner, improves, but the net result is a smaller-than-expected reduction — or even anincrease — in how much the device is used. for example, people may use the money they’re saving on air conditioning to buy other energy-using items, or they may simply turn their thermostats lower to enjoy cooler temperatures because it costs the same as it previously did to maintain a warmer home.

Still, Croucher says we can help buffer the rebound effect.

“As consumers, we can help the situation by making real behavioral changes, not being tempted to lower the thermostat after purchasing an energy-efficient air conditioner and not buying more energy-sapping devices,” says Croucher. “We can also utilize weatherization techniques: improve roof and wall insulation, repair leaky air ducts, seal doors and window frames, and use screens on windows, all of which the utility companies are willing to subsidize.”

Croucher also says older homes have more room for energy improvement, so they’re worth focusing on. He adds changing building codes or electricity prices can have a significant influence on energy savings in the future, too. Historically, in times when electricity costs more, builders tend to construct homes to be more energy-efficient.

“Ask any economist what the simplest way is to encourage less use of a product, and most will say to raise its price,” says Croucher. “Interestingly, energy efficiency tends to do the opposite, so we shouldn’t be surprised if savings are not as high as expected.”

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Alterra Power Provides Update on Toba Montrose and Dokie Operations

June 30, 2011 By

1309444508 84 Alterra Power Provides Update on Toba Montrose and Dokie Operations   

VANCOUVER, June 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Alterra Power Corp. (TSX: AXY) is pleased to provide an update on operations and power production at the Toba Montrose hydro facilities, owned by the Toba Montrose General Partnership, and the Dokie wind farm, owned by the Dokie General Partnership. Both facilities are operated by Alterra Power on behalf of the partnerships. as a result of the merger of Plutonic Power with Magma Energy, Plutonic did not release results for the first quarter of 2011. Alterra’s next financial report, for its 2011 fiscal year end of 30 June, is not scheduled to be released before mid-September. Alterra therefore provides the following interim update:

  • Both the East Toba and Montrose facilities have been running at high capacity since early June, with average generation for the month near capacity at 190 MW. An unusually cool spring and above average snowfall in 2011 resulted in a near record snowpack that remains at 165% of average. Based on this snowpack and inflow forecasts Alterra expects the facilities to continue running at these elevated levels through the summer and well into the fall.
  • To date in June the combined East Toba and Montrose facilities have had an average daily generation of 4,550 MWh, with a high on June 23 of 5,350 MWh.
  • At the Dokie wind farm facility, all 48 wind turbines are operating successfully. From the start of commercial operations on February 16, 2011 through to the end of may, wind turbine availability has averaged 95.6%, notably higher than expected.
  • High rainfall on June 24 and 25 caused severe flooding in the Chetwynd area near the Dokie wind farm. Road access to the site was impacted by washouts and two feeder transmission lines were slightly damaged, but the wind farm facilities did not experience any significant damage and have continued generation. The feeder transmission line repairs are scheduled to be completed by June 29.

Bruce Ripley, Alterra’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “I am pleased that our inaugural year at the Toba Montrose hydro facilities is shaping up to be an exceptional one due to the favourable snowpack that creates our generation base for much of the year. I am also pleased at the good operating performance of our Toba Montrose and Dokie facilities and commend our management teams at each of these operations for their excellent work.”

About Toba Montrose General Partnership (TMGP)

TMGP is a 40/60 partnership between Alterra Power Corp. and GE Energy Financial Services that owns the Toba Montrose hydroelectric project, located near Powell River, B.C. on the traditional lands of our first Nations partners: the Klahoose, Sliammon and Sechelt first Nations. The TMGP plants at East Toba River and Montrose Creek are British Columbias largest run of river hydro plants. they have combined capacity of 196 MW and are expected to generate an average net annual energy of 710-730 GWh, which is contracted to B.C. Hydro under a 35-year EPA.

About Dokie General Partnership (DGP)

DGP is a 51/49 partnership between Alterra Power Corp and GE Energy Financial Services that owns the Dokie wind farm project, British Columbia’s largest wind farm. The Dokie project is located near Chetwynd, B.C. on the Treaty 8 lands of our first Nations partners: the West Moberly, Saulteau and Halfway River first Nations and the McLeod Lake Indian Band. DGP’s 48 Vestas V90 wind turbines have combined capacity of 144 MW and are expected to generate an average net annual energy of 320-340 GWh, which is contracted to B.C. Hydro under a 25-year EPA.

About Alterra Power Corp.

Alterra Power is a global renewable power producer and developer. Alterra operates six geothermal, run of river hydro and wind plants in Iceland, Nevada and British Columbia with combined capacity of 531 MW. The company has an extensive portfolio of exploration and development projects, a skilled international team of explorers, builders and operators and strong financial capacity to support its aggressive growth plans. Alterras five-year plan is to increase its renewable generation base to more than 1,000 MW.

Cautionary Note regarding Forward-Looking Statements and InformationThis news release contains certain “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to future events or future performance, prospects for closing of the sales described in the Share purchase Agreements, the fulfillment of all conditions precedent to the obligation of the parties under the agreements, required consents and third party approvals. This news release also contains statements with respect to our plans to expand our operations and HS Orkas plans to expand their geothermal power production, managements expectations regarding our growth, business prospects and opportunities and geothermal energy generation capacities. Such forward-looking information reflects managements current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management.

SOURCE Alterra Power Corp.

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Star Panel Survey Program Benefits & Income Plan

June 30, 2011 By

Online Surveys are not a new concept, several companies have come, closed and still existing. in another way Online Paid Surveys is a part of make money online. in this method companies provides surveys which are filled by answering certain question on particular topic and companies pays certain incentives to the users. Online Paid Surveys system is very lucrative and its hard to predict when it turns to be scam.

One such online survey company is Star Panel from Star India Pvt. ltd which owns Star plus, Star One, Star Bangla, Star Gold, Star World, Star Movies and Channel V TV channels.

1309440905 59 Star Panel Survey Program Benefits & Income PlanHow Star Panel Works

You need to be a registered member which can be done easily by following sign up procedure by providing few basic details like your name, email address, address and few more details. At the third step of registration, you would be asked for six questions which would be asked to you while you fill the survey. Once done you have to confirm your account by checking the mail for confirmation link at your inbox for the Email ID provided during the registration.

The surveys provided to you cover various interesting topics and products. It would be like one LCD or LED Television or good and bad about TV Shows. certain Surveys have multiple-choice questions only. you will get 1 to 6 surveys depending upon your choice of participation. for each surveys successfully completed by you, you will get incentives which you can either withdraw to your PayPal account or donate it to charity organizations or shop online.

Being a member at Star Panel is free of charge and you can leave the panel whenever you want to leave without any permissions or prior notice.

Star Panel Incentives

The incentives for panelist or the members vary accordingly to the length of the surveys. So for smaller length survey it would be quite less and it would be equal in proportion for the surveys. when your survey income reaches 3 USD you can withdraw the money through PayPal or shop it online or donate it to charity. Once you have your balance reflected in PayPal than you can withdraw it your bank account.

Star Panel vs Speak Asia Online

As we have covered Speak Asia Online with Star News alerting people about it but altogether Star Panel is comparison with Speak Asia Online has same business module but a different concept. for Speak Asia Online you need to pay 11,000 Rs for being a member but membership at Star Panel is free of cost. Speak Asia Online shows you big dreams of you being capable of earning lacs but there is no disclosure for Star Panel.

Speak Asia Online moreover has many points which can make you feel it scam but it is somehow running the show as of now. Star Panel is not as that famous since there are so such big terms. The value of each survey does you might be less than half a dollar but Speak Asia Online pays $10 per survey and much more. The guidelines and terms mentioned by Speak Asia Online are not clear but Star Panel terms looks to be very clear.

All in together, if you want to stay away from the risk of robbing your money then Star Panel is worth a program to join and the option of donating it to charity is good one. Now lets see which of these two ie Star Panel or Speak Asia Online is going to sustain in the long run and is going to offer the best for their members.

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What is a Fiber Optic Patch Panel?

May 25, 2011 By

1306315507 62 What is a Fiber Optic Patch Panel?

Fiber optic patch panels are also known as fiber distribution panels. Patch panel’s function is to terminate the fiber optic cable and provide access to the cable’s individual fibers for cross connection.

Fiber patch panel can use fiber patch cables to cross-connect, connect to fiber optic communication equipment or test the individual fibers in the fiber cable.

A fiber patch panel usually is composed of two parts, the compartment that contains fiber adapters (bulkhead receptacles), and the compartment that contains fiber optic splice trays and excess fiber cables.

If you want a even neater cable management, you can also use a fiber patch cable management tray to neatly store and manage excessive fiber patch cable lengths.

Optical fibers from workstations or from other wiring closets terminate in termination boxes. The termination boxes provide a patch point for a small number of connections, but larger installations will have a separate patching location that serves all of the incoming and outgoing fiber cables.

A fiber patch panel consists of an array of duplex SC adapters, hybrid adapters, or Small Form Factor (SFF) jacks. if the entire installation, including the fiber optic hubs, repeaters, or network adapters, uses the same type of fiber optic connectors, then the array can be made of compatible adapters or jacks.

To convert between fiber connector types, you need a hybrid adapter or a conversion cable. A hybrid adapter is a passive coupler that joins two different connector types, while a conversion cable simply has one connector type on one end and the other type on the opposite end.

Fiber patch panels provide a convenient way to rearrange fiber cable connections and circuits. A simple patch panel is a metal frame containing bushings in which fiber optic cable connectors plug in on either side. one side of the panel is usually fixed, meaning that the fiber cables are not intended to be disconnected. On the other side of the panel, fiber cables can be connected and disconnected to arrange the circuits as required.

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Ethos For Earth Fuel Reformulator – Improve Gas Mileage

May 23, 2011 By

1306137009 30 Ethos For Earth Fuel Reformulator Improve Gas Mileage

What is Ethos For Earth Fuel Reformulator? is it a scam? How does it improve gas mileage and is Ethos FR a safe fuel additive?

As the cost of filling up a gas tank gets more expensive, many smart motorists have now started using alternative fuel additives to save gas and increase gas mileage. And one such popular gas additives that is receiving a lot of buzz is the Ethos Fuel Reformulator.

Ethos Fuel Reformulator – What is It?

Ethos Fuel Reformulator, also commonly known as Ethos FR or Ethos For Earth, is a non-petroleum based fuel additive and engine lubricant that reduces emissions, increases gas mileage, and extends vehicles engine life and performance. The product is 100% natural and works efficiently with any gas or diesel powered cars, trucks, buses, ships, trains and generators.

Why is Some People Calling Ethos Fuel Reformulator A Scam?

First of all, Ethos FR is the first-ever “fuel reformulator” with a 10-year proven track record and is already being use world-wide by governments and commercial fleets. However in 2006, the company Ethos Environmental switched to marketing its fuel addictive via multi-level marketing with a partner company, 4-E Corporation. that promotion strategy generated a lot of publicity for both the company and product. Unfortunately, as with any companies employing MLM techniques to promote their products, that caused some sceptics to dismiss Ethos fuel as a hoax or scam without ever personally trying it.

Nevertheless, other than the few sceptics who called Ethos fuel additive a scam, there have not been any single bad news from the population using Ethos FR. In fact, many people who have ever used Ethos fuel reported significant improvement in their gas mileage and savings of as much as 19% off their gas bill.

How Does Ethos FR Improve Gas Mileage?

Ethos Fuel Reformulator unique combination of high quality and non-toxic esters clean and lubricates the internal parts of the engine. Engines treated with Ethos FR run with less friction, heat and noise. It eliminates CO emissions (helping the environment) by burning fuel more completely and efficiently.

When the fuel is combusted more efficiently and completely, the engine delivers increased power and better mileage from every tank, improving your MPG (causing you to use less gas, hence buy less), and – it puts money back in your pocket by making the fuel in your tank last longer.

Is Ethos FR Safe?

E.P.A registered and road tested since 1997, Ethos FR is not only a cost effective fuel reformulator but it is also an efficient and safe solution to help industry meet environmental regulations and relieve skyrocketing fuel prices.

Unlike other forms of fuel-enhancing products, Ethos Fuel Reformulator FR is not petroleum-based. It is a non-toxic, non-hazardous, 100% bio-degradable fuel reformulator that naturally and safely lubricate the internal parts of the engine to help increase the engine’s ability to break down the fuel. that means that there is naturally less by-product after the combustion process is completed. with less waste, there is less carbon in the air, which is better and safer for both humans and the environment.

In a nutshell, the benefits of this safe non-toxic fuel reformulator are numerous and proven through testing and testimonials, making it an excellent fuel saving product for both the individual consumers and commercial fleets alike.

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Would having underground nuclear power plants, those that are beneath the earth's surface, be safer?

May 14, 2010 By


Would having underground nuclear power plants, those that are beneath the earth’s surface, be safer for us in case of nuclear fallout or other complications? Because I am writing a paper on possible energy alternatives and I know that they supposedly test nuclear weapons underground because it is safer to do it that way?

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