Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/07/with-federal-loans-blocked-fisker-halts-work-on-project-nina-l/#comments Fisker Automotive's bumpy 2011 appears to have given way to an even rockier 2012. A little more than a month after recalling 239 of its Karma plug-ins, Fisker has now stopped working on its second electric vehicle, following the US government's decision to suspend its federal loans. The manufacturer confirmed the news in an email yesterday, adding that a total of 66 workers in Delaware and California have been laid off, as a result. In 2009, the Department of Energy provided Fisker with $528.7 million in federal loans, but according to spokesman Roger Ormisher, access to those funds have been blocked since May. The money was supposed to be used to launch the Karma and Fisker's second, US-manufactured EV, known as the Nina. The Karma began rolling out to market in July, but did so well behind schedule, spurring the DOE to suspend its loan.

"Our loan guarantees have strict conditions in place to protect taxpayers," Department spokesman Damien LaVera explained in an email to Bloomberg. "The department only allows the loan to be disbursed as the company meets certain milestones and demonstrates results." Thus far, Fisker has drawn on only $193 million of federal funds and is looking to renegotiate the terms of the loan, in the hopes of accessing the remaining $336 million. The DOE, however, is still under intense scrutiny because of September's Solyndra debacle, so it's difficult to say what a renegotiated deal would look like. The manufacturer, for its part, says it's taking no risks, telling GigaOM that it "continues to pursue alternative funding sources." In the meantime, it'll continue to focus on the Karma for 2012, and hopes to revive Project Nina at a later date.

With federal loans blocked, Fisker halts work on Project Nina, lays off 66 workers originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autobusinesscaliforniacarcarsdealdelawaredelaydepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEelectric vehicleElectricVehicleEVfiskerfisker automotivefisker karmafisker ninaFiskerAutomotiveFiskerKarmaFiskerNinagovernmenthybridindustrykarmalayoffloanmoneyplug inPlugInproductionproject ninaProjectNinatransportTue, 07 Feb 2012 07:26:00 EST<![CDATA[X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/x-ray-laser-bakes-solid-plasma-from-aluminum-foil-brings-us-clo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/x-ray-laser-bakes-solid-plasma-from-aluminum-foil-brings-us-clo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/26/x-ray-laser-bakes-solid-plasma-from-aluminum-foil-brings-us-clo/#comments Nuclear fusion, like flying cars, is one of those transparent, dangling carrots that've been stymying the scientific community and tickling our collective noses for decades. But recent research out of the Department of Energy's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory might help us inch a few baby steps closer to that Jetsonian future. The experiment, conducted by a group of Oxford University scientists, utilized the DOE's Linac Coherent Light Source -- an X-ray laser capable of pulsing "more than a billion times brighter" than current synchrotron sources -- to transmute a piece of aluminum foil heated to 3.6 million degrees Fahrenheit (or 2 million degrees Celsius) into a cube of solid plasma. So, why go to such lengths to fry a tiny piece of metal at that extreme temperature? Simple: to replicate conditions found within stars and planets. Alright, so it's not that easy and we're still a ways off from actually duping celestial bodies, but the findings could help advance theories in the field and eventually unlock the powers of the Sun. Until that fateful day arrives, however, we'll just have to let these pedigreed pyros continue to play with their high-tech toys.

Continue reading X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion

X-ray laser bakes solid plasma from aluminum foil, brings us closer to nuclear fusion originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Department of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyLinac Coherent Light SourceLinacCoherentLightSourcenuclear fusionNuclearFusionoxford universityOxfordUniversitySLAC National Accelerator LaboratorySlacNationalAcceleratorLaboratoryXaserXrayXray laserXrayLaserThu, 26 Jan 2012 10:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheap electronic skin edges us closer to cyberpunk future]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/15/cheap-electronic-skin-edges-us-closer-to-cyberpunk-future/#comments Researchers working for the Department of Energy's Berkeley Lab have figured out how to create relatively inexpensive "electronic skin" comprising carbon nanotubes enriched with semiconductors. Their process involves an enriched single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) solution embedded in a honeycomb pattern of hexagonal holes to make it more flexible and stretchable - it's so limber, they wrapped it around a baseball, as you can see in the photo above. Combined with inkjet printing of electrical contacts, the technology paves the way for making flexible, wearable computers and a host of other cool things that William Gibson and other cyberpunk authors thought of back in the 1980s: smart bandages, flexible solar cells and electronic skin that can sense touch. Bring on the Zeiss eye implants and neural interface jacks!

Cheap electronic skin edges us closer to cyberpunk future originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Dec 2011 06:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>berkeley labBerkeleyLabcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesCyberpunkdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergymedicineSemiconductorsolar powerSolarPowerWilliam GibsonWilliamGibsonThu, 15 Dec 2011 06:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Aptera fresh out of greenbacks, closes up shop]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/aptera-fresh-out-of-greenbacks-closes-up-shop/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/aptera-fresh-out-of-greenbacks-closes-up-shop/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/aptera-fresh-out-of-greenbacks-closes-up-shop/#comments Bummer for fans of teardrop shaped three-wheelers, as your favorite chariot, Aptera's 2e, will never see the light of day. Despite getting the ball rolling on a $150 million loan from the DOE, subsequent funding and time just weren't on the startup's side. An unfortunate prognosis, as CEO Paul Wilbur revealed the company had been working on a $30,000 mid-sized sedan that would have touted 190 miles of electrical range. He's still adamant the company had "never been closer" to realizing its vision, but hopes someone else can carry on Aptera's torch. Those nuggets and more await in what is possibly the company's final tell-all after the break.

Continue reading Aptera fresh out of greenbacks, closes up shop

Aptera fresh out of greenbacks, closes up shop originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2ealternative energyAlternativeEnergyapteraaptera 2eAptera2edepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoeelectric carelectric carselectric vehicleElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleEVstartupUS startupUsStartupFri, 02 Dec 2011 22:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Chevy Volt under 'formal safety investigation' by NHTSA due to post-crash fire concerns]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/dnp-chevy-volt-under-formal-safety-investigation-by-nhtsa-due/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/dnp-chevy-volt-under-formal-safety-investigation-by-nhtsa-due/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/27/dnp-chevy-volt-under-formal-safety-investigation-by-nhtsa-due/#comments
The Chevy Volt's lithium-ion battery may be great for a lot of things -- like low gasoline-dependency, for instance -- but when it comes to government regulated crash tests, it's proving to be a fiery problem. As the story goes, back in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration put a Volt through standard side-impact crash testing, and in doing so, "the vehicle's battery was damaged and the coolant line was ruptured." The big issue? The car went up in flames multiple weeks later, seemingly as direct result. That event prompted the NHTSA to further study the safety of the batts in the period after a crash, which culminated in more tests performed just over a week ago to find out if they would prove volatile again -- simply put, they did. The group recently explained that it's "concerned that damage to the Volt's batteries as part of three tests that are explicitly designed to replicate real-world crash scenarios have resulted in fire."

Because of this development, the NHTSA (with assistance from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and General Motors itself) has officially launched a formal investigation into the Volt to ensure that its current battery implementation isn't a safety defect. Despite the announcement, the agency notes that of all the Volts currently zipping along the streets, there has yet to be a to be a similar incident out on the open road. The NHTSA further clarified that there's not yet any reason for current owners to worry, so long as they haven't been in an accident with their vehicle. Overall, GM describes the whole investigation as "procedural" at this point, stating that both GM has been working with the NHTSA for over six months on a "broader program designed to induce battery failure after extreme situations." Seems a bit late at this point, but in any event, you'll find full details in the press releases from both parties just past the break.

Continue reading Chevy Volt under 'formal safety investigation' by NHTSA due to post-crash fire concerns

Chevy Volt under 'formal safety investigation' by NHTSA due to post-crash fire concerns originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevroletchevychevy voltChevyVoltcrash testCrashTestdepartment of defensedepartment of energyDepartmentOfDefenseDepartmentOfEnergydoddoefiregeneral motorsGeneralMotorsgminvestigationJim FedericoJimFedericosafetyvoltSun, 27 Nov 2011 13:41:00 EST<![CDATA[New nanotube battery technology leads to blisteringly fast recharges, improved safety features]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/new-nanotube-battery-technology-leads-to-blisteringly-fast-recha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/new-nanotube-battery-technology-leads-to-blisteringly-fast-recha/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/07/new-nanotube-battery-technology-leads-to-blisteringly-fast-recha/#commentsSome day, your restroom break may be enough time to charge your [insert nifty gadget here] halfway. A group of researchers at the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has discovered that nanotubes composed of titanium dioxide can switch their phase as a battery is cycled, gradually boosting their operational capacity. The upshot: laboratory tests showed that new batteries produced with this material could be rejuvenated to 50 percent of their maximum charge in less than 30 seconds. This was accomplished by replacing conventional graphite anodes with titanium nanotube andodes. Following the experiment, lead researcher Tijana Rajh and her colleagues noted that as the battery cycled through several charges and discharges, its internal structure began to orient itself in a way that dramatically improved the battery's performance. Furthermore, using anodes composed of titanium dioxide instead of graphite could improve the reliability and safety of lithium-ion batteries and help avoid scenarios in which the lithium can deposit on the graphite anodes, causing a dangerous chain reaction known as "thermal runaway." Copious amounts of related technobabble can be found in the links below, and there's a video just past the break, too.

Continue reading New nanotube battery technology leads to blisteringly fast recharges, improved safety features

New nanotube battery technology leads to blisteringly fast recharges, improved safety features originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anodeargonne national laboratoryArgonneNationalLaboratorybatterychargeDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergygraphitenanotubesthermal runawayThermalRunawayTijana RajhTijanaRajhtitanium DioxideTitaniumDioxidevideoMon, 07 Nov 2011 14:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Philips wins DOE's $10 million L Prize for 60W incandescent killer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/philips-wins-does-10-million-l-prize-for-60w-incandescent-kill/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/philips-wins-does-10-million-l-prize-for-60w-incandescent-kill/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/philips-wins-does-10-million-l-prize-for-60w-incandescent-kill/#commentsPut your pig-tail light bulb aversions aside, because Philips has just won the DOE's $10 million L Prize Competition for the creation of a decidedly non-curlicue 60W equivalent LED lighting solution. The company was named the first winner in the 60W replacement bulb category at a Washington DC event, yesterday. It's taken three years to find a winner that could meet the high standards set forth by the DOE, specifically "ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost, and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing." Requirements further stipulated that the 60W incandescent killer use less than 10 watts of power, and provide energy savings of 83 percent. If Americans replaced all of their 60W incandescents with Philips' little winner, the DOE estimates savings of $3.9 billion in a single year. The bulb is expected to hit shelves as soon as early 2012. Full PR after the break.

Philips wins DOE's $10 million L Prize for 60W incandescent killer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 16:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>60W bulb60W equivalent60W LED light bulb60W light bulb60wBulb60wEquivalent60wLedLightBulb60wLightBulbCompetitionDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEenergyEnergy savingEnergySavingincandescentL PrizeL Prize Competitionled light bulbLedLightBulblightlight bulbLightBulblightingLighting PrizeLightingPrizeLPrizeLPrizeCompetitionPhilipspowerwinwinnerThu, 04 Aug 2011 16:39:00 EST<![CDATA[142 electric vehicle charging stations head to Massachusetts, Nantucket and MV not included]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/24/142-electric-vehicle-charging-stations-head-to-massachusetts-na/#commentsThings are lookin' up in New England -- particularly for those who crisscross Yawkey Way with an electric vehicle. A grand total of 142 EV charging stations are slated to hit The Bay State in the coming months, with 25 communities across the commonwealth to get gifted. Boston reports that the majority of 'em will be in "common commuter or traveler spots," places like downtown parking garages, MBTA lots, shopping malls, etc. The bulk of the boxes will be part of the ChargePoint network, and we're told that the rates for recharging will be set by "municipalities on public land and by property owners on private land," depending on where each box is planted. So, is the charging station rollout between NY and MA the new Yankees vs. Red Sox? Nah, but a techie can dream.

142 electric vehicle charging stations head to Massachusetts, Nantucket and MV not included originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BMWbostonchargepointChargePoint AmericaChargepointAmericacharging stationChargingStationCoulomb TechnologiesCoulombTechnologiesdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevmassachusettssolarsolar powersolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredSun, 24 Jul 2011 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/18/bomb-sniffing-crystals-may-save-us-from-nuclear-armageddon-tea/#comments
Worried that a nuclear attack might wipe out all of American civilization? You needn't be, because the scientific community's crystal ball says crystal balls may save humanity. Last week, the Department of Energy awarded a $900,000 grant to Fisk University and Wake Forest, where researchers have been busy exploring the counter-terrorist capabilities of strontium iodide crystals. Once laced with europium, these crystals can do a remarkably good job of picking up on and analyzing radiation, as the team from Fisk and other national laboratories recently discovered. Cost remains the most imposing barrier to deploying the materials at airports or national borders, though soothsaying scientists claim it's only a matter of time before they develop a way to produce greater crystalline quantities at an affordable price. The only thing Miss Cleo sees is a glistening press release, in your very near, post-break future.

Continue reading Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree

Bomb-sniffing crystals may save us from nuclear Armageddon, tea leaves agree originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crystaldepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyenergyfisk universityFiskUniversitygovernmentgranthomeland securityHomelandSecuritymoneynational securityNationalSecuritynuclearphysicspoliticspsychicradiationresearchwake forestwake forest universityWakeForestWakeForestUniversitywarwargadgetMon, 18 Jul 2011 08:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Shell opens America's first pipelined hydrogen-fueling station in Southern California]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/shell-opens-americas-first-pipelined-hydrogen-fueling-station-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/shell-opens-americas-first-pipelined-hydrogen-fueling-station-i/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/shell-opens-americas-first-pipelined-hydrogen-fueling-station-i/#comments Residents of SoCal's Torrance should consider themselves lucky, as they're now living in America's first-ever city to have a pipelined hydrogen-fueling station. You can thank Shell and Toyota for picking up this government-funded green project. Sure, while the few other hydrogen stations still rely on delivery by supply truck (presumably running on diesel, ironically), this nevertheless marks a new milestone for our squeaky clean fuel, and it's only a matter of time before more stations get piped up to Air Products' hydrogen plants. If there's any indication of a time frame, Wired reminds us that 2015 should see the arrival of many new mass-market hydrogen cars from Toyota, Honda, and Mercedes-Benz. Not long to go now, fellow tree huggers.

Shell opens America's first pipelined hydrogen-fueling station in Southern California originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 10:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Air ProductsAirProductscarDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyfuelfuel cellFuelCellfuelingfueling stationFuelingStationhydrogenhydrogen fuelhydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelHydrogenFuelCellrefuelrefuelingrefueling stationRefuelingStationShellsocalSouth Coast Air Quality Management DistrictSouthCoastAirQualityManagementDistrictsouthern californiaSouthernCaliforniastationTorranceToyotatransporttransportationvehicleWed, 11 May 2011 10:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/20/google-helps-electric-car-owners-find-battery-charges-peace-of/#comments The biggest challenge of owning an electric vehicle aside from having to awkwardly pal around with Ed Begley Jr. all of the time? Finding a place to charge it, of course. The ever-green folks at Google have teamed up with the US Department of Energy and more than 80 companies to form the GeoEVSE Forum, an organization aimed at bringing diverse electric car resources under a single umbrella. Looking for one of those elusive Best Buy charging stations? Use the Google Maps database, helmed by the DOE, which currently offers some 600 alternative fueling stations, including electric charging, hydrogen, and natural gas. Now if only it could help us find a good deal on a Tesla.

Continue reading Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind

Google helps electric car owners find battery charges, peace of mind originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Apr 2011 20:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best BuyBestBuychargechargeschargingcharging stationChargingStationDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEelectric carsElectricCarsenviromentGoogleGoogle MapsGoogleMapsgreenhydrogenMashupNatural GasNaturalGasTeslaWed, 20 Apr 2011 20:21:00 EST<![CDATA[TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/16/talon-robot-gets-declawed-helps-japan-sniff-out-radiation-vide/#comments

Robotics experts at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory just taught an old war machine some new tricks, namely radiation detection -- a timely acquisition of knowledge, for sure. Swapping out rocket launchers and machine guns for a suite of radiological sensors, digital cameras, and a GPS device, this modified TALON will be used to map the radiation levels (and create a visual output) surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The newly modified TALON landed in Japan just last week, joining an existing team of robot helpers already in use in the disaster area, including two additional TALONs equipped with sensors that can identify more than 7500 environmental hazards. Guns for Geiger counters seems like a good trade to us; check the video up top to watch the 'bot try out its treads.

[Thanks, John]

TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of energyDepartmentOfEnergydisasterdisaster reliefDisasterReliefDOEearthquakeFukushimaFukushima DaiichiFukushimaDaiichigeigergeiger counterGeigerCountergovernmentGPSJapanjapan earthquakejapan earthquake 2011JapanEarthquakeJapanEarthquake2011mappingnuclear powerNuclearPowerradiationrobotRobotstalonususavideoSat, 16 Apr 2011 23:58:00 EST<![CDATA[AT&T and Verizon join National Clear Fleet Program, thumb their noses at petrol]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/atandt-and-verizon-join-national-clear-fleet-program-thumb-their/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/atandt-and-verizon-join-national-clear-fleet-program-thumb-their/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/04/atandt-and-verizon-join-national-clear-fleet-program-thumb-their/#comments Thought the Prez was just kidding about those alternative fuel initiatives? Think again. Just hours after stating that the US government fleet would be 100 percent alternative fuel, hybrid, or electric vehicles by 2015, Obama has announced the National Clean Fleets Partnership, an initiative of the Department's Clean Cities program. It's a rather unique public-private partnership, and it'll be assisting large companies to "reduce diesel and gasoline use in their fleets by incorporating electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and fuel-saving measures into their operations." A handful of Charter members have made themselves known, with AT&T, Verizon, FedEx, Pepsi-Co and UPS all committed to deploying over 20,000 advanced technology vehicles in the years to come -- an effort that should save over seven million gallons of fuel per year. Ma Bell in particular will be replacing over 15,000 rides with 7,000 hybrids and 8,000 compressed natural gas vehicles during the next decade, while Verizon looks to use a raft of cars (er, vans) that rely on biodiesel and ethanol. Whether or not such a program leads to the installation of more EV charging stations remains to be seen, but if it's good enough for Brown, surely it'll be good enough for your future Tesla. Vid's after the break, kiddos.

Continue reading AT&T and Verizon join National Clear Fleet Program, thumb their noses at petrol

AT&T and Verizon join National Clear Fleet Program, thumb their noses at petrol originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelalternative fuelsAlternativeFuelAlternativeFuelsamericacarcarscharter partnersCharterPartnersclean energyCleanEnergycorporationsdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoeeco-friendlyelectric vehicleElectricVehicleevfleetgovernmentgreenGreen FleetGreenFleetNational Clean Fleets PartnershipNationalCleanFleetsPartnershipupsususavideoMon, 04 Apr 2011 15:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: Brain-shaped bulbs, houses that fly, and hydrogen bolts from the sky]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/13/inhabitats-week-in-green-brain-shaped-bulbs-houses-that-fly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/13/inhabitats-week-in-green-brain-shaped-bulbs-houses-that-fly/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/13/inhabitats-week-in-green-brain-shaped-bulbs-houses-that-fly/#commentsEach week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week Inhabitat showcased several hot new eco vehicles including the world's fastest plug-in hybrid and an insane screwdriver-powered tricycle that sends you flying through the streets headfirst. The field of alternative fuels also advanced by leaps and bounds as the U.S. Department of Energy announced a new breed of cost-effective biofuel and a team of researchers discovered a way to efficiently produce hydrogen from urine.

From flying houses held up by balloons to skyscrapers that harvest energy from bolts of lightning, this week we also showcased some of the world's most incredible buildings. We were wowed by the futuristic finalists of the eVolo skyscraper competition, which included underwater spires made from plastic debris and massive megaprojects that contain entire cities.

This week we also spotted several exciting new examples of green consumer tech - from a clever brain-shaped CFL bulb to ASUS' new line of cardboard computers to a wearable mix tape you can pin on your sleeve. We also celebrated the launch of Apple's latest tablet by rounding up 14 of the best eco-friendly iPad cases, sleeves and bags. Finally, we kicked off a contest where you can win a beautiful recycled leather iPad case from Dewdrop Designs, and we shared 11 chic travel essentials for jet-setters on the go.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: Brain-shaped bulbs, houses that fly, and hydrogen bolts from the sky originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ASUSbiofuelbulbcardboardcardboard computerCardboardComputerCFLDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyDewdrop DesignsDewdropDesignsflying houseFlyingHousehydrogeninhabitatinhabitats week in greenInhabitatsWeekInGreenlight bulbLightBulblightningmix tapeMixTapeweek in greenWeekInGreenSun, 13 Mar 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fuel cells get stronger, potentially cheaper with graphene, ITO]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/16/fuel-cells-get-stronger-potentially-cheaper-with-graphene-ito/#comments As the sustainable Juggernaut of fuel cell vehicles (FCV) powers ever forward, a group of scientists are cooking up ways to make the alternative energy source more durable and even cheaper. By combining graphene -- think pencil lead -- and indium tin oxide (ITO) nanoparticles, the team produced a catalytic material that is both stronger and more chemically active than the usual catalytic combo. Fuel cells typically use a chemical catalyst like platinum, sitting atop a base of black carbon or metal oxides, to break down oxygen and hydrogen gases, creating water in the process -- thing is, carbon is easily eroded by the resulting water, and metal oxides, while more stable, are less conductive. Using graphene -- which because of its porousness erodes less quickly -- in combination with the stable ITO and platinum nanoparticles, researchers have created what could be referred to as a super fuel cell -- a stronger, longer lasting, and potentially cheaper version of the alternative energy source. Unfortunately, without enough hydrogen filling stations, these super fuel cells won't come to anyone's rescue anytime soon.

Fuel cells get stronger, potentially cheaper with graphene, ITO originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>catalystDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergydoeenergyfcvFuel Cellfuel cell vehiclesFuelCellFuelCellVehiclesgraphenehydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelCellindium tin oxideIndiumTinOxideITOnanotechnanotechnologyPacific Northwest National LaboratoryPacificNorthwestNationalLaboratoryprincetonrenewable energyRenewableEnergyWashington UniversityWashingtonUniversityWed, 16 Feb 2011 01:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Obama's 2012 budget includes push for 'mini-nuke' reactor development]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/obamas-2012-budget-includes-push-for-mini-nuke-reactor-develo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/obamas-2012-budget-includes-push-for-mini-nuke-reactor-develo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/14/obamas-2012-budget-includes-push-for-mini-nuke-reactor-develo/#comments
The President revealed his 2012 budget proposal today, including $853 million for nuclear energy research -- which includes development of "mini-nukes," or small, modular reactors that can be shipped and deployed relatively quickly, and built relatively cheaply (up to $2 billion, as opposed to the $10 billion price tag of your traditional reactor). But don't get excited -- you won't likely be able to get your own backyard reactor just yet. For the time being, they're to be placed in existing large-scale labs like the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. It is hoped that the reactors will bring a 28 percent reduction of the Energy Department's carbon footprint by 2020.

Obama's 2012 budget includes push for 'mini-nuke' reactor development originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20122012 budget2012budgetbudgetdepartment of energydepartmentofenergyenergymicro nuclearMicroNuclearnuclearnuclear energynuclear powernuclear reactorNuclearEnergyNuclearPowerNuclearReactorobamapowerrenewable energyRenewableEnergyMon, 14 Feb 2011 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM's Mira supercomputer does ten petaflops with ease, inches us closer to exascale-class computing]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/ibms-mira-supercomputer-does-ten-petaflops-with-ease-inches-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/ibms-mira-supercomputer-does-ten-petaflops-with-ease-inches-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/09/ibms-mira-supercomputer-does-ten-petaflops-with-ease-inches-us/#comments Say hello to the Blue Gene/Q, or if you're looking for something a bit less intimidating, "Mira." That's IBM's latest and greatest concoction, a ten-petaflop supercomputer capable of running programs at ten quadrillion calculations a second. Hard to say who'd win between Mira and Watson, of course, but there's absolutely no question who'd come out on top if Mira were pitted against her predecessor Intrepid (hint: Mira's 20x faster). To put this all in perspective, IBM's chiming in with this:
"If every man, woman and child in the United States performed one calculation each second, it would take them almost a year to do as many calculations as Mira will do in one second."
Mira's next stop is at the US Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory, where it'll be used to tackle 16 projects in particular that were drawn from a pool of proposals to gain access to her capabilities. We're told that these include a range of initiatives -- from reducing energy inefficiencies in transportation and developing advanced engine designs to spurring advances in energy technologies -- and in time, it could lead to exascale-class computers "that will be faster than petascale-class computers by a factor of a thousand." And here we are getting excited about a 5GHz Core i7.

Continue reading IBM's Mira supercomputer does ten petaflops with ease, inches us closer to exascale-class computing

IBM's Mira supercomputer does ten petaflops with ease, inches us closer to exascale-class computing originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArgonneArgonne National LaboratoryArgonneNationalLaboratoryblue geneBlue GeneQBlueGeneBlueGeneqdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoeexascaleibmmirasciencesupercomputerusWed, 09 Feb 2011 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Aptera: no production vehicles until we get funding, from the government or elsewhere]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/aptera-no-production-vehicles-until-we-get-funding-from-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/aptera-no-production-vehicles-until-we-get-funding-from-the-go/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/07/aptera-no-production-vehicles-until-we-get-funding-from-the-go/#commentsAh, funding. So necessary, yet so tedious to get. Aptera -- an automotive startup that has warmed our hearts with its eco-friendly, three-wheeled prototypes -- has been seeking government funding to take things "next level" ever since 2008. After being laughed out of the building at first, the company reapplied and managed to get its 2e certified as a "car" by the US Department of Energy. Unfortunately, miles (and miles) or red tape have held Aptera back ever since, and even today, they're still waiting to see if Uncle Sam will be shelling out to further their initiatives. Rather than putting its head down and realizing it's no GM, the company has pushed out a newsletter explaining the current situation. Essentially, it's dead-set on holding out for more funding -- be it from the DoE's coffers or elsewhere -- in order to maintain quality and keep the per-unit costs down to a reasonable level. According to Aptera: "We would obviously love to accelerate the process, but the government has to make sure they complete their comprehensive evaluation and we have to let the process run its course." Bummer.

Aptera: no production vehicles until we get funding, from the government or elsewhere originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2eapteraaptera 2eAptera2edepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoeelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehiclefundinggovernmentinvestmentstartupususaMon, 07 Feb 2011 04:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Shell Oil pulls the plug on its last algae biodiesel research project]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/shell-oil-pulls-the-plug-on-its-last-algae-biodiesel-research-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/shell-oil-pulls-the-plug-on-its-last-algae-biodiesel-research-pr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/03/shell-oil-pulls-the-plug-on-its-last-algae-biodiesel-research-pr/#comments Algae biodiesel has looked so promising (as in 100 times more fuel than corn or soy) that the U.S. Department of Energy gave $9 million to Cellana, a joint research venture between Shell Oil and HR Biopetroleum, specifically to look into the alternative energy source's prospects. It seems, however, that those prospects were no longer attractive to Shell, which has announced it will no longer pursue algae biodiesel, because it feels it doesn't have sufficient commercial viability. Partner HR Biopetroleum has stated it cannot continue the project on its own as Shell pursues other biofuel initiatives with other companies.

Shell Oil pulls the plug on its last algae biodiesel research project originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 03 Feb 2011 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>algaebiodieselcarcarsdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydieselfuelHR BioPetroleumHrBiopetroleumshellshell oilShellOiltransportationThu, 03 Feb 2011 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: modernizing the US national grid, not to mention deserts and pyramids]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/inhabitats-week-in-green-modernizing-the-us-national-grid-not/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/inhabitats-week-in-green-modernizing-the-us-national-grid-not/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/28/inhabitats-week-in-green-modernizing-the-us-national-grid-not/#commentsEach week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week at Inhabitat, we were thankful to be able to witness the long-awaited unveiling of the futuristic solar-powered Masdar Institute in Abu Dhabi, and we also heard the exciting news that scientists are developing a project that could have us using the Sahara desert to supply 50% of the world's energy by 2050.

We were also dazzled by the dynamic "dancing" facade of the Kiefer Technic showroom and this towering greenery-lined pyramid caught our eye with its modern take on ancient Mayan architecture. The world of green tech had a lot to be grateful for too as the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it would award $19 million to modernize the national grid and green transportation saw the first flight powered by jatropha-based biofuel. On a lighter note, this solar-powered wheelchair and its designer prepared to embark on a 200 mile journey to showcase its capabilities.

For those of you on the hunt for Cyber Monday deals, don't forget to check out our Green Gadget Gift Guide with our picks for the hottest eco-friendly tech out there. We also spotted this ingenious wood speaker system that amplifies music using the properties of the material it's made of and needs no electricity at all.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: modernizing the US national grid, not to mention deserts and pyramids originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>architecturebiofuelDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergydesertDoEgreeninhabitatinhabitats week in greenInhabitatsWeekInGreenjatrophasaharasahara desertSaharaDesertsolarsolar powersolar powered wheelchairSolarPowerSolarPoweredWheelchairweek in greenWeekInGreenwheelchairSun, 28 Nov 2010 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Melting silicon 'in reverse' can help purify it, result in cheaper electronics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/melting-silicon-in-reverse-can-help-purify-it-result-in-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/melting-silicon-in-reverse-can-help-purify-it-result-in-cheap/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/02/melting-silicon-in-reverse-can-help-purify-it-result-in-cheap/#commentsJust our favorite combination of news: a mind-bending innovation that can have a very practical impact on our daily tech consumption. MIT scientists have found that silicon -- when combined in the right dosage with other metals -- can actually be made to melt by reducing its temperature. Typically, you'd require 1,414 degrees of Celsius heat to liquidize solid silicon, but the intermixed variant discussed here need only reach 900 degrees before its slow cooling process starts turning it gooey. The great advantage to this discovery is that because the impurities tend to separate off into the liquid part, there's now a practicable way to filter them out, meaning that things like solar cells won't require the same high grade of silicon purity for their construction -- which in turn might lead to us being able to afford them one day. Of course, that's getting way too far ahead of ourselves, as the research is still ongoing, but good news is good news no matter the timescale.

Melting silicon 'in reverse' can help purify it, result in cheaper electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of energyDepartmentOfEnergyfilteringmeltmeltingmelting pointMeltingPointmitnational science foundationNationalScienceFoundationpurificationresearchretrograde meltingRetrogradeMeltingsiliconsolarsolar cellssolar powerSolarCellsSolarPoweruniversityMon, 02 Aug 2010 10:22:00 EST<![CDATA[DoE forecasts far cheaper, lighter, longer-lasting EV batteries by 2015]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/doe-forecasts-far-cheaper-lighter-longer-lasting-ev-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/doe-forecasts-far-cheaper-lighter-longer-lasting-ev-batteries/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/doe-forecasts-far-cheaper-lighter-longer-lasting-ev-batteries/#comments Dippin' in a Tesla is an expensive proposition, as we're sure you're well aware, but the US Department of Energy seems certain the cost of electric vehicles -- or at least their all-important rechargeable batteries -- will come down to reasonable levels. The government estimates a stack of cells good for 100 miles will drop to $10,000 by the end of 2015, and that 40-mile batteries for PHEVs will sink to $4,000 in the same timeframe -- both around one-third of what the containers presently cost. On the physical front, portly packages of Li-ion presently weigh 333kg (about 734 pounds) per 100 miles of range, but are expected to slim down to 222kg (489 pounds) by 2015, and shed weight precipitously in following years. Like any weather forecast, the figures are subject to the prevailing wind, but it's looking like average Americans may one day have use for all those free charging stations. Find the full report at our source link.

DoE forecasts far cheaper, lighter, longer-lasting EV batteries by 2015 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifeDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyDOEElectric carelectric carselectric vehicleelectric vehiclesElectricCarElectricCarsElectricVehicleElectricVehiclesEVPHEVThu, 22 Jul 2010 12:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/coulomb-partners-with-ford-chevy-smart-to-deliver-4-600-free-e/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/coulomb-partners-with-ford-chevy-smart-to-deliver-4-600-free-e/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/coulomb-partners-with-ford-chevy-smart-to-deliver-4-600-free-e/#comments Looks like Australia and Poland were just the beginning: Coulomb Technologies is looking to roll out nearly 5,000 electric vehicle charging stations in the US, effective immediately. If one of those cherry-red push pins is pointed at your neighborhood, you'll likely see the stations popping up at local businesses soon, and if you're looking to purchase a Chevy Volt, Tesla-powered Smart or one of Ford's two new EVs, you can even qualify to have a free station installed in your home. Partially paid for by a $15 million grant from the Department of Energy, the ChargePoint America program won't necessarily give you free electricity to go with it -- that "charge" in ChargePoint has a double meaning, after all -- but we're happy to see the zero-emissions future is finally on a roll. PR after the break.

Continue reading Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US

Coulomb partners with Ford, Chevy, Smart to deliver 4,600 free EV charging stations in US originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargepointchargepoint americaChargePoint NetworkChargepointAmericacharging stationcharging stationsChargingStationChargingStationsChevroletChevrolet VoltChevroletVoltChevyChevy VoltChevyVoltCoulombcoulomb technologiesCoulombTechnologiesDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyelectric carelectric fortwoElectricCarElectricFortwoevev chargerev charging stationEvChargerEvChargingStationfocusfocus electricFocusElectricFordford focusford focus electricford transit connectFord Transit Connect ElectricFordFocusFordFocusElectricFordTransitConnectFordTransitConnectElectricgrantsmartsmart fortwosmart fortwo electricSmart Fortwo Electric DriveSmartFortwoSmartFortwoElectricSmartFortwoElectricDrivetransit connectTransitConnectVoltFri, 04 Jun 2010 18:25:00 EST<![CDATA[EnergyStar program certifies 'gasoline-powered alarm,' other imaginary abominations]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/energystar-program-certifies-gasoline-powered-alarm-other-ima/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/energystar-program-certifies-gasoline-powered-alarm-other-ima/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/26/energystar-program-certifies-gasoline-powered-alarm-other-ima/#comments It'd be pretty difficult for you to reach Engadget without having seen the EnergyStar logo on something along your way here. Whether it was as part of your motherboard's bootup sequence or on the box of your new TFT monitor, EnergyStar certification has become a de facto standard for most electronics being manufactured nowadays. What you might not have known -- but probably could have guessed -- is that the process for obtaining that sticker is far from bulletproof. The American Government Accountability Office has recently done a bit of spy work by putting forward imaginary products and false claims to the validating authority, and regrettably found its bogus items "mostly approved without a challenge." The auditors' conclusion was that the program is "highly vulnerable to fraud," and the stuff they've had certified would seem to corroborate that verdict. Hit up the Times article for the full story of governmental incompetence while the Department of Energy -- the body responsible for running the program -- tries to get its act straightened out.

[Thanks, Adam]

EnergyStar program certifies 'gasoline-powered alarm,' other imaginary abominations originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountabilityagencyauditboguscertificationcongresscongressional reportCongressionalReportdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyenergy consumptionenergy efficiencyEnergyConsumptionEnergyEfficiencyenergystarenvironmentenvironmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyfederalfraudgovernmentGovernment Accountability Officegovernment agencyGovernmentAccountabilityOfficeGovernmentAgencylabellabelingstatewatchdogFri, 26 Mar 2010 09:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Fluidic Energy promises better, cheaper metal-air batteries, wins DoE grant]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/05/fluidic-energy-promises-better-cheaper-metal-air-batteries-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/05/fluidic-energy-promises-better-cheaper-metal-air-batteries-win/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/05/fluidic-energy-promises-better-cheaper-metal-air-batteries-win/#commentsIt's not the only company working on metal-air batteries, but Scottsdale, Arizona-based Fluidic Energy may be in a better position to deliver on its promises than most, as it's just managed to snag a $5.13 million research grant from the US Department of Energy to further develop the "breakthrough" technology. While that word's thrown around quite a bit these, in the case, it may actually live up to the hype, considering that breakthrough in question would be a battery that's able to deliver eleven times the energy density of the best lithium-ion batteries for less than one-third of the cost. The key to that, it seems, is the battery's use of an ionic liquid as its electrolyte, which is described as a "wonder fluid" since it's able to last significantly longer than other fluids because drying out isn't a problem, and because it brings with it a significant boost in energy density. Of course, the company still apparently doesn't have an actual battery to back up its claims just yet, and it's not making any promises about when it might deliver one either.

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Fluidic Energy promises better, cheaper metal-air batteries, wins DoE grant originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>batteriesbatterydepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoefluidic energyFluidicEnergymetal-airmetal-air batteriesmetal-air batteryMetal-airBatteriesMetal-airBatteryThu, 05 Nov 2009 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Aptera 2e three-wheeler deemed a car by the DoE, eligible for funding]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/aptera-2e-three-wheeler-deemed-a-car-by-the-doe-eligible-for-fu/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/aptera-2e-three-wheeler-deemed-a-car-by-the-doe-eligible-for-fu/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/30/aptera-2e-three-wheeler-deemed-a-car-by-the-doe-eligible-for-fu/#comments
For a time, it looked Aptera might be missing out on the US Department of Energy's funding bonanza for energy-efficient vehicles due to its car's three-wheeled nature, but it looks like President Obama has now had the final say on the matter, and signed legislation that makes both two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles eligible for the same funding as their four-wheeled counterparts. Of course, that doesn't yet mean that Aptera will actually receive any funding, and the legislation doesn't have anything to do with safety regulations, where the 2e is still classified as a motorcycle by the Department of Transportation. For its part, however, Aptera says that it'll be filing another application to meet the updated requirements, and it still insists that it'll hit "volume production" of the car sometime in 2010, and get it on the road for between $25,000 and $40,000.

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Aptera 2e three-wheeler deemed a car by the DoE, eligible for funding originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2eapteraaptera 2eAptera2edepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoeelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleFri, 30 Oct 2009 22:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Department of Energy lends Fisker $528.7 million for Karma and Project Nina]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/department-of-energy-lends-fisker-528-7-million-for-karma-and-p/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/department-of-energy-lends-fisker-528-7-million-for-karma-and-p/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/23/department-of-energy-lends-fisker-528-7-million-for-karma-and-p/#comments Well, it seems like that sex-on-wheels advert has done its job. Fisker's development of the oh so desirable Karma PHEV and its lower-cost sibling, now known as Project Nina (inspired by Christopher Columbus' escape from the Old World, no less), has been given a significant boost by the US government. Henrik Fisker himself has been quoted as saying that once the conditional loan is in, "it wouldn't take long to get the lower-cost plug-in hybrid on the road." If the company carries over the aggressive styling from the luxury model, it might have a real winner on its hands, though -- we know -- it's got to be cheap enough first. While waiting for that $528.7 million to work its magic, you can gawk at the solar paneled roof on the Karma, to be found after the break.

Continue reading Department of Energy lends Fisker $528.7 million for Karma and Project Nina

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Department of Energy lends Fisker $528.7 million for Karma and Project Nina originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoedoe loansDoeLoansfederal governmentFederalGovernmentFiskerFisker KarmaFiskerKarmagovernmentgovernment loanGovernmentLoanhybridKarmaloanninaphevproject ninaProjectNinaWed, 23 Sep 2009 07:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Tesla, Ford, Nissan all receive electric car development loans from US government]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/tesla-ford-nissan-all-receive-electric-car-development-loans-f/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/tesla-ford-nissan-all-receive-electric-car-development-loans-f/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/23/tesla-ford-nissan-all-receive-electric-car-development-loans-f/#comments
High five, Tesla fans -- everyone's favorite incredibly controversial electric car company has just been granted $465m in loans from the Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing program. The bulk of the money will go towards that postponed Model S factory, while the remaining $100m will be used to fund an electric powertrain manufacturing facility that will sell parts like motors and battery packs to other carmakers. Tesla wasn't the DOE's only big winner: Nissan received $1.6b (billion!) to build batteries and EVs in Tennessee and Ford received an undisclosed amount to build two upcoming electric cars, but since those companies have largely drama-free upper management that isn't constantly involved in lawsuits, it feels a little more routine. Still, it's an exciting time -- let's hope all these tax dollars turn into affordable, convenient electric transportation sooner rather than later.

Update: A "congressional source" has told the AP that Ford's getting $5.9 billion, so yeah, the Oval's still the big dog.

Read - Tesla
Read - Ford
Read - Nissan

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Tesla, Ford, Nissan all receive electric car development loans from US government originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Advanced Technology Vehicle ManufacturingAdvancedTechnologyVehicleManufacturingatvmatvmpbreaking newsBreakingNewscarcarsdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyelectricelectric carelectric vehicleElectricCarElectricVehicleevfordgrantloanmodel sModelSnissanteslaTue, 23 Jun 2009 14:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/09/researchers-create-nanotube-memory-that-can-store-data-for-a-bil/#comments
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and UC Berkeley have developed an ultra-dense memory chip that is capable of storing data for up to a billion years (besting silicon chips by roughly... a billion years). Consisting of a crystalline iron nanoparticle shuttle encased within a multiwalled carbon nanotube, the device can be written to and read from using conventional voltages already available in digital electronics today. The research was led by Alex Zettl, who notes that current digital storage methods are capable of storing mass amounts of data, but last just decades, while, say, some books have managed to last nearly a thousand years, though the amount of data they contain is quite small. The new method, called shuttle memory, is based on the iron nanoparticle which can move back and forth within the hollow nanotu. Zettl believes that, while shuttle memory is years away from practical application, it could have a lot of archival applications in the future. There's a video after the break, hit the read link for more tiny details.

[Via The Register]

Continue reading Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years

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Researchers create nanotube memory that can store data for a billion years originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alex ZettlAlexZettlcarbon nanotubesCarbonNanotubesdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergylawrence berkeley national laboratoryLawrenceBerkeleyNationalLaboratorymemorynanotechnanotechnologystorageuc berkeleyUcBerkeleyTue, 09 Jun 2009 22:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Sprint nabs $7.3M grant for hydrogen fuel cells at cell sites]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/sprint-nabs-7-3m-grant-for-hyrdrogen-fuel-cells-at-cell-sites/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/sprint-nabs-7-3m-grant-for-hyrdrogen-fuel-cells-at-cell-sites/http://www.engadget.com/2009/04/21/sprint-nabs-7-3m-grant-for-hyrdrogen-fuel-cells-at-cell-sites/#commentsThe US Department of Energy is feeling generous with some $41.9 million worth of cold, hard cash in a round of grants aimed at advancing fuel cell tech, and Sprint ended up scoring some $7.3 million of it -- the only carrier to do so. Carriers and hydrogen fuel cells don't seem like a natural fit at first, but it turns out that backup power at cell sites is kind of a big deal, and fuel cells are a perfect fit for a reliable, long-running, zero-emission solution. Interestingly, Sprint has been really into this for a while now -- it's their third awarded grant, and it turns out that they've had fuel cells deployed at sites since way back in 2005 (and they've even got 12 patents under their belt to prove it). Most current sites offer up to 15 hours of power in the event of an emergency using low-pressure hydrogen tanks, and the carrier says that it'll use the latest cash infusion to work with its partners to boost that up to 72 hours. Probably worse ways for the government to spend $7.3 million, when you think about it (say, on no-bid contracts for surplus eraser heads for Number 2 pencils, for instance).

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Sprint nabs $7.3M grant for hydrogen fuel cells at cell sites originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>department of energyDepartmentOfEnergydoefuel cellFuelCellgranthydrogenmobilesprintus department of energyUsDepartmentOfEnergyusdoeTue, 21 Apr 2009 10:47:00 EST<![CDATA[US Department of Energy pours $30 million into plug-in hybrids]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/us-department-of-energy-pours-30-million-into-plug-in-hybrids/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/us-department-of-energy-pours-30-million-into-plug-in-hybrids/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/13/us-department-of-energy-pours-30-million-into-plug-in-hybrids/#comments
While some automakers are already promising to have plug-in hybrids on the road by 2010, the US Department of Energy is now pouring some cash into a slightly less ambitious joint effort with Ford, General Motors, and General Electric, which would see plug-ins capable of driving 40 miles on a single charge roll out by 2014. Under the new effort, General Motors will be tasked with improving lithium-Ion battery packs and charging systems, and integrating them into its own research with a test fleet by 2011, while Ford will be aiming to speed up the mass-production of plug-in hybrids, as well as improve its batteries and build prototype vehicles. Rounding things out, General Electric will be partnering with Chrysler to develop a dual-battery system, which promises to let vehicles travel 40 miles on a charge. All of that is still subject to appropriations by Congress, however, and the aforementioned companies would obviously be pouring in a good chunk of change themselves, as a mere $30 million isn't exactly quite enough to shake up the auto sector these days.

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US Department of Energy pours $30 million into plug-in hybrids originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This summer, teams of college students have amassed on their school campuses to create solar-only, off-the-grid, self-powered homes, which will eventually compete in Washington D.C. for the Department of Energy's 2007 Solar Decathlon. To build the houses, students are limited to currently available, off-the-shelf technologies, and must also focus on design, comfort, and market viability. The groups will move their eco-friendly homes to the National Mall in D.C., where the "solar village" of houses will be open for touring by the general public, and will be scored by judges for architecture, engineering, and energy balance, amongst others. The whole shebang is sponsored by heavy-hitters like Sprint and BP, but it's unclear whether the winning team receives prizes beyond the knowledge that their solar home crushed the others in head-to-head combat.

[Via CNET]

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College teams compete for eco-dominance in the Solar Decathlon originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>competitiondepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyoff the gridOffTheGridself-sustainingSolar Decathlonsolar powerSolarDecathlonSolarPowerFri, 10 Aug 2007 13:17:00 EST<![CDATA[IBM pushing vertical stacking in next wave of supercomputers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/ibm-pushing-vertical-stacking-in-next-wave-of-supercomputers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/ibm-pushing-vertical-stacking-in-next-wave-of-supercomputers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/12/ibm-pushing-vertical-stacking-in-next-wave-of-supercomputers/#commentsNext-generation cooling technology isn't the only thing IBM's R&D crew is spending time with, as the chip giant has recently made plans to hit up "vertical stacking technology" in order to make the next wave of supercomputers really crank. Supposedly, "laying chips vertically -- as opposed to side by side -- reduces the distance data has to travel by 1,000 times, making the chips faster and more efficient." The new format will place chips directly atop one another and connect them with "tungsten filled pipes etched through the silicon," which will subsequently eliminate the need for wires and increase the speed at which data can flow. The questionably-dubbed "3D chips" will reportedly operate around 40-percent more efficiently than existing renditions, and considering that Intel is purportedly cooking up a similar agenda in their own labs, that "end of 2007" release date is quite likely to be accurate.

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IBM pushing vertical stacking in next wave of supercomputers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 14:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d chips3dChipschipcpuDepartment of EnergyDepartmentOfEnergyibmintelLLNLprocessorsupercomputersupercomputingteraflopsTru-SiTSVvertical stackingVerticalStackingThu, 12 Apr 2007 14:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar cell breakthrough: 40% efficiency achieved]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/06/solar-cell-breakthrough-40-efficiency-achieved/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/06/solar-cell-breakthrough-40-efficiency-achieved/http://www.engadget.com/2006/12/06/solar-cell-breakthrough-40-efficiency-achieved/#commentsIf that silly Hummer O2 concept vehicle we just saw didn't sate your appetite for environmental friendliness, try this on for size: researchers at Boeing-Spectrolab have just succeeded in building a multi-junction solar cell that achieves an incredible 40.7% efficiency, or -- to the best of our knowledge -- about twice that of the reigning champ in this space. To put this Department of Energy-backed breakthrough in perspective, it was less than two months ago that Silicon Valley-based SunPower announced a 22% efficient cell, and even that model was claimed to produce 50% more power over a given space than previous iterations. In case you're unfamiliar with multi-junction cells -- no shame in that game -- they can best be described as being composed of several layers, with each slice capturing only a portion of the solar spectrum; this method of optical concentration is what has allowed cells to surpass the 12% to 18% efficiency barrier faced by most traditional modules. In conclusion, while this is certainly an encouraging development, we remain somewhat skeptical about its potential for real-world implementation: once Big Oil gets wind of this new tech, it will likely "disappear" just as quickly as that guy who invented a car that runs on water, man.

[Via Slashdot]

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Solar cell breakthrough: 40% efficiency achieved originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 06 Dec 2006 18:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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