Technience » Environment

Enzyme Turns Emissions Into Fuel

Daniel Georges — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:17:25 +0000

It is a well known fact that plants can turn that awful planet destroying carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into much more useful things. It is a shame that even the greatest bonsai masters haven’t managed to find a way of growing small plants in our exhausts.
Silliness aside, scientists have found an enzyme found in the roots of many plants, like soy beans for example, can actually take the carbon around it and string them together into very basic molecules (propane in this case). This could mean that in a few years your car will use its own emissions, plus emissions around it to make more fuel.
While the enzyme, named Azotobacter vinelandii, does sound like a miracle cure for most of the words oil problems, scientist’s believe it is still may years of any practical use. Mix this with some of that EcoMotors tech, and we might be getting a hell of a lot of miles per gallon.

Via [EcoGeek]

Bill Gates Invests In Combustion

Daniel Georges — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 22:46:03 +0000

The general belief is that pure combustion engines are on the way out and hybrid engines are on the way in. EcoMotors doesn’t believe that is true with their research and development in opposed piston-opposed cylinder engine technology, or Opoc.
EcoMotors are working on getting 50% better efficiency out of good ol gasoline, while using 50% less parts then current combustion engines. Basically, they will cost less to build, be easier to repair and maintain while using a lot less fuel. When you consider the complexity and price of current hybrid and pure electronic tech this makes a lot of sense. Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates agrees and is investing in EcoMotors.
This tech can ultimately shrink the carbon footprint of poor countries that rely on cheap gasoline for getting around and generating electricity. Once again Bill Gates shows his true genius in making the world a better place.

Via [LeftLane News]

Great Article On Earth Saving Technologies

Daniel Georges — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 12:24:34 +0000

Though I believe the world has a balancing factor that always kicks in to save itself (though it may mean killing all humans), this article is super interesting to see what is happening in earth saving technologies. In the end even if the technology is great, it will have to be cheap for majority of the world to afford it.

Jump over to the EcoGeek Blog for the fantastic article.

Ferrari To Cut Emissions And Save The World

Daniel Georges — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:20:48 +0000

What do supercar companies normally do in the newer models? The make them faster and sexier! Not anymore with Amedeo Felisa, general manager of the Italian luxury sports car maker, saying “we have to face the challenge of reducing consumption but not affecting the performance of the car”, and “otherwise we move (away) from our position in the market and we do not want to do that.”
Ferrari want to reduce CO2 emissions from 400 grams per kilometer per vehicle to 280-300, which would be a nice 40% increase in mileage. This process will take 5 years for Ferrari to implement (so all you greeny’s better start saving). For a company that only makes around 6,000 cars a year, it is very impressive.
If companies that usually focus on getting more power out of an engine can work to lower its emissions, I don’t see why the companies that focus on making the family car can’t as well. Ferrari have sent out a positive spin for car companies on emissions. They have said that it will help sell cars, and with the population starting to get more educated on the problems in the environment we are facing, then they would be pretty close to the mark.

For more info, click over to the Ecogeek Blog.