article thumbnail

Researcher urges more effort on assessment of land and water impacts of oil sands production; reference point for other unconventional fuels

Green Car Congress

Bitumen production from the Canadian oil sands provides a point of reference that could be used to observe and better manage the land and water impacts of a rapid transition to unconventional fuels, suggests Dr. Sarah Jordaan of the Energy Technology Innovation Policy Research Group, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University.

Oil-Sands 231
article thumbnail

USGS finds US aquifers being drawn down at accelerating rate

Green Car Congress

Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900-2008) comprehensively evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers (distinct underground water storage areas) in the United States, bringing together reliable information from previous references and from new analyses. For comparison, 9.2

2008 259
article thumbnail

PSI team develops web tool for consumers to compare environmental impact of passenger cars in detail

Green Car Congress

Depletion of fresh water reserves [m 3 ]. The user also selects the country where the vehicles are to be used—because this differentiates the electricity mix for electric cars—as well as the year, between 2000 and 2050, when the cars will be registered. Depletion of fossil energy resources [kg oil-eq.].

Mariner 435
article thumbnail

Worldwatch report finds rapidly urbanizing populations face unique challenges

Green Car Congress

By comparison, the developing world was only 47% urban in 2011, a share that could reach 64% by 2050. Southeast Asia is the most densely settled subregion in Asia, with approximately 16,500 people per square kilometer (compared with only 4,345 people per square kilometer in Europe in 2000). Source: Worldwatch. Click to enlarge.

Asia 239
article thumbnail

Bright Automotive To Convert VW Transporters to Plug-ins

Green Car Congress

By way of comparison, the IDEA is designed to have a 30-mile AER with fuel economy of 100 mpg. 2000 / 907. 2000 / 907. CEO John Waters developed the battery pack for GM’s EV-1 and Evan House, VP Advanced Battery Engineering, was the former Director of Battery Development at Seeo.). The Bright IDEA and Transporter PHEV.

article thumbnail

Honda unveils demonstration test house featuring Honda smart home system; gas, solar power and electromobility

Green Car Congress

The HSHS installed in this demonstration test house consists of CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, selenium) thin-film solar cell panels; a home battery unit (rechargeable battery); household gas-engine cogeneration unit and hot-water supply system; and the Smart e Mix Manager.

Honda 231
article thumbnail

DOE to award up to $20M for further studies on methane hydrates; projects worth up to $80M

Green Car Congress

These projects are to support program goals and represent a critical component of advancing several of the specific mandates previously established for the Methane Hydrate Program under the Methane Hydrate Act of 2000 (as amended by Section 968 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005).

Alaska 210