New Layering Technology Makes Ultra-Efficient Solar Cells Available Not Only for Satellites
Silicon is hardly the most efficient material for use in solar cells, but it is used because it's cheaper to make silicon solar cells. Gallium arsenide, for example, is a much more efficient semiconductor than silicon, but has a high manufacturing cost. Now, a team of scientists from the University of Illionis, devised a technology that builds gallium arsenide solar cells in a much cheaper fashion, making them more cost-efficient.
Holland to Have Europe's First Commercial EV Charging Station in Leeuwarden (Preparing for LEAF?)
Holland has been targeted as the first European country that will sell Nissan's Leaf, the first mass-produced electric car with an affordable price (under $30,000). It is logical, then, that Holland is also the first European country to adopt fast-charging EV stations.
Close Competition for Most Efficient Concentrator Solar Cells from U.S.-Based Spire Corporation
Spire Semiconductor, a subsidiary of Spire Corporation based in Massachusetts, has announced that they have matched world's record 41.1 efficiency for a concentrator solar cell (the sources don't mention it, but that's probably the one achieved by Fraunhofer researchers we talked about a week ago).
Whey Could Be Used as Power Source For Microbial Fuel Cells, Greek Scientist Discovers
Dr. Georgia Antonopoulou, a biochemical engineer from the University of Patras in Greece, has discovered that whey coming from cheese factories can be used by cultures of bacteria contained in microbial fuel cells to generate electricity. Whey is a lactose-rich organic material, and it is usually disposed.
Toyota Spreading Their Wings in Algae Biofuel Production to Replace Fossil Fuels
I've always admired people who managed to do several things at once, focus on totally different directions and still act like they believed in each and every one of them. Likewise is Toyota, which has made hybrid cars a worldwide success, and now are aiming towards pure electric cars by collaborating with Tesla Motors. Still, Toyota has another surprise in the pocket.
Modified Daihatsu Mira EV Breaking Record With 627 Miles on a Single Battery Charge
The world's longest electric car trip has been 555.6km since last November, and has been performed by the Japan Electric Vehicle Club. The same organization now achieved 1,003 km on a single charge (indeed, with 40 km/h), around a race track.
New Jersey Container Port to Tap Wind Energy Using Five Wind Turbines
According to a Jersey Journal report, New Jersey and the Port Authority of New York plan to power the Port Jersey-Port Authority Marine Terminal with five, 288-ft tall wind turbines erected on a 70-acre site.
Toshiba's SCiB Ultra-Fast Charging Battery Selected to Be Used By Multiple Automakers
It looks natural for that to happen, since names like Sanyo and Panasonic had already been added as battery manufacturers on lists of Suzuki Motors and Toyota, respectively.
Southern California Implementing 53 MW Ice Energy Storage for Air Conditioning Systems
Ice can be used to store energy (though the other way we may be tempted to think) just like hot bricks or molten salt. Several Southern California municipal utilities will be implementing ice-based energy storage devices to reduce the air conditioning consumption in government offices and commercial buildings. Over the next two years, they will install 6,000 devices at 1,500 locations, storing around 53 megawatts of energy in total.
HP Developing Flexible Solar-Powered Wristwatch For The U.S. Army
HP has started the development of a next-generation wristwatch for the U.S. Military. The wristwatch called â€Ã…“Dick Tracy†may eliminate the need for soldiers to carry backup batteries and cumbersome technological gear.
