For Green Geeks: GM Cooperating With Google to Install Android on Volt
GM is currently in talks with Google for a joint venture to develop an integrated car system based on the Android OS, of which you may have heard lately. They also say Android is going to be animating Chevy Volt's interface.
Japanese Joint Venture Proposes EVs as Buffer for Nighttime Excess Wind Power
As electric vehicles seem to increase their market share in the next few years, alternative energy companies think of methods to store the excess power produced during the night, when electricity utilities don't buy their energy, because of reduced consumption.
By Increasing Transmittance to 99%, New Anti-Glare Treatment Makes Glass Perfect for Solar Cells
Their newly-invented treated glass features a transmittance of at least 97 percent, which could be good for using in solar panels. The company says that the use of their glass could enhance the efficiency of solar cells by 2 to 3 percent.
Electricity-Producing Shock Absorbers On Their Way to The Market This Summer
After sleeping for a while, energy-producing shock absorbers appear in the news again. Levant Power, a company from Massachusetts, produces such shock absorbers that are developed by Cambridge. The company claims that their product can lower fuel consumption by 1.5 to 6 percent, depending on the vehicle and driving conditions.
New Ultracentrifugal Processing Technology from Japan to Improve Li-Ion Batteries
Lithium ion batteries have been on the mainstream of electricity storage for a while, providing power for applications ranging from mobile phones to electric/hybrid cars. Still, lithium ion batteries need further development that would further increase their capacity and lifetime.
Advances in Highly-Competitional Washer/Dryer Motor Industry May Benefit Electric Vehicles
Competition (even if at times or war) has always been the mother of technical advance. Just like those who invented variable-valve timing engine designs to reduce fuel consumption, electric appliances companies are now competing against each other to make more and more efficient and powerful electric motors for hair dryers/washers. All these could benefit the auto industry, eventually.
Japanese Researchers Extend Range and Efficiency of Wireless Power Transmission
Since researchers from the MIT first announced that they had a working prototype of a wireless power supply in 2007, Japanese companies (and not only) sought to replicate and even surpass MIT's results.
Among Many Uses Gold Nanoparticles Could Help Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Gold nanoparticles could be used to make better Graetzel solar cells, among others, as a Queensland University of Technology scientist claims to have discovered.
Paper-Printed Solar Cells Invented in MIT's New Solar Research Center
For the first time in history, scientists at the MIT have coated paper with a solar cell at the newly opened Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Research Center. The coating technique is similar to that of an inkjet printer - the big difference is that the coating is this time a semiconductor, not ink.
Too Much CO2 Causes Plants Not to Cool The Earth As They Should, Says...
Trees and green plants, generally, are used by the planet as a way to keep itself cool. A regular tree can evaporate as much as ten gallons of water a day, acting as a natural air conditioner for its surroundings. So trees are important for their CO2-sequestration capabilities and keeping things cool(er).
