[21 Jan 2009 | Comment Here | 159 views]
First Lithium-Ion Battery in Mass-Produced Passenger Car

Available in the Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID (Summer 2009)

Oil Obit News/Daimler PR/Stuttgart/January 15, 2009: The ADAC (German Automobile Association) has awarded its “Gelber Engel 2009” (Yellow Angel) to Daimler AG and its systems partner Continental in the Innovation & Environment category. The Stuttgart carmaker was selected for the award by Europe’s largest automobile club in recognition of its lithium-ion battery, the first such battery ever to be successfully integrated into a production passenger car. The Mercedes-Benz S 400 BlueHYBRID featuring this pioneering technology will have its market launch in summer …

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Energy Efficiency, Green Cars, Hybrids »

[19 Jun 2009 | Comment here | 20 views]

I’ve barely heard of the new car company, but it appears we all may soon based on the players getting involved. Camille Ricketts published a good piece on the topic:
If you haven’t heard of the V-Vehicle Co. before, you’re in good company. The stealthy new car maker just unveiled plans to produce a fuel-efficient vehicle that could change the game for greener cars — before most of them even hit the market. The company already has a factory in the works in Louisiana, thanks to John Doerr of Kleiner Perkins …

Energy, Solar, Wind »

[12 Jun 2009 | Comment here | 14 views]

Will Federal incentive programs help change the agriculture industry by encouraging more farms to install solar energy systems? Reports suggest they will for some firms in Virginia.
A federal incentive program could forever change the face of Virginia’s agriculture industry by encouraging more farms to install solar energy systems.
That’s the hope of Blue Crump, owner of Fan-based Cityspace Construction and Cityspace Solar. Crump recently started pitching solar installations to local farms using government grants and credits as a tasty carrot.
Cityspace’s first agricultural project is the new wine-tasting room at Cooper Vineyards …

Solar »

[20 May 2009 | Comment here | 28 views]

Reuters is reporting that the world’s largest solar power station will be located in Australia. Here’s an excerpt and link to the full story:
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia plans to build the world’s largest solar power station with an output of 1000 megawatts in a A$1.4 billion (US$1.05 billion) investment, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Sunday [May 17, 2009].
The plant would have three times the generating capacity of the current biggest solar-powered electricity plant, which is in California, Rudd said during a tour of a power station.
Tender details will be …

Electric Cars, Energy »

[19 May 2009 | Comment here | 38 views]
Electric Benz – Daimler 10 Percent Stake in Tesla Motors

Daimler’s interest in battery systems, electric drive systems and related vehicle projects leads to the automaker acquiring nearly 10 percent of one of the leading electric vehicle companies, Tesla Motors Inc. Read the full story and MB press release at AMG Market | Mercedes-Benz Enthusiasts here.

Energy, Environment, sustainability »

[15 May 2009 | Comment here | 36 views]

While updating my alumni info on the A.T. Kearney website, I surfed around and found, “Green Winners” – a white paper explaining why firms are wise to continue their sustainability efforts.
As companies cut costs to get through the current global economic slowdown, there is often a temptation to abandon recent forays into sustainability. Yet a new A.T. Kearney analysis finds that companies committed to corporate sustainability practices during this slowdown are achieving above-average performance in the financial markets during this slowdown. So before tossing out those sustainability practices and initiatives, …

Energy Efficiency, Wind »

[11 Apr 2009 | Comment here | 66 views]

Since February, BMW has been evaluating wind speeds at their Spartanburg, SC, manufacturing plant to determine the feasibility of using wind power at the site. Gold Ring Power, LLC, is working with the automobile manufacturer to determine the viability of adding wind to the list of alternative energy sources used to power the facility. Currently, recycled methane gas from a nearby landfill provides over 60 percent of the plant’s power, which saves the automaker over $1 million per year in energy costs.
Duncan Seaman, Facilities Manager for BMW, explains that "globally, …

Energy, Energy Careers, Green Politics, Solar, Wind »

[2 Mar 2009 | Comment here | 66 views]

Task Force Focuses on Green Jobs as a Pathway to a Strong Middle Class
The White House Task Force on Middle Class Families, led by Vice President Joe Biden, held its inaugural meeting on February 27 in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania. The Task Force has a simple mandate: to find, highlight and implement solutions to the economic challenges facing the American middle class. With President Obama announcing last week more than $20 billion for investment in a cleaner, greener economy – including $500 million for green job training – …

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