Alternative Energy: Can Algae Replace Oil for Our Energy?

By Johnson R Masterson

Anyone who drives a car can see that the cost of gas bounces up and down in the short term but in the end will always continue to move higher as our fossil fuel reserves diminish. This makes the development of alternative fuels an unavoidable necessity in the future. It's vital that we discover cost-effective and economically viable alternatives. Thankfully scientists are hard at work creating alternative fuel technologies that may be practical to implement and better for our environment. There is one alternative fuel source that hasn't garnered as much attention as wind or solar power. This under-appreciated potential new power source is algae. Algae is endlessly renewable and can be grown in basically endless quantities.

Approximately half of algae's weight is comprised of lipid oil which scientists believe can be converted into biodiesel a fuel that burns more cleanly and efficiently than petroleum. In contrast to oil, algae are renewable and ubiquitous. Algae grow almost any spot on earth. Oil does not get replenished. Algae might be grown anywhere so long as it has access to carbon dioxide water and sunlight. Everybody has seen pond scum. This is probably the most know algae and is also probably the most productive form for producing biofuel. Far from depleting the food supply, the parts that are not converted to biodiesel might be used for fertilizer and feedstock.

Big energy as well as agricultural companies around the globe are beginning to see the windfall that algae might represent in the area of energy production. The majority of research in the field is done by private organizations. Many proponents of algae as a renewable energy source are frustrated at the lack of funding and attention directed at research in this area by public institutions. Many people feel passionately that algae is critical to altering our power mix away from fossil fuel and that algae could create most of our electrical power and fuel our vehicles if only more funding and effort were put into the research necessary to perfect the technology. Despite the large amount of interest from the private energy sector compared to the public sector skeptics maintained that oil companies will not easily allow oil to be usurped as the energy source of choice for the world electricity grids and transportation needs.

Oil prices will continue to go up as the basic laws of supply and demand dictate. Oil companies are well-positioned to make unprecedented amounts of profit from this endgame in oil as they can realize much higher margins from turning over less product. The fossil fuel revolution has facilitated a period of unprecedented prosperity for mankind. But it has not come without a price. Because algae can be grown in every corner of the globe it has the potential to be a great equalizer when it comes to the geopolitical implications of energy. Localizing energy production in the form of algae farms and biodiesel fueled electricity plants means local jobs, economic stability, and opportunity for many nations of the world that today lack these things.

We have grown accustomed to electricity rates which are quite low compared to what they may become when fossil fuels begin to run out. The promise of an algae driven electricity grid and transportation system is truly encouraging. Although lab results and early field test have shown promise, the technology has a long way to go to be perfected.

Johnson is an energy writer who follows issues and trends that impact Texas electricity rates.

Article Source: Can Algae Replace Oil for Our Energy?

Emergence of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

By Michael Vargas

While hybrid cars use the combination of electric with fossil fuels, the result have been only a relatively small increase in fuel efficiency. Electric cars are becoming more popular, but they have a very limited range when compared to gas engines. Natural gas has been providing heat in homes for decades, but it use in cars has been limited due to concerns over the pressurization.

This leaves the fuel cell as perhaps the best chance to produce a practical energy source for vehicles that has the range of gas engines, but provides a clean energy alternative. A solid oxide fuel cell produces electricity from the oxidization of the fuel source. The electrochemical conversion provided in the cell creates a highly efficient method of power generation for a vehicle that's both stable, has few emissions and a relatively low cost.

The development of the technology dates back to the 20th century, but the program got a significant boost almost a decade ago when more government incentives were used to help promote the program. Today the fuel cell car is still in the experimental stages though it has progressed significantly over the past 10 years. The recent hikes in oil prices have help to expand interest in the development of the fuel cell.
The major technical problems that must be overcome with the cell centers on the high operating temperature needed to produce the electrical current. This result is a longer start up time for the fuel cell that includes mechanical and chemical issues that have yet to be fully fleshed out.

Current research to improve the fuel sources is currently being conducted by several companies around the world. The main effort is to reduce the temperature needed to provide the electrical current from the cell which would significantly reduce the cost of the materials needed to house the fuel cell.

One of the more promising areas of research, though it is still in the initial stages is to combine gas turbines to the cell to help augment the chemical reaction. This would be a similar step to the current hybrid vehicles on the market which combine electrical batteries and a gas powered engine.

There are many different chemicals including fossil fuels that are being tested, particularly natural gas and diesel fuels to try and reduce the temperature but these fuels have their own issues which interfere with the electrical process of the cell itself.

With the growing need for renewable energy sources around the world, solving the final issues of the fuel cell may revolutionize the way vehicles are powered leading to a cleaner, healthier environment with more resources being used to solve other energy concerns.

Michael Vargas is the founder and principal consultant of Atlas Project Support. Mr. Vargas has more than 10 years of construction and energy accounting and utilization experience, and is a Certified Business Energy Professional through the AEE, a California Energy Commission Certified Energy Plans Examiner, LEED Green Associate and GBCI Advisory Panel Member.. Mr. Vargas also holds a BSBA from SDSU, MBA and MPM from Keller Graduate School. For more information contact Michael at mvargas@myatlasproject.com or via the web at http://www.myatlasproject.com.

Article Source: Emergence of the Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

Porsche Hybrid Cars Past and Present, A Brief Guide

By Gregory Greene

The Porsche luxury sports car manufacturer has always been one of the leaders in sports innovation, technology and in the competition sports car racing world. Many of the race tracks and courses around the world have not only been a proving ground for the famous sports car Marque, but also as laboratory to race test many of their innovations, thus to strive to constantly improve the technology used by the famous sports car manufacturer.

As an innovator from the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century Dr. Ferdinand Porsche is credited for the design and development of the Lohner Porsche in 1898, the first hybrid motor vehicle (petrol-electric). The vehicle was developed and produced by Dr. Porsche while he worked for Jakob Lohner & Co, where he was a leading technical engineer.

The Lohner Porsche Semper Vivus ("Mixte Hybrid"), as it was known, was partially powered by two electronic motorised wheel hubs on one axle and a petrol motor which powered on the remaining axle. The car also featured an electric generator to sustain the battery charge. This vehicle was also offered as a fully electrical version with four hub powered motors, instead of two.

So if you now skip forward to the present, it's no surprise to see Porsche excelling in the world of hybrid sports car technology. The Porsche 911 GT3 R was launched recently at the Geneva Motor Show and has had some rave reviews for its own design and innovations using Porsche Intelligent Performance (or PIP) through unique hybrid technology. This clever hybrid technology has been developed to make racing cars even more efficient, but this technology will ultimately filter down into road going production cars eventually.

The Porsche 911 GT3 R uses a mixture of clever hybrid technology which has been specifically developed for racing, but differs from the technology found in other hybrid cars. As the 911 GT3 R powered configuration is what makes this car unique from conventional hybrid systems, because the front axle is driven by a two electric motors, which develop 60 kW each. In turn these electric motors supplement the rear driven 480-bhp four-litre flat-six petrol rear engine and driven-train.

Another significant point is the "electrical flywheel power generator" fitted in the interior next to the driver delivers energy to the electric motors, as this replaces the usual batteries in a hybrid road car. The flywheel generator can rotate up to 40,000 rpm, this energy can then be stored mechanically. Then when required the driver can access this generated energy to supply an extra 120kw to the electric motors in the form of kinetic energy, which can be used for additional power when over taking or pulling away from a corner. So to coin a phrase "the car in front is probably a Porsche."

Gregory Greene is writing on behalf of Bramleys in Surrey, the best choice for a Porsche Dealer or when choosing a specialist garage for Classic Car Restoration to bring back your car to its former glory.

Article Source: Porsche Hybrid Cars Past and Present, A Brief Guide

Comparison of Magnetic Power Generator to Other Energy Generation Devices

There are many different sources of alternative energy, but there is a new one which has begun to be noticed...the magnetic power generator.

So, how does this new source of power compare to existing methods?

Compared to windmill power:

To build a windmill one requires the following: a large area, huge investment, maintenance and favorable weather in order to produce energy. The central idea is power generation by wind depends on weather conditions.

Any variations on weather, such as: low wind pressure or bad weather makes the generation system to slow down or stop altogether.

Therefore, the windmill system is an unreliable medium. It is very crucial to maintain the windmill system at regular intervals. In comparison with a Magnetic Generator, we see that Magnetic Generator works without any external help and the weather doesn’t affect its performance at all.

Compared to solar power resources:

Solar power is derived from solar energy (sunlight) and is not very reliable in the cloudy weather. This source of power solely works under sunlight; equally it needs of a large area for installation. The areas where sunny weather is certain throughout the year is the most appropriate for the solar system. So the above mentioned reasons give a vivid contrast between magnetic and solar power.

Compared to normal fuel generators:

In our comparison between the fuel generators and magnetic power generators, there is a huge difference of cost. Fuel generators require a great amount of fuel as compared to the magnetic power generators. Also maintenance, space for its installation, its sound and repairing of the generator (if needed) are other issues. The purchasing price is also too high to handle. You should keep in mind the possible dangers from it and you will have to prevent the children or pets to go near it. However, the Magnetic Power Generator is easy to use and it saves lot of money and fuel as well.

Compared to thermal power generators:

These generators consume the biggest area; need lot of money, man power and constant maintenance. It is based on water steam. Also when we compare it with Magnetic Power Generators we come to know that there is a huge difference in cost, space occupation and fuel consumption. Thus, magnetic power generator wins the comparison again.

Learn more about the magnetic power generator at HoJoMotor.com.

A Discussion of the Benefits of Owning a Hybrid Car

I bought my Toyota Prius back in 2006. It has over 130,000 miles and still gets right around 50 MPG. The following article discusses some value you might find in owning a hybrid car yourself.

The Benefits Of A Hybrid Car
By Anwar Saja

Global pollution, which is largely caused by motor vehicles, has exceeded the permitted level. Oil prices also have increased significantly over the last 5 years. Recently many car manufacturers have started to produce cars with hybrid technology to overcome these problems.

Hybrid technology reduces fuel consumption, and produces less pollution. This green technology has the potential to replace the conventional petroleum based energy technology. It was first developed more than a hundred years ago. The first car equipped with hybrid technology was built in the year 1950. In the last decade, car manufacturers have shown significant improvements on hybrid technology. Many types of hybrid vehicles have been unveiled in many car exhibitions or motor shows. Some are already out in the market.

There are many advantages of hybrid cars, and below are some you know need to know:

1. Hybrid technology helps reduce fuel consumption significantly. This ground breaking technology combines the use of electricity and fuel to run a car. As a result of this, a hybrid car use up to 50% less fuel than gasoline powered cars. With reduced fuel consumption, you can reduce your monthly expenses as well.

2. Hybrid vehicles only produce 30% of the amount of emissions produced by conventional vehicles. This means less air pollution, which is good for the Earth. Air pollution is one of the main causes of global warming. When you use a hybrid car, you help slow down global warming. Perhaps some people are still not aware that global warming has caused numerous natural disasters, extreme weather changes, and rising sea levels. You do not have to wait for the government to take actions against global warming. You can start acting now to help slow down global warming by using a hybrid car.

3. If you buy a hybrid car, the government will give you tax incentives. The government encourages their citizens to use hybrid cars as a means of reducing pollution by granting tax credits for green technology users. The amount of incentive given varies depending on the type of the car. You can ask car dealers for more information about the tax credit policy.

4. Besides reducing monthly gasoline expenses, cars with green technology can reduce maintenance cost, because it needs less maintenance than conventional cars. Although hybrid cars are a little bit expensive than ordinary cars, they are more economical in the long run. Sooner or later, the prices of hybrid cars will decrease. When that time comes, they will be affordable for anyone.

Article Source: The Benefits Of A Hybrid Car
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Converting Your Car From Gas to Electricity

There's a lot of talk out there about electric cars. However, they are not yet readily available, they are expensive, and most people are not ready to take the leap anyway.

There is an alternative to buying a new electric car, for those willing to invest a little "sweat equity" into the project. You can actually convert a gasoline powered car to an electric car.

Your three major questions will be:

1. How hard is it?

2. How much will it cost?

3. Why would I want to do it at all?

Well, if we take question #3 first, the answer is probably going to be that you want to do something about the environment, cut down on noise pollution, and you want to stop supporting "big oil". Some might also say that they want to save money.

I think that brings us to question #2.

It can actually cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to convert a gas powered car to an electric one. It is hard to come up with an exact estimate because so many factors, including the year, make, and model of the car you are converting come into play. This will influence the size of the battery pack you will need. Local availibility of parts, and your personal skill and knowledge come into play.

That's probably question #1.

Even if you are a skilled mechanic, which will make some aspects of the process easy, ou probably have little or no experience building an electric car. You will need a kit, a mentor, or at least a set of instructions. There are many suck instructional manuals around. I cannot say that one is "better" than another, but I do know that there is one at www.electricity4gas.com which seems to be fairly comprehensive, and, at a cost of only $32.95, it's a cheap way to get the info you need to decide whether or not to pursue the project. The site owner also claims that you can convert a gas car to an electric one for about $300 using his manual.

If you are interested in possibly converting a gasoline powered car to an electric one, but have no idea how to get started, it's worth a visit to www.electricity4gas.com to at least get some basic information about the project.

Review: Mercedes Benz Hybrid

Once again, we provide a little information about a hybrid car. However, you might not expect a hybrid from this source! Let's see what Mary has to say:

2011 Hybrid Mercedes Benz M-Class
By Mary Peach

When we think about Mercedes-Benz, luxury, class, durability and safety come in mind. The 2011 hybrid Mercedes-Benz M Class is no exception either. The 5-passenger, 4-door luxury car comes with 5 trims and ranges from ML350 Blue TEC SUV to ML63 AMG. The other Models in M-Class include ML350 RWD SUV, ML450 Hybrid SUV and ML550 SUV.

At the start of the range, ML350 has 7 automatic gears giving fuel utilization of 16 mpg in city and approximately 20 mpg on highways. Engine Specifications: Horsepower of 210[@]3800, Torque 400[@]1600, Fuel Tank Capacity - 25.1 gal approximately. Size - 3.0L/182.

Specific features of this model include: Child Safety Door Locks and Power door Locks

Anti Theft Alarm and Vehicle Theft Tracking Notification, Selective Unlocking, Front and Rear Power Disc Brakes, Front and Rear Body Color Bumpers, Turbocharger and intercooler, DVD Player and SD Card Reader. In addition to this there are 2 Fog lights in front, Tire Pressure Monitor and Trip Computer. You will also find a Digital Clock, Compass, Automatic Climate Control and Tachometer.

The ML63 model has 7 speed automatic transmissions and gives fuel consumption of 11 mpg in city and approximately 15 mpg on highways. Engine Specifications: Horsepower of 503[@]6800, Torque 465[@]5200, Fuel Tank Capacity - 25.1 gal approximately. Size - 6.3L/379.

Specific features of this model include: Six Seated Air Bags, 4-Wheel ABS, Traction Control and Auto-on Headlights. Apart from this you have Electronic Stability Control, Back-up Camera and Vehicle Anti-theft System. For the comfort factor it has Dual Zone Front Air Conditioning. Some more features include Keyless Entry, Mirrors with Memory, Driver and Passenger Illuminated Vanity Mirror, Front and Rear Reading Lamps, Heated Driver and Passenger Seats, and last but not the least the Navigation System.

The ML350 comes with a price tag of $50,490 and the more advanced ML63 comes at $92,590. The other models in the range are ML350 SUV Type priced at $48,990, ML450 Hybrid will cost $55,790 and ML550 SUV will cost $57,590. All Grand edition M Class Models come with 19-inch light alloy wheels with Y-spoke design, which makes them a class apart from the rest. Comfort and Style have been prioritized with Power trunk Closing Assist, Rear Seat Entertainment System and One touch Window functionality. Safety and Security features are as detailed as you will find in any Mercedes-Benz, keeping up with the company's reputation of making some of the safest cars on road.

Available in 10 colors, the 2011 hybrid Mercedes-Benz M-Class will give you abundant options to choose from. With Auto-dimming driver rearview mirrors, Brushed Aluminum Running Boards with Rubber Studs and Enhanced Voice Control, the 2011 hybrid Mercedes-Benz M Class is the car to buy if you're looking forward to driving perfection!

Related Page: Rent Hybrid Car

Article Source: 2011 Hybrid Mercedes Benz M-Class
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