Green Energy News | March 15, 1998

March 15, 1998 – Vol.2 No.50

ENERGIES... week of March 15,1998

FROM SWORDS TO SOLAR PANELS. Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) has been awarded three new grants by the U.S. Department of Energy for further development of clean energy technologies for the Russian market. The Initiatives for Proliferation Prevention (IPP) program will provide grants for scientists formerly employed in the Russian nuclear weapons industry through Sovlux, the ECD joint Russian-American venture .

Russian scientists who had worked on nuclear weapons chambers will switch efforts to photovoltaic (PV) roofing materials. Those from uranium enrichment will move over to PV manufacturing processes, and scientists and engineers once making metal alloys for weapons will turn their attention to alloys for nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries used in electric vehicles. Check out ECD’s web site at http://ovonic.com/.

BOUGHT THAT SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE YET? How green is that new minivan? The Green Guide to Cars and Trucks can help you out. This first-ever publication by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provides a Green Score ranking on all new cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles sold in the U.S - electric, alternative, diesel or gasoline fueled. The Green Score is based on a vehicle’s air pollution health costs, global warming pollution and other specifications. Fuel economy, engine size, transmission choice and regional availability of each model are included.

To make the Guide interesting and useful, ACEEE has included 12 Best and Worst of 1998 (greenest and least green), tips on keeping your car running clean and efficient, buying advice, notes on the environmental impact of automobiles and descriptions of technical terms.

According to a study by PROVIDATA, the global automotive four-wheel drive market will reach 5.6 million units per year by 2005. This Global 4WD Market Research Study is also for sale.

CRUISING THE SOUTHWEST BY E-BIKE. CSW Total EV(tm) has made an agreement with ZAP Power Systems to market and distribute ZAP(tm) electric bikes and scooters to local dealers in the eight states in the Southwest U.S. ZAP e-bikes are powered by 12 volt lead acid batteries, can can be charged from a wall socket, speed to 10-18 mph with a range of up to 15 miles, and sell for $700-1700.

The California Air Resources Board has found hybrid human-electric bikes, such as ZAP’s, can be 99% pollution free.