This Company Removes Carbon Dioxide from the Air and Turns It Into Useful Fuel

   
  Now, in an attempt to reverse the trend of global warming, Carbon Engineering, a tech startup based in British Columbia, Canada, plans to remove excess greenhouse gases by sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Climeworks in Sweden and Global Thermostat in New York City are two more startups working in this field. Their work is not limited to just getting rid of these gases; they want to process the captured CO2 into low carbon fuel that can be sold to soda companies and greenhouses.

Carbon Engineering has built its pilot plant in Vancouver and it is set to start capturing and producing recycled CO2 next month. The plant works like a huge air purifier where carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere and processed as pure CO2 that can be sold. The air released at the other end of the plant is cleaned of CO2.

Depending upon the success of this small pilot plant, Carbon Engineering will go for a full-scale commercial plant that can capture 100,000 tons of carbon a year, which is like recycling CO2 emitted from 300,000 cars on the road

BMW:100 Years of Automotive Excellence [Infographic]

     Courtesy WOODSTOCK MOTORS 

The Next Phase in Forced Induction

Electric supercharging, long rumored but never fully realized, is finally happening. Audi’s upcoming SQ7 TDI pairs an electric supercharger with sequential turbos on the SUV’s 4.0-liter diesel V-8. It’s a first for a production vehicle.

As with a conventional centrifugal supercharger, an e-supercharger uses a traditional compressor wheel but drives it with an electric motor rather than a crank-driven belt. E-superchargers draw their power from batteries or capacitors, which can be charged via regenerative braking or, in the case of the SQ7, a beefy generator and a 48-volt sub-system.

The biggest benefits of e-supercharging are power and response, particularly at low engine speeds. Because an e-supercharger’s ability to create boost is not coupled to exhaust energy or engine rpm, it offers flexibility not found in alternatives. Though traditional turbocharging remains a more efficient means of adding power, it has drawbacks such as lag.

As engines downsize and pressurize, e-supercharging offers the ability to size a compressor for a power target without sacrificing low-rpm drivability. It does so by filling in the torque-less void below the turbo’s threshold for creating boost. This is exactly how Audi is using the Valeo-supplied electric supercharger in the SQ7 TDI.

Electric superchargers won’t replace turbos, but they allow for the optimization of turbos and other technologies. For example, deactivated cylinders can remain dormant longer when supported by e-supercharging. And in Miller-cycle engines, which have a longer-than-normal expansion ratio, an electric blower can replace a traditional supercharger to reduce parasitic losses. Valeo describes its e-supercharger as an enabling technology, which gives it at least one thing in common with those male-enhancement products.

Fully Electric With 16 propellers, Joby S2 is a Revolutionary VTOL Aircraft

 

  

  The idea of a flying car has been stuck on the drawing board for decades. But thanks to accelerating developments in technology, personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft may soon become a reality.   The idea of a flying car has been stuck on the drawing board for decades. But thanks to accelerating developments in technology, personal electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft may soon become a reality.

Commuter Craft – The Future of Commuting

   California-based aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation has developed a two-seater aircraft named the Joby S2. Powered by lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide batteries, Joby S2 can change the future of travel.

 

   Joby S2 Doesn’t Need a Runway for Take-Off 

   This environmentally-friendly personal airplane has 16 electric propellers along its wings and V-shaped tail. Twelve of these tilting propellers can face upwards to provide vertical lift for vertical take-off and landing. Once the aircraft is in the air, they tilt forward to develop forward thrust. The other four propellers are used for forward power only.

   Range and Speed

   This amazing two-seater electric plane can reach speeds of up to 200 mph (322 km/h) with a range of approximately 200 miles. Joby S2 also requires almost five times less energy than conventional auto transportation, making it highly environmentally friendly.

  It will cost an estimated $200,000 but due to its fully electric operation, the operating costs will be much lower than that of a helicopter.

Adidas 3D-Printed Shoe Prototype is Made of Plastic Waste From the Ocean

(Picture-Adidas)  

   Adidas collaborated with Parley for the Oceans to create a new 3D-printed shoe concept that is made out of plastic waste from the ocean.

   The prototype features a 3D-printed mid-sole made from recycled polyester and fishing nets in addition to the upper part of the shoe which is comprised of “ocean plastic content.” Adidas says the shoe “stands for how we can set new industry standards.





   “Protecting life underwater became the 14th development goal of the United Nations,” said Parley’s founder Cyrill Gutsch in a press release. “Therefore, Parley in Paris is all about updating knowledge, sharing visions, fine-tuning strategies, creating concepts and forging collaborations in order to kick-start change.”

   While this is yet another interesting 3D-printed concept, I’m interested in actually seeing how practical some of these ideas are versus simply using them as marketing tools. It’s an interesting idea and if we can clean up our seas in the process, good on Adidas and Parley for the Oceans.

Tata Zica Specifications and Details officially revealed

  

  Official details of the Tata Zica are here. The Tata Zica, based on heavily reworked Indica platform, measures 3,746 mm in length, 1,647 mm in width and 1,535 mm in height, while wheelbase measures at 2,400 mm; 70 mm shorter than Bolt. Ground clearance is a resounding 170 mm. The top-end XZ trim rides on 175/65 R14 alloy wheels, while fuel tank capacity is rated at 35 litres.

  As mentioned before, the Tata Zica is powered by a choice of two engines – an oddly displaced 1.05-litre, three-cylinder diesel unit, and a 1.2-litre, three-cylinder petrol unit. The petrol engine, christened the ‘Revotron’ is not to be confused with the similarly named 1.2-lite unit on the Bolt and Zest. Whereas the one on the Zica is a 3-cylinder engine, the Bolt/Zest’s ‘Revotron’ engine has 4. Moreover, the Zica’s petrol engine has an all-aluminum construction, along with variable valve timing technology – the latter being the first in segment. Displacing 1190 cc, the long stroke engine produces 85PS at 6,000rpm and 114Nm of peak torque that’s available from 3,500rpm. It also features the ‘City’ and ‘Eco’ driving modes, unlike the Bolt/Zest, which has an additional ‘Sport’ mode. With this engine, the Zica tips the scales at 1,012 kg. 

  The diesel variant is powered by a new 1.05-liter three-cylinder common rail diesel engine. This is the first and the smallest diesel engine of the new ‘Revotorq’ family, developed by Tata Motors. This 1047cc mill generates a power of 70 PS at 4,000 rpm and 140 Nm of torque between 1,800-3,000 rpm. The kerb weight of the Tata Zica diesel is 1,080 kg; 68 kilos more than the petrol derivative. The fuel efficiency figures of bothy the engine are still unspecified. Tata Zica rolls out with a Harman infotainment system with 8 speakers, Bluetooth connectivity, and smart-phone enabled navigation (only Android phones). The familiar steering wheel gets mounted media/telephony controls. The Zica also features, foldable key, roof antenna, vanity mirrors, power windows (all four), electrically adjustable ORVMs and cooled glove box.

  For safety, the Zica is equipped with Advanced Dual Path Suspension (independent front and twist beam rear), ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), EBD (Electronic BrakeForce Distribution), Corner Stability Control, and dual airbags. While the Bolt and Zest lack usable storage spaces inside, the Zica gets space for a mobile phone, driver side pocket, cup holders in the front console and bins in the door trim that can accommodate bottles. The price and variant details of new Zica are expected to be revealed at the launch of the model in India in January, however, expect it to fall in the brackets of Rs 3.6 lakh to 5.8 lakh.

Denmark’s Wind Energy Output Exceeds Country’s Requirements

       Denmark is a leader when it comes to fighting climate change and generating wind energy. In 2014, Denmark let the world know about its plan to end its use of fossil fuels completely by 2050… whether for electricity or for transportation.

      Denmark has been making significant investments in wind energy. On July 10 this year, so much power was produced by Denmark’s wind farms that the country was not only able to generate all the electricity it needed, but also to share with Germany, Norway, and Sweden.

      As per reports in the Guardian, by the evening of July 9, wind turbines were producing 116 percent of the nation’s energy needs, and that by 3am on July 10, when electricity demand dropped, that figure jumped to 140 percent.

      Denmark has truly shown the world that a world powered by 100% renewable energy is not delusion, and it is well on track to meet 50% of its goals.