From left to right: Fluence, Twizy, Zoe, Kangoo


At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault introduced 4 concept cars that are all electric, not hybrid, electric only. These cars cover city transit, family, commercial and general use categories.


The Twizy city car has a 15kW motor while the Zoe has a 70kW motor. The Fluence family car offers 100 mile range on a full charge and motor size was not specified. The Kangoo offers a 70kW motor as well as solar panels to extend its range.

All 4 cars have 3 charging options, standard multiple hour charging at a charge station, 20 minute quick charge and the Quickdrop system where the battery is exchanged in less than 3 minutes.

The last option, Quickdrop, will of course require a station set up for the process. Renault is working with "Project Better Place" for the battery swapping.

To find out more or read the press release, follow the related link.

PS - Keep in mind, these are concept cars, we may or may not see them on the road someday.

With some materials and airflow design enhancements, Eternaleds Inc. has cut the cost of LED light bulbs by about 40%. This means a return on investment over incandescent of only 2 years. Up till now, the pay back for the difference in cost has been 3 to 4 years depending on the average number of hours the light is used.

The Eternaleds Quanta-9 uses 9W to provide the light equivalent of 50W incandescent floodlights while the Quanta-18 uses 18W to provide the light equivalent of 100W incandescent floodlights. Both have a rated lifetime of 35,000 hours.

Read the press release at the related link below.

If you would like to offset your carbon footprint from air travel, you will be able to buy tree plantings right at the airport. The funds will go to local carbon offset projects and the Garcia River Forest, a previously deforested conservation based management project.

From: renewableenergyworld.com

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Novato-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a solar electric system at the newly completed Rohnert Park City Center Plaza. City Center Plaza is adjacent to the public safety building and the library, three-quarters of an acre filled with benches, a fountain, water spout for children and a small lawn area.

Novato-based SolarCraft designed and installed a solar electric system at the newly completed Rohnert Park City Center Plaza to power all common area lightening and the fountain pump.

The solar energy system installed by SolarCraft utilizes SunPower 225 watt solar panels, the most efficient panel on the market today. The new system powers all common area lighting as well as the fountain pump. The system is mounted on custom-built pedestals to blend with the aesthetics of the Plaza.
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The Panasonic EverLED. This bulb is expected to produce the light equivalent of a 40watt incandescent for up to 19 years of regular use. The expected savings is listed as up to $23 a year on energy bills. This is great since they are expecting the bulb to sell for $40.

This is technology that we need to watch.

I could not find an article with much more information than I have shared here. The bulb is supposed to debut in Japan in October this year.