Lately, the “green” issue has been playing a lot on my mind – to be honest, I don’t subscribe to the misconception of being “environmental” equating to the over-played stereotype of the the hemp-smoking, sandal-wearing ‘typecast’ – in general I can’t abide the ignorance of placing these convenient little “tags” on people… most of the eco-aware people I know are very normal everyday people. Over the past few days I’ve been taking a look at my own life and trying to see if there were any ways in which I could contribute further in doing my part – and what has struck me most (carbon footprints etc. aside) is just how wasteful we are as a society. Even without delving too deep into the the environmental issues and the numerous ways we can and are harming the planet, it’s become particularly obvious, that simply by being that little bit kinder to the planet by being less wasteful in our own lives, we could save on our own personal finances as well as on a bigger scale!
Tag Archive for Environmental
Ironman… Tesla Electric Sportscar!
Marvel Comics’ Tony Stark (Ironman), crime-fighting billionaire industrialist/inventor, has a Tesla sports car parked in his garage! Among the other exotic motors is the 100% electric sports car as seen in the recent screen-grab from the Iron Man Super Bowl ad. I think green car lovers everywhere will be aching to see what a 100% electric supercar can do!
Source: AutoBlogGreen
Electric Cars… A Vintage Concept!
With all the interest in finding a Green alternative to petroleum powered engines, major car companies are now looking at the possibilities of the electric car “once again!”. The concept of an electric car is not a new idea at all, in fact the electric powered car pre-dates cars running on combustion engines.
BEVs (battery electric vehicle) were among some of the earliest automobiles. Following the invention of electricity, in the years between 1832 and 1839 (exact year is uncertain), Scottish businessman Robert Anderson invented the first electric powered carriage. It was of crude design and yet a century-and-a-half ahead of its time. The introduction of the electric starter motor by Cadillac in 1913 contributed to the success of the internal combustion engine, making it easier to start and less dangerous. This innovation contributed greatly to the downfall of the electric vehicle, as did the age of the mass-produced and relatively inexpensive Ford Model T.
BEVs are more energy efficient than the internal combustion engine, the fuel cell, and most other types of vehicles. BEVs produce no exhaust fumes and minimal pollution if charged from a renewable energy source. Electric cars have had problematic issues with expensive battery costs, restrictive travel distances between battery recharging, long charging time, and short battery lifespan, which have limited widespread demand.
With the environmental issue becoming an ever-more apparent concern, it may be that Robert Anderson’s time has come and that one day in the not-so-distant future an old concept will see electric cars being the norm’ on every street.
