GASP!     WOOT! YES!

President Barack Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize today for “his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples“; as well as for his ongoing work to free the world of all nuclear weapons.

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The time has come to make a CHOICE. For the economy, future generations and for the sake of nature!

We must decide who will reign the title of the 2009, Green America People’s Choice Award!

“The People’s Choice Award is a celebration of the leaders of the green economy, and a challenge to corporate America to follow their path.”

In order to get nominated these businesses must pass Green America’s screening process. Green America only chooses businesses that are socially and environmentally responsible.

So, without further ado;

Meet the Top 10 Nominees…
(Listed in alphabetical order.)

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Mercedes has dipped its toes into the world of hydrogen power (video below) with the launch of its first-ever production fuel-cell vehicle, the B-class F-cell.

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Japanese luxury car-maker Lexus has announced plans to launch a five-door compact hybrid hatchback. The new model looks set to be a major competitor to the BMW 1-Series and Audi A3 in the hot-hatch segment.

The new model will be showcased in September at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show and is due to go on sale in the UK by autumn 2010.

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The Volkswagen Golf was chosen as the 2009 World Car of the Year at the New York International Auto Show by a jury of 59 international automotive journalists.

“It is a tremendous honor for Volkswagen to have its global best selling model, the Golf, named the 2009 World Car of the Year. This is a great way to kick-off the new Golf here in America. We’re excited for the arrival of the sixth generation Golf, which will be in Volkswagen showrooms later this year. Simply put, we believe this is the best Golf ever.” - Stefan Jacoby, President/CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc

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Ambitious Indian car company Tata has revealed that it may launch its Indica Vista EV all-electric car in Europe by the end of the year, making it the first ‘mainstream’ company to bid for a slice of the continent’s potentially lucrative zero-emission vehicles market.

The move is likely to ruffle a few feathers amongst GM executives, who had grand plans that the Opel Ampera (the Chevy Volt’s European cousin) would become the first major player in the region, following its launch in 2011.

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Swiss auto-maker Rinspeed has revealed a revolutionary electric car, that morphs its body shape depending on the number of passengers onboard (see gallery below).

The Rinspeed iChange is the brain-child of prolific Swiss designer Frank Rinderknecht, also responsible for the sQuba ‘fully submersible’ EV (video). The car, showcased at this week’s Geneva 2009 Motor Show, starts off as a one-seat sports car, but is capable of changing to a three-seat coupe thanks to a pop-up rear end. The intention is that the zero-emission EV can optimize its aerodynamic profile according to the passenger load required (more pictures after the jump).

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Shelby SuperCars (SSC), the company behind the world’s fastest production car, has announced plans to launch an electric supercar that is four times as powerful as the Tesla Roadster later this year.

The Ultimate Aero EV will feature the firms proprietary All-Electric Scalable Powertrain, the AESP, containing twin electric motors capable of an incredible 1,000 HP (735 Kw) and 800 lb-ft (1083.42 NM) of torque. According to SSC, this should enable acceleration from 0-60 mph in a breathtaking 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 208 mph.

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This has been a Lotus/Chrysler-heavy blog in the past few days, but let’s face it: if you’re talking advanced automotive technology and lightweight engineering, you’re talking about Lotus Cars - and if you’re talking highly-anticipated new electric vehicles at Detroit’s 2009 NAIAS auto show, you’re talking about Chrysler’s ENVI electric-vehicle program.

The car shown above is the Dodge Circuit, which Chrysler promised would be a real step forward from the concept Dodge EV they showed last summer (a UK-only Lotus Europa powered by a 200 kW electric motor that Dodge painted yellow and decorated with cheap vinyl stickers).  I won’t keep you in suspense:  it ain’t.

More - including Chrysler’s official press release and some official photography - after the jump.

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Tremont Electric has launched a portable energy generator that allows users to charge handheld electronic devices simply by going for a walk.

The nPower PEG, launched at last week’s 2009 CES event, works on the principle of electromagnetic induction to create a 100% renewable energy source for everything from iPods to mobile phones. To get a charge, users simply connect the PEG to their mobile device and lay it vertically, either against their hip, or in a bag, while they go for a walk or a run.

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Motorola has announced plans to launch the world’s first completely carbon neutral mobile phone, at CES 2009 in Las Vegas.

The shell of the W233 Renew is made entirely of recycled water bottles, and will be available via T-Mobile within the next three months. The struggling cell phone manufacturer has also teamed up with CarbonFund.org to offset the energy used in the manufacture, distribution and operation of each phone throughout its lifetime.

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Russ Meyer, the Chief Strategy Associate for Landor Associates tells us that brands will need to integrate their commitment to sustainability into a larger message of efficiency, effectiveness, and value.

What can we expect to see in 2009?

As consumers look to cut spending, buying “green” may be a low priority in 2009; however, achieving sustainability is a long-term trend that will continue through the next decade. According to Russ Meyer, this trend will continue and even gain momentum globally as a consequence of the economic downturn.

Concurrently, President-elect Barack Obama’s commitment to sustainable energy may finally ensure the support of the world’s largest economy—and biggest consumer of energy—in the global shift toward green.

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For many of us, as we review the financial carnage of 2008 and the dismal outcomes of poorly conceived foreign policy decisions on the part of the George W. Bush Administration over the course of his term (practically rubber stamped by the majority of Congress), we are looking forward to the New Year, a new start, and a renewed sense of hope.

Among the first steps, before we usher in the New Year, is a New Year’s Resolution. But unlike years past, will we embrace the responsibility, sacrifice and curtailment so necessary in these times of climate change, ecological collapse, peak oil and the economic hardship experienced by so many, caused in a large part by our debt-based, growth-on-an-infinite-planet obsessed approach to capitalism? Or do we just try to refinance our house one more time, to take advantage of the latest Red Tag Sale?

Here’s some restorative resolutions for 2009:

1. Stop being a consumer: Let’s get back to an era, as imperfect as it was, where we were citizens or people, instead of being nothing more than consumers.
2. Break our fossil fuel addition: Our fossil-fuel-based luxuries and lifestyle are coming at a dire cost to the planet (if not, also, leading to unprecedented exploitation of people to provide those goods or services at cheap prices). Plus, there’s a good chance that fossil-fuel-based energy is going to get a lot more expensive in the coming years. Let’s cut fossil fuel use out of our lives like we might cut a cancer out of our bodies. Renewable energy is in abundance around us, so why not embrace the sun, one of my “Strategies of Abundance for ecopreneurs“.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/12/31/restorative-resolutions-for-2009-and-beyond/feed/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/23/2008cause-for-inspiration-the-economic-year-in-review/ http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/23/2008cause-for-inspiration-the-economic-year-in-review/#comments Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:28:25 +0000 Reenita Malhotra http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/23/2008cause-for-inspiration-the-economic-year-in-review/

Hope-Despair, a painting by Feroza Unvala

2008 - what a year! As we get ready to draw the curtains on one of the most unsettling economic years in history, we the writers of the Inspired Economist are still wondering… was this year one that has left our battered economy begging for inspiration? Or have the sustainable events of 2008 spearheaded the initiation of what we believe is truly an Inspired Economy?

2008 was about the $700 billion bailout. Foreclosures. The plummeting stock market. As the year came to a close, the nation’s economic turmoil battled with the presidential election. But it was also a time when new businesses were born into what appears to be an unprecedented sustainability boom. When energy, economy and environment have taken on a new and inter-dependent definition.

As we position our economy to take off on this inspiring eve of the Obama generation, let’s reflect on the change that has come into play this year……

The First Quarter

The first quarter of the year saw the idea of social entrepreneuring take flight beyond the borders of America.



Cover of Jeffery Sach’s book Common Wealth

It was also the time when the Center for Resource Solutions launched the Environmental Tracking Network of North America – North America’s first network organization for renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions tracking systems and registries.

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]]> http://inspiredeconomist.com/2008/12/23/2008cause-for-inspiration-the-economic-year-in-review/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/11/20/vw-jetta-tdi-gets-green-car-of-the-year-nod-at-la-auto-show/ http://gas2.org/2008/11/20/vw-jetta-tdi-gets-green-car-of-the-year-nod-at-la-auto-show/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:05:14 +0000 Nick Chambers http://gas2.org/2008/11/20/vw-jetta-tdi-gets-green-car-of-the-year-nod-at-la-auto-show/

Considering the fact that diesel cars have been nearly non-existent in the US for the last decade, the Green Car Journal’s choice of the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI as the Green Car of the Year comes as a bit of a surprise — especially because its competition included two hybrids, and a Smart fortwo.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/11/20/vw-jetta-tdi-gets-green-car-of-the-year-nod-at-la-auto-show/feed/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/10/02/what-to-look-forward-to-in-2009/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/10/02/what-to-look-forward-to-in-2009/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:17:29 +0000 Dave Sattler http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/10/02/what-to-look-forward-to-in-2009/

I know it’s a little premature to be talking about 2009 but I wanted to beat the rush, so here are some of things we have to look forward to in 2009.

Honda hybrid - Apparently someone finally convinced Honda that the ‘cover up half of the back tire’ look was downright ugly and so in 5 short months Honda lovers can own a Honda hybrid …without having to tint the windows so much. No word yet on mpg.

Energy - What do the Phoenix Suns, Jay Leno, and Sun Chips have in common? They’ve all gone solar. Look for the conversation surrounding energy sources to turn up a notch, what with T. Boone flying everywhere to promote his energy plan for the U.S.A., and businesses taking energy procurement or energy-creation under their own wings as part of company strategy. In 2009, and more so in the following years, expect to see the energy industry decentralize and the ability to choose where you get your energy from. What Dean Foods is doing in Gooding, ID (turning cow poo into energy) is a good example of what is down the road.

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]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/10/02/what-to-look-forward-to-in-2009/feed/ http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/dutch-company-to-sell-cheap-powerful-electric-cars-by-end-of-2009/ http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/dutch-company-to-sell-cheap-powerful-electric-cars-by-end-of-2009/#comments Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:27:57 +0000 Andrew Williams http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/dutch-company-to-sell-cheap-powerful-electric-cars-by-end-of-2009/ Dutch-based EV start up Detroit Electric has announced that, by the end of next year, it plans to produce a range of affordable electric cars that are much more powerful than existing models and have zero emissions.

The company is in talks with Proton, the national Malaysian car-maker to produce the cars at their facilities in South East Asia. It is also in negotiations with two other, as yet unnamed, auto manufacturers from Germany and the U.S.

Speaking at a prototype viewing at the Proton test circuit in Malaysia, Detroit Electric’s Chief Executive, Albert Lam said, “We believe in affordable electric vehicles for the public. That is our dream … to find innovative ways to counter global warming.”

The cars, a sportscar, a sedan and a subcompact car, will feature a li-ion battery with a range of 200 miles on a single 7-8 hour charge and a total life span of 125,000 miles. They will also contain electric motor technology produced in-house. According to Chief Scientist Frits van Breemen-Schneider, the motor is 4 to 12 times lighter than exisiting designs, giving it a superior power-to-weight ratio. This means that it can produce 5kw of power per kilogram, whereas the best electric car in existence can only currently produce 0.25 kw per kilogram.

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]]> http://gas2.org/2008/09/03/dutch-company-to-sell-cheap-powerful-electric-cars-by-end-of-2009/feed/ http://gas2.org/2007/12/17/50-mpg-and-cleaner-than-gasoline-where-are-the-clean-diesels/ http://gas2.org/2007/12/17/50-mpg-and-cleaner-than-gasoline-where-are-the-clean-diesels/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:59:23 +0000 Clayton B. Cornell http://gas2.org/2007/12/17/50-mpg-and-cleaner-than-gasoline-where-are-the-clean-diesels/ Since last year, many of us have been eagerly awaiting the introduction of ‘clean-diesels’: the 2008-2009 models touted as having superior mileage and cleaner emissions than comparable gas models.

So where are they? Strangely, promised 2008 models didn’t materialize, and I had trouble finding more on the story. As far as I can tell, we’ll just have to look forward to next summer’s release of the 2009 VW Jetta TDI. The new Jetta gets similar mileage to older models, 50 mpg ( though VW engineers claim 30% better mileage under real world conditions). More importantly though, it’s the first diesel to meet the world’s toughest emissions standards, California’s Tier II, bin 5, earning it clean-diesel status. If you noticed the recent lack of diesel vehicles for sale (especially in CA), it was the direct result of reengineering emissions systems:

Although it won’t be wearing the “BlueTec” badge, the Jetta will be using emission-cleansing technologies developed under the cooperative formed by Audi, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen to make it 50-state legal. Most BlueTec vehicles control NOx emissions—one of the biggest environmental hurdles facing diesels, along with particulate matter—by injecting a urea-based solution into the exhaust system upstream from the catalytic converter, where NOx is then converted into nitrogen and water. The Jetta will instead use a NOx-storage catalyst, which is basically a reservoir that temporarily holds the noxious emissions, like a particulate filter, until they can be burned off during one of the engine cycles.

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