Green Options

As various countires and cities around the world are rolling out policies with regards to the integration of charging stations that would allow for greater use of electric and hybrid vehicles, it’s becoming more apparent that perhaps the development of vehicular technology is moving substantially faster than might be realistic.

By 2011 the US Army’s Space & Missile Defense Command has plans to deploy a spy ship, which will be unmanned over Afghanistan. While this is a controversial move in itself, some eco-enthusiasts are applauding the consideration to model the aircraft after an experimental hybrid airship which took flight on a number of occasions in 2006.

The Veggie Van Organization unveiled the first algae fuel powered car this week in San Francisco. It’s actually a plug-in Prius that has been converted with the nickel-metal hydride battery. The green vehicle doesn’t run strictly on algae, but rather a 5% algae/95% gasoline blend. Since this vehicle uses a standard engine without any modifications, it demonstrates the opportunity to use alternative fuel sources like algae in a vehicle, and only 5% algae might be used today, but it gives some hope for the future.

Green business practices are not limited to factories and buildings anymore. According to Yahoo Finance, soem insurance companies are offering clients who drive green cars or live in green homes a break on their premiums. Still others are offering to rebuild a green home that is lost due to fire or other catastrophes “greener” than it was before.

Ener1, profiled here, develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries designed for use in next generation hybrid and electric vehicles. In recent news, Ener1 purchased South Korean battery maker Enertech. This purchase will take Ener1 one step closer to its goal of becoming the first company to mass-produce a cost-competitive lithium-ion battery for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Enertech is one of just a handful of companies that specializes in producing large format flat (or “prismatic”) cells, which Ener1 believes offer significant performance and manufacturing advantages over more common cylindrical designs. Enertech operates a 200,000-square-foot plant outside Seoul, South Korea capable of producing cells for 15,000 electric vehicle battery packs per year.