Until very recently, consensus opinion has viewed electric cars as at best a niche market and at worst a passing fad. That’s changing as production and sales take off. Continue reading… “Electric car sales go exponential”
World’s first artificial leaf that converts water and light into oxygen
The man-made leaf could help us breathe in space.
Lack of oxygen throughout the universe is one of the persistent challenges of manned space exploration. Trees and other plant life do us a real solid by taking in our bad breath and changing it back to clean, sweet O2 here on Earth. (Video)
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Japan issues driverless Nissan LEAF its own driver’s license
Driverless Nissan LEAF
Driverless cars will likely be part of the roadway in the future. But over in Japan, the future has already begun to take shape. There, this driverless Nissan LEAF just got the world’s first national driver’s license issued to a car and not a human. (Video)
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Scientists working on building a better leaf
Scientists are analyzing the molecular pathways that plants use for photosynthesis.
For decades, researchers have been trying to improve upon Mother Nature’s favorite solar-power trick — photosynthesis — but now they finally think they see the sunlight at the end of the tunnel.
Continue reading… “Scientists working on building a better leaf”
America’s First Electric Highway
I-5 from Canada to Oregon will be turned into the nation’s first electric highway.
Washington state is about to turn a section of Interstate-5 — all the way from Canada to Oregon — into the nation’s first electric highway. Thanks to a $1.32 million federal grant, they’ll be able to install 10 Level-3 electric charging stations along the route. Each station is capable of charging at 400 volts and 30 amps or more and at these stations a typical EV would be 80% charged in just about 30 minutes. Plug in, grab a cup of coffee, chat with fellow travelers, and be on your way.
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Nissan Leaf: All-Electric Car Will Tell Drivers Where to Recharge
An e-mail displayed on an iPhone (center) will tell Nissan Leaf owners when their car is finished charging. Dashboard displays (clockwise from top left) show the car’s driving range and charging stations
When the all-electric Nissan Leaf hits the U.S. market next year, consumers will have to consider its relatively short 100-mile driving range, as well as the scarcity of charging stations beyond their own homes. Nissan plans to tackle these concerns by providing information–and lots of it–to help drivers manage the recharging process.
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21-Leaf Clover Sets Record
21 is much better than 3 or 4 leaves
Shigeo Obara, a farmer in Japan’s Iwate prefecture discovered a clover last week with an amazing 21 leaves! The current world record is an 18-leaf clover, which Obara himself grew in 2002.
Continue reading… “21-Leaf Clover Sets Record”