So 2020 is over. Thank goodness. Now it’s just that pesky 2021 hangover to deal with. And it looks like it will be a doozy. Pandemics apparently don’t know when it’s time to leave the party and go home, so we’re going to be stuck with it for a while longer. The good news is the start of the vaccine roll-out, which should eventually bring some summer cheer. In the meantime, here’s wishing you all a safe and healthy year,…
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The new Monarch 100% Electric Tractor was launched earlier this week in the USA, and it looks to be a real breakthrough product for farmers. The low cost 3 in 1 workhorse can operate not only as a tractor, but also an ATV and a field generator if remote power is needed (e.g. for on the spot welding). And that’s not to say it lacks in the tractor features either. It offers 10 hours autonomous operation, with a 4-5 hour…
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EV crates are suddenly all the rage. These kits contain packaged electric motor components designed to let you upgrade/convert your old gas guzzler to a sleek new electric vehicle. Swindon Powertrain got a head start earlier with its PowerTrain set up, and the Revolt guys will happily drop a Tesla EV crate system into your cherished classic car – for a price! These kits come with a variety of options included, including full transmissions and stuff, and typically batteries are…
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So you remember when we all used to laugh at electric cars? Call them glorified golf carts? Yeah well about that. Tesla clearly broke the ice with the original Sportster, but now the whole battery powered thing is moving in an entirely new direction. Heavy industrial machinery. Take for instance, this Swiss made eDumper. The fully electric dump truck ain’t no Tonka Toy (look it up). The beast is expected to move 300,000 tons of rock every year for the…
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So, another day, another EV. The latest in the flood of electric vehicle concepts is this eBussy. Not just a vehicle, mind you. More a work of art. It comes in modular form, which means it can be converted into various types of EV, ranging from a standard van, to a pick up to camper and so on. You get the picture. Ambitious right? Well so are the specs, price and delivery. It’s scheduled to have a starting price of…
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The latest horror show involving a desperate oil industry involves an elderly oil tanker moored off the coast of Trinidad which is in imminent danger of sinking and spilling 60 million gallons of crude oil into the sea. Something needs to be done. Fast.
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OK so we’re not huge fans of clever marketing disguised as environmental action, but the pedigree of this new initiative seems sound. The Ecosia people – who plant trees when you use their search tools – have just released a new free debit card called TreeCard. The idea is that for every $60 you spend, they will plant a tree in your forest. It’s cute, and while some may consider it a gimmick, the fact is that Ecosia has already…
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It’s not often nowadays that we hear good things about climate change and the issues we face, but maybe there is some upbeat news to share after all. Even though this last September has already been declared the hottest ever on record, none other than Professor Michael Mann has come out pitching with some optimistic info. For those who don’t know Dr Mann is one of the foremost climate scientists in the world, and part of the team which created…
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It’s hard to be a responsible citizen nowadays. No matter how hard we try, there’s always a chance that we’ll buy the wrong product by selecting something which can harm the environment. Here’s where the Beagle Button comes in. Rather like those coupon finding browser extensions that litter the landscape, the Beagle tool is there to help us make better buying decisions. Only it’s not about saving money, but saving the planet. It sits in the browser and pops up…
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The old tea clippers of the 19th century may have been slow, but they had one big advantage over modern freighters. They ran on wind. Now an enterprising Swedish company is attempting to combine modern technology with good old renewable wind energy to turn the environmental cost of shipping goods around the world on its head. The Oceanbird is a huge cargo ship which can carry up to 7000 cars (electric we hope), and will be able to cross the…
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It’s well known that prosthetic limbs usually cost…ahem…an arm and a leg. And sure there have been attempts to bring the cost down over the years. But this new Maker Hand looks like it turn the whole market for prosthetics on its head. The parts including filament, rubber bands etc cost around $30, and it’s made on a conventional home scale 3D printer. The inventor says it takes around one to two days to print, and then another day to…
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UK company Oxis Energy is planning to shake up the electric transportation industry with a newly developed lithium sulfur battery. The new technology apparently provides five times the energy density of a conventional Li-Ion battery, as well as being lighter and safer. The company is pushing for its battery to be used in applications where weight is a key factor – such as electric aircraft. This is not pie in the sky stuff either. Back in July the company announced…
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The Inochi mask is being billed as the world’s first stylish clear mask. And we’ve got to say they’ve got a point. It’s definitely very cool to be able to see people’s faces again. No more guessing whether it’s scowls or smiles, and it also reminds us of how things were before we de-personalised ourselves to stay safe. Of course we totally understand why we need to wear masks, because it is stupid not to. So put it ON! Anyway…
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The new Lucid Air electric car just announced a huge estimated range of 517 miles from a single charge. Which means we’re now clearly entering a new phase of the range wars. It’s not enough that EV performance is pushing supercars into red faced retreat, now we’re going to see range numbers which will humble even the most frugal gas guzzler. Remember we’re really only still at the start of this whole game. If they can hit these numbers now,…
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New Zealand startup Emrod has started trials of a new wireless electricity system which they say could do away with the need for cables, pylons and all that stuff when delivering electrical power in rural areas. What makes this new project different is the fact that it has attracted the attention – and funding – from one of New Zealand’s biggest power companies. Trials with Powerco will begin in October, although the early prototype will initially only be able to…
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