News and Info
$10 million prize for 100mpg (42.5km/litre) automobile
The X-Prize Foundation, a non-profit organisation partnered with Google and Adobe Systems amongst others, is offering a $10 million prize to the first company that can design, build and commercialise a viable and efficient vehicle that can get 100 miles per gallon (mpg), or about 42.5km per litre. This venture even has the backing of Hummer-loving […]
GreenCars’ response to Business Day article on Toyota Prius sales
In response to a Business Day front page article entitled “High-octane SA eschews green Prius” (16 May 2008), GreenCars’ Christie Viljoen submitted a letter to the editor (published on 20 May 2008) in response to claims that the Prius’ less-than-desirable sales were due to South Africans’ love for speed (i.e. high-octane fuel). A more correct […]
Autobahn gets speed limit … but only one little piece
Bremen, Germany’s smallest city-state, has decided to impose a 120km/h speed limit on the section of the autobahn speedway running through it as of 9 April 2008. It is believed that limiting drivers who currently speed in excess of 250km/h could reduce road deaths by 30% and cut vehicle emissions by 5% immediately and 15% […]
RNRF plans biodiesel plant in Coega
Australian-owned Rainbow Nation Renewable Fuels (RNRF) is in the final stages of securing a government license to manufacture biodiesel at Coega-based plant. RNRF has secured an 80-year lease from the Coega Development Corporation (CDC) for 40 hectares of a new industrial development zone near Port Elizabeth.
London mayor rejects Porsche’s plea to scrap congestion charge
Since February 2003 motorist travelling into a designated Congestion Charge Zone in London had to fork out £8 if they did so between 07:00 and 18:00. Now, a new charging structure has been tabled that will see vehicles being charged based on potential vehicle emissions from October this year.Greenies are exempted; with a charge of […]
Think Bike chairman passes away.
Brian Cannoo, chairman of the excellent Think Bike awareness campaign has tragically died after a bus turned in front of his motorcycle on 16 February.
Think Bike has done invaluable work to promote public awareness of motorcyclists and bicycle riders in South Africa, and it’s a truly sad day for the country’s two-wheeled community to face […]
Video: Tata chairman addresses saftey/emissions concerns.
In the video below, Ratan Tata takes pains to assure the world that Tata’s $2500 Nano meets “all current safety requirements of a modern day car” and “will meet all current legislated emission criteria”. While this is somewhat reassuring, it’s a bit vague. Exactly, which emissions/safety standards will be met. Still, even meeting the Indian […]
Velozzi plugin hybrid sports car to be made in South Africa
How does this sound to you: a sportscar with 0-100km/h acceleration in just over 3 seconds, a top speed of around 320km/h and fuel consumption of less than 2l/100km? Sounds amazing, right? Now what if I told you that these cars were going to be made in South Africa? Too good to be true….
Tata/MDI air car - info
Last year already, Tata Motors signed a deal with the MDI Group to work together on an air car. The video below demostrates the MDI Citycat in action, and explains quite nicely how the technology works - it’s just a pity that the presenter sounds like Eric Bana’s character in The Castle.
Zimbabwe opens the 5th largest biofuels plant in the world
A new biofuel plant has just been opened 15km north of Harare. It was funded by capital from Zimbabwean and South Korean companies and is estimated to save the country about 80 million barrels of foreign oil each year.
The plant will use soy, wheat and sunflower seeds. <sarcasm>Good thing there’s a food surplus in Zim, […]
