Algae Bio Fuel for Ford Cars & Nissan Turns Over a New Green Leaf

There’s been a lot of buzz about algae as an alternative biofuel. Several business and university researchers are looking at algae’s potential as a viable alternative to fossil fuel. Now researchers at Ford are looking into algae as a fuel source for cars. While Nissan has revealed more details of its new electric concept car at the Paris Motor Show this week, designed to indicate the direction the Japanese car maker will take next with its EV technology as its electric Leaf prepares to go on sale at the end of the year.

October 4, 2010 3:47 PM PDT

Ford researchers looking at algae as a potential biofuel

by Suzanne Ashe 1 comment Share 61diggdigg

There’s been a lot of buzz about algae as an alternative biofuel. Several business and university researchers are looking at algae’s potential as a viable alternative to fossil fuel. And earlier this year, the House of Representatives introduced the Green Jobs Act of 2010, which offers investment tax credits for algae-based biorefineries.

Now researchers at Ford are looking into algae as a fuel source, the company announced.

“Algae have some very desirable characteristics as a potential biofuel feedstock and Ford wants to show its support any efforts that could lead to a viable, commercial-scale application of this technology,” said Sherry Mueller, research scientist at Ford Motor Company. “At this point, algae researchers are still challenged to find economical and sustainable ways for commercial-scale controlled production and culturing of high oil-producing algae.”

Certain species of algae have the ability to convert carbon dioxide to oil, carbohydrates, and other cell components through photosynthesis. Unlike soybeans and corn, algae is incredibly prolific; it can be grown almost anywhere in fresh or saline waters. Algae can also be grown year-round–there’s no harvest season.

Earlier this year Ford researchers visited Wayne State University’s National Biofuels Energy Laboratory, which is looking at suitable algae strains that could be used as a feedstock for biodiesel. Researchers at Ford’s Systems Analytics and Environmental Sciences Department are also looking into other bio-based fuel alternatives such as ethanol and butanol, the company said.

“Ford has a long history of developing vehicles that run on renewable fuels; and the increased use of biofuels is an important element of our sustainability strategy now and moving forward,” Tim Wallington, technical leader with the Ford Systems Analytics and Environmental Sciences Department said in a news release. “We look ahead from a technological, economic, environmental, and social standpoint at potential next-generation renewable fuels that could power our vehicles.”

Read more: http://news.cnet.com/greentech/#ixzz11R4LesLC

4 October

Green Car

Nissan has revealed more details of its new electric concept car after the Paris Motor Show opened yesterday.

It’s the first time the new concept has been seen in public and is designed to indicate the direction the Japanese car maker will take next with its EV technology as its electric Leaf prepares to go on sale at the end of the year.

Nissan says the new Townpod is designed to meet the needs of a new breed of professional who does not work fixed hours, and maybe even work for themselves so the lines between their business and social lives blur.  Likewise, the car is designed to be as equally multifaceted. Comparing the new Townpod to a ‘white tee-shirt’ which although usually worn casually, can be combined with a suit to look smart, this genre-busting vehicle is designed to mix the comfort and style of a passenger car with the businesslike utility of a commercial vehicle.

Just as classic sedans and estates have evolved over time into hatchbacks, MPVs, SUVs and now crossovers, to meet the needs of commuting life and weekend pleasure, Nissan’s new EV is the next evolution, it reckons.

François Bancon, general manager of Nissan’s Exploratory and Advance Planning Department explains: “At its core, a car is a means to transport people or goods from one place to another as simply and easily as possible. Nissan Townpod’s design supports the essence of its function. It is a smart car for people who demand more.”

Designed to look more van-like than the Leaf, the car is shaped to maximise internal space while still retaining aerodynamic efficiency.

Externally the Townpod consist of many familiar elements seen in the Leaf and although no details have been released on performance, it is likely that it will achieve similar credentials to the electric Leaf; which goes on sale in the US by the end of the year and in the UK in early 2011. It employs the same zero-emission technology found in Nissan’s first electric production car, with the charging point found in the nose behind an automatically retracting cover.

As it is just a concept car, Nissan has at the moment announced no plans to bring it to full production, but watch this space…

Source: www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk