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Greenpeace is quite unhappy with recent proposals to use carbon capture technology (CCT) at power plants that burn coal. According to the environmental group, CCT is like burying money. Their reasons? First and foremost, the technology is not yet 100 percent ready, and won’t be until 2030. Meanwhile, the need to reduce carbon emissions is quite immediate. Secondly, Greenpeace claims that CCT wastes energy: about 10 to 40 percent of the energy produced by the power plant where carbon is captured is used to store that carbon. This offsets 50 years of development in power plants, Greenpeace says, and guess who is going to pay for that? Final users. Of course, Greenpeace states that this can be fixed if we all change to renewable sources of energy, like solar or wind turbines.

[Source: Econoticias]

OMG, Chelsea Sexton is so slumming with the biofuel folks! The staunch plug-in car supporter was in Santa Monica last week and participated in a eco-makeover courtesy of Elle Magazine and the publication’s biodiesel-powered salon/bus. Ecorazzi’s Anna Griffin was at the scene (that’s her with the mic) and got the scoop on why one of the most prominent faces of today’s EV movement - Sexton was a big part of Who Killed the Electric Car? and today works with Plug In America on electric vehicle issues (protesting Toyota, for example) - would deign enter the Elle Eco Spa Bus. The bus has got some eco-cred, that’s why, and even though the bus doesn’t feature a plug, it is raising money to plant trees around the U.S.

Elle is just one fashion icon that’s interested in green transportation. Last year, for example, supermodel Laura Bailey helped launch ibuyeco, a green-themed insurance program. And Tyra Banks took her supermodel reality show on the biodiesel route last year, as well.

[Source: Ecorazzi]

To date, hybrids haven’t been making much headway in the Chinese market. Big price premiums and relatively cheap gas have dampened demand among consumers there. That may soon change as the Chinese government is apparently considering dropping the sales tax on hybrid vehicles to stimulate sales. Given the choking pollution in cities like Beijing and Shanghai, the government needs to do something, especially considering that Chinese consumers seem to be increasingly migrating toward SUVs and other more powerful vehicles. What they really need to do is lift the cap on fuel prices. That would seriously push Chinese drivers to consider cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

[Source: China Car Times]

Click above for photo gallery

Devil May Care, the new James Bond novel set back during the Cold War in 1967, arrives on bookstore shelves May 28th. The book’s author, Sebastian Faulkes, has written the story in the style of the late Ian Fleming to celebrate the 007 creator’s centenary. As we first reported last September, MI6’s greatest secret agent also returns to his Bentley-driving roots in Devil May Care. The car is the same one he drives in Fleming’s Thunderball and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service: a custom 2-seat Bentley R type Continental convertible with the 4½-liter engine from a Mk VI stuffed underhood. To celebrate Bond’s return to Bentley, Penguin Books asked the automaker to design a very limited Special Series Edition — just 300 copies will be made. (Anyone want to place bets on the aftermarket value of book #007?)

Under the supervision of chief designer Dirk Van Braeckel (the man responsible for the current Continental GT’s lines), Bentley has delivered a leather-bound, heirloom-quality piece. The ‘Flying B’ hood ornament is featured on the cover and spine, and the outer leather is stitched in the same diamond pattern you’ll find on the seating surfaces of a modern Bentley road car. The inside cover is also finished off in leather, but is styled in tune with cars of the era in which the story is set. The typeface used is the same one you’ll find in a Bentley owner’s manual, and each individually-numbered book comes with a matching-number pewter die-cast R type model and a similarly-snazzy book block. The numbering on each book, by the way, is featured on a metal plate supplied by the same firm who does the engine plates for the cars. Finally, all books come with a plexiglass slipcase.

As you might expect, this mega-exclusive book is also mega-expensive. £750 will put one on the bookshelf, where it would surely look nice next to the divorce papers you’ll be handed shortly after its arrival. If you’re a Bond completist, recent lottery winner, or a Bentley fanatic, you can order the super special edition via Penguin007.com, where they’ve got all manner of Bond info, a countdown clock ticking off the seconds to the book’s release and a link to the Special Series Edition minisite. You regular folk (we know you’re out there) can meet us at Amazon, where the pricing’s a bit more in tune with blogger pay.

[Sources: Bentley, Penguin Books]

City Car Club, a carshare operator established in 2000 and based in the U.K. operates a fleet of vehicles including many Honda Civic Hybrids. The carshare group recently polled celebrities to find out what kind of vehicles they drive. Afterwards, the average CO₂ emissions of their fleets were summed up and the celebs were ranked. The worst of the worst turns out to be Simon Cowell, the judge you know and love from American Idol. Apparently, the Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari F430 and Rolls Royce Phantom in his garage average 457 g/km of CO₂, with the Veyron emitting the most at a whopping 574 g/km.

Jay Kay, “that bloke what wears daft stuff on his head” and frontman for the funk band Jamiroquai comes in at second place, followed by soccer star David Bekham. We’re not really sure just how exhaustive the City Car Club’s list is, but check out the top bottom ten after the break. American celebs appearing on the list include rapper fiddy 50 Cent and singer Justin Timberlake.

Celebrity emissions offenders

1 Simon Cowell
Average carbon emissions 457g/km
Cars owned Bugatti Veyron, Ferrari F430, Rolls-Royce Phantom

2 Jay Kay
Average carbon emissions 444g/km
Cars owned Bentley S1 Continental, Ferrari Enzo, Rolls-Royce Phantom

3 David Beckham
Average carbon emissions 421g/km
Cars owned Bentley Arnage, Bentley Continental GT, Hummer H2, Lamborghini Gallardo

4 Rowan Atkinson
Average carbon emissions 398 g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin DB7 Vantage, Audi A8, Bugatti Veyron

5 50 Cent
Average carbon emissions 394.5g/km
Cars owned Hummer H2, Rolls-Royce Phantom

6 Rio Ferdinand
Average carbon emissions 379g/km
Cars owned Bentley Arnage, Bentley Continental, BMW X5, Cadillac Escalade

7 Steven Gerrard
Average carbon emissions 361g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vanquish, Bentley Continental, BMW X5, Porsche 911 Turbo

8 Kerry Katona
Average carbon emissions 359.5g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vantage, Lamborghini Gallardo, Porsche 911 Turbo, Range Rover

9 Wayne Rooney
Average carbon emissions 308g/km
Cars owned Aston Martin Vanquish, BMW X5, Mercedes CLK, Porsche 911 Turbo

[Source: What Car]

10 Justin Timberlake
Average carbon emissions 287g/km
Cars owned Audi TT, Jeep Wrangler, Range Rover

I’m so getting a WWBD bracelet. The answer to the “What would Bono drive” question has been answered: a Tesla Roadster. If he were to wait a little while longer, perhaps he’d get a next-gen Prius, which we now believe should have a larger and more efficient engine. Meanwhile, Colbert’s Wørd is ethanol.

• Next-gen Prius to get larger engine, more efficient
• Softening demand hits GM full-size truck production
• Bono + Monaco = Tesla in Europe
• Colbert’s Wørd discusses the magic of ethanol
• Dragon Power Station makes electricity from traffic
• Newsday finds the Nissan Altima hybrid to be quite the moneysaver
• VIDEO: Diesel vs Hybrid, the heavyweights take it to the streets
• Magna International reportedly developing hybrid car
• Oh boy, more free energy, this time from a man named Archer Quinn
• Rendered Speculation: 2009 Ford Ka, smallest kinetic design yet
• GM manufacturing plant in Spain gets solar panels
• Yamaha adds scooter fuel mileage estimates to its website
• Small cars perform poorly in U.K. whiplash testing
• VIDEO: GM’s Paul Najt talks about HCCI engines
• Why yes, people would enjoy stop-start engine technology
• Green Street Fair coming to Plymouth MI May 3-4
• New ethanol sensor could make for safer biofuel refineries
• Piezing dress generates electricity as the wearer walks
• Electric Super Seven from Evisol Thorr offers high power and light weight
• Bentley apprentice team wins “Spirit of GreenPower” award at Greenpower Corporate Challenge

The only green usually associated with Bentley other than the color is the amount you have to spend to own and operate one. However there are some within Bentley who are working on cars that don’t necessarily represent conspicuous consumption. A team of young apprentices working for Bentley took part in the GreenPower Corporate Challenge over the weekend and won the “Spirit of GreenPower” award with their Continental DC. The Continental DC doesn’t have the typical wood and leather interior associated with the brand, but instead is a minimalist single-seater running on battery power. The GreenPower challenge is a electric vehicle competition for British high school students that is in its tenth year. For the Corporate Challenge, company teams had the opportunity to take on the top 15 student teams from the regular GreenPower series.

The victorious Continental DC features a snug carbon fiber body that encloses a 240 W, 24V wheel chair motor and a pair of 12V lead acid batteries. The little racer has a top speed of 40mph. Maneuvering in a parking lot could be problematic with its 63ft turning circle. Of course with its 265lb mass you could just pick it up and turn it around. The team had some technical issues in the first part of the four race but persevered to win their award. They will go on to compete in the F24+ series this season.

[Source: Bentley]
Bentley Racing Green

28 April, 2008

Crewe, Monday 28th April 2008… A Bentley Motors apprentice team has won a special “Spirit of Greenpower” award for its performance in the Greenpower Corporate Challenge which took place at Goodwood race circuit yesterday. The Bentley apprentice team designed, engineered and built the electric powered car which they entered into the Greenpower Challenge as well as a season of “F24+” racing. The Bentley Greenpower car is called Continental DC (Direct Current) and runs off a 24-volt motor supplied by two 12-volt batteries. Designed for lightness and maximum power efficiency the one-seater Continental DC has a carbon fibre chassis and low resistance tyres.

Greenpower is a series of events which aims to promote greater interest in young people to follow careers in the fields of engineering and technology. The 2008 Greenpower corporate challenge held yesterday was the first race of the season. 25 teams entered, comprising 15 school entries and 10 company teams. The Bentley team achieved their goal of completing the four hour race, despite some technical difficulties in the first section. The award was given in recognition of their excellent team spirit which they showed in overcoming these initial technical challenges. The F24+ season consists of eight 90-minute endurance race events which will culminate in a grand final at Goodwood in October. Race tracks on the F24+ schedule include Dunsfold, Rockingham, Croft and Aintree.

The Bentley Motors team is composed of nine of the company’s apprentices who are all following a three or four year apprenticeship scheme at the factory in Crewe. Margaret Cheshire, Head of People and Organisational Development at Bentley Motors said, “It’s fantastic that the apprentices are not only gaining the technical skills associated with building a car but are also increasing their knowledge of other areas of the business such as finance, purchasing and public relations.” She continued, “It’s all about giving the individuals knowledge and expertise to be successful in their future careers after the completion of the Bentley apprenticeship programme.”

Having taken the initiative themselves to compete in the Greenpower challenge the apprentices have devoted weekends and evenings for the past ten months taking full responsibility for all aspects of the car’s development. Three team members acted as drivers on race day, the rest of the team provided essential back-up support in the pits.

Tom Hodgson, Greenpower team manager added, “In building the car we pooled the expertise and resources from across the business to produce a project of which we’re all proud. Having completed our first race we now know what we have to do to be successful for the rest of the 2008 Greenpower season. The experience of developing a project from idea to race-day was exhilarating. It was also hugely satisfying to see the positive support from sponsors keen to help the Bentley team”.

Technical highlights of the Bentley Greenpower car

- Its 24v Motor delivers 0.5bhp and 5.1 lb ft (7Nm):
- Top speed of 40mph (64km/h).
- Zero CO2 emissions.
- Chassis & design:
o Fixed carbon fibre suspension wishbones for maximum strength and minimum weight.
o Excellent roadholding and superior grip from unique 1×16″ carbon fibre wheels with bespoke Michelin low resistance tyres.
o Rear grille matrix in chrome finish.
o Bentley Hide/Alcantara trimmed interior
o Specially built ECU to control motor/transmission

More information on the project is available at www.bentleygreenpower.com

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

MODEL TYPE Single Seater

Power
Type 24v Wheelchair motor (Regulation)
Installation Transversely mounted, One-wheel drive
Power 240 Watt
Torque 7 Nm
Fuel Source 2 x 12 v Lead Acid Batterys

TRANSMISSION
Type Continuous one-wheel drive
Gearbox Nuvinci CVP
Ratios Infinitely variable between 0.5 under and 1.75 overdrive

PERFORMANCE
Top speed 40mph (64km/h).

SUSPENSION
Front Single wishbone rigid suspension
Rear Single wishbone rigid suspension

STEERING
Type Rack & pinion,
Turns lock to lock 1
Turning circle (kerb to kerb) 19.2m

BRAKES
Rear 160mm ventilated disc (to single wheel)
Anti lock In development!

BODY & CHASSIS
Construction Carbon Fibre monocoque
Length 1420mm
Width (inc. mirrors) 1000mm (82.76in)
Weight 120 Kg
Height 500mm
Wheelbase 1300mm
Front track 1000mm
Rear track 1000mm
Wheels Custom made 16″ carbon fibre

Tyres Michelin Eco-Marathon specials

FUEL CONSUMPTION/EMISSIONS
Fuel consumption 2 hours per battery set
Carbon dioxide emissions 0g/km
CONTINENTAL GT FEATURE SPECIFICATIONS

EXTERIOR FEATURES Bright chromed grille
Bentley Wheel Badge

INTERIOR FEATURES Trimmed Steering wheel, Seat and dashboard, Touch screen driver information panel in development

Tom Hodgson
Bentley Test & Development Engineering Apprentice
Greenpower Project Manager

Andrew Conneely
Bentley Whole Vehicle Engineering Sponsored Degree Apprentice
Greenpower Design of steering and suspension components

Martyn Brookes
Bentley Prototype Workshop and Test Facility Apprentice
Greenpower Chassis, Design & Electrical.

Ellis Dawson
Bentley Apprentice Analyst Programmer
Greenpower Team Marketing, Website, data logging and telemetry.

Annabelle Gibson
Bentley Commercial Apprentice
Greenpower Contact for sponsors.

Charlotte Watling
Bentley Electrical Engineering Apprentice
Greenpower Electrical design & Production and driver.

Hannah Proffitt
Bentley Body Hardware Engineering Sponsored Degree Apprentice
Greenpower Interior trim, Steering and driver.

Laura Taylor
Bentley Trim Development Apprentice
Greenpower Seat design and manufacture.

Paul Johnson
Bentley Manufacturing maintenance Apprentice
Greenpower Data logging and telemetry

*We have received much support from across the Crewe Factory