Ingreenuity is Poet’s way to make ethanol more environmentally friendly
Filed under: Ethanol, Manufacturing/Plants
Ethanol company Poet (formerly Broin) today announced something called Ingreenuity, a “new initiative to enhance the environmental performance of ethanol.” The first step in the process is to decrease the amount of water it takes to make the biofuel down to
2.33 gallons per gallon of ethanol, a 22 percent reduction compared to today’s water usage rates. Instituting this reduction, called the Total Water Recovery process, is expected to take five years.
The main way Poet plans on reducing the amount of water used is by recycling cooling water instead of discharging it. Since it started making ethanol in 1988, Poet claims to have reduced the amount of water needed by 80 percent. Future steps in Ingreenuity are greenhouse gas reductions and the development of bio-based products.
Of course, Poet is not the only ethanol producer out there trying to limit the amount of water it takes to process feedstock into fuel. Coskata, for example, says that its cellulosic ethanol process requires less than a gallon of water for each gallon of ethanol it makes. Poet says it is willing to share its water reduction technology with other ethanol companies.
[Source: Poet]
Continue reading Ingreenuity is Poet’s way to make ethanol more environmentally friendly
My New Favorite Sport: “Toyota Half-Pipe”
Most Americans are now seized by the âDevil Toyotaâ panic rampaging across this vast, enlightened nation of ours. Not me. Iâm watching all this nonsense from the sidelines, popcorn bowl at hand. TV hasnât been this entertaining since the O.J. trial — the first one.
Rather than attempt to explain how seemingly rational, intelligent humans can transform a mere automotive recall into a pandemic of four-wheeled Avian Flu, Iâve decided to make the best of the situation. Hey, at the Vancouver Olympics gold-medal snowboarder Shaun White performed unbelievable jumps, flips, spins, and the Double McTwist — just like todayâs Toyotas! I see a new sport here!
Hereâs a look at some recent standout entries from my new favorite athletic pursuit, Toyota Half-Pipe:
Honda CR-Z pricing announced (UK)
Honda UK have revealed pricing on the all new CR-Z hybrid sports car, days after its world debut at the Geneva motorshow. Prices start from £16,999 for the entry-level S model, rising to £19,999 for the flagship GT model.
Powered by a 1.5 litre petrol engine and Honda’s IMA parallel hybrid system, total output is 122bhp. Mated to this is a 6 speed manual gearbox that can make the car can achieve 56.5mpg (5.0/100km) combined whilst emitting 117g/km of CO2. Urban fuel economy is 46.3mpg (6.1/100km) and extra-urban fuel economy is rated at 64.2mpg (4.4/100km). The CR-Z can do a 0-60mph time of 9.9 seconds before topping out at 124mph.
The CR-Z comes with a 3 mode system – Norm, Econ, Sport. In NORM mode, the speedometer is illuminated blue, with green illumination when the car is being driven in an economical manner. In ECON mode, it is also blue (glowing green when driven economically) and it has a green eco flower lit alongside. When the speedometer is illuminated in a red ambient light, this indicates the CR-Z is in SPORT mode.
At just under 4.1 metres (4,080mm), the entry-level S models come in at £16,999 and have 2+2 seat layout, 16″ alloy wheels, tyre repair kit, solid paint, trip computer, electric front windows, front cupholders, urethane tilt/telescopic steering wheel, electrically heated & adjustable door mirrors w/ integrated indicators, x6 airbags (twin front, side and curtain), active front headrests, drivers seat height adjustment, VSA (vehicle stability assist), alarm w/ immobiliser, DRL’s (daytime running lights), climate control, 4 speakers and AUX input.
Mid-spec Sport models have rear parking sensors, cruise control, privacy glass, USB port w/ 6 speakers, multi-function leather steering wheel & gearknob, front fog-lights, drilled alloy pedals, ambient lighting and electric folding door mirrors. This can be purchased for £17,999.
Report: Chrysler reconsidering light-duty diesel for Ram
Filed under: Truck, Work, Chrysler, Dodge, Diesel
During last summer’s bankruptcy proceedings, New Chrysler chose not to contract Cummins to produce a light-duty diesel engine for the its Ram pickup trucks. At a rumored 5.0 liters of displacement, this diesel engine would have been somewhat less powerful but also less expensive and more fuel efficient than the larger 6.7-liter inline six-cylinder diesel, also supplied by Cummins, in heavy duty Rams.
Now our friends from PickupTrucks.com report that Dodge may be back in the light-duty diesel game. Joe Veltri, Chrysler vice president of product planning, reportedly said at the NTEA Work Truck Show, “We’re in discussions with Cummins. There’s no contract [with Cummins] but [a light-duty diesel] is in our plan.”
As an aside, it seems as if the so-called light-duty engine could also find its way into the Heavy Duty 2500 and 3500 Ram trucks in addition to the expected 1500. “Does every guy need a 6.7-liter diesel? It could certainly package in a heavy duty,” Veltri said.
[Source: PickupTrucks.com]
Report: Chrysler reconsidering light-duty diesel for Ram originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Alleged patent images for Porsche Panamera convertible turn up
Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Convertible, Performance, Europe, Porsche, Luxury
Porsche Panamera Convertible patent drawing – click above for high-res image gallery
See, apparently we aren’t crazy, though we may have been a little smidge off the mark. Back in October, we reported that Porsche had begun work on an open top version of their then new Panamera super sedan. Only we said it would be a two-door ’cause, you know, drop top and all that. Whoops! If these alleged German patent office images from Autocar are anything to go on, Porsche is going after the highly nuanced (to put it mildly) – and presumably lucrative – four-door convertible market, joining the ranks of such noted automakers as… those dudes in Miami that chop the tops off Chrysler 300Cs. Okay, fine, the Maybach 62 Landaulet is kinda like a four-door convertible (but not quite), though at $1.35 million, it actually might compete in a different segment. And yes, yes – we know – the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is technically a four-door convertible.
But never mind any of that, as judging by these images, the Porsche Panamera convertible looks to be pillarless, something that the neither the $25,000 Jeep nor the mega-bucks Maybach can lay claim to. As such, the Panamera’s chassis would presumably have to be beefed up in a major way to retain some semblance of stiffness and rigidity. Though maybe not quite as much as you (and we) might think. If you look closely at the patent images, you can see that, like the Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe, the A-pillar has been reinforced with a mini-triangle. You’ll also note that the Pan’s butt isn’t any bigger than before, suggesting a folding cloth top as opposed to a space-intensive retractable hardtop. Back to chassis strength – thanks to modern production techniques, it’s possible to substitute in thicker gauge steel that will increase stiffness without adding as much weight as traditional afterthought convertible chassis bracing.
And where does this leave those of us wishing for a modern-day 928? Not in a very good place, we’re afraid. These patent drawings clearly show that the new, most-likely upcoming Panamera Convertible has been engineered as a four-door from the get-go, and never a duoporte. Shame…
Nissan only offering GT-R Premium for 2011, priced from $85,060* – will volume be constrained?
Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Nissan
2010 Nissan GT-R – Click above for high-res image gallery
The illustrious Nissan GT-R is, quite possibly, one of our favorite cars currently in production. Now entering its third year in America, Godzilla receives a few minor tweaks for 2011, including some minor suspension tuning, a double clear coat on its front and rear fascias, new rear cooling ducts and – wait for it – slightly darker wheel center caps than on the 2010 model that is pictured. Additionally, the 2011 GT-R – henceforth only available in Premium trim – gets more standard features, including auto on/off headlamps, speed-sensitive windshield wipers, Bluetooth, a USB iPod interface and XM NavWeather and NavTraffic. All of this can be yours for $85,060 (*including $1000 destination charge), which represents an increase of $1,020 over the 2010 GT-R Premium. Get your pocketbooks out.
Curiously, the folks at Nagtroc.org are reporting that just 315 GT-R units are slated to come to the U.S. during the 2011 model year. That striking us as odd, we talked with Nissan spokesperson Darryll Harrison, and he says that the automaker can’t confirm the limited production volume. Hmmm. The 2011 model is just now hitting the nearly 700 GT-R certified Nissan dealers across the country, though if the unit constraint holds up, it’s likely that more than half of the approved showrooms will never see one. Either way, hit the jump for the full details in Nissan’s press release.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Nissan GT-R
Maruti Suzuki Swift: Price in Mumbai
Price of Maruti Suzuki Swift in Mumbai
All prices (indicative) ex-showroom as of Feb 2010, prices may vary
Maruti Suzuki Swift LXi – Rs 4,29,000/-
Maruti Suzuki Swift VXi – Rs 4,61,000/-
Maruti Suzuki Swift ZXi – Rs 5,49,000/-
Maruti Suzuki Swift LDi – Rs 4,94,000/-
Maruti Suzuki Swift VDi – Rs 5,30,000/-
Maruti Suzuki Swift: Specifications
