Albertans are passionate about balancing the development of this province’s rich resources with environmental stewardship. The Emerald Awards recognize and reward the excellent environmental initiatives undertaken each year by large and small corporations, individuals, not-for-profit associations, community groups and governments.

You can submit your nominations BEFORE Feb. 24th, 2012 by visiting http://emeraldfoundation.ca/emerald-awards/nominations/

Each year the Foundation receives nominations in ten established categories. Nominations open in November and close at the end of February.
A panel of knowledgeable judges, with cross-sectoral experience, carry out an independent evaluation based on criteria outlined in the nominations package and select the finalists and recipients.

In June each year, about 500 guests gather in Edmonton or Calgary to celebrate environmental excellence in Alberta and provide recognition to those individuals and organizations whose commitment to our environment truly demonstrates leadership. Because of their ingenuity, dedication and hard work, …

Electric car maker Tesla unveiled its latest electric vehicle last night, the Model X, a cross-over that offers more space than the company’s Model S sedan and original sporty Roadster. For those waiting for a semi-affordable electric car that offers plenty of space, power, and versatility, the Model X looks to be the best option yet. Like other cross-over vehicles, the Model X sits somewhere between a sedan and a SUV. But Tesla couldn’t help but add its own spin to the form: the Model X features funky rear doors, dubbed “Falcon Wings,” that flip up and allow you to easily step into the car. Tesla CEO Elon Musk says that the Falcon Wings are the largest rear door openings found in a passenger car, CNet reports. Tesla expects the Model X to retail close to the Model S’ ...

Calgary, AB – February 1, 2012 – Motive Industries Reveals its New Composite Pick up Design Titled the Bison. The pickup truck is a key vehicle in many markets worldwide. In particular Alberta Canada (much like Texas and other ranchland, oil industry occupied regions) has an abundance of personally owned and commercial pickup trucks on its roads. In 2011 in Canada, light truck sales were up 4.7% and full size pickups were up 3.2%. Pickups like the Ford F-Series continue to far outsell popular vehicles like the Honda Civic and Mazda 3. In 2011 the F-Series sold 96,325 units compared to the Honda Civic at 55,090 units (Source DesRoisiers). The Motive pickup, internally named the Bison, is a showcase of what a global ...

Stanford University researchers this week announced they have designed a road-based, high-efficiency wireless charging system for electric vehicles. In theory, the system could help create a network of all-electric highways that charge electric cars and trucks while they drive, reduce the need for point-specific charging infrastructure, and eliminate range anxiety. The power transfer system is based on a technology called magnetic resonance coupling. This technology creates a magnetic field between the road and vehicle to transfer electric currents to the vehicle’s battery. Copper coils, placed under the road surface at regular intervals, are tuned to resonate at the same frequency. When an electric current is introduced, it creates a magnetic field between the coils that can then transfer energy to a receiving coil in passing electric vehicles. Can it work? While the theory may sound far-fetched, it was demonstrated ...

Greentech Media recently reported that Southern California electric vehicle startup Coda Automotive (Coda) launched a battery business called Coda Energy, which will enter the grid-scale energy storage market. Coda’s patent portfolio offers a window into the battery technology that might be part of the new business. Coda owns at least half a dozen U.S. patent applications relating to energy storage technologies, including U.S. Patent Application Publications Nos. 2011/0256431 (’631 Application), 2011/0256432 (’632 Application), 2011/0281145 (’145 Application), 2011/0304202 (’202 Application), 2011/0304298 (’298 Application, and 2012/0015242 (’242 Application). A search in Cleantech PatentEdge™ yields an additional international application, Publication No. WO 2011/060074 (’074 Application), entitled “Battery thermal management systems and methods,” which is the international, or PCT, filing of the ’145 Application. The ’431 and ’432 Applications were filed based upon the same provisional patent ...

U.S. researchers have designed a wireless charging system for electric vehicles they say could ultimately lead to all-electric highways capable of charging cars and trucks as they drive down the road. The system, developed by a team at Stanford University, uses magnetic fields to transmit large electric currents between metal coils embedded a few feet apart under the surface of the road. Based on magnetic resonance coupling technology, the process involves one coil that is connected to an electric current, which generates a magnetic field that causes the second coil to resonate, triggering an invisible transfer of electrical energy. The developers say there is a potential to eventually create a wireless network across highway systems, a step that would drastically increase the range of electric vehicles since they would theoretically never have to plug into a charging ...

 

SDTC is accepting Statements of Interest from February 22nd to April 18th, 2012
SDTC invests in late-stage development and pre-commercial demonstration of clean technologies by Canadian companies in a range of innovative solutions across all industries that address Climate Change, Clean Air, Water and Soil.
CONNECT with SDTC Applications:
Applications@sdtc.ca & www.sdtc.ca/applications
JOIN one of their upcoming Statement of Interest Webinar Workshops: www.sdtc.ca/workshops
•         SDTC Investment Priorities webinar will take place February 17th 11:00am – 1:00pm EST.

•         Additional webinars related to preparing a Statement of Interest application to follow in February and March (dates to be confirmed).

 

Looks like the Chinese like their clean cars pure, they bought about twice as many pure electric vehicles than hybrid vehicles in 2011. But 2012 could see that ration grow even larger (in favor of electric vehicles). Here’s more from sister site Gas2:   In China, EV’s Outsold Hybrids 2-to-1 In 2011 (via Gas 2.0) Related posts: Disaster Zone Dutro — Hino Motors Sends Hybrids North for Rebuilding Toyota to Unveil Concept Hybrids at Tokyo Motor Show China Forgets "China-Only Wind Turbines" Policy, but Why? ...

One of the biggest obstacles to large-scale use of hydrogen-powered fuel cells is in how to store the hydrogen, a task which currently requires high pressure,… which, itself, is energy intensive. Scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory are aiming to solve this problem by creating new materials in which to store the hydrogen.

Metal-organic frameworks pack more surface area than a football field in the palm of your hand.

“We’re working on materials called metal-organic frameworks to increase the capacity of hydrogen gas in a pressure cylinder, which would be the fuel tank,” said Jeffrey Long, a Berkeley Lab scientist who co-lead the project along with Berkeley Lab computational chemist Martin Head-Gordon. “With these materials, we’re working on storing the hydrogen without the use of very high pressures, which will be safer and also more efficient ...

A judge rules against smart meter opponents in Naperville, Illinois who wanted to hold a vote on whether the devices should be installed in their city.