NeilBlanchard’s blog

Nissan Leaf

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:36:08 -0700

I am very happy to see another electric vehicle on the near horizon: the Nissan Leaf was announced on August 2nd. There’s a very comprehensive post on AutoBlogGreen, including a video. They appear to have done a lot of careful design: they did...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Chicken Feathers!

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:29:59 -0700

What would you say about using "cooked" chicken feathers to store hydrogen very efficiently? How about using chicken feathers as carbon fiber reinforcement in things like wind turbine blades? The answer to both questions is -- yes you can! Sci...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Would you lease a hydrogen fuel cell car for $315/month?

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:01:56 -0700

Here’s a new one on me; the Riversimple open source hydrogen fuel cell car. Not too many details are available yet: it has a 1kg tank of hydrogen and a whopping 6kW (8HP) fuel cell that give it a range of 240 miles, and a top speed of 50mph. It ...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

If you do not agree that Global Cimate Change is real...

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:25:09 -0700

What other parts of science do you not believe are true? Do you believe that the Theory of Gravity is correct? Or, do you believe in Intelligent Falling? Do you believe in evolution? Or, do you believe in Intelligent Design? Do you believe...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

"eyes forward" Video Mirrors on my xA

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:51:01 -0700

Hello, I have installed my own video mirrors on my Scion xA, and it has reduced my frontal area by ~62 sq. in., and I will be doing another coast down test to see how much it may have helped lower my Cd. I did one set of coast down tests and I g...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

World's Fastest (homemade?) Electric Car!

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Sun, 03 May 2009 03:53:54 -0700

Check this out! World's Fastest Electric Car!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Solar Cogeneration!

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:45:33 -0700

Hello, Here's a really smart idea that I'm surprised that I have not heard about before: http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/04/28/in-israel-solar-power-that-wont-need-subsidies/ They cool the PV with water to make it more efficient,...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Cars to Emulate and Study

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:27:25 -0700

Hi again, I want to start a list of cars that are exceptional in at least one important way, that improves efficiency. Aptera 2e: exceptionally low aerodynamic drag with a Cd of 0.15 and a CdA of less than 3 (sq ft). Low weight (~1,700pounds) a...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

What is EcoDriving?

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 09:48:44 -0800

In a nutshell, ecodriving is driving in the most economical way possible: it starts with brisk acceleration (trying to use the peak torque of the engine) so you get to "cruising" speed fairly quickly, and then trying to use a minimum of throttle ...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Proposal for MassTrans

nobody@vox.com(NeilBlanchard) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 02:11:50 -0800

Build a railroad station at Route 95 & Route 128 intersection, with large parking garage [actually, there is a parking garage very close by, but it is hard to get to from Rt 95], and build train/subway line into Boston. People can then park their...

Read and post comments | Send to a friend