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Whiskey-Derived Fuel Patented in Scotland

[Transport] The hunt for a commercially viable biobutanol could finally be over thanks to an inspired, if ironic, bit of recycling by scientists working at Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland. They’ve taken the two main waste products from the Scotch whisky production cycle and brought them together in a process which outputs biobutanol, long heralded as a next generation biofuel because it produces up to 30% more power than ethanol and can be used in existing combustion engine cars without modification. The process has now been patented by the University which has also set up a limited company to leverage the commercial possibilities of the invention. Professor Martin Tangney, Director of the Biofuel Research Centre at Edinburgh Napier University, believes the biofuel could be sold at garages alongside normal gas. He said, “I would expect to see this as a fuel in forecourts in years rather than decades”. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

First-Ever Carbon Map Shows Global Warming in Peru's Amazon

[Technology] This image shows an area of road building and development adjacent to primary forest in red tones, and secondary forest regrowth in green tones. Credit: Carnegie Institution. You can see the effects of global warming in a new high-resolution map that shows carbon locked up in tropical forest vegetation and emitted by land-use practices in Peru's Amazon. The maps were created with satellite mapping, airborne-laser technology, and ground-based plot surveys. And the images may help pave the way for a new United Nations monitoring system to curb deforestation and forest degradation.... Read the full story on TreeHugger [TreeHugger Technology]

Diesels Cleaner Than Electrics Over Lifetime Says One Study

[Transport] I’m going to go out on a limb and assume most of our dear readers are fans of fuel efficient cars. I too, like my gas-sipping 4-cylinder Mustang, mostly because it saves me a lot of money compared with the rest of my gas-guzzling fleet. Other people are just trying to lessen their carbon footprint, and common sense suggests that an electric car would have a smaller footprint than any fossil fuel-powered car, right? Not according to one Swiss study. Compared to diesel-powered cars that get over 60 mpg, electric vehicles may have a larger environmental impact… especially if the electricity comes from non-renewable sources. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

Volt Can Use California's HOV Lanes… In 2012

[Transport] I have survived Southern California’s horrendous traffic jams, though just barely. How anybody could stand to sit in traffic for hours on end, day in and day out, is beyond me. People do it though, and it seems to have bred a special kind of patience in the residents of Southern California. California also is a bastion of green living, and there are many advantages to owning a hybrid car in the state, like use of their HOV lanes. While California recently announced that the Nissan LEAF would have access to HOV lanes immediately, the Chevy Volt was shunned. That has changed though, as Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill allowing the Volt to use HOV lanes… starting in mid-2012. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

SKY-powered Mazda3 Gets Over 40 MPG

[Transport] It is all about fuel economy right now, and the automakers are pulling out all the stops to ensure they might weather the stiffening CAFE standards in the coming years. Electric cars, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, diesels… all are about to become a lot more commonplace. Yet, still, there remains a seat at the table for fuel-efficient combustion engines, and there is plenty of room for improvement in the old standby. Forgoing much of the hybrid craze, Mazda is focusing on clean petrol and diesel engines. And their work has not gone unrewarded. Comments from spokesmen suggest that the compact Mazda3 with a SKY-G engine got around 40 mpg on the highway. Not too shabby! Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

Green is the New Fast, Part 2: Maybach Lives!

[Transport] When it was introduced several years ago, Mercedes’ ultra-luxury Maybach line was originally intended to compete with offerings from BMW’s Rolls-Royce and Volkswagen’s Bentley. To put it mildly: Maybach flopped, selling only a fraction of the cars Rolls and Bentley did year after year. Maybach was such a spectacular failure that many industry analysts predicted Mercedes would discontinue the brand altogether. They were wrong, and Mercedes has confirmed that green is the new fast, committing to a series of new Maybachs that tick all the right green boxes. Read more about the whys and hows of Mercedes’ greenwashing of Maybach, after the jump. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

Cult Classic Peel P50 Microcar Returns

[Transport] The Peel P50 was built on the Isle of Man in the 1960’s and powered by a 49cc gas engine that pushed the car to a 40 mph top speed and delivered more than 80 mpg. It was the smallest production automobile ever built, and—despite only 70 examples being produced —has become wildly popular in microcar circles, especially since appearing in a 2007 segment of the BBC’s hit show TopGear. This new-found popularity and BBC visibility has breathed new life into the Peel concept, and new investment dollars mean that Peel is back in business! More, including the hilarious TopGear sketch, after the jump. Read more of this story » [Gas 2.0]

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