The National Climate Assessment: Climate Change Impacts in the United States concludes that warmer and drier conditions have already contributed to increasing wildfire events across the western United States, and future increases are projected in some regions. Already this year, there have been over 44,000 wildfires that have damaged or destroyed almost 8.5 million acres. Long periods of record high temperatures are associated with droughts that contribute to dry conditions and drive wildfires in some areas.
USDA Secretary Vilsack recently stated, “This year, we are experiencing yet another devastating wildfire season, particularly in the drought-ravaged West. Climate change, drought, fuel buildup, insects and disease are increasing the severity of unprecedented wildfire in America's forests and rangelands, which impacts the safety of people, homes and communities. Development close to forests has also increased the threat to property, with more than 46 million homes in the United States, or about 40 percent of our nation's housing, potentially at risk from wildfire.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7607931-fema-national-prepareathon/
5 Reasons To Buy An Electric Car. Driving the 2016 Nissan Leaf, I discuss the many benefits of driving an electric vehicle. The instant torque and peak torque from 0 RPM, the incredibly low maintenance (tire rotations and cabin filter changes), the incredible efficiency (about 3x the efficiency of an ICE vehicle), the convenience of charging, and the affordability of leasing an electric car.
Related Videos
Nissan Leaf Review - https://youtu.be/KovdnzywQbs
Free Car? - https://youtu.be/NCdLFhUmubc
References:
Tribology International Study - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301679X11003501
Fuel Economy Study - https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/evtech.shtml
The ZOE establishes a new record driving range of 400km 100% electric (NEDC).
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault’s Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of the year.
Just because it has a hybrid badge doesn't mean you have to break the bank to buy one. CNET's Brian Cooley offers his Top 5 cheap hybrid cars that you can afford.
http://cnet.co/10vutag
As America takes steps to improve our energy security, home-grown fuel sources are more important that ever. One of the fuel sources of the future is algae, small aquatic organisms that convert sunlight into energy and store it in the form of oil. Scientists and engineers at the Energy Department and its national laboratories are researching the best strains of algae and developing the most efficient farming practices. This edition of Energy 101 shows how oil is extracted from algae and refined into sustainable biofuels.
For more information on biofuels visit http://www.eere.energy.gov.
February 24 -- There are more than one billion cars on the road worldwide today, and only one tenth of one percent of them have a plug. OPEC contends that even in the year 2040, EVs will make up just one percent. But don't be so sure. By 2020, some electric cars and SUVs will be faster, safer, cheaper, and more convenient than their gasoline counterparts. What if people just stop buying oil? In the first episode of our animated series, Sooner Than You Think, Bloomberg's Tom Randall does the math on when oil markets might be headed for the big crash.
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Buxton, the industry leader in customer analytics, is pleased to announce the launch of the Buxton Analytics Platform. The new cross-functional, mobile-friendly platform provides users with the combination of analytics tools relevant to their professional roles and unites organizations with a centralized view of their customers. Included in the platform is an upgrade to the company’s proprietary real estate tool, SCOUT.
“This cutting-edge platform is the future of the customer analytics industry,” said Tom Buxton, founder and CEO of Buxton. “With applications tailored to the needs of executives, analysts, real estate and marketing professionals, the platform truly unites organizations with a central view of their most important asset: customers. Buxton’s continued investment in new applications for the platform will fuel a constant stream of innovative analytics products designed to provide our clients with the answers they need to grow their organizations.”
The customizable platform is home to a growing collection of integrated, user friendly applications. SCOUT, Buxton’s industry-leading analytical mapping and management tool, is the banner application and now boasts an enhanced interface and functionality.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7649451-buxton-analytics-platform-launches/
Consistent, reliable starting, smart load sensing technology, fuel protection and fuel savings are hallmarks of a new 27-gross hp1 Briggs & Stratton Commercial Series Engines with electronic fuel injection (EFI) now available on Simplicity’s Prestige garden tractor. Available at Simplicity dealers this spring, EFI brings several added benefits to a garden tractor model already known for its impressive power, performance and reliability.
“The new Commercial Series V-twin engine with EFI provides more reliable starting,” says Ryan Fredrickson, product manager for consumer rides, Briggs & Stratton Turf & Consumer Products. “Hot or cold, regardless of conditions, the addition of electronic fuel injection offers car-like starting. And because it uses a closed fuel system, EFI helps preserve the fuel, preventing it from going bad and reducing starting issues.
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8092851-briggs-and-stratton-electronic-fuel-injection-simplicity-prestige-garden-tractor/
The Focus Electric is a 5-door hatchback electric car produced by Ford Motor Company. It was originally released for the U.S. market in 2011, while in Europe came one year later. It is the company’s first full production, all-electric passenger vehicle. It is based on the standard, third generation of Focus.
2017 Renault Zoe
Renault has introduced a new Z.E. 40 battery for ZOE. At the same, ZOE owners can benefit from a range of new connected services and equipment upgrades. Order books for the new ZOE line-up are open. The new ZOEs fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery are made at Renault's Flins plant in France and will be available for delivery before the end of 2016.
Double the range for even longer journeys
As the pioneer of all-electric mobility and Europe's number one seller of electric vehicles, Renault has stepped up its innovation programme and the deployment of its Zero Emissions strategy.
Fitted with the new Z.E. 40 battery, the Renault ZOE now delivers a record NEDC driving range of 400km, which is twice the distance delivered by the model at the time of its original launch.
The new Z.E. 40 battery has a real-world range of 300 kilometres in urban or suburban areas, for example.
The range permitted today by the ZOE is the longest of any mainstream all-electric vehicle and motorists can take advantage of this step forward now.
The ZOE is the best-selling electric vehicle in Europe and provides a real alternative to internal combustion-engine cars, since average daily commuting distances are well within the ZOE's capabilities.
The new battery removes the final psychological barrier that stands in the way of buying an electric car since ZOE users can now travel further and enjoy a wider variety of driving situations without worry about charging. This makes weekend trips a real possibility.
The Z.E. 40 battery's charging rate is similar to that of the standard battery, so 'topping up' doesn't take long at all. For example, just 30 minutes are required on average to charge the battery for an extra 80 kilometres of driving range when plugged into one of the many public charging points in operation in Europe. The ZOE continues to be equipped with the Quick Charge function to take full advantage of the maximum capacity of fast charging points located predominantly along motorway corridors.
An innovation that doubles battery capacity with no increase in size
The ZOE's new Z.E. 40 battery boasts 41kWh of useful energy, equivalent to almost double the storage capacity of the ZOE's standard battery (22kWh of useful energy).
Developed in close partnership with LG Chem, the battery uses high-energy density lithium-ion technology.
Renault and LG engineers have succeeded in increasing storage capacity without making the battery any bigger or a lot heavier. It was optimised by working on the chemistry of the cells in order to increase their energy density, rather than stacking additional battery modules, a commonly used technique.
This major new technology has been developed while ensuring the battery's reliability or safety.
The battery's large storage capacity ensures longer range for the ZOE thanks to the meticulous work that went into integrating the battery in the vehicle. The electronic management system of the battery optimises the ZOE's energy use on the move, while the new air circulation system maintains the temperature of the ZOE's battery at a constant level, making the car economical to run in very hot or very cold weather.
The 2018 Niro Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) brings an exciting new dimension to Kia's alternative fuel car line-up. As Kia's third plug-in model, and anticipated in retailer showrooms by the end of this year, the Niro PHEV offers the same crossover utility, fun-driving and winning design of the Niro hybrid, but with an estimated 26-miles of All-Electric Range.1
“The Niro Plug-in is the exciting next step in Kia's progression toward offering more alternative fuel vehicles by 2020,” said Orth Hedrick, vice president, product planning, Kia Motors America (KMA). “Consumers who are intrigued by the Niro hybrid's fantastic versatility and design, but want even more EcoDynamics technology and the ability to drive only using electric power, will find more to love in the Niro Plug-in Hybrid.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8016958-kia-niro-plug-in-hybrid-crossover-laas/
