BYD (Build Your Dreams) DM (Dual Mode) is a plug-in electric hybrid car that is currently available in China. Warren Buffet who has a keen eye for discovering hidden gems has reportedly invested HKD 1.8 billion for roughly a 10% stake in Shenzhen based BYD. BYD DM uses an electric motor combined with a 67 hp, 1 liter gasoline engine.

The vehicle features two electric outlets - one for a quick battery charge (under 10 minutes) and one for a full battery charge which requires about 9 hours via a household electric connection. The automaker claims the car go about 60 miles on the quick charge and about 250 miles on a full charge when combined with the gasoline engine.

If the current U.S. vehicle fleet were replaced overnight with plug-in hybrid vehicles, oil consumption would decrease by 70 to 90 percent, eliminating the need for oil imports and leaving the U.S. self-sufficient in oil for many years to come. Even if the electrical power for those vehicles were drawn from coal-fired power plants, CO2 emissions would drop by more than half. If the power were produced by renewable energy sources, and the fuel in the tank were bio diesel or ethanol, the proposition gets exponentially better. It won’t be until 2011 before BYD DM is available in the US, maybe even later.

Watch this video by BYD:

continue reading "BYD DM Plug-in Electric car"

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils. In the United States, most biodiesel is made from soybean oil; however canola oil, sunflower oil, recycled cooking oils, and animal fats are also used.

How It’s Made

To make biodiesel, the base oil is put through a process called “esterificiation.” This refining method uses an industrial alcohol (ethanol or methanol) and a catalyst (substance that enables a chemical reaction) to convert the oil into a fatty-acid methyl-ester fuel (biodiesel).

continue reading "What is Biodiesel?"

Experts predict that in just 50 years the amount of CO2 will be 500 ppm in the atmosphere thereby causing global temperatures to rise by 2 degrees. This small increase in temperature has the potential for catastrophic results with the ice cap meltdown and the resulting rise in sea levels by about 20 feet.

In their race to reduce global dependance on fossil fuel, scientists are working hard to develop alternative fuels that can easily replace fossil fuel. Ethanol is a renewable source of energy that is gaining popularity around the world. Brazil produces Ethanol from their sugarcane crop. The United States is investing heavily in corn based Ethanol. Corn-based Ethanol is easy to make, however, it only generates 30% more energy that what is consumed to produce it.

continue reading "Run your car on grass clippings"

VideoJug: How To Mix Your Biodiesel

Watch this video on running your Diesel car on cooking or fryer oil: