A step in the right direction for the UK?

In the early portions of World War II,  the U.S. government instituted whats now known as the Manhattan Project to combat the increasing threat of nuclear fission in the hands of Adolf Hitler.  So the question remains, how dire is our need to eliminate our dependence on foreign oils, and is it as crucial as the Manhattan Project? Some would argue, climate change is more dangerous than the threat of one crazed lunatic.

As the cost of oil and its impact on the environment and global economics becomes more evident and mainstream, we have watched private development and government initiatives come to light, and sometimes at the same time. So is this case with the “Low Carbon Vehicle Integrated Delivery Programme“, managed by The Technology Strategy Board as a 5 year program.  Funding begins in April of 2009, and will cover a variety of areas, including university based research and trialing and development options for low carbon vehicles.   As we watch countries like the U.K. invest over £100 Million in collaboration with private businesses, in what seems to be a near immediate source of funding, we can only hope that our U.S. government would at least MATCH the action the Brits have taken.

So (a little competition never hurt anyone) if we used the GDP as a guideline (the U.S. had a $13 trillion GDP in 2006, while UK was $1.93 Trillion), that would mean with a near 7:1 ratio, the U.S. should have… ohhh around $700 million dollars immediately available for research in lowering carbon emissions in the U.S, starting in APRIL. [click to continue…]

Click the above image to view the Chevy Volt image gallery

We all know the Chevy Volt’s range, we have heard it time and time again, 40 miles on one charge.  Well, two companies out of Ohio are working on doubling that number to at least 80 miles per charge.  Coupled with an ethanol or traditional internal combustion engine this range could make the Volt an even better “green” solution for GM.

How do they plan on tackling such craziness? Carbon nanofibers.  For the geeks out there, Wikipedia defines carbon nanofibers as

Cylindric nanostructures with graphene layers arranged as stacked cones, cups or plates. Carbon nanofibers with graphene layers wrapped into perfect cylinders are called carbon nanotubes.

In a nutshell, tiny fibers that you can’t see, that make the Volt go vroom.  The companies Applied Sciences Inc. and Pyrograf products have received $500,000 in investment from GM and another $1 million from Ohio Third Frontier. Applied Sciences handles the development, and Pyrograf is going to handle the production.  The 400-pound Volt battery will hopefully contain this advanced nano-technology, and make our lives a little happier.

Oh and by the way, Pyrograf is already the worlds third largest producer of nanofiber materials, and produces 25% of the world’s current nanofiber production capacity.