Methanol

In America, we have trash, and lots of it. Remember in "Back to the Future", when Doc, played by Christopher Lloyd, grabbed garbage from a can, dropped it into the back of his time-machine and fueled its time circuitry with it? This is nothing like that. But, it is pretty cool if they can get it to work at an economically feasible price. The idea is to convert the organic parts of

At last year's Tokyo Motor Show, Yamaha introduced a fuel cell scooter called the FC-me. It ran on a liquid methanol-water solution and its size and performance would have fit nicely in the 50cc gas-fueled class. This year, Yamaha is upping the ante with the FC-AQEL, a 125cc comparable two-wheel fuel-cell that they'll show off at the 22nd Electric Vehicle Symposium in Yokohama, Japan.

Fuel Cell Works is reporting that Veloform has announced the release of a fuel cell-powered, three-wheeled bicycle called the City Cruiser II. You may recognize the familiar shape of the vehicles as Veloform is the maker of the Bicy-Taxis shown at New York's Ecofest a couple months ago.

From sister-blog Engadget comes word of an adorable new Suzuki that should have people rolling in the aisles. Not because it's funny looking, but because it will offer mobility to those who need the aid only a wheelchair can provide. And guess what? It's one of the greenest vehicles on the planet too. Ditching the old-school lead-acid batteries of its forefathers, the new Suzuki MIO uses a so-right-now fuel cell-powered motor. Well, it doesn't forego batteries altogether, using a "large capacity

The drivers' performance was competitive against Scott Dixon and Vitor Meira who ran on the 2006 mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% methanol; all drivers clocking comparable lap times.

George Olah, winner of the 1994 Nobel Prize in chemistry, discusses the Methanol Economy in an interview with the Technology Review. Methanol, just like Hydrogen, is not a source of energy like gasoline but an energy carrier. But Methanol can be pumped pretty much just like we pump gas now, and can be mixed with gasoline or used in methanol fuel cells. Methanol can be produced by converting natural gas, in a

If you’re looking for a readable yet detailed look at the scientific data of green automobile technology, Popular Mechanics is the place to go today. Their cover story called “The Truth About Biofuels” in engaging and straightforward and highly recommended.

The Seattle Times reports that the Washington State Department of Ecology has sent a warning to a biodiesel-crushing plant in the state that it is releasing methanol, a toxic vapor, without a permit. Further investigation has shown spilled vegetable and biodiesel oil on the premise, as well. The landlord has ordered a halt on all biodiesel production.