Product News

Challenge Bibendum Features New Vehicle Technologies

Held in Sonoma, Calif., in late September, this year's Challenge Bibendum competition, a Michelin-sponsored show and rally for clean vehicles, featured the typically wide range of energy and propulsion systems, but the distribution of technologies was markedly different. Hydrogen-powered cars, advanced diesels and several hybrid technologies dominated the field for the 2003 competition. In 2002, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquid natural gas (LNG) and electric vehicles were dominant.

This year's competition also witnessed the addition of commercial vehicles—heavy-duty trucks and buses. Competing commercial vehicles represented a 50/50 split between trucks and buses. One major development was the ability of some commercial vehicles to achieve excellent results with zero emissions.

Overall, 32 vehicles earned the competition's Gold Awards for zero or near-zero emissions. In addition, two design awards—the Style Advancement Award and the Technical Integration Award—were presented in the production passenger and prototype passenger vehicle categories. The 2004 Toyota Prius won both awards in the production category, and the 2002 Mercedes Benz F-Cell A-Class won both awards in the prototype category. Awards were also given in the categories of noise abatement, fuel economy, performance and frontal crash impact safety.

Innovative entries at the competition included the tzero, a prototype electric car powered by lithium-ion batteries, provided by AC Propulsion, and featuring a 300-mile range and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. AC Propulsion also entered a hybrid electric vehicle that travels 30 to 40 miles on lead-acid batteries. The vehicle can travel longer distances by burning gasoline to recharge its batteries and, when stopped, can be connected to a natural gas supply line to fuel the vehicle's generator, which can supply power to a house or to the electrical grid. Other entry highlights included a natural gas-fueled truck (Pacific Gas and Electric Company) and a biodiesel-fueled Volkswagen Jetta TDI Turbo (Green Star Products). To view the complete details on the results of all the testing at this year's Challenge Bibendum, visit www.challengebibendum.com.

Princeton Engineers Develop New Organic Solar Cell Processing Technique

Electrical engineers at Princeton University have invented a technique for making solar cells that, when combined with other recent advances, could yield a highly economical source of energy. The results, reported in the Sept. 11 issue of Nature, move scientists closer to making a new class of solar cells that are not as efficient as conventional ones, but could be far less expensive and more versatile.

Unlike most solar cells, which are built from silicon and other inorganic materials, the new Princeton cells are made from “organic” materials, which are ultra-thin and flexible and could be applied to large surfaces. The organic solar cells could be manufactured in a process similar to printing or spraying the materials onto a roll of plastic, and could also be made in different colors or transparent (for window applications).

This most recent advance involves a new method for forming the organic film, which increased the efficiency by 50 percent. The organic solar cells currently have an efficiency of more than 3 percent. The researchers are confident that combining new materials and processing techniques could yield at least 5 percent efficiency and possibly as high as 10 percent with further commercial development. Although that's low compared to the efficiency of conventional silicon chip-based solar cells (about 24 percent), the low cost of the organic solar cells could make them cost-competitive.

Kitchen Range Uses Magnetic Induction for Cooking

According to recent tests conducted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), new magnetic induction ranges from Luxine provide superior cooking performance with a significant potential for energy savings. Induction ranges generate a high-frequency, alternating current magnetic field to heat an iron-based cooking pan through a ceramic-glass cooking surface. Because the energy transfer is directly to the pan, the cooking surface stays cool, while efficiency is very high—92 percent, including the energy to heat the pan.

In comparative performance tests of several gas, electric, and induction ranges, the Luxine magnetic induction range had the fastest heat-up time, the shortest cool-down time, and the highest cooking efficiency. The unit had an energy efficiency of 92 percent, compared to 72 percent for the radiant electric range, 47 percent for the residential gas range and 30 percent for the commercial gas range. A 2.5-kilowatt (kW) Luxine induction range was shown to boil 20 pounds of water in virtually the same time as a 5.1-kW electric resistance coil (about 15 minutes). Commercial kitchen field test participants reported that the Luxine induction ranges increased cooking productivity and helped keep their kitchens cooler.

The Luxine Power technology is now available in several product lines produced for four major commercial equipment manufacturers on a private-label basis. Single-burner, double-burner and custom ranges are available. The company is also working with Viking Range to introduce the concept to the residential market. For more details, go to www.epri.com.

Uni-Solar Ovonic Team with GenFlex Roofing to Offer PV Roofing Product

Uni-Solar Ovonic has joined forces with GenFlex Roofing Systems to offer a photovoltaic (PV) roofing product for flat or low-slope commercial roofs. According to the two companies, the roofing solution is a durable, weather-resistant roofing material that also generates power. The PV panels are designed to generate energy without requiring additional structural support or penetration of a roof. For more information, visit www.uni-solar.com.

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