アメリカのNPO American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy(ACEEE)が毎年発表している、もっともグリーンな車 Greenest Vehicles of 2011 ランキングが発表になりました。発売されたばかりの日産の電気自動車がニ位と高い評価を受けるも、第一位の座はホンダの天然ガス車 シビックGXが獲得しました。三位メルセデス・ベンツのワンリッターカー smart fortwoで四位にトヨタのプリウスという順でした。
ことなる燃料の駆動の車の評価を総合的に行うことで定評があるこの賞により、ACEEE's Green Book(R)に天然ガス車 シビックGXの名が刻まれるのは、これで二度目です。
一方、ACEEEはワーストランキングも発表しています。Meanest Vehicles for the Environment in 2011では、5リットル以上の大型車の名前がならび、ワーストには、BUGATTI VEYRON 8.0L 16, auto stk Awd [P]がリストされています。こりゃスーパーカー的な車ですね。
さらに、比較的いいスコアのガソリン車も一般が実際に車を買う参考にできるように発表されました。このGreener Choices 2011では、一位トヨタプリウス、二位ホンダシビックハイブリッド、三位ホンダCR-Z、四位トヨタYARISと日本車が上位を独占しています。ちなみに四位は、AUDI A3。
" Honda Civic GX natural gas vehicle earns top spot
Five Honda vehicles earned recognition from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) as being among the "greenest vehicles of 2011" with the natural gas-powered Civic GX earning the title of America's greenest vehicle for the eighth time. In the annual ACEEE's "Green BookR Online" ranking of environmentally responsible vehicles (available at www.greenercars.org), the near-zero emissions natural gas-powered Civic GX ranked first with the Civic Hybrid and Insight also included of the list of ACEEE's 12 most environmentally responsible vehicles available to the public. The CR-Z Sport Hybrid coupe and Odyssey minivan were also named as the "greenest vehicles" within their respective classes. This is the 11th year in a row that a Honda vehicle has received the number one ranking and the 13th straight year that multiple Honda vehicles have been named in the top 12.
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[CNG] denotes compressed natural gas fuel.
[P] denotes premium gasoline
a A listing with two emission standards (e.g., Tier 2 bin 2 / PZEV) denotes a single vehicle carrying both a federal and a California emission certification. Green Scores for such listings reflect the cleaner of the two certifications.
b Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fuel economy is given in gasoline-equivalent miles per gallon.
c Electric vehicle fuel economy is given in miles per kilowatt-hour
d The Smart Fortwo Electric Drive scores 60, but is not eligible for the Greenest list due to low sales volume. Only 250 units of the 2011 Smart Fortwo EV will be available on a trial basis in the U.S.
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-----image : 「One Million Electric Vehicles by 2015 - February 2011 Status Report」(pdf)より
" The U.S. Department of Energy today released One Million Electric Vehicles by 2015 (pdf - 220 kb), an analysis of advances in electric vehicle deployment and progress to date in meeting President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. The analysis shows that while the goal is ambitious, it is also achievable based on steps already taken as part of the Recovery Act and additional policy initiatives proposed by President Obama -- including improvements to existing consumer tax credits, programs to help cities prepare for the growing demand for electric vehicles, and strong support for research and development to continue reducing the cost of electric vehicles.
"President Obama's goal of putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015 represents a key component of our strategy to dramatically reduce America's dependence on foreign oil and ensure that the U.S. leads the world in the growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry," said DOE Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs David Sandalow. "This is a race America can win -- if we answer the President's call to out-innovate, out-build, and out-compete the rest of the world."
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世界資源研究所 WRI と海洋科学バージニア研究所 Virginia Institute of Marine Science（VIMS）の研究グループは、世界の海のデッドゾーン-富栄養化・貧酸素海域マップを公開しました。世界の海では、富栄養化・貧酸素海域が広がっているとされていますが、個々の国のデーターはあっても、世界規模で閲覧、情報を収集できるサイトはありませんでした。今回、貧酸素の「デッドゾーン」海域530ヶ所以上と富栄養化海域228ヶ所に関する情報をインタラクティブマップで確認しながら、情報を集め、研究者であれば、情報をアップすることもできるようになりました。
世界規模で広がる、海のデッドゾーンに関する情報の共有化が期待されます。
" Research Identifies 530 Coastal “Dead Zones” and 228 Marine Eutrophic Sites
New research by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) identifies more than 530 low-oxygen “dead zones” and an additional 228 sites worldwide exhibiting signs of marine “eutrophication.” Eutrophication occurs when water bodies are over-fertilized by nutrients that are washed into surface waters from farms and urban areas.
Analysts at WRI and VIMS have compiled the information into a web-based “one-stop shop” that provides a global database and interactive map of affected areas, as well as links to articles, photos, and other resources. The website-“Eutrophication and Hypoxia: Nutrient Pollution in Coastal Waters”- is at www.wri.org/eutrophication.
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" At a glance
ESFLOW - a pure EV sports car concept
Rear-wheel drive two-seater
Two electric motors, each driving a rear wheel
Laminated lithium-ion batteries mounted low for best weight distribution
Dramatic styling with wraparound windscreen for unobstructed visibility
0-100km/h in under 5 seconds
Over 240kms on one charge "
2011年の持続可能な交通賞 2011 Sustainable Transport Award は、中国・広州市が受賞したということです。歩行者、バス、自転車（パークアンドライドを可能にする駐輪場とシェアシステム）、そして既存の車と地下鉄との融合。ビデオクリップをみてその見事さに驚きました。交通開発政策研究所 Institute for Transportation and Development Policyが毎年行なっている同賞には、メキシコ、ペルー、フランス、イランの高速バス運行システムなどがノミネートされたということです。
Guangzhou wins 2011 Sustainable Transport Award -- video
" Cities in Asia, Middle East, Europe and Latin America focus on integrating transport systems
The city of Guangzhou, China, today won the 2011 Sustainable Transport Award for its new world-class bus rapid transit (BRT) system that integrates with bike lanes, bike share and metro stations. The annual award, created by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, goes to a city that made the most progress over the year to increase mobility, while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions, and improving safety and access for cyclists and pedestrians.
Following is a statement by Dario Hidalgo, EMBARQ’s Director of Research and Practice:
“China has come a long way in delivering low-cost, highly effective bus transit systems. The Guangzhou BRT is the most important addition to this remarkable growth. The city integrated the new system with its Metro and bike-sharing programs, providing a complete package of sustainable transport worth studying and adapting in other rapidly growing cities. It also re-introduces the concept of direct services: buses come in and out of the busway, reducing the need for transfers and providing passengers with the convenience of ‘one-seat’ service.”
Hildago also recognized the city of Leon, Mexico, one of the nominees, home to Mexico’s first bus rapid transit system. Leon was celebrated for its unsurpassed level of integration, with 69 out of 100 public bus routes physically integrated with the city’s Optibus BRT system.
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In both its styling and packaging the XL1 draws on lessons learned from the 1-Litre car (2002) and the L1 concept (2009). The XL1 has evolved to feature staggered seating with the driver and passenger placed next to each other in a body structure made from advanced new materials providing immense strength yet weighing just 230 kg.
To make such weight savings possible, and yet viable for series production, Volkswagen developed and patented a new system for the manufacture of the Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) parts on the car called the Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) process.
In total the XL1 weighs 795 kg.
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