SustainableCommunity
London is getting a green double-decker bus
May 20th, 2010
Posts Tagged ‘car’
-
The famous English double-decker bus is not changing colour, it is just becoming a bit nicer to the environment. Using the latest hybrid technology means that it will be 15% more fuel efficient than existing hybrid buses and use 40% less fuel than conventional diesel driven double-decker buses.
(more…) -
Although not frequent, there has been some discussion about eco cars here on greenz in the past. You may remember our features on the National Institute for Environmental Science’s CO2 map of Japan, Park24, one of Japan’s first car-sharing services, and of course our guide to how renewable hydrogen will change transportation as we know it. Recently, however, we heard some rather surprising news — via Sankei News (Japanese only) and the Asiajin blog — about the new range of cars that qualify for the Japanese government’s “Eco Car” tax subsidies. One in particular, the Hummer H3 V8, was quite a shock to many of us. (more…)
-
Reproduced from the National Institute for Environmental Science Environmental GIS ‘Vehicle CO2 Emission Map’.Reducing CO2 emissions is one way we can help put a stop to global warming. Vehicle emissions account for around 15% of total emissions in Japan, and are one of the few areas that we can affect directly through our daily lives. The National Institute for Environmental Science has released statistics on vehicle CO2 emissions. Emissions are ‘visible’ through color-coding for each municipality. Let’s see how Japan looks from this perspective. (more…)
-
Photo from Honda’s websiteRight now, gasoline prices are steady, but when thinking about the environment, it is obvious that we need to improve gas consumption as much as possible.
Every car company is putting out cars that boast of great gas mileage, but Honda is going at improving fuel consumption from another angle too with a new kind of car. -
GreenBusiness
Japanese Parking Company Launches Car Sharing Service in Downtown Tokyo
Nov 27th, 2009
Park 24 Co., a major parking service company in Japan, launched a car sharing business in downtown Tokyo in cooperation with its subsidiary, Mazda Car Rental Corp. The group’s two new stations in Yurakucho and Ikebukuro began operations on May 29, 2009. A car sharing shop, “Car Share 24,” and a new Mazda Car Rental shop both operate at each station.
-
GreenBusiness
The Beginners Guide to Renewable Hydrogen! 10 reasons How It Can Change The World (2)
Nov 18th, 2009
Continued from part 1
Now we know WHY renewable hydrogen (RH2) is necessary, let’s take a look at just HOW this amazing energy source can benefit our world.
Enter domestically produced, sustainable energy RH2!
In a nutshell, RH2 shows the way to a more positive society, where competition for energy disappears → wars disappear → poverty and refugees disappear → everyone becomes happy!
Let’s take a look at 10 reasons RH2 will change the world.*1 An RH2 society can produce it’s own sustainable energy locally
→ This is the fundamental strength of RH2*2 An RH2 society is local, not centralized
→ Energy will become de-centralized, just as the internet has allowed the decentralization and activation of grass roots media*3 An RH2 society brings politics closer
→ With vested interest in energy gone, politics will become more open*4 An RH2 society will need fewer thermal power and nuclear power stations
→ If enough energy can be produced, large scale power stations will become redundant*5 An RH2 society will have fewer wars
→ Petroleum and natural gas, two of the major causes of conflicts, will not longer need to be fought over*6 An RH2 society will have fewer refugees and less poverty
→ Fewer wars means fewer people displaced by wars*7 An RH2 society will have cleaner air
→ Hydrogen is a valuable energy source that can replace gasoline, and other polluting fossil fuels*8 An RH2 society can make every car in the world an eco-car
→ Even old cars can have their engines converted to run off hydrogen*9 An RH2 society will provide more green jobs
→ New businesses will create work to deal with environmental issues*10 An RH2 society will create a positive shift in awareness
→ With no need to worry about competing for limited resources, people will become more relaxed and content. This is the most important thing
The two-minute guide to RH2So, the introduction to RH2 has become a little long, but we have come up with a ‘Two minute guide to RH2’ to wrap things up. Please check it out.
(Support: Kaneko Store)Thanks for sticking with me so far!
Now, while RH2 sounds like a miracle, there are setbacks along with all the positive aspects. Cost and safety issues must still be overcome to make it viable. However the important thing is that this isn’t some fantastical image of the future – the technology is available to achieve this now.
As an NPO, researching case studies and collecting data, and bringing together professionals and researchers of hydrogen and other natural energies are two ways of promoting RH2. If you’re interested, we are looking for people to help spread the word about RH2! People are writing in with such messages as ‘wouldn’t it be a dream come true if amusement parks ran on RH2? It’s perfect for merry-go-rounds, and for teaching kids about energy too’.
We look forward to hearing from you, too, and cooperating to create an RH2 future together!
This article is translated from the original Japanese text
-
GreenBusiness
The Beginners Guide to Renewable Hydrogen! 10 reasons How It Can Change The World (1)
Nov 16th, 2009
There are so many things that can change the world: ‘green jobs will change the world’, ‘change money and change the world’, ‘open source programs will change the world’… what else can you think of that can change the world?
At greenz, we believe that changing the paradigm in the energy industry could be the fundamental solution to many of the problems that the world face today. And so one energy source that has caught our attention is renewable hydrogen (aka. RH2). Several members of the greenz team have set up the NPO Renewable Hydrogen Network to promote RH2 through various projects.
Hydrogen itself has yet to become well know, and if you put an ‘R’ before it, even fewer people will know what you’re talking about. Read on to find out what RH2 is, and why it can change the world.
So, what is hydrogen, and how can it be renewable?
Hydrogen (atomic symbol: H) is the lightest, and most common element in the universe. Many things around us contain hydrogen, including water (H2O), propane (C3H8), and ammonia (NH3). In fact even the sun’s energy is made through the nuclear fusion of hydrogen and helium.
Hydrogen can store energy, and produce it. It’s becoming an ever more popular energy source, and can be used in place of gasoline to power cars. If there was enough hydrogen, we could even heat public baths with it!
Used as a fuel, it produces only energy and water, and a minute amount of nitrogen, making it an environmentally friendly source of energy. But it’s also important not to forget the renewable part too. RH2 must be produced by renewable means such as solar or geothermal, and not nuclear or fossil fuels.
The inconvenient truth about a fossil fuel society
Now for some trivia about fossil fuels. Did you know that natural gas is imported to Tokyo from the Arctic? According to an NHK documentary, a race has begun to exploit natural gas deposits newly accessible as the polar ice cap melts due to global warming. That natural gas is then brought to Yokohama, from where it is used to supply homes in Tokyo.
Second, do you know the real price of gasoline? According to one survey, around 150 trillion yen is spent on reducing the price of gasoline – in other words, to cover hidden costs. That means our tax money is being used to support a fossil fuel dependent society.
Energy is indispensable for life. However, the limited sources of energy, such as nuclear or fossil fuel, can be said to be one major cause of conflicts. If we continue to bring natural gas all the way from the Arctic, and support petroleum companies by subsidizing gasoline, we will keep using more and more energy, thereby increasing climate change on a global scale. Now is the time to move away from fossil fuels.
Continued in part 2: the 10 reasons why RH2 will change the world.
This article is translated from the original Japanese post
-
Photo by carecoI know about rising gasoline prices and reducing CO2, but I still need a car…
If you find yourself stuck in this environmental dilemma, we have good news for you!
A new car sharing service has begun from January ’09 allowing ‘everyone to use a car without anyone owning it’.
‘Careco Car Sharing’ is a new service offered by Car Sharing Japan Co, and founded by Mitsui & Co Ltd. to provide an economic, environmentally sound alternative to owning your own car.
Put simply, car sharing is like a 24 hour member only rent-a-car service, where one car is shared by several members. While rent-a-cars are available to the general public, car sharing is only available to pre-registered members.
The cars are used only when needed, and gasoline, insurance, and maintenance are all covered, making this service perfect for those who only need to use a car for a few minutes each day, or who don’t have parking space.
In Europe and the US, car sharing is already an established mobility service. The idea originated in Switzerland in the ‘70s when a huge influx of vehicles into the city brought about widespread vehicle restrictions. Residents who could no longer have their own car in the city grouped together to share cars in the suburbs, giving birth to the idea of car sharing.
With new car sales dropping, and more emphasis on environmental protection, vehicle needs in Japan are also beginning to shift from ‘ownership’ to ‘use’.
This service has already begun in Ebisu, Daikanyama, and Meguro in Tokyo, and is set to expand to other areas. With electric vehicles and charging stations gaining popularity, and natural energy such as solar and wind power on the rise, car sharing services such as this are a perfect complement to this new eco lifestyle!This article is translated from the original Japanese post
-
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by OiMaxThe Tokyo metropolitan government has committed to a policy requiring companies with over 200 vehicles to make least 5% of their fleet fuel-efficient from fiscal 2011. Companies that cannot meet the standards in the five years until 2016 will have their name made public, if an amendment to the Tokyo Metropolitan Ordinance on Environmental Protection (MOEP) is approved by the Metropolitan Assembly. Let’s take a look at what Tokyo is trying to achieve with this national first ordinance.
Tokyo already requires companies owning over 200 vehicles to have at least 5% of their fleet low emission vehicles under the MOEP. The new policy will add fuel-efficient vehicles to this.
The Metropolitan Government is also offering support for interest and credit guarantee fees for small and mid-size businesses through the ‘Funding Scheme for Environmental Protection’, incentives for smaller companies to follow suit.
Concrete standards for fuel-efficient vehicles will be as set by the national government, and are expected to increase fuel efficiency by 20-25%. With 120,000 vehicles registered with companies owning over 200 vehicles, a 5% quota will amount to 6.000 fuel efficient vehicles. Increasing fuel efficiency for these 6,000 vehicles by 20-25% will result in an overall energy saving of 1%. Considering the scale involved, this is no small amount!
While Tokyo may be leading other municipalities in terms of vehicle regulations, anyone will tell you there are too many vehicles in the city. While small efforts such as this are welcome, larger, more drastic measures like introducing congestion charges as in London may be necessary in the long run. Regulating the entry of vehicles into Tokyo, and increasing bicycle lanes seems an effective way to reduce exhaust gasses, and save energy, but whether that will happen remains to be seen…
This article is translated from the original Japanese post -
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by WorldfrankOn June 2, 2009, Japan Post Service of the Japan Post Group made the first step towards their commitment to switch all 21,000 collection vehicles to electric (EVs). Introduction of the EVs will begin in earnest at the end of July.
40 EVs will be introduced in fiscal ’09 for business use. Mitsubishi Motors and Fuji Heavy Industries will each provide 20 of the first mass produced models at the end of July. These will be based at branches around the Kanagawa area, which is well equipped with re-charging facilities. The vehicles will be used on lease, with the prospect of expanding to EVs for collection of mail and small parcels, depending on future developments in the vehicles.
With a high price tag, it pays to be careful about committing outright to EVs. A Kei (light) class EV retails for around 4.6 million yen, or 3.2 million yen with subsidies – around the same price one would expect to pay for a luxury car. Additionally, a full charge takes around 14 hours, making it rather inconvenient for private use. (See Mitsubishi i-MiEV for details)
Japan Post (JP) Service has announced plans to install EV quick charge devices in parking lots at around 1,000 post offices nationwide. If access to the public is granted, as is being considered, this will be a huge boost for the spread of EVs. This may also strengthen JP Service a main pillar of the JP Group.
JP Service currently owns around 26,000 vehicles nationwide, and is considering a change to environmentally friendly vehicles. They are continuing tests of regular gasoline vehicles converted to electric for collection runs. While contributing to the spread of EVs, JP Service is also looking to expand it’s own business. Let’s wait and see where they go from here.This article is translated from the original Japanese post.
-
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by mayhem
Experiments with hydrogen-powered buses with a view to introducing them on public roads are taking place around Europe, and also in The U.S and Brazil, and in some places are already realities. And finally, buses that run on hydrogen fuel are making their mark in Japan. Introducing hydrogen fuel into buses puts real environmental improvements within reach. Let’s have a look at the come-uppance of hydrogen buses and environmental improvements in Japan.
First and foremost, this Hydrogen-fueled Bus (Hydrogen Automobile) is different from a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. While the latter uses hydrogen to produce electricity which is then used to power the vehicle, the former directly combusts hydrogen to make the vehicle run. The great thing about it is that rather than developing a completely new system, simply modifying the gasoline engine is enough, coupled with the fact that it doesn’t require the rare metals that batteries need.
However, it is not without its problems, namely the presence of Nitrous Oxide (NOx) in exhaust fumes, safety issues related to hydrogen fuel, and the production method of the fuel.
The debut of Hydrogen Buses in Japan was not due to a public organization, but Tokyo City University Formed last year in April with the unification of Musashi Technical College and Tokyoko Gakuen, it had for over 30 years in its previous entity as Musashi Technical College been involved with the development of the “Hydrogen Autombile”. This time, in collaboration with Hino Motors,Ltd. their efforts to implement the hydrogen bus have paid off. A number plate was acquired on passing the technical review of the Japan Automobile Research Institute, and the plan is that in the near future hydrogen buses will be used as shuttle buses between campuses.
Experiments with hydrogen buses on public roads are being implemented by public organizations in Germany and Iceland, and there is a good reason why hydrogen fuel is being eagerly introduced into buses. Road buses tend to move along at a slow pace, with a lot of stops and starts. Such a short starting and stopping cycle burns a lot of fuel, and worse yet runs on diesel with its large volume of NOx exhaust fumes. As a result, the impact on the environment has been reduced.
In fact, this new hydrogen bus gives way to massive optimism for environmental improvements given that it reduces the amount of exhaust gases to approx. one 90th of what they were before, with zero carbon dioxide. Added to this is the fact that road buses don’t drive at high speeds and only run on limited routes. As their optimal speed is not very high, the demerit that applies to hydrogen cars whereby they need a hydrogen station to refuel at, does not apply to buses. Furthermore, the fact that hydrogen fuel requires a larger amount of space in the tank than in gasoline engines to ensure safety, is not an issue as it is much easier to get such an amount of space in a bus, in contrast to a private car.
I may be giving the impression that it’s all a bed of roses but there are problems, most notably, the fuel issue. At present hydrogen fuel is generated mainly from natural gases, which results in consuming fossil fuels and the expulsion of greenhouse gases. Also, that it is said to cost 5-6 times as much as diesel. To resolve these issues means finding a completely new method of producing hydrogen, and to this end Tokyo City University is planning to extract hydrogen from waste gases generated by factories.
If this can be achieved then surely the hydrogen bus can stake its claim as a here for the environment. Go for it, Tokyo City Uni!!
This article has been translated from the original Japanese post
![[30aHEADS]](http://greenz.jp/en/wp-content/themes/greenz_v2-1/banner/gfBanner_30aheads.gif)
