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Firefly Energy Inc. the leader in developing next generation carbon and graphite foam batteries, announced that the first preproduction versions of its BCI Group 31 truck battery will be available for review and testing during the first quarter of 2008. The battery will primarily be utilized when the truck's engine is turned off, and provide up to 50 percent longer runtimes than competitors when powering accessories which collectively make up a truck's "hotel loads."

Is this a good idea?

Some companies are trying to stake out a middle ground in wind power by making mid-size turbines big enough for a school or big-box retailer to use, but not so big that they require a convoy of trucks to be delivered.

Environ Sci Technol. 2003 Dec 1;37(23):5414-6. Global sustainability and key needs in future automotive design. McAuley JW. Basell USA Inc., 912 Appleton Road, Elkton, Maryland 21921, USA. john.mcauley@basell.com Abstract The number of light vehicle registrations is forecast to increase worldwide by a factor of 3-5 over the next 50 years. This will dramatically increase environmental impacts worldwide of automobiles and light trucks. If light vehicles are to be environmentally sustainable globally, the automotive industry must implement fundamental changes in future automotive design. Important factors in assessing automobile design needs include fuel economy and reduced emissions. Many design parameters can impact vehicle air emissions and energy consumption including alternative fuel or engine technologies, rolling resistance, aerodynamics, drive train design, friction, and vehicle weight. Of these, vehicle weight is key and will translate into reduced energy demand across all energy distribution elements. A new class of vehicles is needed that combines ultra-light design with a likely hybrid or fuel cell engine technology. This could increase efficiency by a factor of 3-5 and reduce air emissions as well. Advanced lightweight materials, such as plastics or composites, will need to overtake the present metal-based infrastructure. Incorporating design features to facilitate end-of-life recycling and recovery is also important. The trend will be towards fewer materials and parts in vehicle design, combined with ease of disassembly. Mono-material construction can create vehicle design with improved recyclability as well as reduced numbers of parts and weight.

Researchers say they've produced an electric device that can boost fuel efficiency in cars and trucks and by as much as 20 percent

Hino, Toyota's truck division, is experimenting with wireless charging. In spite of inefficiences that may exist, Hino should be applauded for pushing the envelope. However, unfortunately for the future, it seems logical that only larger sponsors such as Toyota can afford this type of approach.

The electric truck market seem to be taking off. When will electric cars really reach this level?

The research shows that the U.S. economy has the potential to reduce annual non-transportation energy consumption by roughly 23 percent by 2020, eliminating more than $1.2 trillion in waste - well beyond the $520 billion upfront investment (not including program costs) that would be required. The reduction in energy use would also result in the abatement of 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions annually - the equivalent of taking the entire U.S. fleet of passenger vehicles and light trucks off the roads.

Excellent over view of shale gas and compressed natural gas dynamics including conversion kits for automobiles and truck fleets. THE ONLY LOGICAL ANSWER to bridge the conversion from oil based fuels to paradigm alternatives lies in the conversion of personal transportation to the use of natural gas. Consider the following reasons: (long list) ONE WEEK AFTER Obama's energy policy speech, March 31, 2011, at Georgetown University, a bi-partisan group of more than 150 Members of Congress introduced HR.1835, with Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) as the primary sponsor. The NAT GAS Act (New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions) Act, is the culmination of efforts of T. Boone Pickens to promote his "Pickens Plan" for changing the focus of American energy consumption. The NAT GAS Act provides incentives for using natural gas in vehicles, purchasing natural gas vehicles, installing natural gas refueling stations, and producing natural gas vehicles in America. The problem is that Obama and his energy secretary do not actually support HR 1835!  The speech was just a ruse.  Watch what he does, not what he says.  CNG-Compressed Natural Gas

Despite increasing green awareness and steadily rising gasoline prices, Americans and other denizens of the developed world - not to mention millions of new Chinese and Indian drivers hitting the road every week - are loath to give up the freedom and privacy of their personal automobiles. But snarled traffic, longer commute times, and rising pollution levels have given city transportation planners new ammunition in their efforts to encourage the use of clean, energy-efficient public transit. One of the newest tools in their arsenal is so-called congestion pricing (also called variable toll pricing), whereby cars and trucks are hit with higher tolls if they access central urban areas at traditionally congested times.