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Rare-Earth Metals Shortage Could Slow Green Innovation
Neodymium, lanthanum, dysprosium. They don’t have the same ring to them as gold and platinum, but they could very well be the high-cost, rare elements that define our environmental future. Neodymium, for example is essential to electric motors in hybrid and full-electric vehicles and is also used in the generators in wind and tidal turbines.
It’s a sign of the times. As we continue to use our brains to figure out better ways to create and use electricity, we need more and more rare metals that, ten years ago, were hardly used at all. Indeed, in the next few years, demand for rare earth metals will likely outstrip supply by about 40,000 tons. Unless, of course, a lot of new supply comes online very quickly.
Most of the world’s rare-earth metals come from China, but China is starting to use more and more of its supply while exporting less to the rest of the world. Toyota, with their 70% market share in hybrid vehicles, is starting to get worried. Every Prius electric engine uses 1 kg of neodymium and every Prius battery uses 10 kg of lanthanum. Of course, those numbers will get higher as Toyota expands the range of the car.
Different batteries with different chemistries might use more or less of certain metals, but there’s no doubt that new sources are going to have to be opened up for production of these rare metals. Already mines in Canada and California are slated to open or expand for the production of rare-earth metals. Of course, that’s mixed news for the environment. Mining is, of course, extremely destructive to local areas, but the elements being mined could lead to a significantly more stable planet overall. Of course, the choice is likely one our economy will make for us.
One can hope that these problems will be solved the same way they were created, with our brains, and not with our mining rigs. Battery chemistry that uses no lanthanum isn’t far off. Though it’s hard to imagine an engine or generator that doesn’t use neodymium’s magnetic properties. But one can always hope.
Via Reuters
Green Review: CURLS Hair Care Line
I recently reviewed three products from the CURLS hair care line. If you want to read a little more about the company and see a great homemade curly hair smoothie recipe, check out Homemade Milk & Honey Hair Smoothie.
Products: I reviewed three products in the CURLS line – Pure Curls Clarifying Shampoo, Coconut Sublime Moisturizing Conditioner, and Curls Milkshake.
Use: For cleaning, softening, and managing those unruly curls.
Ingredients: Listed, in full at the website. I discuss ingredients more in a previous post as well. Mainly non-toxic, organic, and natural.
Cost: The products I tried ranged from $12-$18 for 8 oz to 14 [...]
Post from: Blisstree
BMW Unveils Advanced Plug-in Sports Car Concept
It’s the BMW Vision, a car that has an ultra-efficient turbo-diesel engine and two electric motors that could combine to make it the greenest sports car that isn’t a Tesla Roadster. Of course the 400 mile range (not to mention the backseat) makes the Vision a tad more practical.
BMW will be officially unveiling the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show in a couple of weeks, but we’re getting a HD preview in the form of the following video.
The car doesn’t just get an EcoGeek’s approval because of the plug-in system, which can carry the vehicle for 30 miles on a 2.5 hour charge. The 1.5 liter turbo-diesel engine is also extra green, and its placement over the rear axle allows for an extremely low front-end, which decreases drag significantly. Additionally, the concept has been created using extremely light-weight materials and a battery chemistry that allows for less battery weight. Of course, the lighter a car is, the less fuel it has to use.
While the car can drive on electric power alone, it isn’t an extended-range electric vehicle like the Volt. The turbo-diesel can re-charge the battery, but it can also be used to power the wheels. The idea is that, if you really want to pull out all of the stops, the diesel engine can kick in and work with the electric engines, thus making the car “perform like a BMW.”
Of course, performing like a BMW isn’t important to me. But it is important to me that luxury car companies work these technologies into expensive cars, thus allowing rich dudes with midlife crises to subsidize the technology for the rest of us. Hopefully there are some of you out there who’ll be buying this car as soon as it’s available. Which, let’s be honest, may be never. But it’s still worth looking at and drooling over. Check out the Hi-Res gallery at AutoBlogGreen.
Do we need green fast food chains?
The other day I was thinking what if we had a perfectly green fast food chain in America. What would it look like? You’d need…
A sustainable building – powered by alternative energy, built green, and in an easily accessible area (off course most fast food is in an easily accessible area).
All organic menu for food and drinks. No toxins, no chemicals, etc.
Biodegradable and or recycled dishes, menus, paper products, and so on, or reusable dishes (for customers who want to bring dishes back after use to refill or what not) plus a design that allowed for less use of these [...]
Post from: Blisstree
Zipcar’s 2009 Low-Car Diet
Most eco-minded individuals have heard of car sharing and how it’s a healthy choice for the environment, and now there’s news that car sharing may be far healthier for human bodies too, not just the earth. Zipcar launched their 2009 Low-Car Diet this summer in which more than 250 people in cities in the U.S., Canada and London, gave up their personally owned car for one month, choosing instead to walk, bike, take public transit or Zipcar as necessary. The 2009 Low-Car Diet was supported by national sponsors and editorial partners, including Montague Corporation, HealthCentral.com and EverydayHealth.com.
And the results? Astounding…
Key [...]
Post from: Blisstree
The most eco-friendly generation
A recent survey of young adults in Britain reveals which generation is the most and which generation is the least eco-friendly. The results, according to GreenBiz were a little surprising. 18-24 years old individuals were not only the most eco-savvy but also the least eco-friendly. Sounds nuts right? However in the survey young adults aged 18-24 turned out to have the most green awareness of any one age group but also managed to waste more energy or water than any other age group.
According to the results, 72% of 18-24 year old young adults (gen Y folks) surveyed admitted to wasting [...]
Post from: Blisstree
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