First solar panel road in Normandy village

Two lanes of solar roadway, Tourouvre-au-Perche, Normandy, France
Credit: Christophe Petit Tesson/EPA/The Guardian

Solar panel roads were first introduced to the world on Indiegogo in 2014 – funded to the tune of $US2,275,688 by 50,048 backers on 21 June of that year.

Now, a 1km (0.6-mile) solar road, containing 2,800 m² of solar panels has been opened in France, at a cost of €5m (£UK4.3m, $US5.3 m). Obviously, cost is high compared to other roads, but a realistic comparison would include the cost of installation of the same surface area of solar panels.

Durability & power generation will be evaluated in a two year trial period. Cost reduction will also be a priority.

Solar panels are pitched at an angle to make the most of available sunlight. However, in Normandy, where the solar road has been built, cloud-free days are relatively rare – 44 days per year in Caen, the regional capital. On cloudy days, sunlight comes from all parts of the sky with almost equal strength, so flat-mounted solar panels, as in a solar road, may be an effective orientation.

Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/12/worlds-first-solar-road-opens-in-france/

The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/22/solar-panel-road-tourouvre-au-perche-normandy / world's first solar panel road opens Normandy village Tourouvre-au-Perche cost construction €5m two-year test period test phase evaluate solar panel road provide energy power street lighting France world’s first solar panel road Normandy village 1km 0.6-mile route small village Tourouvre-au-Perche covered 2,800 sq m electricity-generating panels inaugurated Thursday ecology minister Ségolène Royal cost €5m £4.2m construct used 2,000 motorists day during two-year test period generate enough energy power street lighting village 3,400 residents 2014 solar-powered cycle path Krommenie the Netherlands teething problems has generated 3,000kWh energy power average family home year cost building cycle path solar-powered road called Wattway opened RD5 road panels tested four car parks across France constructor Colas giant telecoms group Bouygues financed by the state Normandy sunshine Caen region political capital just 44 days strong sunshine year Royal solar panels installed 1,000km French highway France 1m km roads panels laid on flat surfaces less efficient installed sloping areas roofs critics cost-effective use of public money Marc Jedliczka vice-president Network Energetic Transition CLER technical advance develop renewables other priorities very expensive Jean-Louis Bal president renewable energy union SER cost production electricity lifespan Colas panels covered resin containing fine sheets silicon tough enough withstand all traffic reduce costs producing solar panels projects solar-panelled roads /

Tick bites can cause allergies – which may be life threatening

A tick bite is unpleasant, but more importantly, can lead to two different types of allergies – one of which can be life threatening.

● Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA) – i.e. an allergy to red meat – all red meat, including the obvious ones – beef, lamb, pork – & also meat from virtually any mammal, including kangaroo, deer & bison. Symptoms – gastro-intestinal.

● Allergy to the tick bite itself is also possible, & this one is life threatening. Symptom – anaphylactic shock.

What can you do?

● Avoid ticks – easier said than done, if you live in an area with a high level of tick infestation, such as the east coast of Australia.

● Make sure you remove ticks correctly – if you are bitten, this is essential to ensure you don’t acquire either of the allergies mentioned above – most people's reaction is to scratch it, which is a bad idea, & using tweezers is the worst thing you can do.

More, including how to correctly remove ticks:



If you only want to know how to remove a tick, here it is in just 1 minute & 47 seconds:

/ tick protein meat allergy tick allergy Mammalian Meat Allergy MMA anti-GAL anti GAL ALPHA GAL ALPHA-GAL antibody antigen anti galactose red meat great apes old world monkeys galactose bite mouth inject local anaesthetic gastric gastroenteritis meat allergy tick bite anaphylactic shock anaphylaxis life threatening larvae larva nymph nymphs ether Wart Off scabies /

Best wishes

Credit: Inhabitat

Whatever your beliefs, all the very best from Hitchhiker's Guide 2 Tech!

The Guardian tried every set of wireless earbuds to find some that worked, so you don’t have to

Bragi earbuds
Credit: Bragi/The Guardian

Surprising number were unable to maintain a stable connection between the two earbuds – this review names names.

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/dec/16/wireless-bluetooth-earbuds-bragi-jabra-elite-earin-motorola / completely wireless earbuds future of in-ear music freeing us from the shackles of cables between the ears wireless earbuds that work very few actually do Apple AirPods cannot maintain solid connection opposite sides of your head smartphones Bluetooth performance Google Pixel XL Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Apple iPhone 7 earbuds only two worth buying ones to avoid and why Earin buttons controls charge long cylindrical battery case sound pretty good over two hours worked better smartphones could not maintain a stable connection between the two earbuds right slave bud cutting out intermittently walking down the street blast a loud pop when they run out of battery not worth buying if you walk anywhere Motorola VerveOnes+ sweat-proof plus version normal rubber-coated back wedge themselves in your ear stick out further than most comfortable lasting a couple of hours rotating charging case running connected to a smartwatch OK for running Bluetooth headset PK K’asq stick out of your ear deeply uncomfortable in my ear sounded OK failed badly both earbuds cutting out connection between them was lost Rowkin Bit Charge smallest buds on the market sound OK relatively comfortable most discreet two versions with and without a charging case magnets struggled to maintain a connection between themselves pairing routine was downright tedious form function the ones to buy Bragi the Headphone first wireless earbuds new Bragi the Headphone connection reliability light earbuds touch your ears most comfortable wireless earbuds I’ve tried right earbud buttons power button play pause skip-track button buttons adjust volume switch ambient noise on and off microphones built into the earbuds buttons ear canals sound pretty good right fit tips comfortable to wear for extended periods sound good wired earbuds balanced decent separation mids and highs thunderous bass small hiss sound background active charges battery charge your earbuds completely turn off charge rock-solid connectivity smartphones kept their connection call quality stereo mono right earbud simple good-sounding Jabra Elite Sport Bluetooth headphones wireless earbuds Bragi Elite earbuds fill the ear like a canal shell hearing aid /

General Motors EV1 & the land speed record for electric vehicles

General Motors EV1
Credit: General Motors/Clean Technica

You may have heard of the General Motors EV1 – an electric car produced between 1996 & 1999. It was unique in a number of ways, including being the first GM vehicle designed purely as an electric car & also in bearing the General Motors brand,¹ rather than that of one of its divisions (Chevrolet, Buick etc.)

Predecessor of the EV1 was the Impact concept car, first shown to the public in January 1990, by GM chairman Roger Smith, at the 1990 LA Auto Show. In 1994, a modified Impact set a land speed record of 183.822 mph (295.833 kph).²


Impact land speed record car
Credit: tzev.com

Many sources, including Wikipedia describe it as, “a land speed record for production electric vehicles”. Apparently, “production”, refers to the 50 Impacts hand built for the, PrEView, programme – which saw cars lent out for one or two weeks at a time, to gain feedback from members of the public.¹

Ultimate fate of the EV1 is recorded in the iconic 2006 documentary, “Who Killed the Electric Car?”

Read about it at
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F

Buy the DVD at
http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/
__________

Where the land speed records for electric cars are now

On 28 July 2016, a land speed record for street legal EVs was set at 205.6 mph (330.9 kph) by a modified Corvette.



For vehicles unhampered by street legality concerns, Drayson Technology moved the record up to 219.1mph (352.6kph) in March 2014.



As of 22 September 2016, the outright record was set at 341.4 mph (549.3 kph) by Venturi – an offshoot of the organisation that runs the Formula E team.


__________

¹ Wikipedia: “General Motors EV1”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

² tzev.com: ‘GM 1989-1993 “Impact”’
http://www.tzev.com/1989_1993_impact_ev1_prototype_c1994_LandSpeedRecord.html / Who Killed the Electric Car EV1 General Motors EV1was an electric car produced leased General Motors 1996 to 1999 first mass-produced purpose-designed electric vehicle modern era major automaker first GM car designed electric vehicle first only passenger car sold under the corporate General Motors GM name branded under one mass-produce electric car GM received favorable reception 1990 Impact electric concept car design EV1 Impact's perceived potential success California Air Resources Board CARB subsequently passed mandate production sale zero-emissions vehicles ZEV requirement seven major automakers selling cars United States market vehicles California EV1 made available limited lease-only agreements Los Angeles California Phoenix Tucson Arizona EV1 lessees real-world engineering evaluation market study feasibility producing marketing commuter electric vehicle select U.S. markets GM's Advanced Technology Vehicles group cars not available for purchase serviced only designated Saturn dealerships EV1's release leasing programs launched San Francisco Sacramento California limited program Georgia customer reaction EV1 positive GM electric cars unprofitable niche automobile market crushing crush crushed most of the cars protesting customers /

Redflow claims to have a better solution for home electricity storage

Redflow's ZCell domestic electricity storage system – unique zinc-bromine flow chemistry – 10 kiloWatt hour capacity
Credit: Redflow/Canstar Blue

Redflow has a home electricity storage solution using a flow cell with zinc-bromine electrolyte. Alternatives, such as the Tesla Power Wall, use lithium ion technology.

Claimed advantages of Redflow's flow cell include:

● tolerant of daily full cycle (100-0%) charge-discharge – don't try that with lead, nickel or lithium based batteries

● well suited to a heavy workload
● less loss of capacity through its lifetime than other chemistries
● doesn’t need active cooling
● sleep mode with zero self-discharge [sic]
● non-flammable electrolyte

Canstar Blue reviewed the ZCell
http://www.canstarblue.com.au/energy/alternative/solar-power/zcell-home-battery-storage-system-reviewed/

Executive chairman of Redflow, Simon Hackett, installed a ZCell at his home
https://simonhackett.com/2016/11/28/home-redflow-zbm-installation/

Manufacturer's web site
https://www.zcell.com/ / Simon Hackett executive chairman Australian battery storage developer Redflow better solution home electricity storage energy storage Australian householders cut costs residence residential back-up power option Redflow emerging market recent blackout South Australia back-up power options home-owners home energy storage systems harvesting storing energy solar panels Redflow’s ZCell home battery storage system power outages without interruption research firm IHS Technology forecast Australian energy storage market Australia top five markets distributed energy storage US Japan Germany UK solar photovoltaic energy storage systems wider energy market evolving battery technology increasing role nature of electricity consumption is changing innovative energy storage solutions ZCell systems local market home battery storage system ZCell Redflow ZCell emerging home battery market battery technologies available Redflow ZCell’s flow technology Redflow’s ZCell ZCell storage system unique zinc-bromine flow battery Redflow ZBM2 capable delivering 10 kilowatt hours kWh stored energy daily Redflow battery technology ZCell home battery market lithium-ion battery Redflow ZCell overhead degradation problems impact performance lithium-based lead-acid batteries ZCell contains 100 litres water-based zinc bromide salt solution circulating two separate hydraulic circuits charging zinc extracted zinc bromide solution stored plastic membrane discharge zinc released solution energy stored moving zinc inside the battery long life 100 per cent depth-of-discharge completely reversible no damage battery zinc completely removed plastic membrane end of each discharge cycle Redflow benefits ZCell other battery chemistry 100 per cent cycle depth daily delivery 10 kWh energy 100 per cent depth of discharge no risk of battery damage retaining full output capacity battery’s useful life large loss of output capacity with age other battery types no fire risk bromide-based electrolyte natural fire retardant mechanical damage no risk explosion thermal runaway high-temperature operation without active cooling unlimited shelf life state of charge hibernated for storage easy to recycle reuse /

SPUD – Spontaneous Pop-Up Display

SPUD in use
Credit: Arovia

Assembled, SPUD has a 24" screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio, at 1280 x 720 resolution, & weighs 2 pounds, that collapses, “just like a ruggedized umbrella”, to a 7.52 x 5.64 x 2.17 inch, package. Image is displayed by rear projection.



Two problems spring to mind:
1. in my experience, resolution is a problem with rear projected displays
2. creasing of the screen after repeated collapsing seems likely

Arovia, the creator, claims to have solved both of these problems.

SPUD is crowd funded through IndieGoGo
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-spontaneous-pop-up-display-spud-tv/x/9010251#/

& KickStarter too
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1677563729/the-spontaneous-pop-up-display-spud

The Verge – “The SPUD is an absurd 24-inch portable display that opens like an umbrella”
http://www.theverge.com/2016/11/2/13496448/portable-projector-display-spud

New Atlas – SPUD puts a 24-inch display in your back pocket
http://newatlas.com/spud-pop-up-screen/42350/ / SPUD high resolution 24-inch display ultra-portability ultra-portable collapses ruggedized umbrella size and weight paperback book expanded SPUD uses custom optics latest DLP technology sharp bright image HDMI cable wireless adapter SPUD connected smartphone tablet laptop SPUD completely new type of product world’s first large portable display SPUD only high resolution 24-inch display ultra-portability collapses ruggedized umbrella size and weight paperback book expanded SPUD custom optics latest DLP technology produce sharp bright image HDMI cable or wireless adapter SPUD connected smartphone tablet laptop watching movies more productive away from your office SPUD optimizes visual experience any device crowd funded crowdfunded crowd funding crowdfunding community supporters projected retail price SPUD pops-up huge, 24-inch diagonal display fully expanded device 21 inches wide 11 inches high 14 inches deep 61 cm diagonal 53 cm wide 28 cm high 36 cm deep 24-inch display size of a large desk monitor laptop screen 5.1-inch smartphone screen highly durable breakable glass screens SPUD uses flexible polymer cracked chipped washable attached casing keeps SPUD protected /