Audi A3 e-tron option: carbon-free recharging (video)

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1091110_audi-a3-e-tron-option-carbon-free-recharging-in-germany

One of the more interesting parts of the item linked above is comments, such as:

"Is LichtBlick going to run dedicated electric lines from the hydroelectric power stations to the Audi E-Tron owners' homes?"

Such a comment fails to recognise that an e-tron owner (or anyone else) can contract with an electricity provider to invest in & generate green power by a buying choice in the market. The electric power provider is contracting to feed green electricity to the grid equal to the customer's consumption. It doesn't matter who uses a particular electron.

Something similar is almost certainly available in your area without the assistance of Audi. Your electric power provider can probably do it for you.

For my own part, solar PV on my roof generates almost as much power as my EV consumes. Power I generate is fed into the grid, so I don't consume "my own electrons". However, I am increasing the amount of green energy in the grid, so the effect is the same, irrespective of who consumes "my" electrons. In addition, I purchase green power to cover my other consumption. / plug-in electric car carbon footprint electricity charge recharge generated sustainable renewable sources burning liquid fuels generate carbon emissions Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid Berlin German buyers 2015 Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid drive electrically carbon footprint grid electricity carbon tailpipe emissions generating electricity charge recharge sustainable renewable sources solar wind hydro thermal geo-thermal geo thermal buyers LichtBlick SE independent energy providers plug-in hybrid hydroelectric power stations Austria Germany Switzerland kilowatt-hour kWH geothermal power plant certified electricity rainforest Ecuador carbon footprint parts assembly EV electric vehicles tailpipe emissions carbon-neutral energy charge recharge /

Cadillac ELR "poolside" commercial re-imagined (video)

Some time ago, GM released a commercial for their Cadillac ELR extended range electic vehicle. It received wide spread criticism. See what you think:



Now am interesting re-imaging has been produced using the Ford C-Max Energi plug in hybrid:



http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1091146_ford-parodies-caddys-poolside-ad-using-ford-c-max-energi-video

My take: when Slate described the Cadillac commercial as "shallowness and materialism" it was definitely in the ballpark.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2014/03/31/ford_versus_cadillac_new_ad_featuring_detroit_dirt_mocks_poolside_commercial.html?wpisrc=burger_bar

And the Cadillac ELR? It's essentially a tarted up Volt. That's to say, it's an electric Cruze with range extender & reduced rear seat room to make space for the battery. In extended range mode, acceleration 0-60 mph (0-97 kph) is one second quicker than the Volt.

Alternatives:

Tesla Model S: much better passenger room, luggage space & acceleration for around the same price.

Volt: similar to the ELR, as indicated above, without the bling, but with rear doors added, for half the price. / serial parallel hybrid electric vehicle EV LiIon lithium ion battery charge recharge mode extended range petrol gasolene gasoline parody ad advertisement C-Max Energi plug-in hybrid funny though Cadillac driven advert why do we work so hard Ford Motor Company pool fancy house dirt compost organic vegetable hard-working less narcissistic Chevrolet General Motors /

iPad keyboard case review round-up

Credit: SlashGear

http://www.slashgear.com/office-for-ipad-keyboard-case-review-round-up-28322828/

Also see the MiniSuit BluBoard Bluetooth keyboard review. Can't comment myself, but the manufacturer advertises it for use with iPad. I'm using one now to type this on Android (Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0). / tablet tablets productivity physical real keyboard Office release Bluetooth keyboard cases iPad Air iPad mini Zagg Logitech Belkin Microsoft folio keyboard laptop keyboards multi-colored backlighting easier to use low-light conditions charge typing replace replacing function keys cut paste Belkin QODE Ultimate keyboard case aluminum alloy stand magnets stand different angles single hinge tablet mode still function buttons backlit Zagg Cover Keyboard protect protecting scratch scratches dock Lightning port Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Folio compact docking system stand Zagg folio keyboard Logitech reduction size Microsoft wedge mobile keyboard generic option Windows iPad Android slates tablet stand portrait landscape orientation shortcut keys home office /

Tesla Model S to get titanium battery shield + deflectors

You may have read on these pages about the extraordinary response of the media to two incidents of road debris penetration incidents leading to fires in Tesla Model S electric vehicles. Another fire occurred in Mexico after stolen a Tesla smashed down a brick wall.

Tesla is now providing additional protection for the Model S battery.

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1091137_tesla-model-s-to-get-titanium-battery-shield-plus-deflectors-breaking / Tesla Motors underbody components Model S electric cars protection impacts road debris fires severely damaged battery packs mounted under the floor pierced road debris caught fire stolen steal thief steel reinforced concrete wall tearing off wheels totaling car injured killed fire drivers pull over park walk warning monitoring system gasoline cars additional triple underbody shield Fremont California assembly plant retrofit shield normally scheduled service request of owners battery pack shield shielded thick armor plate ballistic-grade aluminum steel-and-ceramic firewall floorpan Elon Musk Expects NHTSA protective devices hollow round aluminum bar titanium plate shallow-angle solid-aluminum deflect absorb impacts protecting battery pack titanium plate damage range over-the-air ride height /

Tesla Model S review (video)

Tesla Model S, reviewed as only Robert Llewellyn could do it. / Tesla Model S Elon Musk LiIon lithium ion LiIon battery EV elecric vehicle 85 kWh kilo Watt hour car /

Lithium ion batteries, cheaper & greener

Lithium ion batteries contain binders (read "glue") to hold things together. Unfortunately, binders are non-conductive (& so tend to reduce battery performance), toxic & expensive.

Cue the research team from the University of Delaware, with their conductive, non-toxic, cheap binder.

Winner!

http://chargedevs.com/newswire/sticky-stuff-could-make-li-ion-batteries-cheaper-and-greener/ / components active materials conductive additives binders team researchers University of Delaware discovered sticky conductive material eliminate binder technology binders impair electrochemical performance battery insulate insulation insulating properties Professor Bingqing Wei organic solvents mix binders conductive materials expense final product toxic to humans LiIon lithium-ion cell battery /

External battery for MacBook — now there are three

First there was HyperJuice, then came CHUGPLUG, soon, there'll be BatteryBox:

http://the-gadgeteer.com/2014/03/26/bypass-your-macbook-airs-battery-with-the-batterybox-and-charge-your-tablet-and-phone-too/ / CHUGPLUG external battery worry running out power traveling CHUGPLUG design designer designed 45 60 Watt 45W 60W newer MacBooks up to 4 extra hours power 11 inch 13 inch 11″ MacBook Air extra hours 13″ MacBook Air MacBook Pro weigh weighs 1.1 pounds accepts 100 240 100-240VAC 1.2A 50-60Hz AC power outputs 120-250V DC power fit between MacBook’s MagSafe power adapter power cord charge internal lithium-polymer battery 2 hours power laptop Lenmar Enterprises external batteries charge phone tablet laptop 50Wh energy juice power charge mobile device double battery life MacBook Air charge recharge bypass bypasses internal battery recharge cycles extended extends life BatteryOS LiIon lithium-ion batteries increased higher capacitydegrade over time 3000 full charge and discharge cycles MagSafe2 device charged USB /