The modern definition of a hybrid vehicle is any single machine with multiple sources of power. Usually, this means one internal combustion engine and one electric motor with batteries. This is again the case with the Biohazard Jet Bike, though its internal combustion engine happens to be a propane-fed turbine engine which spins at up to 112,000 revolutions per minute and produces forty-five pounds of thrust. The electric motor is powered by twenty-four volts of juice and is said to be good for eighteen miles per hour for up to twenty miles.

The bike also has pedals, though they are non-functional. From the looks of things, much of the cycle comes from the pedal-powered world, with a front fork and wheels cribbed from the bike world for sure. Still, this machine looks like lots of fun, and jet engines have been known to run on nearly any combustible fuel, including our personal favorite: biodiesel.

Related:

• Inventive minds attach a jet engine to a Honda Ruckus

[Source: eBay Motors]

The General Motors factory in Zaragoza, Spain is set to get a roof tiled in solar panels as part of a larger initiative throughout GM's European operations. 183,000 square meters of photovoltaic cells will be capable of providing up to a quarter of the factory's peak demand. Zaragoza is GM's biggest European factory, and the project will cost €50m, though its benefit will be significant reduction in energy bills for the automaker. GM has 19 other plants in Europe, and the Saint Petersburg factory is next on the list for the solar treatment. Other locations may follow, though some are likely better suited than others due to a variety of environmental and business factors.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub Req]

I'm not familiar with Richard Viguerie, but he's a proud conservative and more than willing to engage in some "attack the liberals" maneuvers to complain about high gas prices. Since I get a bit of flack from our readers about airing my leftwing views, I thought I'd highlight Viguerie's argument - don't worry, I'll get back to my standard Republican bashing in a post later today :)

In any case, Viguerie's point is that some on the left see high gas prices as a good thing, and so therefore we're totally responsible for the high prices. He does hate on corn ethanol for a bit, and polishes Reagan's memory. He goes through the standard talking points about driling in ANWR and letting the market run rampant decide what the price of energy should be, then says this: "Liberals raised taxes on gasoline so high that the government makes roughly four times as much on each gallon as the oil companies do."

Look, I'm willing to let conservatives have their say, but this just seems slippery as all get out to me. If I remember correctly, the federal gas tax is around 18 cents a gallon, right? In 2007, Exxon earned $1,300 per second. I know that not all of Exxon's profits come from gasoline sales, but come on. I'm sure that in some technical way Viguerie could be right, but saying that our cash-starved governments are somehow riding high compared to the Exxons of the world is amazing. Simply amazing.

[Source: ConservativeHQ.com]

While we are currently paying more at the pump than ever before, many of our readers likely remember that this is not the first time the country has faced a sudden increase in gas prices and the desire for higher fuel economy. In the early seventies, both new emissions regulations and a shortage of gasoline in the U.S. turned the auto industry upside-down in just a few years. In fact, the first horsepower wars reached an apogee in 1970, with cars like the original Hemi Mopars, Chevrolet Chevelle LS6, and the GTO Judge reaching ever-higher into the horsepower stratosphere just to be knocked down a notch in '71 and again in '72. The muscle car days were officially on hiatus, and fuel economy was the new measuring stick.

Sound familiar? While cars today are producing more power than ever, fuel economy now seems to be just as important, if not even more so, than the horsepower figure. With that in mind, lets take a trip down memory lane (via the gallery below) at the advertisements immediately following the first gas crunch to see what may be in store for us in the coming years. If you have a favorite, click here to visit Oobject and vote.


[Source: Oobject]

For six decades, the Watkins Glen racetrack has been a home to motorsports in upstate New York. For many years it was the home of the US Grand Prix until the F1 circus decided they were too good to trek up to the Finger Lakes every October. In recent years, the Glen has played host to NASCAR and IndyCars as well as sports cars of various types. While the cars on the track use a variety of liquid fuels for motivation, lots of electricity is required as well. So the Glen is teaming up with Juice Energy Inc to provide electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind. For the next three years, Watkins Glen will buy wind powered electricity equivalent to all its electrical use through Juice. The Watkins Glen press release is after the jump.

[Source: Watkins Glen]

While we've featured many alternatively-powered cars on AutoblogGreen, this may be the first one that is fueled by the imagination. If you've been perusing the iMiEV microsite we told you about the other day you may have noticed a paper craft section. It's a special place that fans of the Mitsubishi iMiEV (other Mitsu models are also there) can go to and download a PDF file containing a magical pattern that was conjured up by Akira Mizorogi. This can then be printed out, cut out, folded and glued to become a mini version of the micro electric car. Although the cutting may be achieved with scissors, an exacto knife and cutting mat is recommended. Small, childlike fingers and a grandparent's patience may also come in handy.

Because of the inexpensive properties of paper automobiles, we were able to get our hands on three of these little beauties, instead of the usual single model, to put through their paces. The cars were pretty much identical with each having unlimited amounts of power and speed. A few runs through the cones revealed handling that was superb as long as you kept a gentle grip. One car had a little better fit and finish which was chalked up to assembly by a different team. We expect the electric versions to be more uniform and also more silent, since the vehicles we had were for some reason equipped with some sort of sound effects device that reproduced the noises of a gas-powered car.

The trio were driven across varying terrain including a redwood forest (pictured above), a grassy savanna, as well as the usual concrete and asphalt. A word of caution. It's a dangerous world out there for paper cars so beware of puddles and large furry beasts who might mistake your iMiEV for a mouse. Check out the gallery of our paper iMiEV adventures below. Many thanks to Yanquetino for the tip!


[Source: Mitsubishi]

Last year, Ford introduced a new capless direct filling system on the Explorer and has since started spreading it to other models including the new Lincoln MKS, the Ford Flex and the Escape. The system has a number of advantages including the convenience of not having to mess around with the cap. The most important function of the capless system is a reduction in evaporative emissions during fueling. Unfortunately with gas prices on the rise, so are thefts of fuel. More and more drivers are coming out to their vehicles in the morning to that some thieving punk has siphoned the gas out of the tank. As a result sales of locking caps are on the rise at parts stores around the country. Too bad these items won't work for the Ford capless system. Hopefully, Ford will see fit to start applying locking doors to more its vehicles to go with the direct fill system.

Update: Ford's Alan Hall has informed me that that a locking cap is available for the direct fill system from Ford dealers. The locking cap will of course negate the convenience factor of not messing with a cap. The tank also has other measures to deter theft making it comparable to a standard setup with a lockless capped system. It does not however, affect the improved sealing that reduces evaporative emissions maintaining the most important functional aspect of the system.

Photo: Times of India

Over the years, the Pope has been driven around in quite a few different vehicles, which most people refer to as the 'Popemobile.' The last time the Pope visited the United States, for instance, his ride was a modified Mercedes-Benz M Class SUV which had been specially modified to accommodate his needs. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has a long history of creating vehicles specially for the Pope, and now Piaggio has joined in as well. Piaggio's contribution, though, features just three wheels and is made from the rickshaw platform which is popular in India, where the vehicle was created.

According to Ravi Chopra from Piaggio's Indian subsidiary, "These vehicles were given a complete look and feel of a Popemobile by putting a white coloured hood, white tyres, seat upholstery, and white body paint. The insignia on the doors is specially handcrafted. The entire vehicle was given a complete unique decor to suit the aura of His Holiness." Piaggio hopes that Pope Benedict XVI can find a use for the vehicle at the Vatican, perhaps when touring the gardens.

[Source: Times of India]

This being the 4th of July, we would like to bring you a story about the power of the people (and possibly their elected representatives) in a democracy. You may remember a story we did a few days ago about the gov'ment, specifically the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), putting the big freeze on solar power projects on land it controls in six Western states until a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) was completed. We told you they wanted input from the public and apparently they got an earful and because of the "concerns expressed", they have announced a sudden reversal of the moratorium policy.

In researching this story we learned it wasn't just outraged citizenry that took action on the issue. According to KVBC in Las Vegas, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, who had just attended the opening of a solar manufacturing plant in that city, had vowed to have the moratorium reversed this year upon hearing about it. Other reports have the senator saying it was wrong, "especially when you consider that, as we speak, tens of millions of acres are leased to oil companies for drilling."

So now that we're back to "game on" is everybody happy? Not quite. A politician in San Bernardino County, 1st District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt, has announced his displeasure (PDF). In a news release he stated, "At a time when we are trying to protect habitat, provide for recreation, maintain the expansive beauty of the desert while providing for responsible growth, not to mention the expansion of desert military bases, we cannot afford to surrender vast areas of public land to solar energy projects." We don't know the local politics of this district where 50 applications for solar installations have already been filed with the local BLM office, but think it interesting to note that commentors of an article discussing Mitzelfelt's position were under the impression that he didn't have as much concern for halting housing developments on desert land that were erected by a company they claimed was a campaign contributor to the politician. As always, we wonder what our own commentors have to make of all this.

[Source: UPI / Daily Press]

Everything old is new again.

A few years ago (can't find the link, sorry), we had a story about a service where people could pay now for way more gasoline than they needed (say, 100 gallons or more) and then this fuel would be stored for them somehow and would be available to them at a later date - most likely when the fuel price was higher. A new company, MyGallons, is now offering the same sort of deal. The US News & World Report is all over it.

One difference between MyGallons and previous fuel price lock deals is the wide availability of participating gas stations, over 200,000, according to the MyGallons site. On top of pre-paying for your fuel, you also need to pay $30 or $40 for the annual membership fee and the price you pay for fuel is "based on the current average price of self-serve regular unleaded gas in your home area," MyGallons says.

How does MyGallons make money? By taking members' money and investing it in oil and other energy companies, through those annual fees and through website advertising. Investing money back into the companies that make such big bucks off of high gas prices sure does seem like a vicious circle, doesn't it?

[Source: US News & World Report, MyGallons]

What choices do we realistically have when considering how to reduce our individual petroleum usage? Some people buy hybrid cars or scooters in an effort to cut down their fuel bills. Some carpool or take the bus to get where they need to go. Still others, though, take the horse.

Umm... sorry, the what?

Going back in time a bit, the horse was the most popular way to get around. When the modern car was first made popular, there were both horses and cars sharing American roads. It seems we could be headed that way again, at least if more people follow the example of a group of Washington State workmates. The group of people all work at the same dentist's office and decided that when gas topped four bucks per gallon that they would all get together and ride to work. And so they did. Police gave the riders special permits to ride in a pack down the road and the workers who didn't have horses followed on bicycles. Now, if we could just tackle that methane gas problem...

[Source: AP via Maryland Daily Record]

The gasoline or diesel that goes in the fuel tank is by no means the only petroleum used in cars. Oil is also used as a lubricant to keep all the metal parts sliding smoothly over one another. That lubricating oil needs to be changed periodically as it gets contaminated. Unfortunately a lot of people who change their own oil don't dispose of it properly, leading to contaminated soil and ground water. However, Green Earth Technologies has developed a new oil that isn't made from crude and even biodegrades very quickly. The motor oil is made from saturated fat from beef. After it's done lubricating your engine, you mix it with G-DISPOSOIL which breaks it down almost immediately in to something that can be poured onto the ground. The liquid can be consumed by bacteria in the soil which decomposes 90 percent of the oil within nine days. If anyone tries out G-Oil in their own engines, let us know how it worked out for you.

[Source: EcoGeek]

Click above for more images of the electric bike train

Recently, while searching the net for the most interesting forward-thinking ideas around, we stumbled across a design for an electric bicycle which works sort of like a train. Sure, that sounds confusing, but a quick glance at the pictures below will likely make the concept easier to understand. While we in no way believe that a device such as this would make any real dent in global emissions or congestion, we do think that the idea has some merit for cyclists. Consider, for example, how expensive tandem bicycles are. With a vehicle such as this, a single rider can go his merry way alone or attach extra helpers bikes as needed. Additionally, the electric machine is collapsible, which should make it easier to store when not needed. Pretty cool stuff from designer Jiang Qian in China. A quick glance at his accomplishments makes us believe we're not the only ones impressed by his work.


[Source: Coroflot.com]

Photo by ClevelandSGS. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.

Angela Eversole thought she had it all figured out: she needed gas, and was alledgedly willing to give up a little sex to get it. Unfortunately for her, the deal she was setting up for "a $100 gasoline card and other gifts" was being watched by the police there in Fort Wright, Kentucky. She was arrested and charged with prostitution and, get this, for "doing business without an occupational license," according to the AP. She's pleaded not guilty. USAToday has more.

We knew that a green car could make a man a bit more popular with the ladies, but this is something else entirely. Who knew hybrids could promote moral behavior?

[Source: WLEX]

After Pittsburgh police noticed a Hummer (yep, a Hummer... what else?) sitting conspicuously close to a five-hundred gallon tank of gas at a golf course, the vehicle suddenly took off. Considering that the top speed of a Hummer is right around one-hundred miles per hour, we can safely say that the driver was giving it all he had in an attempt to get away. The high-speed chase ended as the Hummer smashed into a tree and rolled several times in a nearby parking lot. The eighteen-year-old-driver sustained leg injuries which required a hospital stay and will face charges after being deemed healthy.

Sixty-eight gallons of gasoline were said to be found missing from the tank by the golf course superintendent. To recap: this story is further proof that:

1. Hummers are very expensive to fill up.
2. Gas thefts are on the rise in the face of record-high fuel prices.

[Source: WPXI News]