In a short span of time, Toyota has done some face-lift on the Auris Hybrid models for raising the green spirits. The Geneva Motor Show held in March this year showcased Auris Hybrid Touring Sports in production trim with enhancements on the CO2 emission control. Compared with 89g/km of CO2 dropping of the current Auris Hybrid models, the Touring Sports perked up with reduced emission figure of 85 g/km.

Now that they have previewed the modifications on the Touring Sports model they have announced that their new version of Auris Hybrid hatchback will roll out next month in the markets. The company has assured customers that the model will be even more eco-friendlier with just 84 grams of CO2 emission per kilometer.

Toyota accomplished this with refinements done on the vehicle tuning and alterations on various aerodynamic factors. It glued the rear glazing with new aero stabilizing fins for achieving higher energy efficiency. So by June this year, the 87 g/km emitters will get a better green replacement with the Auris Hybrid’s 84g/km version.

You're reading Toyota Auris Hybrid New Variant Boasts Less CO2 Emissions originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

Colorado-based Zeal has now decided to chop off oil plastics from sunglasses. First, the company produced frames with a resin which they called Z-resin, a material used for producing plastic with castor oil.

As you might be aware, castor beans are given to little kids for keeping them healthy. Moreover, castor beans are easy to grow and they segregate more oil. Nobody consumes castor oil and beans now a days which means it is in less demand. With no harm done to the human cause, Zeal makes sunglasses with castor-based ingredients.

Determined to make a fossil fuel-free glass, the company created a lens named e-Ilume, which boasts a non-petroleum based bonder that maintains high optical standards. A clarity value of 38 (Abbe) was recorded. Zeal’s bio lens protects eyes from UVA, B and C light as well as HEV (High Energy Visible) light.

You're reading Zeal Develops No-Petroleum Sunglasses from Castor Bean Oil originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

The NRL team used hydrogen in liquid form, which gave space for more amount of fuel to be carried along. Liquid hydrogen is three times denser than 5000-psi compressed hydrogen. Apart from that, the craft’s high quality, light weight insulated flight dewar for cryogenic fuel contributed to this record breaking performance.

According to Dr. Karen Swider- Lyons, principal investigator of NRL, small unmanned systems can be made to fly by interlocking Liquid hydrogen with fuel-cell technology.

The record breaking team is now promoting the logistics of “in-theater supply” implying manufacture of liquid hydrogen as fuel.

An electrolyser-based system stores all of this. This system requires only water for feedstock and for generating electricity, from either solar or wind, and to electrolyze, compress and refrigerate the fuel.

You're reading Hydrogen-Powered Ion Tiger UAV Flight Record Bettered originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

The new eO PP01 super car is designed with tubular carbon-fiber frame powered with an 536 horsepower electric engine. Designed primarily for the race, this EV gets an advantage at 14,000- foot altitude.

Conventional gas engines tend to lose power at higher altitudes and that indeed would come in handy for the EV.  OSCar has promised that its new EV’s chances cannot be ruled out, though the fact remains that no electric car has won Pikes Pike outright.

Toyota’s TMG EV P002 and the Monster Sport E-Runner are the other two EVs gearing up for the event.

The eO, familiar to competitions, has raced more than 11,000 miles across three continents. The model comes loaded with a Nissan-built gas powered range-extender and had 422 HP with a 190-mile single-charge range.

You're reading OSCar eO PP01 Supercar Heads for Pikes Pike Hill Climb originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

The Keystone Service trains running on the keystone corridor speeds up to 110 mph. Later on, new locomotives will be provided to all long-distance trains on the NEC. Motors that run the ACS-64 can generate speeds of 125 mph than can reach a high of 8,600 hp(6.4 MW) and can pull 18 cars.

The new locos come with regenerative braking as in electric cars and hybrids. This electric locomotive will be an answer as to how the amount of unwanted emissions (5 MW) can be returned to the power grid. Cleaner the power grid, smoother will be the operations of locomotive.

Siemens and Amtrak have forecast power savings of up to 3 billion kWh, equaling $300 million, by using these 70 locomotives in 20 years. With the new locomotives, the economic growth of the Northeast region and better service for the passengers are expected.

You're reading Amtrak 30-Year-Old Locomotives Replaced with Efficient Electric Models originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

As stated by Francis Champod, Renault Sport motorsport technical manager, the company will not be considering a 100% electric vehicle as they think electrification technology has not matured enough.

But then, he has hinted that a hybrid variant could be feasible. Such a vehicle is now in the radar and would hit concept stage without delay.

According to him, the company is having a close look at the Formula E championship to determine if it needs to be a high-level competition vehicle or not. If the company toes this line, we need to get ready for a race car by Renault Sport.

Champod has also been quoted as saying that the market is not ready to absorb electric vehicles for time being. But when would the high performance green vehicle arrive is for him to reveal in the near future. We need to wait, we guess.

You're reading Renault Closer Building High Performance Electric Hybrid Vehicle originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

The project would boasts 40,000 solar photovoltaic modules, 213,000 sq meters (2,292,712 square feet, or 68% of the total roof area), and 10 megawatts peak capacity, which targets 11.5 million kWh yearly production sufficient for 3,200 households.

As you would probably know, Sonata Hybrid, Sonata and Grandeur (Azera) is manufactured at the Asan plant.

Hyundai aims at creating awareness on the importance of eco-friendly projects with such a huge and noble initiative. The project is intended to produce 11.5 million kWh of electricity, equivalent to that produced by a thermoelectric power plant.

The new project would ensure cutting down of carbon dioxide emission to the atmosphere.

Hyundai, associated with electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles of late, would see the new project also garner good appreciation. The company knows that the time has come to wake up, make use of cheaper solar power. Here’s wishing Hyundai the best for this eye opener project.

You're reading Hyundai Setting Up South Korea’s Largest Rooftop Solar Installation originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

BYD, the Chinese company, which stormed into the US light weight vehicle market with its electric sedan e6, has now disappointed those who were looking to own one.

We hear, the company has finalized plans to sell the EV only to fleet owners.

BYD had been facing a crunch following the lower than expected sales numbers troubling it. The low sales even made its share price sink 75 percent over the past three years.

All these have prompted the company to go for tougher decisions.

BYD stopped manufacturing gas-powered vehicles and light weight vehicle production has been limited to hybrids and plug-ins.

The company came to a business agreement regarding sales of municipal and taxi cabs with its hometown of Shenzhen as well as with Bogota,Columbia.

Now with the decision regarding sales of it e-car only to fleet owners in the US, BYD definitely seems to be treading the path of austerity so that money continues to flow into its depleted coffers.

Let’s wait to know what lies in store for the company in the short term.

You're reading BYD e6 EV Being Sold Only to Fleet Owners in the US originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

With Virgin Atlantic president Richard Branson aiming at ushering in a ‘green’ profile to the uniforms, he thought of Westwood to be entrusted with the task.

A trial run has been planned from July 2013 with more than 7,500 Virgin  Atlantic personnel, comprising cabin crew, clubhouse staff and Virgin Holidays personnel slated to appear in new redesigned uniforms.

The new garb, however, would officially come into effect only in 2014. The ingredients used are recycled materials, which include recycled-polyester yarn. Thrown away plastic bottles have been recycled to make this yarn.

With closed-loop recycling, all items including the worn uniform have been again recycled to fibers for making the new product.

Moreover, Vivienne Westwood has tapped the immense potentiality of recycled canvas, reused banners, leather pieces and recycled brass to convert them into well designed bags for the ground staff. Thrown away metals like padlocks and car parts have been picked and melted down for the production of bags.

The carryalls will be produced for Virgin Atlantic in the Kiberia slum ofNairobi,Kenya, as a part of a collaboration with the Ethical Africa Program  and in partnership with International Trade Centre.

This eco-fabric design has overall developed a good response among the users. For some, this looks a traditional British design while for others it symbolizes their personality.

You're reading Vivienne Westwood Paints Virgin Atlantic Staff Uniforms Green originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.

Profitability of the company would still not be affected even though Chevrolet has to give GM money each time a car is sold. The new Volt matches the Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius and Ford C-Max models, when it comes to the price range.

More specifications of the vehicle have not been given. For sure, Volt looks good with its weight and price trimmed.

Expectations of a rate cut started when GM North America President Mark Reuss said the company would be concentrating largely on electric motor and battery section of the new model. The next generation PHEV may be great deal and has been long heard in the market.

As many as 23,500 Volts were sold in 2012. Through April 2013 sales jumped 3.2 percent compared to that in same period last year, and a total number of 5,500 units have already been sold.

Sales of the Nissan Leaf have also doubled, compared to last year. The numbers given are 5,476 units. It may be recalled that the Leaf also went for a price cut this year.

You're reading Chevy New Volt to Sell for Less Than $30,000 originally posted on GreenPacks. If you've enjoyed this post, be sure to follow GreenPacks on Twitter.