Sometimes the most simple things can be the key to the most amazing of revelations and can go a long way in energy conservation, ultimately benefiting the planet. A group of researchers from Ricardo-an automotive engineering firm in West Sussex, UK-believe that we are driving our hybrid cars like regular gas-guzzlers.

The main culprit is our air conditioner which stops whenever our car stops in the economy-mode. To get that AC back running, the drivers normally turn off the economy mode thereby switching to the petrol mode which means that the fuel-efficiency factor gets totally ignored.

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China does a pretty lousy job of getting the most from its coal. The country uses about 3.3 tons of raw material to produce one ton of coal while at the same time the U.S. uses about 1.25 tons to get the same result. Other countries that get about an 80% return are Australia, Germany and Canada.

The “Red Panda” is going to raise the recovery rate from its current 30% to at least 50% by 2010. Less we get all excited, China had hoped to be at 40% by last year. Still, if there is no goal they most definitely will hit nothing. Ten points for trying, eh?

China also hopes to reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 20% and cut the emission of major pollutants by 10% within the next five years. For what is worth, China’s stated owned mines have a mining recovery rate of 44% compared to just 10% for small and private coal mines. China gets about 80% of its electricity from coal. The better they get at it, the better for all of us, no?

Source: Xinhuanet

Image courtesy of robertg6n1

A new non-crowned “mpg king” is set to stir the market a little bit. Started as an experimental vehicle, the Microjoule was built by a team of students from the French Technical School, St. Joseph La Joliverie and managed to get the first prize at the Eco-Marathon, last year. This happened because the alien-like race-looking single-seater car (phew) that runs on gasoline is able to do 7,148 miles per gallon. No kidding.

The Eco-Marathon, which Shell hosts each year, is “an educational project that integrates the sustainable development values with driving as far as possible using the least amount of energy”. Gasoline, diesel, liquid petroleum gas, ethanol, compressed natural gas, hydrogen or solar powered cars are going to compete once again in 2008 at Nogaro from 22 to 24 of May.

From 1992 since when the Eco-Marathon first came to Europe, the Microjoule managed to steal the first prize each and every year and managed to break the world record 6 times. Wish I could see this kind of efficiency on other series cars, too.