NAFTC file photo

Analysis: Haiti Seeks a Biofuel Solution
Haiti is looking to alternative energy sources such as biofuels in hopes of curtailing the rampant deforestation in the poor Caribbean nation, Haitian Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard Alexis told United Press International in an interview Monday. The Haitian government is relying on privately-funded research to introduce alternatives such as the jatropha curcas plant, which can thrive even in poor soil conditions.

First Hungarian Petrol Station Providing E85 Biofuel
The first petrol station in Hungary to offer E85 opened July 9 in northwest Hungary, said business daily Világgazdaság. The station's operator, German company Oil!, plans to open at least another three stations in Hungary offering E85.

First Tri-Fuel, Plug-In Hybrid Tested in India
India's first tri-fuel hybrid car, designed by 10 Amity, was recently launched. The car is a two-seater and has been designed for multiple fuel options — batteries, auto LPG, and gasoline. It can run 80–90 kilometers on batteries on a single charge, according to the company.

India Looks To Accelerate Energy from Waste Programs
India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing an Accelerated Program on Energy Recovery from Urban Wastes to provide support for setting up projects for generation of fuel or power from urban wastes, including use of biomethane available at existing treatment plants based on anaerobic processes. With increasing use of natural gas in Indian cities for industrial, domestic, and transportation applications, the government also is interested in upgrading and compressing biomethane and feeding it into natural gas delivery systems for use as fuel.

New Ethanol Buses Coming to Norway
The Norwegian public transport company AS Oslo Sporveier will put eighteen new Scania ethanol buses into service in March 2008 in Oslo. The Scania ethanol bus uses 95 percent ethanol with 5 percent ignition improver in a modified diesel engine.

Electric Jeepney Trials Begin in the Philippines
Philippine renewable energy firm Solar Electric Company designed two electric jeepneys that will undergo technical and commercial tests for six months in Makati City beginning this week. Power for recharging the jeepneys will be generated by a high-solid anaerobic digester-based power plant using biodegradable wastes from the city's food establishments and wet markets.

African Cats Developing Electric Yacht
Dutch company African Cats has announced it is developing a full-electric retractable propulsion and generation system for sailing yachts. African Cats plans to use a 40 kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack designed to provide continuous operation for 12 hours at a speed of six knots without any recharging. The company is looking at using li-ion cells from A123Systems or Nanoexa.

Thailand Prepares To Enforce Biodiesel Target
Thailand will begin enforcing the mandatory use of B2 palm oil biodiesel for all diesel vehicles nationwide beginning in April 2008, and B5 shortly thereafter, according to the Energy Ministry. In January 2007, the Thai Energy Ministry set a biodiesel consumption target for the country of 132,000 gallons per day for 2007, increasing to 1.06 million gallons U.S. per day by the end of 2011.

UK Car Company Introduces New Electric Vehicle
The UK's Lightning Car Company is introducing an all-electric luxury sportscar powered by an Altair Nanotechnologies lithium-ion battery pack and PML Flightlink in-wheel motors. The company expects the Lightening to have a range of 250 miles from a single charge.

Hybrid Railcars To Operate in UK
A new rail franchisee for the UK West Midlands will introduce two hybrid light railcars equipped with a flywheel energy store to capture braking energy for use in acceleration. The UK Department for Transport announced that the West Midlands rail franchise, to run from November 2007 to September 2015, has been awarded to Govia. The new railcars will replace heavy diesel trains.