Fill ‘er Up… With Air!

John Davis

aircarpic.jpgA French carmaker is introducing a truly unique vehicle to the North American market… one that runs on air!

This story posted on The Future of Things web site says Zero Pollution Motors is planning on soon debuting it’s six-seater Air Car CityCat to America:

zeropollutionmtrs.jpgDeveloped by Formula One race car engineer Guy Negre, the Air Car is equipped with a revolutionary dual-energy compressed air engine, achieving a fuel efficiency of 106 miles to the gallon. At low speeds, this vehicle emits only air from its tailpipe making it a good option for ‘green’ inter-city traveling. The Air Car is built with Compressed Air Technology (C.a.t.) and is designed to be relatively affordable, as it is estimated to cost approximately $18,000 and to consume only small quantities of fuel.

The CityCat is capable of reaching a top speed of 96mph. When driving at a speed of over 35mph, the Air Car heats the air by using small amounts of fuel – gasoline, propane, ethanol, or bio fuels. Even when it does use fuel, the car produces emissions of 0.158lbs of CO2 per mile, still much less than any other currently available car. Before the air is compressed, it runs through carbon filters that clean it from all impurities so that the engine’s performance is not disrupted.

The car is built light, too, with body made of fiberglass and injected foam. Even the gas tank is non-metal, built of carbon fiber with a thermoplastic lining

Car Makers, Miscellaneous

Deere Provides Look at Ethanol in 2015

Cindy Zimmerman

John Deere SessionOne of the most well attended learning sessions at the 2008 Commodity Classic in Nashville was “Starch and Cellulose as Ethanol Feedstocks” sponsored by John Deere.

Deere’s principal scientist for renewable energy John Hickman told the crowd that by the year 2015, most ethanol will still come from starch – or corn – but the growth to cellulosic ethanol will include some intermediary steps.

John HickmanAccording to their calculations, Hickman says the United States could produce a 15.6 billion bushel corn crop seven years from now. “If we grow as much corn as we did in 2007 and the yield increases go from where they have in the last ten years, that would be possible in 2015,” he said. “That could then produce 19 billion gallons of ethanol and still provide exports and other uses for corn.”

Down the road, as cellulosic technology improves, Hickman says growers may have to make different planting decisions. “They have a period of time yet. The first cellulosic plants will be rolling on board in 2010, 2011. We’re going to learn a lot from those first plants. That will give growers much better signals than they have today.”

Veteran farm broadcaster Stewart Doan of Little Rock, Arkansas interviewed Hickman after his presentation. Listen to that interview here:
[audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/john-deere/jd-hickman.mp3]

Audio, Cellulosic, Commodity Classic, Ethanol, John Deere

Corn Genome Map Opens New World

Cindy Zimmerman

Mapping of the corn genome opens up a new world of possibilities for producing more food, feed and fuel from maize.

The announcement was made last week that scientists at Washington University in St. Louis have completed the first ever mapping of the corn genome, only the second crop after rice to have its genome sequenced. The genetic data is available on-line at maizesequence.org.

The accomplishment, which was announced at the 50th Annual Maize Genetics Conference, is the result of a $30 million project initiated in 2005 and funded by the National Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Corn GenomeRichard K. Wilson, Ph.D., director of Washington University’s Genome Sequencing Center, says this is the first comprehensive glimpse at the blueprint for the corn plant. “Scientists now will be able to accurately and efficiently probe the corn genome to find ways to improve breeding and subsequently increase crop yields and resistance to drought and disease,” he said.

According to plant biologist Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D., chair of Washington University’s Department of Biology, “The genome will help unravel the basic biology of corn. That information can be used to look for genes that make corn more nutritious or more efficient for ethanol production, for example.”

NCGAAccording to the National Corn Growers Association, valuable data provided by Ceres, Inc., Monsanto Company and DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred over the last several years was made available to researchers through NCGA’s MaizeSeq program.

“The completion of a maize draft sequence is the first step in determining the function of all the genes in corn, which in turn, will allow corn growers to plant corn hybrids that are better able to withstand drought and other stresses and are better suited to market and environmental needs,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer. “Consumers will benefit from a more nutritious, abundant and sustainable food supply.”

corn, Ethanol, News

Biomass Grants Announced at WIREC

Cindy Zimmerman

WIREC SchaferThe federal government will invest a total of $18.4 million over three years for 21 new biomass research and development and demonstration projects.

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman made that announcement today at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC).

“These grants help fund the innovative research needed to develop technologies and systems that lead to the production of bio-based products and biofuels,” Schafer said. “Funding new technologies will help make biofuels competitive with fossil fuels in the commercial market, putting America on the path of reducing its dependence on foreign oil.”

A full list of grant recipients can be found here.

Cellulosic, Energy, Ethanol, Government, News, Research

VeraSun and Enterprise Promote E85

Cindy Zimmerman

VeraSunEnterprise Rent-A-Car and VeraSun Energy today announced the first “VE85™/FlexFuel” rental branch location in South Dakota.

EnterpriseThe Sioux Falls location is the newest Enterprise branch to receive the E85/FlexFuel designation as part of a nationwide effort to promote the expanded availability and use of E85, a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Enterprise will commit to fueling its Sioux Falls FlexFuel vehicles with VeraSun’s branded E85, VE85™.

E85, Ethanol, News

New EPIC Executive Director on the Job

Cindy Zimmerman

FUFG Logo The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) has a new executive director. She is Toni Nuernberg, who comes to EPIC from ACA International in Minneapolis where she worked for 29 years, the last 12 as chief operating officer of ACA International Holding Company Inc. and its for-profit subsidiaries.

Toni Neurnberg Nuernberg says when she decided to make a career move she was looking for an exciting new industry with lots of potential.

“Clearly the ethanol industry is that and so much more,” she says. “The thing that struck me about it was that every person that I talked with about this position from the CEOs of the member organizations to the staff was their passion and the excitement that they feel about this industry.”

This edition of “Fill up, Feel Good” is all about Toni. Find out about her background, her goals and ideas for moving EPIC and the ethanol industry to a new level.

The podcast is available to download by subscription (see our sidebar link) or you can listen to it by clicking here (6:00 MP3 File):
[audio:http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3?http://www.zimmcomm.biz/epic/epic-podcast-2-4-08.mp3]

The Fill Up, Feel Good theme music is “Tribute to Joe Satriani” by Alan Renkl, thanks to the Podsafe Music Network.

“Fill up, Feel Good” is sponsored by the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council.

Audio, EPIC, Ethanol, Fill Up Feel Good, News

Farm Equipment Manufacturers Support of Biodiesel

Chuck Zimmerman

Ed HeglandEd Hegland is a farmer from Minnesota and currently serving as Chairman of the National Biodiesel Board. He stopped by the New Holland booth while I was attending the Commodity Classic trade show in Nashville where I got to talk to him about how equipment manufacturers are supporting biodiesel.

Ed says that as a farmer he’s excited to see companies like New Holland and others following their lead to step up and help promote the use of biodiesel, a farm product.

I asked him what other things these companies can do besides providing warranty support for 100% biodiesel. He says that education would be one thing. He thinks the manufacturers need to make sure that dealers and distributors get the right information on usage and handling of biodiesel so customers will learn it and to make sure that they stress quality.

Listen to my interview with Ed Hegland here: [audio:http://www.zimmcomm.biz/commodity-classic/cc-08-hegland.mp3]

Audio, Biodiesel

Her Glass and Her Tank is Half-full

John Davis

teacherdrinksbiodiesel.jpg
nbc6miami.jpgI couldn’t resist this story when I ran across it.

A science teacher from Miami, Florida is truly putting her money where her mouth is when it comes to how safe biodiesel is.

Bertha Vasquez demonstrates for Miami’s NBC6 (which has this cool link to a bunch of ecologically-friendly in its Going Green section) and reporter Patricia Andreu just how safe 100 percent biodiesel is by taking a swig of the very fuel she puts into her car:

“This is biodiesel. This happens to be 100 percent chicken fat,” she said. “It’s 100 percent animal fat. So, cheers. Goes in my car. Goes in my mouth.”

Vasquez, a science teacher, loves this shock and awe. It’s one significant way she goes green, and the reason she bought her VW Jetta with a diesel engine.

“No conversion whatsoever. I just bought it and filled it up from the first time with biodiesel,” she said.

Vasquez buys her eco-friendly fuel at Sol Atlantic Biodiesel. Since they set up shop last year in a Hialeah Gardens warehouse, business has been brisk.

“It’s an alternative fuel. It’s non-toxic. It’s biodegradable,” said Christian Miranda, co-founder of Sol Atlantic Biodiesel.

Now I wouldn’t recommend this unless you know you’re drinking 100 percent biodiesel made from vegetable oil or animal fat with no petroleum mixed in. And a steady diet of chicken grease might be a little hard on your heart. But it is nice to know that what we can now burn in our diesel vehicles is certainly safe enough to drink.

Biodiesel

Building A Sustainability Task Force

John Davis

nbb-logo.jpgThe National Biodiesel Board is looking for people to serve on its new Sustainability Task Force. You might remember from Cindy’s posting from Feb. 6th on the NBB National Conference & Expo blog that NBB chair Ed Hegland appointed Emily Bockian Landsburg of the Energy Cooperative and Philadelphia Fry-O-Diesel as the chair of the new group.

Landsburg and NBB task force staff assistant Don Scott are now welcoming applications of NBB member companies to the task force:

Anyone, including non-members, can nominate candidates for the group. An advisory committee to the task force is being established as a formal way to engage key experts who are not members of NBB.

Sustainability has always been a key priority for those in the biodiesel industry. Whether sustainability is measured in terms of climate change and the environment or economic and energy security for the country, the industry prides itself on the sustainability of biodiesel. The National Biodiesel Board and its supporters recently find themselves involved in more conversations about sustainability as interest has grown among the public and the media.

If you’re interested or know someone who would be perfect for this position, check out the task force’s application web site or e-mail a one-page resume; description of experience with biodiesel industry, sustainability; what segment of industry would you be representing, and how you can demonstrate their support (max 150 words); explanation of why you want to be on the Task Force and description of a time you have developed creative solutions to challenging issues or brought together diverse stakeholders (max 300 words); and your vision for the Task Force: mission, key objectives (max 100 words) to sustainability@biodiesel.org by March 5th, 2008.

Biodiesel

John Deere into Farming Wind

Cindy Zimmerman

Noting runs like a Deere, except maybe the wind.

John Deere Wind EnergyJohn Deere Wind Energy is into lots of domestic energy projects these days and that includes investing in and providing value-added services to utility-scale wind projects that involve multiple wind turbines with a nameplate capacity of 1.25 megawatts or greater.

For example, Corn Plus Cooperative, a farmer-owned ethanol plant in Winnebago, Minn., entered into an agreement with John Deere last year to harness wind energy to help power their plant.

Two years ago, John Deere Wind Energy partnered with Missouri based developer Wind Capital Group and the Missouri Rural Electric Cooperatives to construct a 50-megawatt wind energy project in King City, a little farming community about 30 miles northeast of St. Joseph. The project was named “Blue Grass Ridge” in tribute to the farming community’s historic role in bluegrass seed harvesting.

Here’s a YouTube video that provides a look at that completed project:

Blue Grass Ridge led to a second 50-megawatt Missouri wind farm – the Cow Branch Wind Energy Project located between Rock Port and Tarkio in Atchison County, Mo.

John Deere, Wind