Archive for the ‘Driving’ Category

The Department of Energy may be getting a lot of press these days for its big-dollar loans to EV automakers, but the Department of Transportation is doing its own small part to brighten the future, too. The DOT recently awarded Solar Roadways (warning: crappy website ahead) a $100,000 contract to prototype its proposed -- wait for it -- solar roadway. Upside: LEDs embedded in the pavement create dividing lines and easily changeable signage, and solar cells generate power for the grid. Also: all those hours you spent playing Night Driver might finally pay off. [Gas2.0]

A satnav study released last week reached some interesting conclusions: U.S. drivers who use GPS systems with traffic-enabled navigation save the equivalent of four days on the roadways each year. Moreover, as a result of driving smarter and shorter, those folks reduce their CO2 output by 21%. Brits don't fare quite as well: traffic-enabled satnav saves U.K. drivers just 2.5 days behind the wheel -- likely because they spend less time on the road. But hey, that still sounds like a long weekend to us. [Autoblog]

Hypermilers, eco-enthusiasts, and speed demons take note: racers Jean Paul Libert and Nelson Philippe are here to make your day a little brighter. They've devised a new program called I Drive Green that teaches motorists to burn less gas, emit less CO2, and get where they're going a little faster. It's basically a two-part process -- the first being a free, on-site workshop with a simulator, and the second involving a GPS-style gizmo that lives in your car, providing guidance and keeping track of data. And if you're still unsure, you can get help after-the-fact via Skype. Sounds pretty sweet to us, but if anyone gives it a test run, be sure...