Eco-driving comes to Formula 1 racing

Formula One has always been innovative and many of its innovations have found their way into standard road cars. Now the governing body of Formula One racing wishes to turn its mind to carbon emissions.

The Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) intends cutting carbon emissions by 15% in three years. Engine size will be reduced from 2.4 to 1.5 litres. Fuel will be gradually reduced by half whilst developers try to keep the same power output with the intention of doubling the efficiency of the engines.

Other savings will be made on what other items teams buy. Also, the race calendar will be changed so that the teams trot the globe by moving to the nearest track rather than the seemingly random schedule there is today.

BBC - Formula One embarks on carbon-cutting drive

Toyota to invest in Tesla Motors

Tesla Motors have driven a rocky road but now seem to be a firmer footing as Toyota agree to invest $50 million in the electric sports car manufacturer.

Tesla will benefit from Toyota's mass production know-how as it attempts to put an all-electric saloon (sedan) car on the market. In return, Toyota will gain increased knowledge in battery powered vehicles. Toyota is the manufacturer of the Prius hybrid car but has suffered in recent months from a recall of vehicles with faulty accelerator pedals and breaking systems.

BBC - Toyota investing $50m in electric car firm Tesla Motors

The future, it's electric!

There has been a lot in the UK news about electric vehicles this week. Motorists are to be given grants to trade in their existing vehicles for greener models. £5000 will offered to people buying electric or hybrid vehicles.

However, there is a worry that not enough is being done to build infrastructure for motorists to recharge their vehicles away from home.

BBC - Plan to boost electric car sales

BBC - The future of electric motoring

BBC - Hoon's Electric Vision: How Green?

Guardian - Motorists to receive government grants for electric cars

Guardian - Labour's £5,000 sweetener to launch electric car revolution

Guardian - Tesla's Elon Musk: the democratisation of electric cars is speeding up

100,000 electric cars for London

Boris Johnson, mayor of London, has announced that electric cars are to be a priority for London's streets. Plans include 25,000 charging points with all new buildings and 20% of all parking spaces to have charging points.

Guardian - London mayor – 100,000 electric cars for capital

Tesla unveils the Model S family car

Tesla Motors is now attempting to enter the mainstream motor industry with its Model S, a four-door family vehicle with capacity for seven people.

The vehicle will have a range of 300 miles (483km) on a single charge and is expected to sell for $50,000 after a $7500 government rebate for those who buy electric vehicles.

Charging the 8000 cell power pack takes four hours and costs $5 at today's utility prices. Owners can expect to save $15,000 in petrol/gasoline prices over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Within a week of the announcement, Tesla had received over 500 advance orders despite not having yet received government assistance to build the factory that will manufacture the vehicle. The vehicle will reach the streets in 2011.

Website - Tesla Motors

Tata Nano

The world's cheapest car, the Nano, has been unveiled. Priced at 100,000 rupees (£1350), the Nano is now being eyed by cost conscious westerners. In two years Tata Motors hopes to be selling in the west. However, the car will have to be modified for overseas sales as the model for sale in India has no air bags.

The car is also billed as being green with a 624cc rear engine at the rear, delivering 23.6 km/l, 67 mpg (UK) or 56 mpg (US), and has a CO2 emissions rating of 101 g/km (grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre driven).

New electric car goes like the wind

A team of ex-motor industry employees have banded together and built an electric car from an old Lotus Exige that will run solely on wind power.

Guardian - Britain's pioneering electric supercar: powered by wind