Take a Ride on the Green Side: Green Minibus Makes Its U.S. Debut
November 30th, 2009 Posted in Green Living & News
It’s cute, stylish and totally green. The Sinautec Automobile Technologies zero-emission ultracapacitator minibus debuted in the US on October 21, 2009 at American University in Washington, D.C.
The zero-emission ultracapacitator minibus looks a bit like one of those trams at Disney World. It has 11 seats and runs entirely on ultracapacitors that are charged by 5,000 watt mobile solar units.
What exactly are ultracapacitators?
Ultracapacitators are a new way to store and harness energy. They store energy in an electric field instead of electrochemically, as traditional batteries store energy, for example. This means that they can last for over 10 years, are less susceptible to temperature changes, and require less maintenance than traditional batteries. And as an added bonus, they are completely green.
The ultracapacitor minibus doesn’t use any fossil fuels and so it has zero carbon emissions, one of the leading causes of global warming. Sound too good to be true? It must be more expensive to operate, right? Wrong. This bus is actually more cost effective than its counterparts running on fossil fuels.
Right now, these buses are being marketed to colleges, theme parks, and tourism offices. They are perfect for these places because they can be charged within minutes and offer an open air, calming ride that will take you short distances in comfort and without harming the environment.
These buses can go about 3.5-5.5 miles before needing to be re-charged. The idea is to have overhead re-charging stations at each bus stop.
The re-charging stations would be powered by wind or solar technology, making every step of the process totally green.
Want to learn more about electric buses? Watch the video below:
Interested in making your daily life greener? Switch from synthetic chemical based insecticides to organic, plant-based EcoSMART. You can even buy packages for your specific needs, like the Safe Home Value Bundle for natural home pest control.
