So, as promised, I went over to Greenfest Boston '09 and took lots of pictures. It was really hot. However, the event seemed quite well attended. There were plenty of exhibitors of various kinds but easily the most knowledgeable and engaging folks were those who had something to do with wheels. Therefore, I am starting with them...The gentleman proudly displying his webpage for more information was a very helpful purveyor of fine electronic vehicles.
The car he is standing in front of (driven in from Cambridge for the event) can maintain city speeds fairly well but it seems they are unlikely to be of much use in the 'burbs and downright dangerous on the highway! The scooter (above) also has a low maximum speed (around 30 mph) however, as an intermediate vehicle (say, from the house to the T) it sould make sense for some commuters and (as it looks pretty darn cool) it might make sense for fun rides on local roads. The best part? It is really an electric bicycle, so no motorcycle license necessary...
The question of range is just going to be an issue for we citizens of Burbania. Not to worry, however, folks are thinking about that, too. Many of the cars (and individuals) below competed in the "Greenfield to Greenfest" efficiency race right before the event.
This truck was perhaps the most interesting entry (and now that I look, I am unsure whether it was in the race or not). It is powered by "biomass" (among other things wood chips and cotton clothing).The top picture is (roughly speaking) its "gas tank". Below, you can see that it started its life as a Ford F-150...
The boys (below) are sitting
in "Moonbeam". It is an enclosed electric scooter. Very cool and the winner as far as the kids are concerned. There is no air conditioning but there is a radio.
in "Moonbeam". It is an enclosed electric scooter. Very cool and the winner as far as the kids are concerned. There is no air conditioning but there is a radio.Now, I came to this event as an idiot ready to learn. Many of the "booth people" seemed unable to deaprt from their prepared scripts and some seemed rather put out or downright hostile when engaged in discussion. The folks you see in this post, however, were real troopers and answered all of my questions.
This gentleman (pictured with Moonbeam, his car) was extremely helpful and hit on what I think is one of the greatest challenges we suburbanites have, namely ethical and efficient transportation. We need to drive. We always will. This is true even if someday our public transportation system improves to become a model of breadthe, service and efficiency and even if we get used to smaller yards and smaller, closer living quarters.
This gentleman (pictured with Moonbeam, his car) was extremely helpful and hit on what I think is one of the greatest challenges we suburbanites have, namely ethical and efficient transportation. We need to drive. We always will. This is true even if someday our public transportation system improves to become a model of breadthe, service and efficiency and even if we get used to smaller yards and smaller, closer living quarters.
Right, cars... These folks are from Turner, Maine, near where I grew up. They have designed a highly efficient diesel truck. They are farmers, actually (Ricker is a famous farm name in the central part of Maine most closely associated with apples). This, too, did well in the Eliot children's "coolness test"
This woman is part of a team from (I hope) MIT who have converted an old Porsche to electric power. No, it isn't a Tesla and there are no Lithium batteries involved. Just LOTS of car batteries. The interior (my interior pictures didn't come out all that well) looks rather like an old Porsche with the sort of power output screen one might expect in a Prius.
Still...it looks cooler than a Prius...
Check out the very warm child next to a good looking car...
The good looker again. Sadly I don't know a lot about this one...
This is great stuff, but most of the problem with sustainability turns on the issue of mass acceptance of the change. I drive an '85 Mercedes Diesel using waste vegetable oil. I have to spend a few hot and smelly hours weekly to get enough fuel to keep me running. I'm not complaining, my point is that everyone would have to do the same to make this work. Or veggie oil would need to be available at the pump. For this to work on a large scale it has to be the one or one of the few solutions adopted. Electric vehicles may be a good solution since electricity is widely available. BUT, how clean is the electricity in the first place? For the most part the answer is "not very." If you get electricity produced in Salem, it comes from a very dirty coal burning plant. In addition to these innovative design solutions we need vision to lead us to a cleaner tomorrow. I'm with you on the journey brother!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. There seems to be a problem with most--if not all--of the current alternatives. Ultimately we need to change a great many life habits. I wonder how long such a culture shift will take...
ReplyDeleteHang in there!