Green Spot

Here at Simply Green Solutions, we’re big fans of the Earth, color, design, and cool technology. Especially when its ‘GR33N_TECH‘. Pronounced “Green Tek“, it is all that which is technology currently in use or development that is making the world a better place, a cleaner place, and hopefully changes mindsets in a more rational manner. This installment of ‘GR33N_TECH’ brings us to the nanotechnology world, more specifically the world of A123Systems.

Nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at molecular scale. For instance, if you were to build a robotic arm no bigger than an atom, that is nanotechnology. 100 Nano-meters is much smaller than the width of a human hair. In the next century, we will be witness to widespread development of machinery, computers, and more - that will all be built and made to work at molecular scale.

But back to A123Systems…First sighted in the labs at MIT, this group of nano-technologists developed battery cells and electrodes that were smaller, lasted longer (10+ years!), were more efficient, and even produced more power than its market competitors. As of 2009, A123Systems has been granted contracts with the American Department of Defense, DeWalt Powertools, G.E., Chrysler, Hybrid vehicle manufacturers in China, and more, to build batteries to power the next generation of sustainable living and transportation.

Green Tech. No, not the  surge protectors here at the Simply Green Solutions offices. All that which is technology currently in use or development that is making the world a better place, a cleaner place, and hopefully changes mindsets in a more rational manner. TH¡NK is an organization that manufactures Electric Vehicles for sale in Norway, and as of July, 2009, in a few other European countries as well. It sells for between £20-£25,000, and was once majority-owned by Ford. The now Norwegian-owned company provides Video and Pictures of the TH¡NK electric vehicles on its website, but for the real deal, America will have to wait.

There are no emissions from any of its models and you have the option of buying the battery, or just leasing the battery from TH¡NK as they cover maintenance for its duration. The City model even won the Autoslalom section in the Viking Rally Car Tournament in Oslo, proving that electric cars can handle performance driving. On a single charge, it can go up to 126 miles (203km) - which may not be suitable for an all-out roadtrip, but if all commuting or city-dwelling drivers made use of electric vehicles, air quality would be better in the future.

As you can see from some of the images below, the style is different but nonetheless the innovation is welcomed.