Let’s face it, trying to solve a big problem in one quick step rarely works out, particularly when the problem is global and touches on virtually all kinds of transporation. Too many alternative energy concept vehicles try too hard to rely on a single source of energy. Electric cars need frequent recharges and solar-powered vehicles of course need the sun. These three vehicles are a worthy stop-gap measure as the world slowly learns to rely less and less on conventional fuel sources and turns more and more to renewable energy.
The Canadian Eco-Cab, however, is a hybrid of the best kind: it operates on two relatively eco-friendly fuel sources, human power and electricity, and avoids the need for fossil fuels altogether. The net result: the cabs can go at speeds faster than a bicycle and keep up relatively well with low-speed traffic and therefore be competitive modes of transportation.
Just this month Boeing set the record for the first manned airplane flight powered by hydrogen fuel cells. These cells convert hydrogen into electricity without the airborne byproducts associated with burning fossil fuels. Heat and water are the only emissions and the heat can theoretically be reused. The craft itself is a simple two-seater propeller-driven airplane using a combination of battery and hydrogen fuel cell power. While it is not expected that these will become primary fuel sources in commercial jets they could be used as secondary power producers reducing the need for conventional and less environmentally friendly fuel sources.
While out on the open water why not tap into something that is virtually ubiquitous like the wind around you? A gigantic oceanic ship developed by German engineers will do just that. Their clever creation will be towed in part by a kite spanning the size of a football field. Will it provide all of their energy needs? No, but it will reduce costs and energy consumption. Is this new? Not exactly, but it is by far the most massive use of this technology to date - and the company using them plans to have 1500 in play within a decade.
译文:
陆地，海洋和天空——氢，人力和风能：三种生态型运输工具的变革
我们不得不面对的现实是，那些看似能解决重大问题的捷径往往是失败的，尤其是当这些问题是全球性并且涉及到各种转化过程时更是如此。诸多试图依赖单一动力的替代能源概念车的设想都以失败而告终。电动车需要不停的充电，太阳能车一定要有太阳。在缩小对传统能源燃料依赖和转向新可再生资源成为全球共识的当下，这三种类型的车是有价值的权宜之计。
加拿大的经济出租车就是一种最佳的混合体。它通过两种相对环境友好型的动力，人力和电力，完全避免了使用化石燃料。结论是：这种出租车的速度比自行车快，作为一种低速的交通工具可以运行的很好，因此这是一种有竞争力的运输工具。
就在这个月，波音发布了它第一架有人驾驶的携带氢燃料舱的飞机，在氢燃料舱内，氢能直接转化为电能，不会产生空中燃烧后碳化副产品。排放物仅仅是热量和水，热量理论上可以循环使用。这种飞机是一种两座螺旋桨飞机，混合使用电池和氢作为动力。虽然还不指望氢燃料成为商业运输中的基础燃料来源，但它可以作为第二位的产能方式，以减少对传统燃料的需求和对环境的危害。
当你在水上行走时，怎能忽视无处不在的风呢。一艘巨大的，德国工程师制造的船把这个梦想变为现实了。这个精致的发明被一个足球场大的风筝拖着走，当然这个风筝不能提供所有前进需要的动力，但它确实减少了航行的成本和能量消耗。这是什么新鲜事吗？当然不是，但它是目前为止这种技术应用规模最大的一个，并且该公司计划十年内要生产1500个这样的风筝。