All Jazzed up?

Posted on August 31, 2010 at 1:44 PM

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Honda again show their commitment to greening motor vehicles by unveiling their plans for a hybrid Jazz.


The Honda Jazz is a small family hatchback aimed squarely at the urban market and is very popular with the older demographic. You will never find a Type R red ‘H’ on one nor see one doing doughnuts in a car park but the car sells very well thanks to good fuel economy, easy to drive design and solid boot space.


It is therefore no surprise that they are bringing a hybrid version to market that will give similar emission and economy figures to the Insight. It will even be capable of running on electric-only power under certain medium and low speed conditions.


Kudos to Honda for again taking a bold, brave step by adapting a successful car with a loyal following to one with enhanced green credentials

Windows 7...another reason to upgrade

Posted on August 27, 2010 at 4:17 PM

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Microsoft have released the findings of a study they carried out with Reading University indicating how much more energy efficient their newest operating system is compared to its popular but soon to be retired relative XP.


Microsoft have revealed that W7 is 30% more efficient than XP, clearly illustrating that this is a major reason to upgrade to the new software as it would provide both a carbon saving in terms of reduced emissions but also financial from the reduced energy demand. With the home premium edition available from as little as £50, this move makes a lot of sense...

Raw materials are not immaterial...

Posted on August 23, 2010 at 2:27 PM

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A number of news stories have emerged recently about the supply of essential raw materials and the possible future lack thereof....

The Independent ran a cover story (if indeed it is true) that China is attempting to deliberately restrict export of Rare Earth Elements such as neodymium. China controls 97% of the world’s supply and the REEs are essential in the creation of electronic items and renewable energy technologies such as low energy lightbulbs, wind turbines and hybrid car batteries. China is allowing companies to buy the material as normal but not for export ensuring that they can only be used in the manufacturing process within China and thereby ensuring that the jobs and revenues generated by the use of the materials remain within its boundaries. REEs are responsible for 5% of global GDP (£3trillion!) and as a result, the world is scrambling to find alternative supplies.

Further worrying news concerns helium, an essentially non-renewable gas harvested from radioactive decay in rocks. The world’s largest store of helium is held at a disused airfield in Texas and is to be sold off (cheaply) by 2015, thereby diluting the price of this valuable resource. Once it’s gone, the cost will go up by 10000 times! Helium is used in a variety of medical applications as a coolant and it might be all gone by 2030.

Civic Type R gone....say it ain't so!

Posted on August 12, 2010 at 11:04 AM

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Devastating news but understandable…

My inner carbon demon that I work hard to repress is my affection for powerful cars, especially, and no doubt unsurprisingly considering how often I write about their technology here, those made by Honda.

I have long been a fan (and am indeed an owner) of the Civic and in particular the awesome top-of-the-range Type R (available in regular and even hotter Mugen variants). So it was with much sadness that I read yesterday that Honda were ceasing production of the Type R for environmental reasons. A victim of European Euro 5 emission regulations, production of the car will cease by the end of 2010.

Perversely, the car will still be made in its home factory in Swindon but only for export to Australia where they are yet to ban it for its emission levels.

One side of me is proud to see my favourite car manufacturer take such a bold step to cut a popular product line for environmental reasons but the other is very sad to see this awesome car bite the dust. If other automakers follow Honda’s lead, this may well mark the turning point where the industry went green in a big way.