The government of French Polynesia looks upon the launch of the solar-electric catamaran SoelCat 12 approvingly and has waived all taxes. The solar-powered boat is a cooperative effort and has launched into the seas of Bora Bora.
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Panasonic and Jaguar hit the track: The British carmaker officially presented its team and electric racer. The I-Type 1 will debut at the Formula E race in Hong Kong, sporting a black-turquoise colour scheme. Panasonic is official sponsor and partner.
greencarcongress.com
Smart vehicle test lab: The University of Waterloo has opened its “cutting edge” GAIA Research Facility for the development and testing of electric vehicle technologies. By integrating batteries and drivetrains and simulating real-world driving, researchers hope to extend the life of batteries, work on bidirectional charging and advanced driver assistance programmes – also to optimise energy consumption.
uwaterloo.ca
Safer vehicle batteries are the focus of a cooperation between battery maker A123 Systems and the Argonne National Laboratory. The goal is to develop better cathodes for Li-ion batteries without losing energy density or affecting the lifetime. The project is schedule to last three years.
yahoo.com
Sailing with solar power: The SoelCat 12 is the newest development of a Dutch company with the same name and especially aimed at eco-tourism. A solar roof powers the catamaran’s electric drivetrain and supplies battery with energy, so that the vessel can also operate during bad weather and at night. But the fun comes at a hefty price of 562,000 dollars.
dailymail.co.uk, inhabitat.com
