Is this tire really the “Holy Grail of Eco-Transportation,” as Treehugger believes? Maybe. Time will tell if the electric engine inside the Active Wheel from Michelin will catch on and further drive down the cost of electric vehicles. For now, let’s delve deep into this tire-motor combo, and you can decide for yourself if it has what it takes to kill the gas-guzzling combustion engine for good.
Not that we think you need a reason to love Telstra but suing a government minister personally for jipping it out of almost one billion dollars definitely ups the telco’s cred. Especially when that minister is Helen Coonan.
Telstra’s taken action in the Federal Court in an effort to force the Communications Minister to disclose documents justifying why a lucrative tender was awarded to its rivals, Optus and Elders. Despite the unresolved legal action, the Federal Government has just signed off on the $958 million contract it awarded the Opel consortium to provide broadband to the bush.
The network’s due to be completed by June, 2009, with a typically tactful Telstra spokeman slamming the deal. This is waste of taxpayers’ money and it is not surprising that Helen Coonan wants to sneak the announcement out on the APEC Sunday afternoon.
But you already knew that Telstra had taxpayers’ interests at heart, didn’t you? -Anna King
We shouldn’t know about the cars of the future yet, and let me be the first to say, I’m sorry they don’t fly. But the Opel E-Flex is a European concept of the Chevy Volt unleaded/electric hybrid. Other than its propensity to drink more wine and go “on holiday,” the Opel will use a 1.3lt turbo diesel engine to recharge the car’s lithium ion batteries when they run out.
Like the Volt’s unleaded offerings, the Opel E-Flex diesel engine is not a motor at all, but a backup power generator for the electricity-driven car. Let’s just swap out that diesel engine for a nuclear reactor, and we’re in business. Hit up Jalopnik for more photos. [jalopnik and carscoop]
