DRAWN TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES. Judging from the waiting lines at the ride and drive outside the 5th National Clean Cities Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, electric vehicles still hold a fascination with the crowd.

Hard to miss and easy to like was Planet Electric, a builder of off-road EVs. The company offers simple, durable technology that can be adapted to many purposes. A first for many EV buffs was a chance to drive Nissan's Altra EV station wagon, which gets a nod for practical sophistication, and Toyota's hybrid Prius. GM's EV-1 had the longest waiting line while Toyota's RAV4 EV, Bombardier's NV (Neighborhood Vehicle), Ford's Ranger Electric had their doors open to wanabee drivers. Honda's VV hybrid was on display only.

Visit Planet Electric at http://www.planetelectric.com/ , Clean Cities at http://www.ccities.doe.gov/, Bombardier at http://www.products.bombardier.com/ , Ford at http://www.fleet.ford.com/, General Motors at http://www.gmaltfuel.com/, Honda at http://www.honda.com/ , Nissan at http://www.nissan-usa.com/21st_century/ , and Toyota at http://www.toyota.com/ .

LIGHT STEEL VS ALUMINUM. It could take up to 38 years of driving to realize a greenhouse gas reduction with an aluminum-intensive vehicle, according to a new study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The study compares the use of a light-weight steel automobile body to one made of aluminum.

The result challenges the claim that a one ton increase in the use of aluminum in automotive applications can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20 tons over the average life of the automobile. The study notes that producing one ton of virgin aluminum generates 10 times more CO2 than producing one ton of steel. Efficiency savings from the use of the lighter metal would take decades to offset that difference.

MIT considers the incremental growth of a new, more efficient automobile fleet, and points out that the introduction of more efficient conventional powertrains, hybrids and fuel cells would make aluminum even less attractive. Renewable energy too, such as hydro power, could not be relied upon to produce all the virgin aluminum needed to replace a fleet of cars. Both aluminum and steel are, of course, recyclable.

Naturally, the steel industry agrees with the study; the aluminum industry does not. For both views visit the American Iron and Steel Institute/Automotive Applications Committee at http://www.autosteel.org/ and the Aluminum Association http://www.aluminum.org/ .

COMPOSITE ALTERNATIVE. Wouldn't carbon-based composites for vehicles both save energy and sequester carbon at the same time? North American Bus Industries (NABI) has rolled out its composite resin and glass-fibre Compo Bus at the City Transport Exhibit 99 in Toronto, Ontario. The 40 foot Compo Bus weights 22,000 pounds, about 7000 pounds less than a conventional bus of the same size.

Fuel savings for the prototype come from a smaller than typical clean diesel engine. Compo Bus could be easily adapted to hybrid or fuel cell power. For now, the bus carries a 15-20% price premium that would be reduced with large scale production. Visit NABI at http://www.nabiusa.com/ .

HYBRID BIG RIG. ISE Research, PACCAR and others have introduced their HEPT - Hybrid Electric Prototype Truck - at a meeting of the California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Based on a Kenworth T-800B chassis, HEPT is powered by a natural gas engine turning a generator which together make an auxiliary power unit (APU). The APU powers the electric drive motor and charges battery packs. The big rig is more efficient, quieter and smoother than its conventional diesel cousin according to the builders.

At the same time LAHEB - Los Angeles Hybrid Electric Bus - which uses the same basic drivetrain as the HEPT - has also been introduced. With a few of the buses already in trials in Los Angeles, some will be returned to ISE to be retrofitted with paired sets of 30 kilowatt Capstone Micro Turbine APUs. Visit ISE Research at http://www.isecorp.com/ .

ALPHA, BETA TEST FOR FUEL CELLS. The Bonneville Power Administration has announced plans to test 3 kilowatt proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell generators in 110 homes in the U.S. Ten fuel cells from Northwest Power Systems will be Alpha tested, evaluated and modified if necessary; 100 more will then be Beta tested.

The Beta-test fuel cell generators will cost about $30,000 each with prices expected to drop to under $10,000 if mass produced. The units are 85% efficient with waste heat used for space and water heating. Visit Northwest Power Systems at http://www.northwestpower.com/ .

MAGNETIC ENERGY INVENTION. The Static Field Converter is a source of infinite, benign energy, according to patent holder Andrew Abolafia. The Converter utilizes permanent magnets and could be used to power electric cars, heat a home or propel an airplane. The patent and a practical engineering design can be seen at http://www.inventor1-y2k.com/ .

WIND POWER KEEPS GROWING. Enron Wind has begun construction of its Green Power I wind power project near Palm Springs, California. The 22 turbine project is being built exclusively for emerging green power markets. Utilizing Zond Z-750 turbines, the project will supply enough electricity for 5000 homes. Adding the Green Power I to the grid will be like taking 10,000 cars off the road according to Enron.

Let's hope Green Power I leads to Green Power II and so on. Visit Enron Wind at http://www.wind.enron.com/ .

ENERGY WINDFALL FOR ILLINOIS. The State of Illinois will have $250 million to spend on efficient and renewable energy, clean coal initiatives, natural habitat preservation and other projects with the sale of Commonwealth Edison's coal fired power plants to California's Mission Energy.

With a $3.5 billion windfall profit, the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) was able to convince the state's General Assembly to set aside the quarter billion in a trust fund. Visit the ELPC at http://www.elpc.org/ .

Back Issues ENERGIES...the free weekly e-letter of products, innovation, issues and education in clean, renewable and efficient energy. Visit Green Energy News on the Web at http://www.nrglink.com for past issues. For free subscription contact bmulliken@nrglink.com. Copyright Green Energy News Inc. 5/29/99 vol.4 no.8.