It’s an uncomfortable thought: Human activity causing the extinction of thousands of species, and the only way to slow or prevent that phenomenon is to have smaller families and forego some of the conveniences of modern life, from eating beef to driving cars, according to Stanford University scientists Paul Ehrlich and Robert Pringle. [More]

HORSESHOE BAY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--Bruce McArthur, who headed up The Coalition to Save Eagleridge Bluffs, is taking me on a tour of what will be the 2010 Olympics legacy in his community of Horseshoe Bay. "It's been chopped in half and mowed down," McArthur says of the wilderness that lay right over and above his house. "That's a problem."

View Slide Show of Vancouver's Development [More]

Editor's Note: This story was originally published in the May 2003 issue of Scientific American.

The world lost the creators of two of its most celebrated biohoaxes recently: Douglas Herrick, father of the risibly ridiculous jackalope (half jackrabbit, half antelope), and Ray L. Wallace, paternal guardian of the less absurd Bigfoot. The jackalope enjoins laughter in response to such peripheral hokum as hunting licenses sold only to those whose IQs range between 50 and 72, bottles of the rare but rich jackalope milk, and additional evolutionary hybrids such as the jackapanda. Bigfoot, on the other hand, while occasionally eliciting an acerbic snicker, enjoys greater plausibility for a simple evolutionary reason: large hirsute apes currently roam the forests of Africa, and at least one species of a giant ape--Gigantopithecus-- flourished some hundreds of thousands of years ago alongside our ancestors.

Stories abound about animals who have taken a nip--or 10. In 2004, Reuters reported that a black bear had passed out at the Baker Lake Resort in Washington State after binging on beer. Last October the Associated Press recounted a tale of six Indian elephants stumbling around and uprooting a utility pole, electrocuting themselves, after guzzling a homemade rice brew in the northeastern state of Meghalaya. Even Charles Darwin noted in The Descent of Man that monkeys have a “strong taste” for “spirituous liquors” and beer.

Still, there is scant scientific evidence proving that animals go on benders with the naturally occurring alcohol in fermenting fruit. Quite the contrary: the few studies done seemed to indicate they had either no interest or a distinct aversion to it.  But new research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows that at least a few creatures in the wilds of the Malaysian rainforest like to drink the hard stuff.

In a dramatic call to action in April, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon--backed by the African Union, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the Gates Foundation, ExxonMobil, the World Bank, and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, among other key international organizations and businesses--set a timetable for comprehensive malaria control in Africa by the end of 2010. Secretary-General Ban has thrown down the gauntlet: there is no reason why a million or more children should die every year of a largely preventable and wholly treatable disease.

The operational objective is to ensure that crucial interventions are taken continent-wide and at the appropriate scale within the next two and a half years. As I described in this space in October 2007, the package of technical control measures is now settled. There should be restriction of the mosquito vector (especially through the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor spraying of insecticides); timely treatment of every clinical case with effective medicines; preventive treatment for pregnant women; and trained community health workers who will link clinics and communities in rural areas. In view of the lives to be saved and the economic benefits of reining in the disease, the total cost of around $3 billion a year is one of the world’s great bargains.

Design student Benjamin Nawaka created a four door coupe called the XLink inspired by the legendary Datsun 240Z, predecessor of the Nissan line of Z cars. Unique to this concept is that Nissan has been talking about diesel and hybrids and bringing them to the market in 2010. According to a AutoBlogGreen blog post, there is no information from Nissan on producing this vehicle with or without a diesel, but a sexy diesel/hybrid might turn a few heads -- it does mine.

I get asked all the time what it'd take to sell Biodiesel.

My canned answer is "It ain't worth it!".

But, some are persistent and continue to want to know why I feel the way I do.

Well, let's start from the top...

When I first got into this glorious fuel, I had big dreams of making and selling Biodiesel to people and getting stinking rich (me and every other person that gets into it probably thinks the same thing....)

Well, I spent literally MONTHS researching the possibility of selling bio and in my quest to do so figured I'd be much happier teaching people how to make it themselves and selling them the supplies to do it instead.

Here's why...
1) Competition.
Everyone AND THEIR DOG wants to sell Biodiesel. As soon as someone discovers they can make the stuff, out come the dollar signs in their eyes and they start wanting to sell the stuff.

For about every 100 people that think it, 1 of them does. And, the ones that do have to fork out a lot of time, money and investment.

Let's put it this way. The competition is stiff and getting stiffer each day

2) Going Legal is a nightmare!
If you're going to sell Biodiesel and do it legally (which is the ONLY way I propose you should do it), then my friend, you are up for one heck of a big surprise.

Here's a few reasons why.
A- Permitting....
So, ya think you wanna make Biodiesel in a residence eh? Well, I bet your zoning and health department don't want you doing that. The water department would also want to talk to you and, oh yeah, how ya gonna measure out the biodiesel to sell it accurately? In comes the Standard & Weights folks.

How ya gonna tax it? The feds & the state ALWAYS want their fair share of what you sell and Biodiesel is no different.

How bout certifying you're making ASTM Bio? That ain't cheap!

Oh yeah, what about registering your fuel with the EPA? You know, because IT'S THE LAW!!! Yep. That's painful too. Why? Because to do so you'll be forced to join the National Biodiesel Board because they were the ones that did all the Health & Human Testing on the stuff and hold the proprietary information on it...and because I bet you ain't got the millions of dollars that it cost them to do the testing yourself.

Now, how about selling it & distributing it? Did you know that your trucks have to be certified? Do you have a DOT Drivers license? Whip out that Drug Screen Test! It's mandatory folks! So is a DOT physical!

And the list goes on and on and on....

For a view of what Piedmont Biofuels had to do, check out their nightmare...
http://energy.biofuels.coop/2007/01/05/the-permits/

Now, once you have all THAT done, how will you market the fuel? How will you distribute it? How will you ensure that you have enough feedstock and that the feedstock you get will always be consistent?

How will you dispose of all that glycerin? What about storing all that lye and methanol? I bet the fire marshal will have a few things to say about that....

And the list just goes on and on and on.....

So, if you think you're really up to the task and really want to give it a go, more power to you! But remember, I warned you!

...ok, seriously, if you do want to go legal and want to sell the stuff, I highly recommend a book on how to do it.

It's called Building a Successful Biodiesel Business and is published by the absolute authorities in Biodiesel in the United States.

Here's the link to it:
Biodiesel Basics

I highly recommend it.

So, if you're still seeing those dollar signs in your eyes, go for it! Just be sure to give me a ring when you need equipment! I'd be happy to hook you up!

-Graydon

The IRS has made the new 2009 40+ mpg ?clean diesel? Volkswagen Jetta TDI eligible for a federal tax credit, just as many hybrid vehicles have been in the past. The new VW TDI qualifies based on the Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax credit *. What this means for buyers of a new Jetta TDI (eventually VW Sportwagen TDI ? and perhaps others) is that the credit can bring the MSRP price of a diesel Jetta $700 lower than a gas vehicle. But here?s a note of caution ? early buyers might want to be aware that dealers are currently taking deposits for orders and are finding it easy to market up current manufacturer?s suggested retail price with ?add-ons,? on the other hand, VW is also looking at a price hike.

The dealer demo TDIs have been slow to arrive to Cincinnati area dealerships, but today did get a chance to head over to Fairfield VW and test drive the new 2009 Jetta ?clean diesel.? Its basically the same body (A5) that has been part of the VW Jetta line up for a couple of years now, but with the new ?clean diesel? TDI engine. The first thing I noticed was that you just turn the key to start (I sense that the glow plug/starter delay is handled by the computer in cold weather?). After starting, the new TDI was as quite as any diesel that I?ve ever heard, including the new CDI Mercedes. The engine purred very smoothly, in fact when I opened the hood I could hardly detect the normal TDI diesel vibration familiar to A3 and A4 TDI owners. Not to worry though, this slick new TDI still has enough ?quiet clatter? to keep a diesel-lover knowing that it is still an oil burner.

Of course one of the reasons this 50 state compliant diesel has received approval is due to the after combustion exhaust treatment (below) and the new Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel now being sold in the U.S. The 15ppm sulfur content verses the old 500ppm does make a big difference ? and don?t put the older LSD in this vehicle. At this time, Volkswagen does permit B5 (biodiesel at 5%) if it meets ASTM standards, although I?ve heard B20 is being tested. The clean exhaust on the tester vehicle was noticeable when placing a white handkerchief under the tailpipe; hardly a smudge or even a diesel smell. Well done VW. (Cellphone ?Treo 700p ? photos; click for larger)

As for driving comfort, I would have preferred the 6-speed manual gearbox, but then perhaps I?m just old school? I like smaller cars that put the driver in charge and in control of most aspects of driving, especially ones with European handling. Nevertheless, the DSG six speed automatic is by far the best ?automatic? transmission to ever go in a VW ? or any other car. Its very quick and offers both a sport ?automatic? mode and a touch shift clutch-less manual shift mode. I felt that the down-shifting in sport mode would take some getting us too?

As for power, a 2.0-liter unit pumps out 140 horsepower and 235 lb-ft of torque makes this car quicker in seat of the pants feel than its gas cousin or perhaps even my old Rocketchipped and Race injectored 2003 VW TDI? I certainly noticed that the handling was far better than most small cars, something Volkswagen owners have come to expect. It felt better than my older A4 and almost as snappy as my son?s GTI. (well that might be an exaggeration) While this added power is most appreciated, it comes on much smoother and yet still offers the fuel efficiency TDI owners love and expect. Don?t be at all surprised to hear 50MPG the norm for highway driving ? previous post. All in all, I was impressed.

What was a bit disappointing to me, was the fact that its not easy to purchase, since it must be ordered (July 2008). The current supply is non-existent and dealers are asking a premium price. It seems VW dealers realize that there is pent up demand for TDIs after a 2 year hiatus, so they are selling at MSRP with additional markups. As an example, my local dealership has added a ?protection package? which boost the MSRP by about $1589.00. To place an order for a nicely equipped Loyal Edition and DSG transmission with an MSRP just over $24,000 requires $25,689.00 before taxes and documentation.

I suppose that the wise buyer will wait for TDI inventories to grow, for the Sportwagen and Tiguan to show up and for competition to start marketing their diesels, but I know it might be difficult to wait yet another year ? or so. At any rate, the new TDI is a worthwhile car to at least test drive at your Volkswagen dealer. Another option would be to stop in and check it out at the TDIFest OH8 in Mason, Ohio this Labor Day (Cincinnati, Ohio area) ? Register at the TDIClub.

Repost by request.

Discuss this stunning TDI and other diesel vehicles in our diesel vehicle forum.

Wow. The Loremo is a concept diesel vehicle that gets 150 MPG. I'll be a road tester if they need one! From MSN Auto. Discuss diesel cars in our diesel vehicles forum.

Loremo: The 'Low Resistance Mobile'

At 150-miles-per-gallon, the Loremo wants to show how far a diesel can go.

Loremo, which stands for "low resistance mobile," combines an efficient diesel engine with low weight and minimal drag to get upwards of 150 mpg.

The idea is deceptively simple. Forget about fancy batteries, regenerative braking, and alternative fuels. Instead, make a car that's elegant in its minimalism and efficiency. The Loremo's German designers revisited the basics ? engine efficiency, low weight, and minimal drag ? to create a car that offers fuel-efficiency in the neighborhood of 130 to 150 miles per gallon. The Loremo is likely to dazzle drivers not with its acceleration, but with its ability to drive from New York to L.A. with only three stops at the pump.

Loremo stands for low resistance mobile, and its engineers have stuck obsessively to this idea. By building the car around a 2-cylinder turbodiesel engine, and cutting back on weight, drag, and other excess fat such as side-opening doors, the Loremo puffs out a mere 50 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer. This is about 40 grams less per kilometer than the tiny diesel smart. According to its creators, this will make the Loremo the most efficient production car ever sold.

If the Loremo showed up as a concept on an auto show pedestal, it would certainly garner some attention. But the Loremo is not a car for dreamers; not only will it enter mass production next year, it will sport a base price attainable by mortal motorists: 15,000 euros (about U.S. $22,000).

After its 2009 release in Europe, the Loremo will be redesigned to reach the North American market the following year. A $30,000, 3-cylinder GT model will also become available, offering better acceleration (0-60 in roughly 10 seconds, vs. 16 for the base model). Both hybrid and fully electric versions are also in the works.

Driving Simplicity
While the Loremo goes back to basics to come up with triple-digit fuel economy, it took some outside-the-box thinking to get there. The most striking difference is the way passengers enter, with the car's front end yawning forward ? hood, windshield, and steering column included. Upon settling in, the front end closes, swinging the dashboard, touch-screen display, and steering wheel back into position. The driver is then surrounded by a minimalist design aesthetic not unlike the ultra-efficient Aptera, but with a bit more Germanic twist.

Read:  Aptera: The Wingless Bird

Opening the trunk hatch reveals two rear-facing "youth" seats, both of which are removable to free up storage space. Seating in front is also snug, with the driver and front passenger nearly shoulder to shoulder.

If it sounds like the Loremo boasts all the disadvantages of a sports car (tight squeeze, low headroom, awkward entry) sans the adrenaline rush, its winning traits may be undeniable efficiency and modest cost. And validation could be on the horizon. The Loremo was one of the first cars entered in the Automotive X PRIZE, a high-profile contest offering a purse of $10 million or more for a vehicle that can prove 100-mile-per-gallon performance as well as economic viability. Luckily for the Loremo, it's not a drag race.

Read:  Automotive X PRIZE: $10 million for a 100-mpg car

Gerhard Heilmaier, CEO of the Munich-based Loremo AG, says that a car's weight is the key factor in making it green, no matter what the fuel: "Cars need to be downsized. Why do we need two tons of steel to bring a 180-pound human from one place to another? That must change."

Running the Loremo on biodiesel (a vegetable-based diesel substitute) is an attractive option, but Heilmaier insists that efficiency comes before all else. "The first step must be to reduce the amount of energy you need. The second step is to choose which energy it is. Even electric vehicles are not zero emission. Think of where the electricity is coming from."

The Diesel Returns
While American carmakers have greened their vehicles mostly with hybrid-electric drives and ethanol fuel, Europe has been refining the rugged diesel engine and accentuating its high fuel-efficiency to cut greenhouse gasses and stanch oil consumption. Now it seems that American interest in diesel cars and SUVs is on the rise, with companies such as Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, BMW, and even Honda (the hybrid runner-up) bringing their diesel offerings to U.S. drivers. "The European diesels are really very civilized," says David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research, "and they have excellent engines."

At this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Audi chairman Rupert Stadler unveiled the R8 V12 diesel sports car, telling his American audience that Audi is now "challenging the final piece of conventional wisdom" about diesel-powered cars. BMW also took the opportunity to foreshadow the arrival of more diesel cars and SUVs.

As gas prices rise and fuel economy laws stiffen, Americans continue to jump into hybrids with green stars in their eyes (in 2007, the Prius outsold the Ford Explorer). But even if the Loremo isn't exactly what American drivers are looking for, this staggeringly efficient car could serve as a powerful symbol of how far the diesel engine can go, and help break through some of that smoggy "conventional wisdom."

Jacob Gordon is a freelance writer, a blogger for TreeHugger.com, and producer of TreeHugger Radio. He can be reached at jacob@treehugger.com.

Original MSN article here.