Chrysler may be slow to the party in introducing production hybrids and electric vehicles, but that doesn't mean they haven't been working on cleaner energy. The company has been cooperating with university researchers on growing biofuel feed stocks on brownfield sites, for example. They have also been growing potential biofuel crops at their Chelsea, MI proving ground as an alternative to grass. The company's latest effort is a wind power project, also at the Chelsea track.

The first stage of the project will take place over the next year and a half at Chelsea with the construction of a 264ft tall test tower. The tower will be used to collect meteorological data that will be analyzed in conjunction with the University of Michigan, North Coast Wind and Power and Washtenaw county. Most wind power projects are built near coastal areas or large flat regions in order capture the most undisturbed winds. This project will look at the viability of wind power at higher altitudes. If the data proves favorable, Chrysler will consider construction of wind turbines on the property while the county will look at adding more capacity in the surrounding area. The Chrysler press release is after the jump.

I think we have a winner for the greenest car at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. Below the fold is a video all about the Mitsubishi iMiEV Sport concept. It's a plug-in electric car with a cool tear drop shape and a number of cool ways of charging the batteries. The iMiEV's lithium-ion batteries can be charged via a wireless microwave charger in your garage floor which means you don't have to struggle to plug it in.

Not keen on turning your garage in a giant microwave? Don't worry, the iMiEV has solar panels on the roof and micro wind turbines in the front grill. The iMiEV has other strange features like the ability to connect to your computer, in-hub motors and an electric plug that flips open. BTW I think the way you say the car's name is eye My EV, which also gives iMiEV our award for strangest car name at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show.

[Source: YouTube and tipster Domenick]

The prospect of wind power is highly appealing as a source of clean renewable energy. A lot of people would love to be able to stick a wind mill in the yard for some extra juice. The problem is that traditional wind turbines are large and some of them may be dangerous to birds. Mariah Power has devised one that takes up very little real estate and shouldn't pose a hazard. The thirty foot tall WindSpire is only two feet wide and generates 1 kW. It works in winds of 8mph and up and can generate 1900 kWh a year with a 12 mph average wind speed. The WindSpire runs $3,995 and if you can get some tax breaks you might get a reasonable pay back time and help charge your new EV.

[Source: Mariah Power via TreeHugger]

Yesterday, we ran a little story on a new project in Japan to beam laser power down to earth. The laser is actually powered by solar rays and could be used to capture electricity. Thanks to Domenick, one of our readers, we can show you another possible way to generate electricity remotely, pretty much anywhere, and without needing much of an infrastructure. Magenn Power's MARS Wind Power Anywhere™ solution "is a lighter-than-air tethered wind turbine" which can be deployed anywhere that wind is present. The generator looks kind of like a big weather balloon and is filled with helium. As the device spins, electricity is generated and sent down a cable which tethers the machine to the ground, where the power can then be stored. I would expect that this technology will be ready for public consumption way before any lasers of energy are beamed down to earth.

Related:

• Beam down the solar power, Scotty!

[Source: Magenn, thanks Domenick]

Quentin Gargan, Green Party candidate for Cork South West, shows off his Electric Berlingo, which can go 60 mph and gets 60 mpg equivalent, in a recent campaign video. You can pick one up for £15,345, or for a quarter less with government grants. (Update: Production of Berlingo stopped in 2005) The look of the van reminds me of the Renault Kangoo Electrique which had a gas range extender and was also on sale in the UK.

In the video, Gargan talks about California's zero emission mandate and the response by the car companies. He says car companies made electric cars and lobbied for change. When the mandate was overturned, they crushed the electric cars. His point is when government shows leadership, the technology follows and viable solutions appear.

Gargan also says fuel prices are rising, something that will only get worse. To fight the trend, we need to radically overhaul our transport system with trains, buses, clean car and bike paths. He says other parties have taken on Green Party issues because the Green Party is rising in the polls but they cannot be trusted. Gargan is a political candidate driving an EV charged by a wind turbine. How cool is that?

[Source: YouTube]

Of course, train travel has the potential to be one of the greenest forms of travel around. And, the best part of it all is that the more people on the train, the better! What I mean is that the emissions of the train can be spread over a larger number of people - people who might otherwise be driving.

Now, the depot at Machynlleth for Arriva Trains in Wales has gone one step further by adding solar panels and a wind turbine to generate the depot's electricity. They also have added a water harvester to reduce the amount of water that the depot will consume. Our source article tells us that the new depot is just a few miles from the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, which makes sense, huh! Let's all hope that other stations will follow this fine example.

[Source: IC Wales]

We are big proponents of the electric car, and for good reason. The majority of Americans could use one for their daily commute without making any concessions at all, even if they don't know it. There are some stumbling blocks for sure, public perception being one of them. Available charging stations being another one. While this invention won't necessarily help with public perception, it might just take a chunk out of the charging problem.

What you are viewing in the video above is the work of Graeme Attey, and is "a modular wind turbine system that sits neatly on a roof to generate power for a home." The idea seems obvious enough, use the power that is already available in the wind to charge up batteries which can then be discharged back into your electric car. According to the source article, five of them could provide enough energy for your entire home, but I am instead choosing to focus on charging just your automobile. Would you put something like this on your garage roof? How about in conjunction with solar panels?

[Source: Engadget and Meta Efficient]