Events

Tax breaks help cut costs of alternative fuels Alternative fuels can help fleet owners save money, often without requiring large investments. But before vehicle owners switch to biodiesel and natural gas, they need to ensure that they are maintaining quality levels and making sound financial decisions. Read full story

Sunny days ahead for plastic solar modules Solar modules in vehicles are still very much niche products. One reason is glass-based module manufacturing limits the use of photovoltaic cells in size and weight, according to Proof Design and Innovation Management. The German company presented a plastic-based solution, the Composite Solar Module, at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Read full story

Mercedes unveils prototype fuel-cell hybrid bus Combine Mercedes-Benz experience with fuel-cell buses to date with the hybrid drive elements of the diesel-electric Citaro G BlueTec serial hybrid bus and what is the result? The prototype Citaro fuel-cell hybrid bus, shown at the recent UITP Congress (the World Congress of the International Association of Public Transport) in Vienna. Read full story

The future is bright for LEDs Beyond “fueling” auxiliary power systems, solar energy could be harnessed in the future for vehicle lighting. Imagine walking outside with a light strip, slapping it on the side of your vehicle, and that’s it—no holes, no wires, no maintenance—while meeting federal requirements. Rick Bozich of Grote Industries shared that scenario in discussing the possibilities of its new 1-mm (0.04-in) -thick LightForm LED technology. Read full story