As evidenced by previous posts in this blog, it is impossible to stress the importance of alternative energy technologies enough. Solar and wind power have come a long way in the last decade, and as we continue to develop innovative ways of making these power sources more efficient and affordable, they will play an increasingly significant role in the preservation of our global environment.
Battery and energy storage technologies are perhaps equally important in the struggle to curb climate change and pollution. With the world's population climbing at the fastest rate in history, there are more and more automobiles hitting the streets every day.
Consider major metropolitan areas like New York, Chicago, Boston and Washington, D.C. The vehicle traffic alone in these cities accounts for staggering amounts of greenhouse emissions. And, it's not just individual car owners contributing to this. Think of the thousands upon thousands of taxis transporting people to and from points all throughout these cities.
Thankfully, several cities are beginning to recognize the benefits of a green cab fleet. As a recent article in The Atlantic Cities points out, a fleet of all-electric taxis is awaiting what many feel is an inevitable approval from the county government to launch next year in Arlington, Virginia.
The city of Chicago started its own green taxi program last year, and across the pond in London they have been embracing hybrid taxis since 2004, the news source reports. In fact, this past summer, the city tested out five zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell cabs that can travel up to 250 miles before needing to be recharged.
Through state-of-the-art bonding of battery terminals and energy storage technologies, the harmful emissions in these metropolitan meccas can be drastically reduced, while air quality improves by leaps and bounds.