Jackie Peterson, B&W Staff
Thanks to hotel billionaire Robert Bigelow, we can finally say that the space race is full of hot air. Literally. Because on March 12, he revealed plans for an inflatable spaceship called the Bigelow Expandable Activity Module, or BEAM. It will launch in September via a SpaceX rocket, expand with air and dock with the International Space Station. This one won’t be doing much — it will be a test station and astronaut lounge, according to Popular Science.
This inflatable breakthrough may mark a new period of space travel, though, as it may be the future of space habitation. The BEAM isn’t Bigelow’s first try at an inflatable ship, and NASA backed him with a $17.8 million contract.
Hot air isn’t enough for most modes of transportation, though. Fuel has become a huge issue, economically and environmentally. Planes, in particular, are becoming more and more expensive to operate. However, the crowdfunded BEHA plane plans to change all of that. With two batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and a biodiesel engine, the plane soars to new environmentally friendly heights.
Another “green” plane was released by Bye Aerospace, and comes equipped with batteries attached to solar panels found on the wings. The propeller can also act as a windmill on landing. However, the Sun Flyer isn’t very time-efficient as of yet—the battery takes too long to charge. Some models have been sold as training planes, but Bye Aerospace hopes that the planes signify a bright future for aeronautics.
If you aren’t so sure about the airplane scene, but like your car, AeroMobil has something for you. In 2017, it plans to release a flying car. And that’s not all: After their flying car is released, they plan to make a self-flying car. AeroMobil’s CEO Juraj Vaculik thinks that flying cars will solve the “prisons” of driving like traffic and bad infrastructure, said The Verge.
Energy woes may also take to the skies, as Alataeros’s air turbine seeks to solve all of humanity’s energy problems at 2,000 feet. The air turbine is a tubular airship designed to tap into high-altitude wind power. “There is more than enough energy in high-altitude winds to power all of civilization,” Ken Caldeira told The Verge. Plus, instead of needing to build and install the wind turbines, they’re ready to fly when delivered and only require someone to inflate them and a few people to install it onto a base station.
For those who would rather be green on the ground, hydrogen powered vehicles have become a reality. Though the Toyota Mirai isn’t coming out until 2016, the hydrogen-fueled vehicle was recently spotted in our very own Lehigh Valley. Air Products is helping develop the technology, and has a hydrogen fueling station in Upper Macungie. There, the Mirai was taken for a spin. However, the debut is planned to be in Southern California, where Toyota will install up to 29 hydrogen-fueling stations, according to The Express-Times. The car will be available starting at $57,500, or $500/month.
The mid-size sedan has a range of approximately 300 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, though consumers may be limited to where stations are built at first. Toyota is also willing to make their technology public, according to Robert Wimmer, the director of energy and environment research for Toyota in Washington, D.C. This means that other companies can harness the hydrogen-powered technology and create their own green vehicles, allowing customers to have choices.
The Mirai is a huge step in the right direction, but if you’d rather not shell out $57,500 for a new car, Goodyear may have you covered. Heat is a good source of power, but often gets lost—like when a car brakes and tires run against asphalt. Goodyear is harnessing this heat by creating a concept tire called the BH-03. The inner coating generates energy from the tire, which is fed back into the car’s electrical system. No word yet, though, on how much power the tires are expected to generate.
Uber is even hopping on the green train. In Chicago, they have begun allowing drivers to rent Chinese company BYD’s electric cars for $200 per week. They advertise this as a way to cut down gas costs, and according to Reuters, an Uber spokesperson said the program could be expanding to other cities in the future.
Whether you fly, drive, or hope for space travel, green technology is coming for you.
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