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Are electric cars an efficient renewable energy policy?
Stefanie Heerwig Natural ResourcesIn his 2011 State of the Union address, President Barack Obama set an ambitious goal — for the United States to become the first country in the world with 1 million electric cars on its roads by 2015. In fact, the U.S. currently has the largest electric car fleet in the world.
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Porsche 911 GT3 RSR starting the season off right
David Hurth Transportation Technology & AutomotiveThe 991 variant of the Porsche 911 GT3 RSR has had quite a bit of success in the short time it has been racing. In the inaugural season of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship, the rear-engine sports car has two victories in two races. But the racing success didn't start there.
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The View from Europe: End of the road?
Andrew Gaved ManufacturingIs it the end of the road for the automotive refrigerant rebels? Well, after the better part of 18 months of claim and counter-claim between those who believe the HFO refrigerant R1234yf is inherently unsafe and those who don't, we have as close to a definitive decision on the subject as we are probably going to get.
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San Francisco set for summer disruption as runways close
Matt Falcus Transportation Technology & AutomotiveTravelers using San Francisco International Airport this summer are set to experience delays and frustration as runways are taken out of action for essential upgrades. Two of the airport's four runways will be closed during the busiest period of the year for the main Bay Area airport; but the works are part of a federally-mandated project that will improve safety.
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Helicopter safety improving, but progress still needed
Mark Huber Transportation Technology & AutomotiveAt the recent Heli-Expo convention, Air Methods' chief pilot Scott Tish stood next to an oversized flatscreen displaying an image of the mangled remains of one of the company's helicopters. "Does anyone think this is acceptable?" he asked the audience attending the safety seminar.
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Automotive plastics lightweighting and environmental trend drivers
Don Rosato EngineeringAuto-makers choose plastic parts for a multiplicity of performance features. Important characteristics include durability, chemical resistance, mechanical toughness, coloring and finishing ease, elasticity and light weight. Plastics have appreciably reduced the weight of the average passenger car, saving millions of gallons of gas yearly.
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What can pilots do to avoid vanishing?
Ryan Clark Transportation Technology & AutomotiveWith all of the talk surrounding the vanishing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, many people are asking just how can a plane — in this day-and-age — simply vanish? Sure, it made sense when people believed in a Bermuda Triangle, but with today’s technology and instrumentation, what exactly are the factors and failures that go into an airplane vanishing? More importantly, what can pilots do to remain safe going forward?
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The US Navy’s role in corrosion prevention
Heather Rhoades EngineeringThe military often has to work in areas with harsh conditions where the levels of humidity, heat and salt can reduce different kinds of equipment into scattered, corroded parts. While such corrosion can be detected and treated, it is both a difficult and costly affair.
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Spring fever strikes for snowed-in Porsche owner
Noelle Talmon Transportation Technology & AutomotiveAs I write this, there are flurries in Connecticut, and a blizzard warning has been issued in parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York. Winter has shown little indication that it's losing its grip to spring in the Northeast.
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Pi in the sky: The makings of an aerial feat
Julie Bernhard Transportation Technology & AutomotiveYou didn't have to be a math geek to appreciate the recent happenings at SXSW. As part of a kickoff to everyone's favorite holiday — Pi Day (3/14) — five AirSign aircraft took the sky on Pi Day Eve in an attempt to spell out the infinite mathematical constant above the Austin, Texas, skyline.
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