Volvo Loves DME, AFTC.PK

AB Volvo is a firm believer that dimethyl ether (DME) is one of the most promising renewable energy sources on the face of the planet.

With more than $60 billion in annual sales and nearly 100,000 employees in 20 countries, Volvo has become a leading "driver" in the transition of DME from the lab to the road.

Interestingly enough, a bit of digging uncovers that one of Volvo's business segments - Volvo Truck Group - has been using prototype DME fuel systems from Outcast portfolio favorite AFTC.PK since 1995. I came across a company summary on the AFTC.PK homepage that brings this little known fact to light. Pretty impressive if you ask me!!

I'll delve deeper into the aforementioned relationship in future editions and will surely speak with management, potentially at both companies, to get the skinny here. In the meantime, I found a very interesting graphic on the Volvo website that compares DME quite favorably to a number of other renewable energy sources based on 7 unique and very relevant categories. CHECK IT OUT!!

California High-Speed Train Route Finalized

A route from San Francisco to Los Angeles was added to the existing route planned from Sacramento all the way down to San Diego. The route would ferry passengers from San Fran to L.A. in less than 2 hours and 40 minutes using the Pacheco Pass.

The idea behind the California High-Speed Rail Authority is to increase mobility between the major cities while decreasing the air pollution and green house gas emissions that cause global warming. The route will cover a total of 800 miles of track and the trains will operate at speeds of 220 mph. The system is predicted to carry over 100 million passengers a year by 2030.

The route planned though the Pacheco Pass reduces the amount of impact on the environment and eliminates the need for another bridge, tunnel or crossing through the San Francisco Bay.

There is a proposition on the ballot this November, Prop 1, to give a $9.95 billion dollar bond to the California High-Speed Rail Authority to construct the train system and make improvements to existing public transport. The mayor of San Francisco, Gavin Newsom, states that “energy efficient high-speed trains are essential for the economic future of the Bay Area as well as the future of the state in terms of our competitiveness.” He believes there is no time like the present to get started on new and innovative ideas involving energy and transportation.