Free Republic

Japan's Tokai Challenger solar vehicle has taken victory against a strong international field in the 2009 Global Green Challenge. After covering almost 1860 miles (3000km) in four days across Australia's baking red center, the entry from Japan's Tokai University crossed the finish line at 3.39pm local time. The team's run was nearly flawless, reporting only a single flat tire with just over 100 miles of the course to race and the win breaks a string of four consecutive victories by the Dutch Nuon team, which is currently battling it out for second place against University of Michigan Solar Car Team....

A Canadian man set a world distance record in his solar car this week. Marcelo da Luz and his Xof1 (Power Of One) Solar Car arrived in Victoria, British Columbia on Thursday (October 30, 2008) after having driven more than 15,150-kilometre in his hand-made solar car. He beat the previous record of the distance covered by a solar car by a mere 30kms. Luz spent more than half a million dollars of his own money and more than 9 years building his Xof1 and organizing his cross-country journey.

WASHINGTON - The widespread use of ethanol from corn could result in nearly twice the greenhouse gas emissions as the gasoline it would replace because of expected land-use changes, researchers concluded Thursday. The study challenges the rush to biofuels as a response to global warming. The researchers said that past studies showing the benefits of ethanol in combating climate change have not taken into account almost certain changes in land use worldwide if ethanol from corn — and in the future from other feedstocks such as switchgrass — become a prized commodity. "Using good cropland to expand biofuels will probably...