Electric Scooters Coming to Singapore!

E-max Scooter

Zeco, a local firm, is set forth to bring the German-made E-max scooters to Singapore in March. These scooters run on silicon batteries and have a motor capacity of 4kW. Initial aproval has been given by LTA but still need approval from other government agencies before they can hit the streets. Priced at around $7000, the scooters, can be charged from any electrical outlet taking about 3-5hrs for a full charge.

As a ex-rider, I would welcome any green alternatives but the maximum speed of only 60km/hr and a maximum distance of only 90km do not appeal to me. But with the estimated cost savings of $1300 and zero emissions, these scooters might take Singapore by storm. Anyway, for me, I will just hope there will be better electric bikes or cars to Singapore soon.

Obama's Green Economy

Some of the items Obama has on his agenda, since taking office 1 week ago, is to make America more energy independent and to place more emphasis on cleaner energy. He is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider allowing California and other states to implement auto emission standards that are tougher than current federal regulations. Obama, making good of his campaign's promises, is also ordering his administration to conduct reviews for new fuel-efficiency standards for cars that could lead to tougher auto emission standards. This decision would force automakers to produce more fuel efficient vehicles.

"For the sake of our security,our economy and our planet, we must have the courage and committment to change" says Obama in a 10 minute announcement at the White House.

Video from Associated Press

Is Bigger Always Better?

3 weeks ago, my dad had a sudden urge to make potato salad so we decided to drop by the supermarket to buy potatoes as well as a bottle of mayonnaise. After looking at the prices, Dad asked to get the bigger one. But I argued that the smaller bottle will be more than enough for the salad. In the end, the head of the family won and we brought home the bigger bottle which till now still lies somewhere in the fridge and my feeling is, it's going to stay there till the next clean up.

Since young, we were always taught to get better value for money but did we consider whether we are taking more than what we need? In the end, the extras will just be wasted.

So is bigger always better? Environmentally and economically speaking, it may not be true.

Levi's Gives You $50 for Your Old Jeans

Yes, I know this has been going on for quite a while but hands up for those who think this is a gimmick. No idea of what I'm talking about(are you a 宅男?)? Let me explain. In place of discounts (which is happening all over the world), Levi's will give a $50 off for your jeans when you make any purchase of their jeans. Terms and conditions apply. Though I'm not sure whether a normal end-of-year discount could have been better, still it sure feels good that your old jeans (that always seem to shrink over time..hmm) can still be of some use. Cheers to jeans' reusage.

This Paper is Sh*t!!

Paper from elephant's poop. Picture from elephantdungpaper

A new line of eco paper is developed and the source... elephant's poop. Yes, unbelievable but it's true. It seems elephant's poop is highly fibrous, due to its diet, and can be made into paper. Now, who would think of such an idea? Elephantdungpaper claims the idea came from Mr Wanchai, from Thailand. Everyday, Mr Wanchai would walk pass a natural paper factory that used tree fibers to make quality hand made paper, and realises how simple a paper making process was. Later, he took a trip to the Thai Elephant Conservation and saw piles of dung. He looked at the dung and noticed the dung was fibrous and that's the start of a ingenious idea.

Collecting the elephant's poop. Picture from elephantdungpaper

The profits from the paper will go back to the elephants, by contributing to their food and medicine at the Thai Elephant Conservation. By the way, we were assured that elephant's poop is not smelly and so is the paper made from it.

Ok, so now we have paper made from poop, what's next?

World's First Mobile Phone Made Using Recycled Water Bottle Plastics

MOTO W233 Renew. (Picture from Motorola)

The Consumer Electronics Show(CES) 2009 was recently held at Las Vegas from 8-11 Jan 2009. Not surprisingly, the green technology seems to be one of the highlights. One such gadget being showcased was the Motorola's first carbon neutral mobile phone.

With the aim of walking the green talk, the phone's recyclable plastic housing are made from plastics from plastic bottles. And, besides the reduced packaging size and in-box materials printed using vegetable based inks on 100% recycled paper, there is also a in-box postage paid recycling envelope which helps you to return your old mobile phone for recycling. Motorola is also teaming with Carbonfund.org to offset the carbon dioxide needed to manufacture, distribute and operate the phone, by investing in renewables and reforestation.

The phone is set to be released in the first quarter of 2009 but with only the simple design and basic functions of a mobile phone (no camera!!), it may not appeal to the techie Singaporeans.

Singapore's Hard Core Ultramarathoner

Can you imagine yourself running 217km in one of the world's hottest and driest place, the Death Valley? Well, I can't. But Mr Lim Nghee Huat can and he did. But 2 years after that experience, he is doing it again, this time in Brazil. (read the report here from channelnewsasia.com)

I had a personal encounter with him before(though I doubt he will remember), he was then the Mountbatten CCC Chairman. A positive guy, full of humour, one will never know from his scrawny frame that he is one of the toughest guy in Singapore.

Mr Lim Nghee Huat (Picture source: channelnewsasia.com)

Also, read about his and Mr Yong Yuen Cheng's experiences conquering the Death Valley in asiatracks.org.