Next100 - A Dialogue on the Next Century of Energy

Oct 10 2008

The Green Seen

A roundup of green headlines that caught our eye this week:

Auto shows worldwide are featuring electric cars from dozens of automakers but the 2008 Paris Motor Show may have the most unique vehicle: the Venturi Volage, an electric car that taps "Active Wheels" from Michelin. Dual electric motors are mounted inside each wheel to drive the car and also control suspension. The zero-emissions Volage could run $500,000 when it goes on sale in 2012.
The Paris Show is also spotlighting a hookup between the Renault automaker and the giant French utility EDF. The pair aims to erect a giant electric vehicle infrastructure to put electric cars on France's boulevards by 2011. French President Sarkozy likes the plan and the French government, which owns 85 percent of EDF and 15 percent of Renault, will toss in $546 million to develop electric and hybrid cars.
Departing Paris, we head north to Norway where the government, despite the global financial mess, is raising its foreign development aid to $4.2 billion in 2009, a $632 million increase. For every $100 produced by little Norway's economy, it will give one dollar to aid for projects such as preventing deforestation in poor nations and developing clean energy. The goal for industrialized nations is generally 70 cents per $100. The U.S. is No. 1 in overall aid but least generous in terms of its economic strength, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.