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Theodore Roosevelt’ quote
Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
DOE Offers $2.4 Billion to Support Next-Generation Electric Vehicles
President Barack Obama announced last week that DOE is offering up to $2.4 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to support next-generation plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and their advanced battery components. Of the $2.4 billion, $1.5 billion in grants will go to U.S. manufacturers to produce high-efficiency batteries and their components; $500 million in grants will go to U.S. manufacturers to produce other components needed for electric vehicles, such as electric motors; and $400 million will go towards projects that demonstrate and evaluate plug-in hybrids and other electric infrastructure concepts. When these plug-in hybrid vehicles are offered for sale, U.S. residents who purchase them will be able to claim a tax credit of up to $7,500. Building a plug-in hybrid vehicle industry in the United States will create tens of thousands of jobs and will reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.
DOE will provide assistance to construct or upgrade battery manufacturing, component, and recycling plants for lithium-ion and other advanced batteries, as well as for factories producing the power electronics for electric drive vehicles. These agreements will help lower the cost of battery packs, batteries, and electric propulsion systems. DOE will also support demonstration, evaluation, and education projects to help develop the market for advanced electric drive vehicles. The $2.4 billion in funding is divided between two Funding Opportunity Announcements. Applications for Transportation Electrification are due by May 13, and applications for the Electric Drive Vehicle Battery and Component Manufacturing Initiative are due by May 19.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will travel up to 40 miles without recharging, allowing most U.S. commuters to drive to work and back without using any fuel. Beyond that 40-mile range, the vehicles will run much like today’s hybrids, achieving high fuel economies. Overall, plug-in hybrids are expected to achieve fuel economies as high as 100 miles per gallon. But for such vehicles to be practical will depend on the development of advanced, lightweight batteries that can meet tough requirements for durability and performance. See the DOE press release and the Vehicle Technologies Program.
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麒麟
麒麟，亦作“骐麟”，简称“麟”，古代传说中的仁兽、瑞兽，是中国古代传说中的一种动物，与凤、龟、龙共称为“四灵”。 被称为圣兽王。且是神的坐骑。
麒麟，是按中国人的思维方式复合构思所产生、创造的动物。雄性称麒，雌性称麟。从其外部形状上看，麋身，牛尾，马蹄（史籍中有说为“狼蹄”)，鱼鳞皮，一角，角端有肉，黄色。这种造型是将许多实有动物肢解后的新合拼体，它把那些备受人们珍爱的动物所具备的优点全部集中在麒麟这一幻想中的神兽的建构上，充分体现了中国人的"集美"思想。
“麒麟”以“鹿”为偏旁，古人造这个词的时候，便明白无误地告诉人们，麒麟由鹿演化而来，但它又决不是鹿，比鹿多了一些零件和装备。据说它的身子像麕，也可以写成麇，古籍中指獐子；有牛的尾巴，圆的头顶，却只有一只角。有的说麒是雄的，麟是雌的，形状被描绘得略有不同。但据说麒的开头大略像鹿。它被古人视为神兽、仁兽，长寿，能活两千年。能吐火，声音如雷。“有毛之虫三百六十，而麒麟为之长”。
U.S. Transit Use Up, Driving Down in 2008
The number of miles traveled by vehicles in the United States fell by 3.6% in 2008, while the number of trips taken on public transportation increased by 4.0%, according to statistics gathered by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). The DOT estimated that U.S. residents traveled 2.922 trillion miles in 2008, down from 3.030 trillion miles in 2007, a reduction of nearly 108 billion miles. In fact, U.S. driving has been declining for 14 months, for a total vehicle travel reduction of 115 billion miles. The DOT found the greatest decrease in rural driving, which was down by 4.2%, suggesting that people are simply driving less in rural areas. Meanwhile, urban driving decreased by 3.2%. See the DOT traffic trends from December 2008, along with the DOT press release.
At least part of the drop in urban driving can be explained by the 4% increase in the use of public transportation. U.S. residents took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation in 2008, according to APTA, reaching the highest level of ridership in 52 years. Light rail experienced the greatest increase, at 8.3%, in part because of relatively new and expanded service in places like Charlotte, North Carolina, and restored service in New Orleans, Louisiana. For other mass transit modes, commuter rail increased by 4.7%, subway ridership increased by 3.5%, bus ridership increased by 3.9%, and paratransit (on-demand transit services) increased by 5.9%. See the APTA press release and the full statistics.
In 2008, U.S. residents drove less and made greater use of mass transit, including buses.
Credit: Ned Ahrens, King County
Nice- Masdar
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Welcome to Masdar City, home of GE’s first ecomagination center, where GE will develop the innovative technologies and services to help ensure the sustainability of our planet.
Our involvement with Masdar is part of a larger partnership GE has with the government of Abu Dhabi, to speed the development and implementation of future energy solutions.
As an anchor tenant of this landmark city, GE maintains its commitment to invest in the cutting-edge, environmental solutions of both today and tomorrow.
A Way Of Life 