Environment Blogger

Archive for March, 2011

China suppliers use the months-long exhibition as an opportunity to break ground, putting into use their latest electric cars, TD-LTE networks and RFID tickets.

Walking along the vast exhibition halls of the Shanghai World Expo, one cannot help but be amazed at the pavilions, and the emerging technologies and applications on display. But even those not part of the showcase can give one reason for pause.

At first glance, there is nothing special about the police cars that patrol the expo area. But a closer look reveals an environment-friendly fully electric motor underneath the hood. Manufactured by Lifan Industry (Group) Co. Ltd, the electric cars were ordered by the Shanghai Public Security Bureau in April because they are in line with the green and low-carbon focus of the expo. Lifan supplied 30 units, each of which was patterned after the company’s 620 electric car. The vehicles accelerate from 0 to 50kph in 9 seconds, have a top speed of 100kph and can run up to 240km on a single charge. The battery can be recharged from a 220V outlet. Six to seven hours are needed for a full charge, but the battery can gain 70 to 80 percent of capacity on a 10 to 30-minute quick charge.

The buzz generated by the electric police cars helped Lifan secure orders for 2,000 units from clients in other countries.

Local technologies are also helping visitors plan their day at the expo. The ferry plying the Huangpu river has a screen showing the number of visitors at major entry points to the expo and key pavilions, which can help in mapping out one’s itinerary. Likewise, the Swedish pavilion has a large screen listing the schedule of performances. All these are made possible by the TD-LTE network, which covers the entire 5.28sqkm of the World Expo park.

Built by China Mobile, the TD-LTE network offers wide coverage and is said to maintain 100Mbps downlink and 50Mbps uplink speeds even when traffic is high. The speed is supposedly 10 times faster than a 3G network. In addition to high-speed mobile Internet access, TD-LTE allows for HD mobile monitoring, conferencing and VoD.

To facilitate data transmission, Huawei provided the outdoor base station, while several major telecom equipment companies supplied the indoor boxes. Motorola, for instance, provided indoor stations for the China, US and seven other pavilions. Ericsson and Nokia Siemens outfitted the Sweden and Finland pavilions with their indoor stations, while Alcatel-Lucent equipped the Africa pavilion.

Successful implementation of the TD-LTE network at the Shanghai Expo has encouraged telecom suppliers in other countries to adopt the technology. Far EasTone will be constructing Taiwan’s first TD-LTE trial network together with China Mobile. Qualcomm is also planning to deploy TD-LTE in India, after having won four BWA licenses there. Softbank is considering setting up a TD-LTE network in Japan as well. For more on “Local cutting-edge technologies adopted at Shanghai Expo”.

With such a wide range of electric bikes currently available, it can be difficult to know where to start when deciding which e-bike is right for you. Not all the electric bikes on the market work the same way, and there are some electric bicycles that are very unique. Power, weight, durability and ride smoothness will vary between each model, and the only way to effectively determine which features are right for you is by test-riding an electric bike. Before you can do that though, you need to find a decent e-bike retailer online or offline based on previous customer reviews. Even if they’re online, they would still usually provide demonstrations particularly if they are based nearby.

There are now more and more dealers around, and an easy way to find one is to search in Google for ‘electric bikes’ or ‘electric bicycles’ plus your hometown. There are more and more electric bike shops opening up as well as more and more independent retailers stocking electric bikes due to the growing demand if you’re not in a rush to buy an electric bike, make sure you keep searching.

There are a number of methods to help you to ascertain which electric bike will suit you the best. One quick way of learning about electric bikes is this helpful free Electric Bike Buyer’s Guide put together with the Light Electric Vehicle Association. It highlights the difference in the range of electric bike batteries, the difference between hub and crank-driven motors, the warranties available, and the pitfalls of paying very little for your electric bicycle, a lesson which many in the UK have learnt.

Once you’ve read the guide, you’ll be able to formulate more precise questions about your electric bike needs and will be able to get more out of your test ride.

After finding your preferred dealer, call them up to arrange a suitable time to meet them, whether just to discuss your e-bike needs, or to have a test-ride. If they don’t have what you’re looking for then they should be able to point you in the right direction, whether it’s the next town or they may need a few days to order the e-bikes in. The benefit of the smaller dealers is that they are more willing to come to you, so you can test-ride around an area that you are familiar or on a route that you would typically use if you had an electric bicycle. After all, this is the reason you’re buying an electric bike. If you don’t feel that you will be making a purchase any time soon, it is best to tell them early; any company who become less willing to help is best avoided! And the final piece of advice before you test ride an electric bike for the first time? Enjoy!

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The destroying damage caused by a storm is really hard to imagine. Rescuers from across the country head to devastated areas responding to the call for demanding physical work and the endurance of long days away from home. These rescuers are the modern heroes or ‘storm troopers’ who relentlessly put forth their effort for the restoration of a devastated area due to the damage caused by weather.

Fortunately, heavy equipment is also quickly available during these times of calamity, frequently with mobile “storm trailers.” Trailer trucks and other utility vehicles are positioned in different affected regions to help ease the drain of resources for the restoration caused by nature’s calamity. These storm trailers can aid in the recovery of a devastated area by supplying essential tools, safety supplies and other accessories needed by line crews. The storm trailers are located in the Southern United States during the hurricane and tropical storm season, while they are repositioned in the Northern United States during the winter storm season to provide quicker support response.

The amount of destruction is largely related to electrical lines and other electrical supply problems such as damaged transformers, downed power wires, etc., and the workers’ risks for electrocution in restoring these damages is very high. Thus, vehicles such as bucket trucks and the parts associated with them are equipped with tools and accessories that efficiently help workers accomplish even the most risky of tasks.

Safety from Electrocution

Workers and operators must receive sufficient electrical safety training, especially those who are working closely with energized power lines. There are several manufacturers who offer bucket safety training for workers and operators.

On the other hand, since rubber tires will not prevent the bucket truck from becoming energized should the boom come in contact with an electrical line that is live, the vehicle must be insulated and must use a grounding cable when working near energized lines. Furthermore, it should be tested for integrity in order to ensure safety.

Work Only with Insulated Aerial Lifting Platforms

Upper controls or aerial lifting platforms that are not insulated could allow electrical continuity thus causing a possible fatal hazard to workers. Most bucket trucks are produced with this kind of design with a recent addition by Altec Industries of the development of a boom-tip cover kit which expands protection against electrical hazards when metal components in the upper boom area accidentally make contact with uncovered energized power lines. They also manufacture insulated handles for controls to ensure safety with linemen working in the aerial lift.

Lowering the Risk

It is always a possibility that the failure or improper use of this equipment during a rescue operation could result in traumatic or even fatal injuries. The following tips are highly recommended for safety while performing such an endeavor.

• Operators should be aware of the activities around them to prevent the equipment from running over workers on foot.
• Operators should only work within the maximum lifting capacity of the bucket truck. 
• Operators should ensure that no workers will walk under or through areas where the bucket trucks are being used.
• Workers should be prohibited from riding or climbing onto loads that are being moved or lifted. 
• Ensure that workers and operators utilize the Personal Protective Equipment for safety.

Responding to a catastrophe without being sufficiently prepared and without the proper training could cause more problems since there is such a high risk of fatal accidents. Sufficient training and getting the proper equipment will make the job safer and more efficient.  Then bucket trucks with hard-working ‘storm troopers’ can come in safety to the rescue of those facing the daunting task of clean-up after storm damage!  

Christopher Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks.  If you are interested in learning more about Bucket Truck Parts, go to the website as shown in this link.

One of the most popular tourist locations around the world is situated in the sunny island continent of Australia. There are quite a few things which make Australia such an alluring tourist attraction. There is an assortment of places and areas which cater to each type of particular person or group. There are family-friendly occasions, tours and locations for couples and even locations where you can be alone and reflect.

One of the most common destinations in Australia is its biggest metropolis of Sydney.  Sydney is located in the south eastern part of the continent. Besides  being the largest city of Australia, it is also the state capital of New South Wales. The metropolis is built for sightseeing tourists or casual travelers. Sydney averages over 20 million domestic guests and 2 million worldwide travelers every year. Most visitors instantly pic Sydney as one of the must-sees in Australia.

Among the most well-known landmarks of Australia are found in Sydney. The metropolis’s cornerstone landmark and one of the several lovely structures in the world is the Sydney Opera House. Situated in the Sydney harbor, thisbuilding is one of the most recognizable constructions in the modern world and a location for theatre arts and artists from throughout the world.

Yet another building that is just as well-known is also situated in the Sydney harbor. The Sydney harbor Bridge is a world class building that is aesthetically beautiful and economically useful. The bridge connects the northern harbor to the central district of the city. Its beautiful lights and structure in opposition to the serene Australian waters makes it an iconic image for Sydney and Australia. There are now excursions and activities which allow travelers to climb and cross the iconic Sydney harbor Bridge.

The Sydney Harbor holds quite a few tourist attractions and events. Located inthatarea of the harbor are entertainment centers, gardens and parks. There are even a lot of sites to shop for items and souvenirs and sample the fantastic native flavors in this distinctly Australian area. There are also varioushistoricalplaces which tell  the tales of the oldestmetropolis in Australia and its rise into the 20^th Century.

There are also a lot of natural wonders to be found in Sydney. There are beaches and seaside locations all over the area with waterrelated activities offered. There are even animals points of interest available in the Taronga Zoo and in the Sydney Wildlife World. It is possible to even survey beautiful parks and botanical gardens in the area.