The United States strategic military requirements gave us the internet and satellite navigation, will their need to reduce dependency on oil drive the fuel technology of the future?

The US military must stop using oil by 2040 if it wants to reduce operational vulnerabilities, reduce costs, stop new security risks caused by climate change and avoid the coming peak oil supply crunch. That’s the word from the Center for a New American Security, whose Fueling the Future Force report details the hows’ and whys’ of the situation.

Petroleum is 77% of military energy supply with “other electric” sources coming in second at 11.4% and natural gas coming at 8.4%.
“Reducing dependency on petroleum will help ensure the long-term ability of the military to carry out its assigned missions. Moving beyond petroleum will allow Department of Defence (DoD) to lead in the development of innovative technologies that can benefit the nation more broadly, while signaling to the world that the United States has an innovative and adaptable force.”

In 30 years fossil fuels will be harder to come by. This 30-year timeframe reflects market indicators pointing towards both higher demand for petroleum and increasing international competition to acquire it. Moreover, the geology and economics of producing petroleum will ensure that the market tightens long before oil reserves are depleted. Estimates indicate that the current global reserve-to-production is less than 50 years. Thus, given projected supply and demand, we cannot assume that oil will remain affordable or that supplies will be available to the United States reliably three decades hence. Ensuring that DoD can operate on non-petroleum fuels 30 years from today is a strategic necessity against prevailing economic, political and environmental trends, conditions and constraints.

In other words, 30 years from now there odds aren’t good that there will be petroleum to fuel anything with much consistency or affordability. Oil price rises cost the Military millions, dependency creates security risks. As for costs of continued military oil dependence, the report notes that for every dollar increase in the price of petroleum an additional $130 million is added to the Department of Defence’s operating costs.

Therefore it is possible to conclude that given that ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ and the US military’s impressive track record in funding and finding solutions to it’s strategic issues, that the reduction in our dependency on fossil fuels will be driven by that most unlikely of sources – the Pentagon.

That number is expected to hit the two-billion mark within 15 years. In January last year, more cars were sold in China than in the U.S.

Work continues to progresses on developing cleaner vehicles and fuels, but how do we change driving behavior and lower vehicle miles and emissions?

There are many ways to tackle vehicle emissions and reduce transportation generated green house gases. The areas that are currently attracting significant investment and therefore making the most progress are Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) and alternative fuels. However more needs to be done to tackle vehicle miles travelled (VMT).

Vehicles

Most solutions focus on electric drive vehicles. This is particularly relevant to short range task focused driving. Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are also being developed

Fuels

a key is the adoption of low carbon fuels standards and encouraging consumer use of Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEVs).

VMT – Vehicles Miles Travelled: In the past 10 years in the U.S. & Europe VMT per capita has been going up but is starting to flatten out.

Perhaps the biggest challenge is reducing VMT. So, how do we change driver behavior and get people to drive less?

Some of the mechanisms include:

• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and carbon targets for cities, businesses and developers
• City-centre congestion charging
• Increased taxation on petrol and diesel
• Reward low-carbon consumerism
• Car pooling & sharing schemes
• Restructure taxes, fees, and other incentives to reduce vehicle usage

What is clear is that all three aspects of the problem – vehicles, fuel and VMT – are going to have to shift to make a difference.

The Royal Mail has denied it is phasing out all bikes but says the rise in online shopping has seen the weight of parcels for postal cyclists increase significantly.

“Royal Mail is making a number of changes in delivery methods as part of a £2bn modernisation of its entire operation, and it is certainly not a straightforward switch to vans for those postmen and women who currently use bicycles,” a spokesman said.

GEM’s could provide the perfect alternative

Electric trolleys and GEM electric vans are among the alternatives to conventional diesel vans being considered. The French postal service la Poste already successfully runs a fleet of around 200 GEM’s.

In an unusual show of support, the Communication Workers Union has backed Royal Mail management, saying it “fully supports” the changes citing safety, efficiency and emissions as grounds for the change.

“What most people don’t know is that thousands of postal workers every week use their own private cars on delivery. This not only raises problems of insurance and safety but is an invisible major contributor of emissions.”

From 6th April 2010, the government has announced electric cars will be exempt from company car tax reducing the car benefit charge to nil for five years.

Electric vans will be spared tax payments of up to £3000, A great reason to invest on the qualifying eL or eLXD.

This promising amendment sees a dramatic fall from the previous 9% band for electric vehicles.

Future Electric car incentives

The decision to lower company car tax arises from a government push to promote the use and the growth of electric vehicles throughout the United Kingdom. As an incentive the government is also pledging to invest more money into the installation of electric vehicle charge points around the country.

Hopefully these new incentives laid down by the government will encourage the movement towards electric vehicles and simultaneously cut down on the high rising CO2 figures.

Alongside the new encouragement for green vehicles the government has also enounced a £30 million budget for green transport. This figure will be shared across numerous projects including opportunities for the public to test drive electric vehicles.

GEM’s have been on tour! With none other than rock legends U2!

Our Bespoke design/build and branding logistic team have been working closely with BlackBerry and events agency NCompass International to produce tailored promotional electric vehicles for the U2 360 tour.

The U2 360 tour is an ongoing worldwide tour to support the bands recent album No Line on the Horizon.

The world famous tour is aptly named the 360 tour due to the 360-degree outdoor stage, and is renowned as the most unique and original concert setting to date with the stage structure setting a world record for being the largest of its kind.

BlackBerry have been supporting this unique event with customized GEM vehicles purposely built to showcase their newest most advanced handsets.

BlackBerry combined 4 x branded eS electric GEM’s, with on board LED lit display units and promotional staff to raise awareness for both their products and latest services at all the tour venues.

Working alongside BlackBerry has been a truely rock ‘n’ roll enjoyable experience for the GEM team and the wonderful feedback we received from NCompass International for our “one stop shop”, providing bespoke design build/branding and logistical support has been just brilliant.

We continue to work with both BlackBerry and NCompass International on numerous promotional projects.

How does an eco-friendly search engine work? We will tell you!

Search engines make millions of pounds every year from sponsored links/ads within search results bought by companies wanting to sell products or services. Companies pay for each click of an ad with the profits going to the search engine companies!

Ecosia works differently! Rather than revenue from adverts going straight to the owners of the search engines, Ecosia donates 80% of revenue to protecting the rain forests.

What people don’t seem to realize and certainly overlook is the immense level of CO2 emissions produced by search engines and their massive server networks.

Every single web search we make has a negative effect on the environment and some researchers believe one single search can produce the same CO2 emissions as a light bulb does in an entire hour.

The average user makes over 1000 searches a year, multiply that by a billion web users and its clear the impact our online activities generate.

According to Ecosia, thier users can save two square meters of rain forest with every search they perform, without spending a penny!

That mean an individual with an average 1000 searches can save 2,000 square meters of rainforest a year! Superb figures!

Watch this great animation to find out more! we like the panda!

Ecosia is supported by Yahoo!, Bing, and the WWF, with WWF using the provided revenue for its rainforest protection programme.

Start saving those rainforests now with Ecosia: The eco-friendly search engine

BAE Systems, the global defense, security and aerospace company having joined NASA in using their own GEM electric car fleet to safely transport guests and VIP’s.

BAE Systems used their new GEM 100% electric car fleet at the 2009 Farnborough Air show, where guests and celebrities were transported around the show and to and from the private helipad. Taking advantage of the 30 mile range on a single charge charge, BAE systems also collected and returned clients and VIP’s to their chosen locations.

The Vehicles included 5 x e4 custom designed cars with promotional poster frames and an eLXD for further exhibition support.

One of the UK’s leading teaching and research establishments, Southampton University have joined the fight against CO2 emissions and are using GEM electrical vehicles across their many Campuses.

Southampton University, home to 22,000 students, and approximately 5,000 staff boasts a global reputation for leading edge research and scolarship in a wide range of subjects including engineering, science, social sciences, health and humanities.

The University of Southampton’s Repairs Service Manager Jason Wyatt says:”These vans will be a huge boost to the effectiveness and quality of the work that our department does around the University”.

”Their small size and quietness means we will be able to transport staff, tools and materials to previously inaccessible areas of the campuses. ”

“This is important as it strengthens our commitment to improve the health and safety of the manual handling of heavy goods.”

“We are also very keen to be as environmentally-friendly as possible and the GEM vans are the perfect solution to achieve this.”

Southampton University are now utalising 2 x eLXD for maintenance of their 7,000+ accommodation units and 1 x eLXD for their recycling team.

eCourier, has become one of Europe’s fastest growing same day logistics company, and is e-lectric! In 2006 they became London’s first carbon neutral same day courier company, and now they’re using GEM zero emission electric vans as part of their fleet.

eCourier are using the Gem elxd, which has been used also used by the aeronautic NASA.

you’ll find it hard to miss the fun-sized vehicles buzzing around central London, blazoned with the distinctive purple and pink branding provided by GEM’s in house branding and logistics team

Nigel Lambe, CEO, says “We aim to achieve ISO 14001, and are on track to reduce our carbon emissions, by consignment, by a whopping 40% by 2009. We’re adding more and more electric vans to the fleet, have a growing army of bicycle couriers, and will continue to test electric options until we have found vehicles that both reduce our carbon footprint, and are commercially practicable in terms of ensuring continuity of service”.

The GEM team would just like to say, ‘great work guys’, its brilliant to see such an aggressive attitude towards reducing carbon footprint and using zero emissions vehicles especially in a business environment, a great inspiration for many organisations.

At Gem we pride ourselves on the superb versatility of our vehicles, we have designed and built numerous custom and bespoke vehicles for our clients but we have also been amazed by some of the personal modifications many people have built.

The flexible GEM chasis supplies a solid foundation and with the ability to add bespoke carbon fibre and Kevlar panels really does provide a vehicle with limitless opportunities.

If you are lucky enough to own a custom built or modified GEM electric vehicle we would like to hear from you and would love to share your story with our community. Please contact us or post your vehicle information on our facebook group

A selection of bespoke GEM’s!

A Bespoke electric vehicle built for a food street vendor, offering on-board refrigeration and stoves.

A modified electric vehicle suitable for off road, the beach and any sand dunes it might encounter.

A custom electric vehicle or a resturant on wheels? both! this zero emissions GEM has been fitted with commercially approved kitchen appliances and meets all safety regulations.

If you are considering a customized or bespoke vehicle and are not sure where to start then please check out our Bespoke design and build services, we consider no challenge too large or too small and have a design team eagerly awaiting your challenge!