There’s a big reason that Toyota Motor Company is the world’s largest carmaker: It responds nimbly to the demands of the marketplace. The latest evidence of this is the company’s plan to launch a subcompact version of its hugely popular hybrid auto, the Prius. A Detroit News report this month revealed that TMC is developing [...]

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Based on the rash of predictions for cleantech in 2010 from investors, consultants and media (see the full list at the end of this post), I’ve pulled together a “trend of trends” list below that attempts to synthesis the broader, over-arching themes. As always, I’m amazed that water isn’t on the top of every list, [...]

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While Tesla Motors and other EV manufacturers have had recent successes and grabbed quite a few headlines, they still face a major hurdle: charging infrastructure. Without a fast and reliable way to re-fuel their vehicles, EV customers will be limited to those who drive less than 200 miles per day or those who can afford [...]

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Earth2Tech has posted an interesting article which takes a look at some of the predictions made for green transportation at the beginning of the decade, and how close those predictions were to reality. While the decade started out with a lot of promise, corporate interests and politics slowed that down, only to see green vehicles [...]

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A University College Dublin research team recently patented a process to produce biodegradable plastic from plastic bottles, and that patent has led to the formation of a company, Bioplastech Ltd., to develop, process and market the technology. Dr. Kevin O’Connor, founder and CEO of Bioplastech, led the team and the biodegradable plastic they produce is [...]

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The future of plastics once fossil fuels run dry or the price for it becomes too expensive is bioplastics. But that alternative future is distant, measured in terms of decades, says Frederic Scheer, chairman, president and founder of Cereplast Inc., a Hawthorne, CA, company that designs and manufactures bio-based, sustainable plastics. Which is not to [...]

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Are we ready for the brave new world of electric vehicles? And is the EV era truly upon us? Maybe, but the coming year likely will clarify the answers to those questions. There are still major worries about batteries, storage capacity, EV range, charging stations, and by the way, the current low cost of oil, [...]

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The unthinkable has happened. Los Angeles plans on resurrecting the city’s 400 abandoned electric vehicle charging stations that have been collecting dust for the past nine years, and to also add one hundred more, its mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa, announced early this month at the LA Auto Show. In addition, the city plans to offer incentives [...]

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In the glorious Past Before Television, adventurous men and women gained fame and fortune by testing their skills in competitions designed to expand the limits of human knowledge and innovation. Several organizations are bringing back this kind of “innovation prize” in a big way, with competitions designed to solve some of humanity’s greatest challenges, and [...]

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In years to come, we may look back on 2009 as the year that electric vehicles became mainstream–at least as far as the media is concerned. The past few weeks have been no different as a number of organizations from all over the automotive industry made EV-related announcements. One of these organizations, the Cleantech Group, [...]

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If it’s all about the money, and it usually is, then the future financial landscape for cleantech development hinges on the outcome of the Copenhagen climate change conference as essentially as the meeting’s long-term impacts on environmental policy. There will be impacts whether or not binding and comprehensive agreements on emission reductions are cobbled in [...]

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The Cleantech Group, the guys who literally invented the word “cleantech” (and own the trademark — so watch out) today released “Ten Predictions for 2010: Trends to Watch For in Global Cleantech in the Year Ahead,” the investment information hub’s annual list of predictions for the future of clean technology. It’s actually a pretty juicy [...]

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Technology works best when it’s least intrusive and does the heavy lifting for you. Apple understands this. And so, it seems, does EcoFactor, the winner of the recent Clean Tech Open. What it does behind the scenes is fairly complex, but for the user, easy and out of the way: It keeps your home at [...]

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Ever since I was a kid, when my father used give me Matchbox cars he bought on his way home from work, I’ve been crazy about cars. So I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to speak with Simon Saba of Saba Motors, whose EV vision is something any gearhead can get jazzed about: [...]

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Obama’s recent trip to China felt like a bit of a bummer, with the Times pointedly portraying the President as a solitary figure, wandering alone on the Great Wall — and getting stone-walled by the PRC’s leadership. But behind the scenes, hard-working diplomats hammered out agreements on what could be the basis for an important [...]

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Here are a few reasons I am attending The Cleantech Open on November 17, 2009 at San Francisco’s Nob Hill Masonic Center: Bill Weihl, Google Green Energy Czar, is the event’s key note speaker. There will be 120 of the latest clean technologies displayed in the exhibition hall. You can imagine how many venture capitalists [...]

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Finding a clean tech job just got a little easier. CleanEdge’s excellent new report, Clean Tech Job Trends 2009, which is a sort of companion to its annual Clean Energy Trends report, offers those looking for a clean tech job—as well as those curious about the sector—an excellent introduction to the trends and opportunities ahead, [...]

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I dreamt last night that Google had decided to pull out of its cleantech investments. Don’t ask. Anyway, imagine my relief this morning when I woke up to discover that not only was Google still in the game (despite some frustrations), but George Soros, another liberal-minded fountain of money, plans to invest $1 billion in [...]

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Reuters reported this morning that clean tech investments have risen substantially this year. In the third quarter report just released, there were 112 deals totaling $1.9 billion that included investments in solar power, smart grids, biofuels, green building materials, and electric car technology. Much of this enthusiasm is believed to be led by a new [...]

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By Deborah Fleischer, Green Impact I had the opportunity to be a sustainability coach to some of the Clean Tech Open semifinalists earlier this week. The Clean Tech Open is an organization of leading entrepreneurs, academics, investors and companies, working together to accelerate the development of clean technology start-ups. In addition to getting support around [...]

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Photo Source: treehugger.com Cleantech investments have (mostly) rebounded according to a new joint study by Cleantech Group and Deloitte. After two quarters of decline, 2Q09 cleantech VC investment hit $1.2 billion.  The transportation sector was the clear winner—funding for biofuels, advanced batteries, and electric vehicles reached a new quarterly record of $607 million. Meanwhile, investors [...]

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By Deborah Fleischer, Green Impact According to Andrew Winston’s new book Green Recovery, the average data center uses as much energy as 25,000 households, and he reports, “There is a persistent and believable rumor that Google is the largest single energy user in the state of California. Google acknowledges that data centers make up a [...]

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The top green business stories for the week: SAP Moves Further Into Sustainability Arena, Acquires Green IT Leader Clear Standards. Triple Pundit’s own Andrew Burger reported that the software giant had announced a deal to acquire Clear Standards in a move that brings serious financial muscle into the emissions reporting IT industry. Of its announced [...]

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In the media, from the geekiest of geeks to the most mainstream, cleantech is in the news. And in the minds of VC companies as well, even in the midst of the chaotic economy we’re experiencing. All well and good, but where’s the support for innovative green businesses that do more then create the latest [...]

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“The Best Way to Predict the Future Is to Invent It” This iconic quote from Alan Kay, the computer science pioneer, provided an appropriate context for a recent presentation given by Dan Reicher, Google’s Director of Climate and Energy Initiatives. Mr. Reicher addressed a full auditorium at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) describing Google.org’s [...]

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In January, President Obama signed an executive order asking the courts to review a Bush era ruling that stopped California from limiting carbon emissions from passenger vehicles. When the dust settles after multiple legal hoops, California and 17 other states (called the CARB states) who have signed on to California’s plan will inevitably, it seems, [...]

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Who doesn’t want in on the action? Yes, Newsweek called out the growth of clean tech opportunities in 2007, but job seeker tools started to arrive to the party en masse last year. There’s CleanLoop, Cleantechies, the CleanTech Group, CleanTech.org (where scientists and entrepreneurs meet to commercialize new technologies), CleanTech Brief, and even TriplePundit (courtesy [...]

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Solar power. It’s talked about by many, it’s seen on many consumer goods, but as of yet, it’s not seen on many roofs. Not without substantial government subsidies. It’s often difficult and time consuming to install, requiring a team of professionals and reams of paperwork. It doesn’t have to be that way. Veranda Solar is [...]

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Given the economic downturn, job seekers are smart to look at areas of opportunity likely to grow even in an ongoing downturn. Naturally, many have turned their attention to clean tech, where investment should only continue thanks to the stimulus package and global efforts to address climate change. The dicey economic outlook and competition from [...]

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When I first heard about earthcycle, recent competitor for “Most promising investment opportunity” at last week’s Clean Tech Forum I was initially impressed. Their flagship products are produce packaging made from palm fiber, the remainders of palm fruit harvesting, which would otherwise be burnt. But after mentioning it on Twitter, I was quickly reminded that [...]

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