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	<title>Worldfocus &#187; electric cars</title>
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	<link>http://worldfocus.org</link>
	<description>International News, Videos and Blogs</description>
	<pubDate>Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:04:56 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>China&#8217;s air quality improves but remains highly polluted</title>
		<link>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2010/02/05/chinas-air-quality-improves-but-remains-highly-polluted/9568/</link>
		<comments>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2010/02/05/chinas-air-quality-improves-but-remains-highly-polluted/9568/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:34:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Worldfocus</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Asia-Pacific]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[World Politics]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[economy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[air pollution]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[air quality]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Asia Society]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Beijing]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ben Piven]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Center on U.S.-China Relations]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[China Green]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[coal]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[electric cars]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[greenhouse gases]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Longing for Blue Skies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://worldfocus.org/?p=9568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In our broadcast this week, we showed how some Chinese drivers are opting for knockoff electric cars that are non-polluting and cheap.

But some of our viewers commented that most of the electricity that these vehicles use is generated by coal, which increases air pollution and greenhouse gases.

We take a deeper look at China's battle against [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In our broadcast this week, we showed how some Chinese drivers are opting for <a href="http://worldfocus.org/blog/2010/02/03/bootleg-electric-cars-thrive-in-chinas-second-tier-cities/9535/" target="_blank">knockoff</a> electric cars that are non-polluting and cheap.</p>
<p>But some of our viewers commented that most of the electricity that these vehicles use is generated by coal, which increases air pollution and greenhouse gases.</p>
<p>We take a deeper look at China&#8217;s battle against air pollution and highlight more multimedia features produced by the <a href="http://sites.asiasociety.org/beijingair/" target="_blank">Clearing the Air</a> project by <a href="http://sites.asiasociety.org/chinagreen/" target="_blank">China Green</a> at the Asia Society&#8217;s <a href="http://www.asiasociety.org/policy-politics/center-us-china-relations" target="_blank">Center on U.S.-China Relations</a>.</p>
<p>To visualize the difference between a smoggy day and a clear day in Bejing, China Green created a photo slider where you can move your mouse across to see the contrast in one frame:</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="375" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://thirteen.vo.llnwd.net/o17/worldfocus/podcast/BeijingAirGoodBad_slider.swf" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="375" src="http://thirteen.vo.llnwd.net/o17/worldfocus/podcast/BeijingAirGoodBad_slider.swf" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<p>The project has also included a daily <a href="http://sites.asiasociety.org/beijingair/#room-with-a-view" target="_blank">photo diary</a> of Beijing&#8217;s air quality, listing the best and worst days for air pollution levels.</p>
<p>This project recently expanded to include a Twitter competition <a href="http://twitter.com/beijingairpix" target="_blank">BeijingAirPix</a> between photos of Beijing and New York. Beijing defintely does not always lose!</p>
<p>In addition to the visuals, the site explains how air pollution is measured:</p>
<blockquote><p>Air pollution index (API), published by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection, is derived from measurements of five pollutants: Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, PM10, Carbon Monoxide and Ozone.  The average concentration for each pollutant is calculated daily and the concentration of the pollutant with the highest API (0-500) will become that day’s major pollutant, recorded as that day’s API figure. In Beijing, PM10–particulate matter 10 microns or smaller–is the major pollutant most days.</p></blockquote>
<p>And, there is an explanation of what the government has done thus far:</p>
<blockquote><p>The Chinese have invested about 120 billion yuan ($17.3 billion) over the last 10 years to improve air quality in the capital.  Although the levels of many major pollutants like Sulfur Dioxide and Nitrogen Dioxide are now at target levels, the concentration of PM10, or inhalable particulate matter, remains above national targets.  During the Olympic Games, Beijing shut down upwind factories, halted construction and imposed strict traffic controls to control emissions.</p></blockquote>
<p>The site also offers a <a href="http://sites.asiasociety.org/beijingair/#news-feed" target="_blank">news feed</a> of recent articles on China&#8217;s air quality.</p>
<p><a href="http://sites.asiasociety.org/chinagreen/longing-for-blue-skies/" target="_blank">Longing for Blue Skies</a> explains the attempts by China&#8217;s government to rein in air pollution during a period of major economic growth:</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="600" height="375" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://michaelzhao.net/embed/ClearingTheAir.swf" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" height="375" src="http://michaelzhao.net/embed/ClearingTheAir.swf" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
<listpage_excerpt>In our broadcast this week, we showed how some Chinese drivers are opting for knockoff electric cars that are non-polluting and cheap &#8212; but the electricity that these vehicles use is generated by coal, which increases air pollution and greenhouse gases. We take a deeper look at China&#8217;s battle against air pollution, courtesy of the Asia Society&#8217;s China Green multimedia project.</listpage_excerpt>
<post_thumbnail>http://worldfocus.org/files/2010/02/th_china_beijingair.jpg</post_thumbnail>
<post_thumbnail_videopage>http://worldfocus.org/files/2010/02/th_china_beijingair.jpg</post_thumbnail_videopage>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Israeli company builds infrastructure for world&#8217;s electric cars</title>
		<link>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/</link>
		<comments>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:12:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Worldfocus</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Energy Alternatives]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Show Segments]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Video]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Ara Ayer]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Better Place]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Bruce Upbin]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[electric cars]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Michael Greenspan]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Sean McGinn]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Shai Agassi]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Tech Revolution]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Yuval Lion]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://worldfocus.org/?p=3977</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Israel has launched an electric car program as part of a plan to end the country's dependence on foreign oil. But it is still difficult to produce enough of the vehicles and get them to travel far enough. One Israeli company is not just promoting electric cars but designing a charging system to service them, and many countries are expressing great interest.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Israel <a title="Israel launches electric-car program" href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9854591-54.html" target="_blank">launched an electric car program</a> as part of a plan to end the country&#8217;s dependence on foreign oil. Of course by now, the idea of an electric car is not new. But it is still a challenge to produce enough of the vehicles and get them to travel far enough. <a title="Stars align for maker of electric car infrastructure" href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/08/business/electric.4-425408.php" target="_blank">Shai Agassi</a>&#8217;s company, <a title="Better Place" href="http://www.betterplace.com/" target="_blank">Better Place</a>, is not just promoting electric cars but designing an entire system to service them, with battery charging stations. Many countries are expressing great interest.</p>
<p>Worldfocus special correspondent Michael Greenspan and producers Yuval Lion and Ara Ayer report from Israel.</p>
<p>Could Agassi&#8217;s plan work in larger countries like the U.S.? Watch an extended interview: <a title="Debate on the electric revolution of the auto industry" rel="bookmark" href="/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/" target="_self">Debate on the electric revolution of the auto industry</a>.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="307" src="http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/lqtN52xjvc?pid=8J3FTRDFMQe1V28HyYzH0z3Kthp2aFvD&amp;embedded=true&amp;width=514&amp;height=307" width="514"></iframe></p>
<listpage_excerpt>One Israeli company is not just promoting the use of electric cars but designing an entire system to service them, with battery charging stations. Many countries are expressing great interest.</listpage_excerpt>
<post_thumbnail>/files/2009/02/th_israel_car.jpg</post_thumbnail>
<post_thumbnail_videopage>/files/2009/02/th_israel_car.jpg</post_thumbnail_videopage>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Debate on the electric revolution of the auto industry</title>
		<link>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/</link>
		<comments>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Feb 2009 16:32:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Worldfocus</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Energy Alternatives]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Latest News (Homepage)]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Bijan Rezvani]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[electric cars]]></category>

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		<category><![CDATA[Shai Agassi]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://worldfocus.org/?p=3979</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Better Place CEO and founder Shai Agassi wants to change the automotive industry by switching gas stations with battery replacement and charging stations for the next generation of electric cars. Although current plans include smaller areas like Hawaii, Israel, Denmark and San Francisco, Better Place aims at nothing short of an industry-transforming revolution. Will it be [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a title="Better Place" href="http://www.betterplace.com/" target="_blank">Better Place</a> CEO and founder <a title="Stars align for maker of electric car infrastructure" href="http://www.iht.com/articles/2009/02/08/business/electric.4-425408.php" target="_blank">Shai Agassi</a> wants to change the automotive industry by switching gas stations with battery replacement and charging stations for the next generation of electric cars. Although current plans include smaller areas like Hawaii, Israel, Denmark and San Francisco, Better Place aims at nothing short of an industry-transforming revolution. Will it be possible?</p>
<p>In this extended interview, Shai Agassi discusses his company&#8217;s plans and challenges.</p>
<p>Bruce Upbin, a managing editor at Forbes Magazine, comments on Better Place&#8217;s challenges and why the network may not work in the U.S.</p>
<p>Watch the Worldfocus signature story &#8220;<a title="Israeli company builds infrastructure for world’s electric cars" href="http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/israeli-company-builds-infrastructure-for-worlds-electric-cars/3977/" target="_self">Israeli company builds infrastructure for world’s electric cars</a>,&#8221; which takes a look at the Agassi&#8217;s idea and plans to implement it in Israel.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="307" src="http://player.theplatform.com/ps/player/pds/lqtN52xjvc?pid=SGiMhC4gEJKH3bOLqYc_NIH6dmSUZPCB&amp;embedded=true&amp;width=514&amp;height=307" width="514"></iframe></p>
<listpage_excerpt>Better Place founder Shai Agassi discusses some of the company&#8217;s challenges with commentary by Bruce Upbin, a managing editor at Forbes Magazine.</listpage_excerpt>
<post_thumbnail>/files/2009/02/th_car_shai.jpg</post_thumbnail>
<post_thumbnail_videopage>/files/2009/02/th_car_shai.jpg</post_thumbnail_videopage>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://worldfocus.org/blog/2009/02/09/debate-on-the-electric-revolution-of-the-auto-industry/3979/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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