San Francisco-based startup Solazyme has developed a way to convert biomass into fuel using algae, and best of all they promise to do it for the same price as petroleum.

Solazyme uses a new, unconventional, way of growing the algae in huge, dark stainless-steel containers. The algae are then fed sugar which the organisms convert into oil. Different strains of algae produce different kinds of oil. The extracted oil can then be processed into diesel and jet fuel as well as other products.

The company has already tested its algae-based fuel in a diesel car. It has also recently announced a development and testing agreement with Chevron.

This new technology has the potential to replace the oil wells we use to get our oil today. As a much greener alternative, it is sure to appeal to consumers, especially if the prices don’t change (although we wouldn’t mind some gasoline cheaper than $3/gallon).

With so many new alternatives to traditional fuel being developed, it looks like we might not be screwed after all. Thanks, Solazyme!

Traffic lights that wirelessly keep track of vehicles could make your next road trip faster, cheaper, and cleaner say Romanian and US researchers.

The researchers recorded peak traffic flow at a major junction in Bucharest, Romania, and then used the distributed computing lab at Rutgers University to create complex simulations. They discovered that “smart” traffic lights could reduce the time drivers spend waiting at intersections by more than 28% during rush hours. The team also believes that these lights could reduce CO₂ emissions by 6.5%. Read more »

Dutch inventors have unveiled a 75,000 Euro (about $111,100) robot able to fill up your gas tank without you needing to get out the car. The robot works by looking up your car model in a database and finding what fuel type (in addition to your fuel cap design) to use. It then extends its robotic arm, unscrews your gas cap, and puts the gas nozzle in as any human would.

The inventor hopes to have it in a handful of Dutch gas stations by the end of the year.

We hope he starts trying to sell these robots to US stations, as it would be good for people to not have to deal so closely with gasoline ever again. However, we are wondering about how much longer this device will be useful with all the alternative fuel source discussion and research taking place. Very cool, nonetheless.