10 Things I Miss About Heath - No 4

carbon effusion

Recognizing that they cannot remain dependent on importing oil at the increasing rate they presently are and recognizing that, even aside from the global desire to reduce carbon emissions to slow global warming they need to reduce emissions to stop choking their cities, China is moving with incredible speed toward zero emission driving.

Q. What steps is China taking towards introducing electric cars in a serious way?

China has figured out that electric cars are the future, and has put the most aggressive policy in place that aims at triple-play.

As they do so they recognize an opportunity amidst the threat. China never developed a globally competitive automobile industry. However, the zero emission car – the electric car – is really more of a really big consumer electronic device — something China has excelled at producing for export. And the other major component for electric cars – the batteries – is another industry in which China is in a global leadership position.

So their plan is to leapfrog American, European and Japanese legacy car makers by becoming the leaders in all-electric cars — first for their domestic market, and then for export.

Q. How significant is this move?

China is the tipping point on electric cars. China is what’s going to make this revolution happen faster than anyone thinks. I believe they will tip the world market toward electric cars before 2015.

China is adding new cars at a ferocious pace, even in this recessionary environment. Every day a net new 3,000 cars hit the roads of the city of Beijing alone! Just as they are adding cars much faster than the United States ever did, they are realizing the detrimental impact of oil dependence on economy, environment and security much faster as well — and they are responding.

Q. How is Better Place going about creating the infrastructure needed in China to support EVs?

Better Place, which is already deploying charge infrastructure to accommodate mass adoption of electric cars in Israel, has had conversations with various levels of government and industry in China about cooperating to achieve their objectives in zero emission transportation.

Better Place builds infrastructure that allows drives to charge their cars where they generally park them — and to switch out the battery for a full one when on an extended journey.

Q. Do you think this will just be another consumer fad in China’s large cities, or do you think it is something that could be taken seriously in the provinces too?

The important thing is that China has made a decision for electrification. The [Chinese] government has made a clear policy, and I predict that before this decade is out, you won’t be able to sell a gas car in China.

Q. What’s the significance of the MOU signed between Better Place and Cherry Automobile Co. earlier this year?

Better Place is pleased to be working with China’s largest private automaker, Chery, to develop battery-switchable all-electric cars for the Chinese market. Between the strong public policy encouraging deployment of EVs in China, and Chery’s resources and desire to do the same, we are very encouraged about the prospects for zero-emission transportation in China.

Q. Can you tell us about the Tokyo Electric Taxi Project?

Better Place opened the world’s first commercial battery switch station this past April in Tokyo, serving three taxicabs in continuous use on that city’s streets. Since that time, the cabs have picked up hundreds of fares, traveled thousands of miles, and switched batteries several time daily without the slightest flaw. The program has captured imaginations around the world and cities from everywhere have encouraged us to do the same for them. We do think this program proves the viability of making high-volume vehicles zero-emission through the battery-switch approach.

Q. Taxis represent only 2 percent of all passenger vehicles in Tokyo, so what difference will this really make?

Although just two percent of the cars in Tokyo, taxis represent 20 percent of the oil use and emissions. Similarly, focusing on the high-volume segments around the world is the fastest path to reducing reliance on oil and reducing emissions.

Q. How do you see the development of the EV network in Asia over the next 5 years?

In the coming years, we believe there will be an increasingly aggressive focus on reducing oil dependence globally, and particularly in Asia. Better Place looks forward to working with industry and government to be a part of that transition, including contributing our unique model of battery-separation for both the upfront economics of vehicle acquisition, and the practical impact of battery-switch as “instant charge.”

Peeping In.... Jen Aniston

Thanks to Architectural Digest I get to have a long awaited sticky beak into the home of one of my favourite ladies.  Jen opened her home to the magazine in March this year and I couldn't wait to see what her interior style was like...

Love

I'm not a huge jewellery fan but I love everything about this ring.  It is whimsical and that colour is amazing although I 'm betting it could inflict a fair bit of damage.  I may just have to put this on my wish list.

The girls

I am very jealous of whoever owns this room - look how many of my lucious ladies they have on their wall.  They haven't limited themselves to one artist either which I think is nice - just from the same era.

10 Things I Miss About Heath - No 3

10 Things I Miss About Heath Ledger - N0 2

This week marked the anniversary of Heath's death - hard to believe he has been gone for three years now.  I have a portrait of Heath in our living room so he is never out of mind but for the next few days you will have to excuse me while I indulge in some Heath love.

Yarraville Village

Found this snap of my local 'hood'.  This is also where my store is so it is nice to think that one day, in decades to come someone might look at old photos of the Village and wonder about my shop.

10 things I Miss About Heath....

Another Fabulous Collection

found here

Another fantastic example of how to display a collection.

Classic Car Galleries - Timeless Beauty and Endeavour

There is a timeless appeal about a classic old car. These cars have outlasted fads and trends and are conversation starters wherever they go. Models that are no longer in active production, that boast of a well maintained body, a smooth running engine and all the car peripherals in perfect condition are few and far between. Classic car galleries both online and in print are one way to find out which old time cars are available in the market and for how much. It is difficult setting a price for the car. Market availability and condition are primary deciders of the value. The more rare and well maintained, the higher the price. Of course one must remember that classic cars do not appeal to everyone. Only those who have an honest appreciation of the intricacies of a classic car will value the automobile.

Information regarding the year, make, specifications and car interiors are described in detail. In fact browsing through a classic car gallery is often like stepping into a time machine and hurtling back into years gone by. We can almost visualize the evolution of automotive technology, how each model was an improvement upon the last, how human endeavor strove to better their previous achievements each time setting new standards of speed and comfort and fuel efficiency. The trajectory of automobile history can be traced through these cars. The preponderance of the German vehicles, the large, comfortable American models, the sleek Italian cars, the pragmatic French Cars....each distinct, each reflective of the times in which they were engineered as they showcase the attitudes and sensibilities of that time.

Classic car galleries offer a sweeping overview of mankind's tryst with automobiles, his constant struggle to improve upon his previous creation. It is almost like walking through a museum or art gallery only instead of canvases and artifacts the showpieces are all cars. Owners, car enthusiasts, curious onlookers....no one can be unaffected by the sight of these gently curving sleek gleaming beauties. The old time car galleries thus bear witness to the struggle of the human mind to strive for excellence, to the passion of the creators and the collectors, to the interest and zest of the vintage car enthusiast. That they exist is a pointer to all of this.

New Ducati Monster 796

New Ducati Monster 796
New Ducati Monster 796
New Ducati Monster 796
New Ducati Monster 796
New Ducati Monster 796

Peeping In.... Zooey Deschanel

While we are on the subject of She & Him I thought I'd show you Zooey's home.  She did a feature for Domino Magazine a couple of years ago and I must admit it was not the style I was expecting.  What do you think?

Don't Look Back

One of my favourite bands has released their latest film clip and it's as gorgeous as all their others.  She & Him always make me smile and my hips involuntarily sway when ever I hear them.  Enjoy.

 

Steel Challenge Complete.

One design feature of our extension that we have been definite about since day one is our doors and windows in the living / kitchen / dining area.  The doors onto our deck will be industrial factory doors (double) with windows on either side. Kind of like these but with smaller panes.  The idea is that they will help link our traditional weatherboard house to our industrial and rustic interior decorating style.

We've decided not to powder coat the frames but to leave it as galvanised steel giving us a dirty silver finish, not as hard as the black.

 

Our problem has been the sourcing of these doors.  I originally found a company in Sydney but my mission this week was to try to find someone to make them a little closer to home to keep costs down.

Finally yesterday, after literally hours of Google searching I found a company that will custom make then exactly as we want and they are only a few suburbs away. I can't tell you how excited I was.  I have since found another company close to home and am feeling very pleased with myself for completing this week's challenge.

Now to get a quote!  Not so excited about this part - fingers crossed we don't have to sell a kidney.

Cupcakes!

Celebrating the joy that is the cupcake.  Surely 2010 was the year that this gem really came in to it's own - what better way to explore your creativity than on a delicious tiny canvas.  Perfect.

All images found at I Heart It