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westfalia

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alternative energy

Interview WIth The Teacher Behind The Algae-Powered VW Van

Since everyone has been so enthusiastic about the Algae-Veggie Van I thought I'd follow up with some bits that didn't make it into the original feature article, specifically a Q&A I did with teacher David Levine, who originally came up with the idea to do this with project his students. He's one of the incredibly committed and intelligent teachers that I've met in the Chicago area who decided to postpone going out into the corporate world (where they'd clearly be successful) and instead make a measurable impact on society through the Teach For America program.

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4:20 PM on Tue Jun 3 2008
By Matt Hardigree
1,298 views, 17 comments

Latest by HopeTlepolemus: I'm new here and would like to point that algae biofuel was an old government project from 1978 to 1996. more »

alternative energy

Sears Tower Or Bust: My Algae-Powered Car Adventure

It was when the oil light came on that I started to run through the appropriate next steps in my head...and realized that there aren't any appropriate next steps when warning lights start going off in a 1982 VW Vanagon camper. Particularly one converted to run on a mixture of vegetable oil and algae biodiesel grown and refined by a group of Chicago high school students. As the Sears Tower, our goal, loomed in the distance, a question loomed in my mind: Was our shared belief in the future of petroleum alternatives and, more importantly, in the fuel processing abilities of public school students and their teachers, strong enough to convince us to push further into the knot of congestion forming around the city?

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Feature

12:00 PM on Mon Jun 2 2008
By Matt Hardigree
13,718 views, 43 comments

Latest by rexplex: @texajeff: @texajeff: But I don't think the big oil companies are going to want to let that happen. I agree with more »

accessories

A Honda Element Camper For The Elements

There's nothing quite like the moment you first see the top pop off of a VW Westfalia for the first time. It's like the world and the roof open up at the same time. For those who want that same experience in a new vehicle, there's the Ursa Minor ECAMPER, which uses the Honda Element instead of a Vanagon. This sharp modification includes a 7' x 4' mattress, low-current LED lighting and panoramic views. It'll set you back $4,300 to camper-ize your Element (a little more if you want it to match the color of your Element). Photos and details below: More »

2:45 PM on Tue Nov 13 2007
By Matt Hardigree
13,036 views, 40 comments

Latest by boognish: Honda should make this a factory option... Delete some of the interior expenses, maybe the rear seats delete package, put more »

retro

Westfalia!

On our afternoon walk to the bodega, we caught sight of a well-maintained '70s-vintage poptop Westfalia Type 2. We've always loved those things; our aunt and uncle had a green one, and if they hadn't gotten rid of it in favor of a '32 Ford sedan with a 302 and a teardrop trailer, we'd say they made a huge mistake. Sadly, since DCX now owns 49% of Westfalia and VW no longer makes a Microbus, we most likely won't see the likes of it again. – Davey G. Johnson More »

7:00 PM on Thu Dec 14 2006
By Davey G. Johnson
757 views, 10 comments

Latest by aaron x: I had to wash it, but that's the interior the way I got it. The faucet was both not original more »