VoltsxAmps has a do-it-yourself guide to boosting wifi with a dd-wrt router powered by the sun

Ever wondered what it would be like to have your own hotspot no matter where you went? Well now you can with this portable solar powered Wi-Fi repeater.

This little mod is simply a wifi router connected to 5 AA batteries that is charged with the built in solar panel and all mounted into a little cigar box. I used this in the back window of my car and no matter where I am at I am able to surf the net and check email within 150 feet of my car.

The same site points to a solar powered wireless security camera do-it-yourself project. Combine that with the do-it-yourself surveillance system and you have all you need for surveillance without wires:

Favstocks gives details on the amazing feat by a standard production vehicle. The Passat Bluemotion set a Guinness World Record for “hypermiling”

Powered by a Volkswagen 1.6-liter common rail TDI engine developing 105 PS, the Passat BlueMotion used for the record attempt was a standard production model. In common with the Polo and Golf BlueMotion models, the Passat is fitted with aerodynamic modifications to the bodywork, a lower ride height, Stop/Start, programmed battery charging, longer gearing and low rolling resistance tyres. The result is a vehicle that is completely conventional to drive, service and maintain yet among the most efficient vehicles on the road today.

The Passat BlueMotion’s fuel tank was drained before the record breaking journey and filled with 77.25 liters (20.4 U.S. gallons) of standard forecourt diesel, resulting in an overall fuel consumption of 89.83 mpg (3.14 L/100km or 74.8 mpg U.S.). This substantially exceeds the Passat BlueMotion’s official combined figure of 64.2 mpg (4.4 L/100km or 53.45 mpg U.S.).

75 mpg with no battery risks and a significant amount of power, suitable for driving with loads and on highways. Diesel again proves it is the most viable option for efficient energy on the road.

Mobile magazine points out that…

…they were able to record a production car world record of 1,531 miles on a single 20-gallon tank of gas.

To put that in perspective, it means that you can effectively drive all the way from Seattle to Phoenix without ever visiting a gas station.

That is also the distance from Washington DC to Miami, Florida…on just 20 gallons of fuel.

A 2004 2.0 TDI Passat from VW gets 600 miles from a 15 gallon tank of gas (40mpg) so this means VW has engineered almost double the efficiency with diesel for production cars in just six years.

During the same time the much-hyped (and sometimes panned for safety flaws) Toyota Prius hybrid actually has been found to decrease in average efficiency (from 41mpg down to to 37mpg).

When I see a hybrid on the road I often think of a comment from Vinod Khosla last year that keeps popping up:

You can reduce more carbon painting your roof white than by buying a Prius.

Even better, paint your roof and get a clean diesel.

Edited to add: I wrote to VW directly and asked about availability of this car in the US. Their answer is…

The current Passat Sedan and Passat Wagon will phased out for the 2011 model year to make room for Volkswagen’s new midsize sedan, which will begin production in Chattanooga, Tennessee later next year. At this time, no further details are available regarding engine availability or other features.

When I traveled around Kathmandu the city was filled with diesel carts that poured black acrid-smelling pollution into the streets. Polluting taxis were banned in 2000.

Kathmandu is one of the most polluted cities in Asia, vehicular emissions accounting for a big share.

Besides posing a health hazard to the public, the growing pollution is also seen as a threat to the tourism industry.

Save the tourists.

I just read about a similar trend finally catching on in other cities such as New York, London and San Francisco. According to the Automotive Insider major innovation in urban taxi technology is just around the corner.

London suffers from severe pollution. Taxis account for 12% of NOX and 24% of particulate matter in central London. In June 2008, Mercedes unveiled the London EVito, a six-seater electric vehicle that is taking the market by storm. Running on a 35w lithium ion (Li-Ion) battery, the EVito runs for 75 miles on a single charge and takes 6 hours to recharge using the UK standard 240v input. It sports anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and onboard diagnostics. In order to swerve around Blue Bell “kerbs” (curbs), the front-wheel drive EVito utilizes partial rear-wheel drive to achieve its tiny 25-foot turn radius.

That was two years ago and many more are on their way.

In 2013, Volkswagen plans to release its Milano taxi. Using advanced lithium ion (Li-Ion) batteries, the demure, charming Milano has a single broad side-door swerving open to reveal its four spacious seats. It has an electronically-limited speed of 75 mph and 67 continuous horsepower. Nissan plans to unveil its avant-garde Nissan Leaf in 2011, with a 100 mile driving range, while Mitsubishi, Renault, Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevy and other companies are currently or planning on offering ecological vehicles.

This Milano sounds like the ideal shared commuter car. Hopefully by 2013 some of the usual risks of batteries will be sorted out…or a diesel-hybrid option will be available.