Still getting in the swing of things after the weekend? Greenbang can help with our daily summary of cleantech news you might have missed:

• Engineering students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison created a hydrogen-based system that improves the mileage of the already fuel-efficient Vespa by 10 percent;
• Efficiency gains are no match for the rapid growth of China’s carbon emissions, according to a study that finds China’s emissions nearly doubled between 2002 and 2005;
• Smith Electric Vehicles today announced plans to assemble and market zero-emission electric vehicles (PDF) for depot-based route delivery fleets;
• Toyota says its 2010 Prius will feature new technology bringing its fuel efficiency rating to 50 miles per gallon (21 kilometres per litre);
• A combination of dropping oil investments and a recovery in oil demand starting next year means we could see no spare oil capacity by the end of 2013, according to the International Energy Agency;
• Environmental Leader reports that the Oregon city of Portland might begin taxing new commercial buildings that don’t meet LEED Silver energy efficiency standards;
• Australia is investing $26 million to find ways to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the nation’s livestock.

Tags: cleantech