June, 2012

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Sundrop Fuels finalizes ExxonMobil MTG technology license for “green gasoline” production facility

Green Car Congress

The ExxonMobil MTG process flow diagram. Source: EMRE. Click to enlarge. Sundrop Fuels, Inc., a gasification-based drop-in advanced biofuels company, finalized a licensing agreement to use ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company’s methanol-to-gasoline ( MTG ) technology to be incorporated into a “green gasoline” production facility. Located near Alexandria, Louisiana, Sundrop Fuels plans to break ground late this year on its inaugural commercial plant, which will produce up to 50 million gal

Gasoline 360
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Zap Jonway "Change of Leadership"

Electric Cars are for Girls

Steve Schneider, long time CEO of US operations at Zap, is now GONE. What does this mean for the future of Zap, I wonder?

Future 229
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2013 Nissan Altima: The Most Fuel-Efficient Mid-Size Car You Can Buy

Green Car Reports

Featuring some pretty nifty fuel-saving technology, like its redesigned continuously variable transmission and Easy Fill Tire Alert System, the 2013 Nissan Altima has always promised to be a green car. But now it’s official: according to the EPA, the 2013 Nissan Altima is the most fuel-efficient gasoline mid-size car you can buy. At least.

2013 162
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First Tesla Model S delivered to Board Member Steve Jurvetson

National Green Transportation

As if it's proof that it pays to be an insider with privileged access, Tesla Motors has begun delivering Founder Series Model S electric sedans. Model S #001 was delivered yesterday to venture capitalist and Tesla board.

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How serious is Norway about climate change? So much that its streetlights self-dim

emissions global warming Norway climate change carbon dioxide youtube lighting

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Norway confirms electric car incentives until 2018

Green Cars News

Norway has decided to guarantee its package of support measures for electric cars until at least 2018. A leading country in Europe for electric car uptake, Norway’s decision provides an important boost to the fledgling EV industry, which suffers from doubt over the longevity of support measures in other countries. The benefits for electric car [.].

Norway 74
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A123 Systems introduces new Nanophosphate EXT Li-ion battery technology with optimized performance in extreme temperatures; OEM micro-hybrid program due next year

Green Car Congress

Cold cranking performance of EXT battery systems, 80 Ah and 60 Ah. 10 sec. crank, 7.0V minimum, 100% SOC. The dots represent the capability of Johnson Control’s current AGM battery at that temperature point. Click to enlarge. A123 Systems introduced Nanophosphate EXT ( EX treme T emperature), a new lithium-ion battery technology capable of operating at extreme temperatures without requiring thermal management.

Li-ion 359

More Trending

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Mitsui OSK completes first hybrid car carrier vessel Emerald Ace; 2 new LNG carriers

Green Car Congress

Mitsui OSK Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has completed the hybrid car carrier vessel Emerald Ace , designed to generate zero emissions while berthed, at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) Kobe shipyard. Emerald Ace. Click to enlarge. Conceptual diagram of system. Click to enlarge. The Emerald Ace is equipped with a hybrid electric power supply system that combines a 160 kW solar generation system—jointly developed by MHI, Energy Company of Panasonic Group, and MOL—with lithium-ion batte

Hybrid 339
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2013 Honda Fit EV receives EPA fuel economy rating of 118 MPGe; highest yet

Green Car Congress

The 2013 Honda Fit EV ( earlier post ) received a combined adjusted Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mile-per-gallon-equivalency (MPGe) rating of 118 MPGe—the highest yet awarded by the EPA. City and highway cycle fuel-economy ratings are 132 and 105 MPGe, respectively. The FIT EV’s fuel consumption rating is 29 kWh per 100 miles; EPA-rated annual fuel cost is $500.

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Audi R18 e-tron quattro hybrid with flywheel energy system wins Le Mans; first hybrid win there

Green Car Congress

The R18 e-tron quattro hybrids at work. Click to enlarge. Marking the first victory of a hybrid vehicle at Le Mans, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro ( earlier post ), equipped with Williams Hybrid Power’s (WHP) electromechanical hybrid flywheel system, took the top two spots at the 80 th running of the endurance race over the weeken. The win was Audi’s 11 th Le Mans victory.

Audi 337
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RAC says UK motorists are reducing car use because of higher costs, support for higher speed limits falling

Green Car Congress

The latest annual Report on Motoring by the Royal Automotive Club (RAC) says that motorists are continuing to give up important day-to-day activities by car as a result of the high cost of motoring. The report, based on a survey of motorists’ opinions also says that support for higher motorway speed limits has declined. A separate report for the RAC Foundation by the IFS says that the uptake of more low carbon cars is hitting Treasury revenues and suggests that the shortfall could be made up thr

Tax 337
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Eaton to supply EV charging stations to federal EV Pilot Program

Green Car Congress

Eaton Corporation announced a collaborative agreement to supply federal departments and agencies with electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and related installation and services equipment, through a US General Services Administration (GSA) contract awarded to Autoflex, Inc. The contract is an element of the federal government’s Electric Vehicle Pilot Program , a GSA initiative launched in 2011 ( earlier post ) to incorporate EVs and charging infrastructure into federal vehicle and building por

Eaton 334
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Independent testing shows 21.2% reduction in fuel consumption with XL Hybrids retrofit system

Green Car Congress

The XL Hybrids system in place. Click to enlarge. Testing at Environmental Solutions Worldwide Americas (ESWA), an EPA-certified vehicle laboratory, showed a 21.2% reduction in fuel consumption achieved with XL Hybrids’ aftermarket hybrid electric powertrain ( earlier post ) on a light-duty cargo van on the UDDS cycle (urban conditions). The company had been targeting a 20% reduction.

Hybrid 330
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Research team demonstrates Li-air battery capable of long cycle life

Green Car Congress

A team from Hanyang University (Korea) and University of Rome Sapienza (Italy) have demonstrated a lithium–air battery capable of operating over many cycles with capacity and rate values as high as 5,000 mAh g carbon ?1 and 3 A g carbon ?1 , respectively. The team, led by Yang-Kook Sun and Bruno Scrosati, reports on their work in a paper in the journal Nature Chemistry.

Li-ion 326
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WHO IARC classifies diesel exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)

Green Car Congress

After a week-long meeting of an expert working group, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified diesel engine exhaust (DEE) as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer. The summary of the evaluation will appear in The Lancet Oncology as an online publication ahead of print on 15 June 2012.

Exhaust 326
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ExxonMobil announces 6th oil discovery offshore Guyana with Ranger-1; Guyana may move from non-producer to regional powerhouse

Oil

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Reports: Toyota and BMW to expand partnership on fuel-efficient vehicles, with Toyota providing hybrid and fuel cell technology to BMW

Green Car Congress

The Nikkei reported that Toyota Motor Corp. and BMW will expand their partnership, one aspect of which will be Toyota providing hybrid systems and fuel cell technology to BMW. Kyodo News also reported the same, attributing it to “Toyota sources”. The Nikkei report followed a story in German newsmagazine Der Spiegel on the likelihood of an expanded partnership between the two companies.

BMW 326
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Daimler starts production of new smart fortwo electric drive; buy or lease the vehicle, rent the battery

Green Car Congress

Start of production for the new smart fortwo electric drive. Click to enlarge. Daimler AG has begun production of the new smart fortwo electric drive at the smart Hambach plant. Like the models with combustion engines, the electric vehicle is now rolling off the production line in the standardized production process. Daimler has invested more than €200 million to upgrade the site.

Buy 320
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Siemens and Vietnam Motors Industry Corporation launch hybrid-drive bus partnership

Green Car Congress

Siemens Ltd. Vietnam and Vietnam Motors Industry Corporation (Vinamotor) entered a cooperation agreement to apply Siemens Elfa hybrid drive technology for city buses in Vietnam. A prototype of the Elfa will be built in 2012. Siemens will supply all necessary components and provide technical support, while Vinamotor will prepare the platform and manufacture remaining parts of the bus for operational readiness.

Vietnam 317
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Government of Québec unveils $2.7B climate change action plan; 63% of spending targeting transport

Green Car Congress

The Premier of Québec, Jean Charest; the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks, Pierre Arcand; and the Minister of Transport Pierre Moreau unveiled the Canadian province’s 2013-2020 Action Plan on Climate Change (PACC 2020). The action plan and strategy adaptation represent a total investment of nearly C$2.7 billion (US$2.6 billion).

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MHI to develop fuel cell triple combined cycle power generation system; expected to deliver power generation exceeding 70% (LHV) in larger applications

Green Car Congress

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) will begin developing basic technologies for a triple combined cycle power generation system integrating solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) and a gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation system. Conceptual drawing of the triple combined cycle power generation system configuration. Source: MHI. Click to enlarge.

Power 301
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Hydrogenics wins order from E.ON for power-to-hydrogen-gas energy storage project in Germany

Green Car Congress

Electrolysis company Hydrogenics Corporation has received an order from E.ON for a “Power-to-Gas” project in Germany. The 2 MW energy storage facility, to be located in Falkenhagen in northeast Germany, will use surplus renewable energy sources to produce hydrogen for storage in the country’s existing natural gas pipeline network. Power-to-Gas is a novel way to store energy at utility scale, whereby surplus electrical grid power is converted into hydrogen gas.

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Natural gas vehicle fleet in Italy climbs to 785,000 units

Green Car Congress

NGVA Europe. Italy, the European leader in natural gas vehicle (NGV) adoption, has seen a 16% increase in its natural gas vehicle parc from 676,850 at the end of 2009 to 785,000 vehicles by early 2012. This number mainly comprises private cars and vans, which can be refueled at any of the 850 public refueling stations spread over the country. The number of NGVs has reached this level over the last 30 years as a result of a very active retrofit conversion industry and the ready availability of mo

Italy 296
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Mazda to use hydrogen rotary engine for EV range extender

Green Car Congress

Mazda Motor Corp. will use its hydrogen-fueled rotary engine technology ( earlier post ) as a range extender for an electric vehicle it plans to start leasing next year, according to Mazda President Takashi Yamanouchi as reported in The Nikkei. In 2009, Mazda began commercial leasing of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid ( earlier post ). The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid featured a series-hybrid drivetrain, which combines Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine with an electric motor.

Mazda 294
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New fuel-efficient bulk carrier concept design; DNV estimates new tankers, bulkers and container vessels will be up to 30% more energy efficient by 2020 than newbuilds today

Green Car Congress

The Green Dolphin. Click to enlarge. The Shanghai Merchant Ship Design & Research Institute (SDARI) and development partners DNV and Wärtsilä have unveiled a new Handysize—i.e., ships with a cargo-carrying capability of less than 60,000 metric tonnes—bulk carrier concept design: the Green Dolphin. The Green Dolphin leverages existing technologies to meet shipowners’ needs for fuel efficiency and operational flexibility while also being ready for future environmental regulations.

2020 294
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Prototype electric New Flyer transit bus powered by 120 kWh MHI MLiX Li-ion pack in operational testing in Manitoba, Canada

Green Car Congress

An all-electric, battery-powered prototype demonstration bus under joint development by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), the government of Manitoba, Manitoba Hydro, Red River College and New Flyer Industries Canada ULC has been completed and was recently unveiled in Manitoba, Canada. ( Earlier post.) The bus will be demonstrated on the streets of Winnipeg over the next two years.

Canada 294
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National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB acquires assets of Saab Automobile to create new EV company; first model based on 9-3 due year-end 2013/2014

Green Car Congress

National Electric Vehicle Sweden AB (NEVS)—an international consortium formed by Chinese, Japanese and Swedish stakeholders—and the Receivers of the Saab Automobile bankruptcy estate ( earlier post) signed a purchase agreement covering the main assets of Saab Automobile AB, Saab Automobile Powertrain AB and Saab Automobile Tools AB. NEVS will establish a new automobile venture in Trollhättan, solely dedicated to development and manufacturing of electric vehicles (EVs).

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Honda to begin reuse of rare earth metals extracted from used NiMH batteries before year end; targeting extraction from motors and Li-ion batteries as well

Green Car Congress

Flow of the reuse of rare earth metals Honda is striving to achieve. Click to enlarge. Honda Motor Co., Ltd., which has been extracting rare earth metals from used nickel-metal hydride batteries at the plant of Japan Metals & Chemicals Co., Ltd. from April of this year, plans to begin reusing the extracted metals before the end of 2012. Honda will pursue the recycling of precious resources by reusing extracted rare earth metals not only for nickel-metal hydride batteries, but also for use in a w

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19.7% of new cars sold in May 2012 in Japan were hybrids; Prius and Aqua dominate

Green Car Congress

Integrity Exports. 19.7% of new cars sold in Japan in May 2012 were hybrid cars, up 11 percentage points from last year. The liftback Prius led the field with 20,789 units sold, closely followed by Aqua (Prius C overseas) with 20,091 units sold. Looking at the different manufacturers, hybrid sales make up 25% of Honda sales in Japan, and a whopping 46% of Toyota sales.

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Sandwich-like MnO2/Mn/MnO2 nanotube array shows high supercapacitive performance

Green Car Congress

Nanotube array architecture, triple-layered structure, and high conductivity in electrodes provide ion and electron “superhighways”. Credit: ACS, Li et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China designed and synthesized novel MnO 2 /Mn/MnO 2 sandwich-like nanotube arrays for supercapacitors. In testing reported in the ACS journal Nano Letters , the hybrid MnO 2 /Mn/MnO 2 sandwich-like nanotube arrays exhibited an excellent rate capability with a high specific

Li-ion 281
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Glympse and Mercedes-Benz partner to provide realtime location sharing while driving

Green Car Congress

Mercedes-Benz and Glympse, the mobile technology company that pioneered temporary real-time location sharing, are teaming up to provide real-time location sharing to their drivers by integrating Glympse into the new Mercedes-Benz Digital DriveStyle application, set to launch in the new A-Class in September. Glympse allows GPS-enabled mobile phone users to share their location for a pre-set period of time with anyone they choose.

Mercedes 281
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Novozymes and Shengquan finalize cellulosic ethanol enzyme supply deal; Shenquan production begins next month

Green Car Congress

China-based Shengquan Group and Novozymes finalized an enzyme supply deal for the production of cellulosic ethanol. Shengquan starts production of cellulosic ethanol from its commercial-scale facility month; the production will be cost-competitive with conventional ethanol, as the cellulosic ethanol feedstock is a waste product from Shengquan’s current production, the companies said.

Supplies 281
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California ARB approves more rebate funding for hybrid and zero-emission cars, trucks, buses9

Green Car Congress

The California Air Resources Board approved $27 million for its Air Quality Improvement Program, a statewide effort to provide incentives for the purchase of advanced-technology passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks. ARB will use the majority of those funds for its California Clean Vehicle Rebate Project to provide incentives for the purchase of zero-emission and plug-in hybrid passenger cars.

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ITF analysis finds that societal costs for electric cars and vans range from €7K to €12K more than fossil-fueled equivalents

Green Car Congress

Sample consumer and societal break-even curves for BEVs, with data points for a compact diesel for comparison. Source: Philippe Crist — Discussion Paper 2012-03. Click to enlarge. Electric passenger cars currently cost €4K to €5K (US$5,079 to $6,349) more to their owners than an equivalent fossil fuel car over the vehicle’s lifetime, according to the latest policy brief from the International Transport Forum (ITF), an intergovernmental organization with 54 member countries at the OECD.

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Federal Mogul develops advanced aluminum piston for high-performance light-duty diesel engines

Green Car Congress

Federal-Mogul’s DuraBowl technology strengthens the crown of a piston, improving the aluminum’s strength where it is most needed. Click to enlarge. Federal-Mogul Corporation has. developed an aluminium piston that meets the higher strength and thermal performance. demands of very high-power diesel engines. BMW is the first to use the piston in its triple-turbo 3.0-liter diesel (N57D30S1) engine applied in the M550d xDrive, with a specific power output of 93 kW/liter (124 bhp/liter).

Diesel 271
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Bill Ford: Michigan must become the Silicon Valley of the mobility revolution; emphasis on green and smart technologies

Green Car Congress

In an address at the 2012 Mackinac Policy Conference, Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford said that “ Michigan must become the Silicon Valley of the mobility revolution ” and outlined key public policy areas to help improve the state’s competitiveness and ensure that the state realizes the full benefit of that impending revolution. Ford told the delegates that the trends emerging in manufacturing, green technology and mobility demonstrate a great opportunity for Michigan to create a

Michigan 271