March, 2012

article thumbnail

Study finds that environmental impact of corn-ethanol E85 is 23% to 33% higher than that of gasoline; environmental problem-shifting

Green Car Congress

Environmental impacts of gasoline and E85. Error bar shows regional variations for E85. GW = global warming; Eut. = eutrophication; ET = ecological toxicity; FEC = fossil energy consumption; WU = water use; LO = land occupation; “The rest” includes acidification; smog formation; ozone layer depletion; and human health effects. Credit: ACS, Yang et al.

Gasoline 357
article thumbnail

Electric Cars Facebook Photo Contest!

Electric Cars are for Girls

Do you have a favorite photo of your electric car? (.or whatever other electric vehicle you happen to have!) Come on over to Facebook by Mar. 31 and enter it into the cover photo contest. Photo with the most likes gets to be April's Electric Cars are for Girls FB cover photo!

article thumbnail

2013 Nissan Leaf: Better Heater, Leather Option, 6.6-kW Charger

Green Car Reports

Nissan’s all-electric Leaf hatchback has only been on sale in the U.S. for the past 15 months, but Nissan has already confirmed it will get some much-needed upgrades for the 2013 model. Speaking to The Detroit News yesterday, Mark Perry, director of product and advanced planning for Nissan Americas confirmed that the 2013 Leaf will get an.

2013 167
article thumbnail

Large private transit company lobbies Congress to gut public transit funding

National Green Transportation

Private transit company Veolia Transport has been accused of lobbying Congress over HR7, legislation currently making its way through Congress which would (among other things) weaken public transit agencies, according to a StreetsBlog post on.

Congress 100
article thumbnail

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

emissions global warming Norway climate change carbon dioxide youtube lighting

article thumbnail

Electric car industry predicts growth on back of rising fuel prices

Green Cars News

With the threat of further fuel price rises hanging over us, a leading charging infrastructure firm is predicting that the market for electric cars is about to grow. Bosses at Charging Solutions say that more motorists will look for viable alternatives as fuel prices reach record highs. James Jean-Louis is managing director of Charging Solutions, [.].

Price 88
article thumbnail

ABB introducing new DC fast-charger in Europe for €9,988

Green Car Congress

The Terra SC. Click to enlarge. ABB launched the Terra Smart Connect (SC), a low-cost DC fast-charger that the company says will significantly improve the business case for installing electric-vehicle (EV) fast chargers throughout Europe. The Terra SC will be available for delivery in Europe in the second quarter, starting at €9,988 (US$13,310) for small volume orders.

DC 354

More Trending

article thumbnail

Study finds automobile tires are a potential source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes to the environment

Green Car Congress

A new study by researchers from Stockholm University concludes that automobile tires may be a potential previously unknown source of carcinogenic dibenzopyrenes—a type of high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)—to the environment. Their findings are published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. Automobile tire rubber in general consists of approximately 40?

article thumbnail

Average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in Feb up 18% from October 2007

Green Car Congress

The average sales-weighted fuel economy of new vehicles sold in the US in February was 23.7 mpg US (9.93 L/100km), according to data from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI)—up 18% from the value in October 2007 (the first month of UMTRI monitoring). Click to enlarge. The Eco-Driving Index (EDI)—an index that estimates the average monthly emissions generated by an individual US driver—stood at 0.87 in December 2011 (an improvement of 13% from Oc

article thumbnail

Pike Research forecasts automotive Li-ion battery prices to drop by more than 1/3 by 2017

Green Car Congress

According to a recent report examining batteries for electric vehicles from Pike Research, as manufacturing efficiencies improve and access to lithium expands, the installed cost of Li-ion batteries will fall by more than one-third by the end of 2017. In terms of revenue, the market for Li-ion batteries for transportation will grow from $2.0 billion annually in 2011 to more than $14.6 billion by 2017, the market intelligence firm forecasts.

Li-ion 324
article thumbnail

CAP-XX introduces supercap modules to support batteries in stop-start applications

Green Car Congress

CAP-XX stop-start system architecture. The company says that the cost of a 14V, 6-cell supercapacitor module for stop-start would be around US$60. Source: CAP-XX. Click to enlarge. Australia-based CAP-XX Limited, a developer of thin, prismatic supercapacitors, has developed a supercapacitor module which supplies the cranking current to start the engine in Stop-Start vehicles (also known as start-stop, idle-stop, or micro-hybrid vehicles), reducing wear on the battery and eliminating the need for

Batteries 322
article thumbnail

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

Brief

article thumbnail

Mercedes-Benz introducing diesel E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID with fuel economy of 56 mpg US; gasoline-engined E 400 HYBRID model to follow

Green Car Congress

E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz is introducing the new E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID; the luxury-class diesel hybrid offers fuel consumption of 4.2 L of diesel/100 km (56 mpg US), with CO 2 emissions of 109 g/km. ( Earlier post.) The E 300 BlueTEC HYBRID is based on the E 250 CDI, yet has a higher output and approximately 15% lower fuel consumption.

Hybrid 321
article thumbnail

California Governor announces $120M settlement with NRG will fund electric car charging stations across California; new Executive Order to accelerate commercialization of ZEVs

Green Car Congress

California Governor Edmund Brown Jr. and the California Public Utilities Commission to announced a $120-million settlement with NRG Energy Inc. (stemming from claims reaching back to Dynegy and the California energy crisis in 2000 and 2001) that will mostly be applied to fund the construction of a statewide network of plug-in vehicle charging stations, including at least 200 public fast-charging stations and another 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 locations across the state.

article thumbnail

U. Mich spinout Spider9 offering dynamic control systems for grid-scale batteries and solar arrays

Green Car Congress

Spider9 , a cleantech company launched in 2011 at the University of Michigan, has finalized the license agreement for patented dynamic control systems and plans to launch its first commercial integration at the historic Henry Ford Valve Plant, known as the Water Wheel Center, in Northville, Michigan. The control systems boost the cost efficiency of grid-scale batteries and solar fields by constantly monitoring individual cells within a battery or solar installation, and making real-time adjustme

Grid 317
article thumbnail

Toyota introduces next-generation B-segment hybrid with 112 mpg US; CNG hybrid and plug-in variants

Green Car Congress

FT-Bh. Click to enlarge. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) unveiled the FT-Bh (Future Toyota B-segment Hybrid), a lightweight, next-generation small gasoline-electric hybrid concept car at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show. TMC, expecting hybrid vehicle use to become widespread in the second half of the 2010s, developed the FT-Bh as a B-segment, ultra fuel-efficient concept car under the theme of “ecomotion” (eco + emotion).

Plug-in 317
article thumbnail

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

Oil

article thumbnail

Audi R18 e-tron quattro: diesel hybrid Le Mans racer with electric flywheel energy storage

Green Car Congress

Major hybrid system elements in the R18 e-tron quattro: front-axle MGU, flywheel accumulator and power electronics. Click to enlarge. Audi Motorsport unveiled the R18 e-tron quattro: the first LMP1 car to combine a highly-efficient TDI diesel engine with a hybrid system. ( Earlier post.) The new Le Mans prototype will make its race debut on 5 May in the 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) and will compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (France) on 16-17 June.

Audi 304
article thumbnail

Ford begins production of new Fiesta ECOnetic with 71 mpg US

Green Car Congress

Fiesta ECOnetic Technology. Click to enlarge. Ford of Europe has begun production of the new Fiesta ECOnetic Technology, which offers fuel economy of 3.3l/100 km (71.2 mpg US) and CO 2 emissions of 87 g/km, at Ford’s Cologne Assembly plant in Germany. The preceding version of the Fiesta ECOnetic carried a 95 g/km rating. The car is powered by a 95PS (94 hp, 70 kW) 1.6-liter Duratorq TDCi diesel engine and provides 205 N·m (151 lb-ft) of torque; it will be available in three-door and five-

MPG 301
article thumbnail

Nissan backs DeltaWing experimental racer; competing at Le Mans with half the fuel

Green Car Congress

Nissan DeltaWing. Click to enlarge. Nissan is becoming a founding partner in DeltaWing Le Mans project ( earlier post ) and will provide an advanced and efficient Nissan 1.6-liter, turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine to power the DeltaWing car as it races at the Le Mans 24 Hours (16-17 June). The engine, badged DIG-T (Direct Injection Gasoline - Turbocharged), is expected to produce around 300 hp (224 kW), sufficient to give Nissan DeltaWing lap times between LMP1 and LMP2 machines at

Nissan 300
article thumbnail

3M investing in development and manufacturing of silicon anode technology for higher-capacity Li-ion batteries

Green Car Congress

3M is investing in the research and manufacturing of novel silicon (Si)-based anode materials for Li-ion batteries. 3M was recently granted another US patent ( 8,071,238 ) for its silicon-based anode compositions that can increase cell capacity by more than 40% when matched with high-energy battery cathodes. ( Earlier post.). The new patent, “Silicon-containing alloys useful as electrodes for lithium-ion batteries”, covers a composite electrode material with the formula Si x Sn q M y C z where q

Li-ion 300
article thumbnail

Mercedes-Benz introduces new engine generation for commercial vehicles; Euro VI compliant

Green Car Congress

New medium-duty Euro VI engine. Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz unveiled a new generation of medium-duty engines with the series designation OM 93x. Together with the new heavy-duty OM 470 engine, Daimler is expanding its “BlueEfficiency Power” engine portfolio into a comprehensive range complying with the impending Euro VI emissions standard. The OM 471 engine, presented in 2011 and also part of the portfolio, is already in service on long-haul operations in the new Mercedes-Benz Actros.

Engine 299
article thumbnail

New Honda Earth Dreams Technology 1.6L diesel in Civic to deliver CO2 emissions of 95 g/km

Green Car Congress

1.6-liter i-DTEC. Click to enlarge. Honda’s new 1.6-liter i-DTEC engine in the new Civic will deliver CO 2 emissions of 95 g/km, according to Honda Motor Europe’s President, Manabu Nishimae, in his presentation at the Geneva Motor Show. This is a 15-gram drop (13.6%) from the 110 g/km emissions of the enhanced 2.2L i-DTEC introduced in September 2011 at the Frankfurt show. ( Earlier post.).

Honda 299
article thumbnail

Researchers use DNA to direct assembly of FePO4 cathode material; close to 100% of theoretical storage capacity

Green Car Congress

A team from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore has used DNA to functionalize double wall carbon nanotubes (DWNTs) and to direct the growth of ultra-small FePO 4 nanoparticles (~5 nm) uniformly distributed on the DNA@DWNT for the development of a novel network nanostructure. The synthesized FePO 4 -DNA@DWNT nanostructure was used as a cathode in lithium-ion batteries, and demonstrated a specific capacity of 174 mAh g -1 for FePO 4 active material—nearly 100% of the theoretical stor

article thumbnail

Mitsubishi to launch plug-in hybrid version of new Outlander during FY2012

Green Car Congress

The new Outlander with be outfitted with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain during FY2012. Click to enlarge. Mitsubishi Motors (MMC) will launch a plug-in hybrid version of its new Outlander (introduced at the current Geneva Motor Show) during the course of FY2012 (1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013). The new PHEV Outlander will be a permanent 4WD electric vehicle, supplemented by a gasoline engine when needed.

article thumbnail

Envia Systems announcement may herald the first wave of DOE-supported commercial high energy density Li-ion cells with Si-C anodes

Green Car Congress

Elements in achieving the Envia 400 Wh/kg cell. Click to enlarge. Envia Systems’ recent announcement of achieving Li-ion pouch cells with a specific energy density of 400 Wh/kg ( earlier post ) may be the market opener for a number of similar systems developed with US Department of Energy (DOE) support using different silicon-carbon anode materials, combined with an advanced cathode material and an appropriate electrolyte.

Li-ion 286
article thumbnail

California ARB posts draft version of Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator

Green Car Congress

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) staff has posted a preliminary draft version of the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator (OPGEE) for the 19 March 2012 Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) public workshop to discuss lifecycle assessment of crude oil production, including high carbon-intensity crude oil (HCICO). The model was authored by Hassan M.

Oil 285
article thumbnail

China team outlines 5 key areas of future research to realize Li-air batteries

Green Car Congress

In an open access paper published in the International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials , researchers from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences review significant developments and remaining challenges of practical Li–air batteries and the current understanding of their chemistry. The energy density of the lithium–air battery with respect to the anode could reach 13,000 Wh kg ?

Li-ion 285
article thumbnail

EVI launches 500 electric medium-duty truck deployment initiative in California

Green Car Congress

Electric Vehicles International is launching a new initiative to deploy 500 fully electric return-to-base medium-duty delivery trucks in California. ( Earlier post.). With the partnership and support of agencies such as the California Energy Commission, the California Air Resources Board, South Coast Air Quality Management District, San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, and the Sacramento Air Quality Management District, EVI and UPS will jumpstart implementation of California Govern

article thumbnail

Production version of Volkswagen E-Golf slated for US in 2014

Green Car Congress

A glimpse under the hood of an E-Golf prototype at the power electronics. Traction motor is partially seen at bottom. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen intends to bring the production version of the battery-electric E-Golf to market in the US in 2014 (first market introduction will be in 2013). The production version of the E-Golf will be based on a new MQB platform (the “A7” Golf), rather than the current version (“A6” Golf) used for the prototypes currently in fleet testing, according to Mark Gilli

2014 281
article thumbnail

New Hyundai i20 to offer new 1.1L, 3-cylinder diesel; 84 g/km CO2

Green Car Congress

Hyundai is staging the world premiers of the “All New i20” at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Among the four powertrain options available to buyers of the All New i20 will be the new 1.1-liter, 3-cylinder U-II diesel engine. When mated to Hyundai’s Blue Drive technologies, this derivative, which generates 74 hp (55 kW), emits 84 g/km of CO 2 —a figure lower than any other car with a conventional powertrain.

Hyundai 278
article thumbnail

Renault introducing three Energy engines in the Mégane Collection 2012; fuel economy up to 67 mpg US

Green Car Congress

The Energy dCi 110 diesel offers fuel consumption of 3.5 L/100km, equivalent to 67 mpg US. Click to enlarge. Renault is introducing three new Energy engines ( earlier post ) in its Mégane Collection 2012: the new turbocharged, gasoline direct-injection Energy TCE 115 di; the Energy dCi 130; and the Energy dCi 110, with NEDC fuel consumption of 3.5 liters/100 km (67 mpg US) with CO 2 emissions of 90 g/km.

article thumbnail

Way cleared for major Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline project

Green Car Congress

Proposed route for the Alaska Pipeline project. Click to enlarge. Alaska Governor Sean Parnell announced that two major milestones have been met in the state’s effort to bring Alaska’s North Slope natural gas to Alaskans and markets beyond. The North Slope holds more than 35 trillion cubic feet of discovered natural gas. First, the State of Alaska resolved its long-running litigation with ExxonMobil and other leaseholders regarding the Point Thomson field, which holds almost a quarter of the Nor

Alaska 277
article thumbnail

Enterprise and Enbridge to proceed with Seaway and Flanagan South oil pipeline extensions; enhanced capacity for Canadian and Bakken crude to Gulf Coast

Green Car Congress

The new extensions will provide enhanced capacity to carry Canadian and Bakken crude to the US Gulf Coast. Source: Enbridge. Click to enlarge. Enbridge Inc. and Enterprise Products Partners L.P. have secured capacity commitments from shippers to proceed with construction of a 512-mile, 30-inch diameter twin (a parallel line) along the route of the Seaway Pipeline, adding 450,000 bpd of capacity to the existing system (for a total 850,000 bpd). ( Earlier post.

Oil 275
article thumbnail

DOE to provide up to $450M for design and commercialization of small modular nuclear reactors

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy will provide up to $450 million to advance the development of American-made small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs). The funding is targeted to support first-of-its-kind engineering, design certification and licensing for up to two SMR designs over five years, subject to congressional appropriations. Small modular reactors, which are approximately one-third the size of current nuclear plants (about 350 MWe or less), have compact, scalable designs that are expected to of

Design 275
article thumbnail

Volvo Trucks: Halfway through 2y trial, Bio-DME functioning well in daily commercial operations

Green Car Congress

The Bio-DME project aims to assess whether there is a market for Bio-DME (Di-Methyl-Ether) for commercial vehicles. ( Earlier post.) Halfway through the two-year project the preliminary results show that Bio-DME already functions in daily commercial operations. If diesel fuel were to be replaced by Bio-DME, CO 2 emissions could be reduced by 95%, according to Volvo Trucks.

Volvo 275
article thumbnail

Illinois Governor launches EV fast-charging network, currently US’ largest

Green Car Congress

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn and representatives from the Illinois Tollway, 350Green LLC and 7-Eleven, Inc. announced the availability of the US’ largest network of fast-charging electric vehicle (EV) stations to date. Through the Chicago-Area EV Infrastructure Project, 26 fast-chargers have been installed, with 73 total fast-chargers planned. Eight of these are currently in place at Tollway Oases along the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) at the Des Plaines Oasis and on the Tri-State Tollway

Illinois 274