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Phoenix Motorcars, EasyMile win grant for development of first FMVSS-compliant autonomous shuttle bus in US

Green Car Congress

It will develop an autonomous vehicle technology prototype for private or public roads at 12-15 mph in 12 months from launch date, with further operation for 12 months of testing. The autonomous bus will serve Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, and Houston’s Third Ward community connecting to Metro buses and light rail.

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ORNL researchers quantify the effect of increasing highway speed on fuel economy

Green Car Congress

One tip is that drivers should obey the speed limit since the fuel economy of most vehicles decreases above 50 mph [80 km/h]. ORNL staff members John Thomas, Shean Huff and Brian West have worked to quantify this trend through analysis of dynamometer testing results for 74 vehicles at steady-state speeds from 50 to 80 mph [80 to 129 km/h].

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IIHS: Speed limit increases in US caused 33,000 deaths over 20 years

Green Car Congress

Taking into account other factors that affected the fatality rate—including changes in unemployment, the number of potential young drivers (ages 16-24) and per capita alcohol consumption—he found that each 5 mph increase in the maximum speed limit resulted in a 4% increase in fatalities. Maximum speed limits Januaary 2003.

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Worldwide Prius sales top 3-million mark; Prius family sales at 3.4 million

Green Car Congress

The second generation followed in 2003, and the third generation in 2009. ended Aug 2003. (The figure is based on worldwide cumulative sales through the end of May 2013 plus June sales in the US.) Total global Prius nameplate sales (the expanded Prius family) are at 3.436 million units. TMC launched the Prius in 1997. mpg US to 89.4

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NASA awards $247.5M contract to Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to build quieter supersonic aircraft

Green Car Congress

The X-plane will cruise at 55,000 feet at a speed of about 940 mph (1,513 km/h) and create a sound about as loud as a car door closing—75 Perceived Level decibel (PLdB)—instead of a sonic boom. The answer to how the X-plane’s design makes a quiet sonic boom is in the way its uniquely-shaped hull generates supersonic shockwaves.

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Volvo Trucks and PATH successfully demo partially automated on-highway truck platooning in California; CACC

Green Car Congress

In simulated “real world” conditions the three Volvo VNL tractors traveled at speeds of 55 mph (88.5 PATH began experimenting with automated truck platooning on two tractor-trailer trucks in 2003 and on three tractor-trailer trucks in 2010-11. km/h) while keeping 50 feet (15.2

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Ford introduces new C-MAX and Grand C-MAX with standard Start-Stop on new EcoBoost and diesel engines

Green Car Congress

Ford first introduced the C-MAX in 2003 and since then has sold more than 1.2 New C-MAX offers the latest system that now operates at speeds of up to 50 km/h (31 mph), up from 30 km/h (19 mph). The C-MAX family will continue to be offered with 100 PS (74 kW) and 125 PS (92 kW) versions of the multi-award winning 1.0-liter

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