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EPA trends report finds MY 2021 fuel economy remained flat at a record high while CO2 levels hit new low

Green Car Congress

Since MY 2004, average fuel economy in the US has increased by 32%, or 6.1 Since MY 2004, CO 2 emissions have decreased 25%, or by 114 g/mi. In model year 2021, hybrid vehicles reached a new high of 9% of all production. The average estimated real-world CO 2 emission rate for all new vehicles fell by 2 g/mi to 347 g/mi.

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First drive: Volvo XC90 T8 Drive-E Twin Engine PHEV sets a high bar for full-size luxury SUV plug-ins in US

Green Car Congress

Combining Volvo’s new design language, advanced safety and in-car connectivity technologies, and the new strategic Drive-E powertrains, the XC90 is the first product based on Volvo’s new strategic Scalable Product Architecture (SPA). This version of the Q7 PHEV will also use a 2.0-liter T8 Twin Engine PHEV. Earlier post.)

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EPA annual trends report finds new vehicle fuel economy at record 24.1 mpg; new powertrain technologies rapidly gaining share

Green Car Congress

mpg increase over the previous year and an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. The report also noted that: Since alternative fuel vehicle production [CNG, PHEVs and EVs] has generally been less than 0.1% of total vehicle production until very recently, the impact of excluding alternative fuel vehicles was negligible.

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Ricardo and QinetiQ Demonstrate New Iron-Sulphide Li-ion Pack for HEVs

Green Car Congress

The high charge/discharge rate capability shown by the particular cell design would make it suited to both HEVs and low-range Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs). Scattergood (2004) Lithium-ion/iron sulphide rechargeable batteries. The project has demonstrated the potential of the cell chemistry within an HEV environment.

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Abt life-cycle analysis of different Li-ion chemistries for PHEVs and EVs identifies opportunities for improving environmental profile of batteries

Green Car Congress

life-cycle study of three Li-ion battery chemistries for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and battery-electric (BEV) vehicles generated a number of findings and identified opportunities for improving the environmental profile of Li-ion batteries for use in plug-in and electric vehicles. Results by battery chemistry and stage for PHEV batteries.

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What up with GM's Plug-in hybrid Volt?

Plugs and Cars

Just weeks after announcing production, perhaps, in 2010, the industry's hometown paper lets us know this is no done deal. DaimlerChrysler AG promised a production fuel-cell vehicle by 2004, but couldn't deliver despite spending $1 billion on the technology. But there it is in a Detroit News Autos Insider piece today.

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Soot and Spin: Two Plug-in Paradoxes

Plugs and Cars

Paradox 1 - Soot: There's an apparent emissions paradox with plug-in hybrids (PHEV): Driving longer distances on battery power means more cold starts as the internal combustion engine (ICE) stops and starts up again after the batteries deplete. And these advocates have successfully prodded Toyota to dangle a concept PHEV before our eyes.

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