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European consortium investigating graphene-based materials for lightweight cars; energy-efficient and safe vehicles

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The University of Sunderland (UK), working with a consortium of five other research partners from Italy, Spain and Germany, has been selected for funding by the €1-billion (US$1.4-billion) Source: University of Sunderland. billion) Graphene Flagship research initiative in Europe ( earlier post ) for their iGCAuto proposal.

Italy 225
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Researchers engineer poplar trees for easier degradation of lignin to ease production of biofuels

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Researchers from Michigan State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison and their colleagues report successfully engineering poplar trees to produce lignin that degrades more easily, thereby lowering the effort and cost to convert wood to biofuel. Source: GLBRC. Click to enlarge.

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DOE announces $59M to accelerate advanced vehicle technologies research

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Through this topic area, the DOE Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) will select “seedling” projects for innovative, new ideas that accelerate the development of advanced motor designs and materials in support of the goals of the Electric Drive Technologies (EDT) Consortium, a multi-disciplinary team of national labs and universities.

Vehicles 252
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New thermoplastic-graphene nanoribbon composite could offer lighter, more effective natural gas storage for vehicles

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A new composite material created at Rice University is nearly impervious to gas and may lead to lighter and more efficient storage of compressed natural gas for vehicles. Most work to date has focused upon the filler’s aspect ratio or configuration within the polymer matrix affects gas barrier properties. Image by Changsheng Xiang.

Gas 259
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“WaterBone” design wins grand prize in ARPA-E LITECAR Challenge

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The design challenge served to accelerate innovative ideas by using novel material technologies, structural designs, energy absorbing materials and unique methods of manufacturing to reduce vehicle curb weight while maintaining current US automotive safety standards. 254 conceptual designs were submitted. Earlier post.).

Design 150
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Flea-Sized Robots Walk a Coin-Edge-Sized Path

Cars That Think

A group of researchers at Northwestern University have picked the peekytoe crab to build a remote-controlled microbot that is tiny enough to walk comfortably on the edge of a coin. Northwestern University Though this method has its advantages, Rogers would like to explore more options. According to John A.

Universal 105
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Generating Power on Earth From the Coldness of Deep Space

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But we have demonstrated that by directly using power generated by the cold universe, we can chill water to cool buildings by as much as 5 ºC during the day without electricity and light the night without wires or batteries. The glass beads send heat radiation out from the polymer while the silver coating reflects incoming sunlight.

Power 126