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UW Madison chemists discover new way to harness energy from ammonia

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A research team at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has identified a new way to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas through a process that could be a step toward ammonia replacing carbon-based fuels. For a fuel cell, we want an electrical output, not input. —Michael Trenerry, lead author.

Energy 418
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Bright Automotive To Convert VW Transporters to Plug-ins

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Start-up Bright Automotive, which in May unveiled its IDEA concept series plug-in hybrid light commercial van ( earlier post ), will convert VW Transporter vans with the series hybrid Bright powertrain as a bridge between the concept and the production version of the IDEA. Fuel economy, 50-mile cycle. Specification. Drivetrain.

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NREL thermal management system greatly increases power density of SiC inverters in heavy-duty applications

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As a result, NREL researchers developed a thermal management system to optimize system efficiency while regulating operating temperatures of the SiC modules directly cooled with 115 °C water-ethylene glycol coolant. The lighter overall weight and improved performance have clear benefits to fuel efficiency and operating costs.

Power 403
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Rice flash Joule heating process recycles plastic from end-of-life F-150 trucks into high-value graphene for new vehicles

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The Rice lab of chemist James Tour introduced flash Joule heating in 2020 to convert coal, petroleum coke and trash into graphene. The lab has since adapted the process to convert plastic waste into graphene and to extract precious metals from electronic waste. Wyss et al. Wyss et al.

F-150 243
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BMW shows future drive technoliges; 2 Series PHEV prototype, direct water injection in 3-cyl. engine, and fuel cell eDrive

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The company also showcased the use of direct water injection to enhance the efficiency of combustion engines at higher performance levels while also significantly reducing fuel consumption and emissions in key driving cycles. Direct water injection. Bosch and water injection. Earlier post. l/100 km/26.7-28.3 l/100 km/26.7-28.3

Water 150
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Syntec Biofuel and EERC Enter Joint Development Program to Convert Biomass and Waste to Bio-Butanol

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has entered into a joint development program with the Energy & Environmental Research Center ( EERC ) at the University of North Dakota (UND) in Grand Forks for converting a wide variety of biomass and waste into bio-butanol. This is concerning, as it uses food resources to produce fuel. Syntec Biofuel Inc.

Waste 218
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BorgWarner delivers advanced technologies for new GM 8-speed transmission; stop-start

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Improving fuel economy up to 5% compared with similar 6-speed automatic transmissions, the 8L45 transmission will debut on the 2016 Cadillac CT6 and will also drive the 2016 Cadillac CTS and ATS. Stop/start systems increase fuel economy by turning the engine off when the vehicle stops.

GM 150