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Toyota broadly outlines next-generation Prius; developing wireless inductive charging for the plug-in model; bullish on hydrogen

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Toyota has also ramped up development on new battery technologies such as solid state and lithium air, as well as devoting resources focused on chemistries beyond lithium, such as magnesium and other low-valence materials. Toyota’s first commercially available hydrogen fuel cell vehicle will go on sale in global markets in 2015.

Prius 277
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3 winners of DOE’s “America’s Next Top Energy Innovator” Challenge: hydrogen-assisted lean-burn engines, graphene for Li-air and -sulfur batteries, and titanium process

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Umpqua Energy’s EVOPAC system combines an advanced hydrogen-injection system using a plasma reformer with a DeNOx Catalyst. The plasma reformer, installed into the engine compartment, convert fuel into hydrogen. The hydrogen causes the fuel to burn more completely, resulting in greater fuel efficiency, less emissions, and more power.

Hydrogen 279
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NRC report concludes US LDVs could cut oil consumption and GHGs by 80% by 2050; reliance on plug-ins, biofuels and hydrogen; strong policies mandatory

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Achieving those goals will will be difficult—but not impossible to meet—and will necessitate a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels such as biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices. —Douglas M.

Hydrogen 244
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PNNL licenses three technologies via Startup America; batteries, fuel cells and buildings

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Vorbeck, a manufacturer and developer of applications using its proprietary graphene material ( earlier post ), optioned the technology for use in a graphene-based electrode for lithium-air and lithium-sulfur batteries. PEM fuel cells are primarily used for backup power.

America 240
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ARPA-E Selects 37 Projects for $106M in Funding in Second Round; Electrofuels, Better Batteries and Carbon Capture

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Electrofuels approaches will use organisms able to extract energy from other sources, such as solar-derived electricity or hydrogen or earth-abundant metal ions. Novel Biological Conversion of Hydrogen and Carbon Dioxide Directly into Biodiesel. Reducing equivalent: Hydrogen; Organism: Cupriavidus necator; Product: Biodiesel.

Carbon 249
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New aqueous rechargeable lithium battery shows good safety, high reliability, high energy density and low cost; another post Li-ion alternative

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The coated lithium metal is also very stable in the aqueous solution, with no hydrogen evolution observed. Lithium metal reacts rapidly with water to produce hydrogen and lithium hydroxide, LiOH.). The safety and reliability is greatly improved when compared with conventional lithium ion batteries.

Li-ion 281
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DOE awards $54M to 13 projects for transformational manufacturing technologies and materials; top two awards go to carbon fiber materials and electrodes for next-gen batteries

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The top two awards, one of $9 million to a project led by Dow Chemical, and one of $8.999 million to a project led by PolyPlus, will fund projects tackling, respectively, the manufacturing of low-cost carbon fibers and the manufacturing of electrodes for ultra-high-energy-density lithium-sulfur, lithium-seawater and lithium-air batteries.