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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.

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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.

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ARPA-E awarding $36M to 22 projects in RANGE program for transformative EV storage

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The University of Maryland (UMD) will use water-based magnesium and hydrogen chemistries to improve the energy density and reduce the cost of an electric vehicle battery. Current water-based batteries have greater volume and weight compared to lithium-ion batteries, making them unsuitable for use in electric vehicles.

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Daimler investing >€7B in next 2 years in green tech; fuel cell plug-in, BEV architecture; 48V

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All the mentioned types of powertrains—gasoline, diesel, plug-in-hybrids, batteries or hydrogen—have their justification and chances. Dr Weber noted that thanks to intensive research work, Daimler expects to see a doubling of the energy density in an unchanged installation space while the cost of batteries will be cut by half.

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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.

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DOE announces $26.6M SBIR/STTR FY15 Phase 1 Release 2 awards; fuel cells, batteries, power electronics and efficient combustion engines

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Of these, 16 are vehicle-related, encompassing projects developing batteries, power electronics and improved combustion engine technology including on-board reformers, and two are specifically hydrogen fuel cell-related. High Loading Lithium-Ion Electrode Architecture for Low Cost Electric Vehicle Batteries Ballast Energy, Inc.

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Inaugural Quadrennial Technology Review report concludes DOE is underinvested in transport; greatest efforts to go to electrification

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In addition, the application of high-performance computing (HPC) and simulations to engine design can reduce the time and cost of integrating new technologies. As ICE technologies are proven and refined, the primary barriers to their adoption include cost, consumer acceptance, resource constraints, capital requirements, and turnover rates.