Tue.Apr 22, 2014

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Toyota Central R&D developing free-piston engine linear generator; envisioning multi-FPEG units for electric drive vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Toyota’s FPEG features a hollow step-shaped piston, combustion chamber and gas spring chamber. Click to enlarge. A team at Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc. is developing a prototype 10 kW Free Piston Engine Linear Generator (FPEG) featuring a thin and compact build, high efficiency and high fuel flexibility. Toyota envisions that a pair of such units (20 kW) would enable B/C-segment electric drive vehicles to cruise at 120 km/h (75 mph).

Toyota 419
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Three Years Later, Most Consumers Don't Understand The Chevy Volt

Green Car Reports

'Chevrolet''s range-extended electric vehicle, the Volt, has been on sale for more than three years now. Its sales of 58,000 units so far are still small compared to more conventional vehicles, but many people will have seen one on the road by now--and seen TV ads or information on the internet. Even so, GM is still figuring out the best way to.

Volt 166
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Renewable Energy Group has sold 1 billion gallons of biodiesel

Green Car Congress

'Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) announced that it has sold a cumulative one billion gallons of biodiesel during its 17-year history. The company started by marketing 30,000 gallons of biodiesel in 1996; last year, it sold more than 258 million gallons. REG said that it achieved this milestone through investments in a fully integrated value chain including its manufacturing, sales & marketing, and supply chain management capabilities.

Renewable 255
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'Kick Gas' Movie: Driving Across U.S. In Electric Car & Motorcycles

Green Car Reports

'Last summer, I rode my 2012 Zero S electric motorcycle across the United States as part of the "Ride the Future" Tour. Now, as a record of that journey, a documentary we made--called Kick Gas--is being released today, on Earth Day 2014. Our little caravan of electric vehicles traveled 4,000 miles in 44 days, comprised of a Nissan Leaf electric.

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How serious is Norway about climate change? So much that its streetlights self-dim

emissions global warming Norway climate change carbon dioxide youtube lighting

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EU-funded project develops diesel engine for light helicopters

Green Car Congress

'EU-funded scientists developed a novel 320 kW (429 hp) diesel engine for light helicopters as an alternative to conventional turboshaft engines. The technology demonstrated substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Helicopters conventionally employ a turboshaft engine that has a much better power-to-weight ratio compared to diesel engines.

Light 239
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Tesla's 100th Supercharger Electric-Car Charging Site Now Open

Green Car Reports

'The audacious plan by electric-car maker Tesla Motors to install its own network of free, high-speed charging stations for owners of Tesla cars is starting to pay off. This morning, it announced that its 100th Supercharger site is now open, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey--east of the state capital of Trenton, and less than 40 miles northeast of.

More Trending

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'Tree Huggers Don't Buy Luxury Cars,' Says Cadillac Exec On Electric Cars

Green Car Reports

'So what IS a "tree hugger," anyway? According to a Cadillac executive quoted in The Detroit News a week ago, it''s someone who never buys luxury cars. That phrase leaped out at us from an otherwise pro forma article in which General Motors executives said the company''s sales hadn''t been affected by the ongoing ignition-key safety recall. Uwe.

Cadillac 163
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MP&ES introduces dual fuel diesel/natural gas locomotive

Green Car Congress

'Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc. (MP&ES), a provider of new and remanufactured locomotives, introduced the Greenville locomotive, an ultra­low emissions Gen Set locomotive powered by a combination of natural gas and diesel fuels. The Greenville. MP&ES has been evaluating technology options and developing system designs for natural gas locomotives for more than two years.

Gas 210
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Honda Previews Hybrid 'Concept B' Hatch At Beijing Auto Show

Green Car Reports

'It''s a sign of how important the Chinese car market is becoming, that major automakers seem to show as many new concept vehicles in Beijing as they do at more traditional auto show venues. The latest to emerge from the Chinese show''s halls is Honda''s Concept B, previewing a hatchback due on the Chinese market in 2016. Unfortunately, it''s not a.

Honda 141
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HELMETH project targeting >85% efficiencies for power-to-gas; high-temperature electrolysis

Green Car Congress

'The HELMETH (“Integrated High-temperature ELectrolysis and METHanation for Effective Power to Gas Conversion”) project, coordinated by Karlsruhe Institue of Technology (KIT) is targeting power-to-gas (PtG) system efficiencies of more than 85% through better synergies with existing process steps. Power-to-gas (e.g., Audi e-Gas) uses renewable electricity for the production of hydrogen and then methane.

Gas 210
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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2016 Chevrolet Cruze Sedan Unveiled At Beijing Auto Show

Green Car Reports

'While the current Chevrolet Cruze continues for one more year in the U.S. market, Chevy just unveiled the new, next-generation model that will replace it, at the Beijing Auto Show now underway. What will be sold here as the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze will go on sale in China this year (as a 2015 model), before coming to the U.S. early next year. The new.

Chevrolet 143
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Harman and Tsinghua University establish joint research lab with focus on connected vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Harman International Industries, Inc. has entered into an agreement with China’s Tsinghua University to establish a new joint research laboratory focused on creating disruptive innovations for future vehicles. Based in Beijing, the Harman-Tsinghua Automotive Innovation joint lab will focus on both technical and business considerations of the connected car, and ways to make cars more productive, intelligent, immersive, and safe.

Universal 186
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Tesla's 100th Supercharger, 2016 Chevrolet Cruze, Luxury Electric Cars: Today's Car News

Green Car Reports

'Today on Green Car Reports: Tesla Motors opens its 100th Supercharger fast-charging station, the 2016 Chevrolet Cruze sedan is unveiled at the 2014 Beijing Auto Show, and a Cadillac executive says "tree huggers" don''t buy luxury cars. All this and more on Green Car Reports. Three years and countless TV ads later, most consumers still don''t.

Chevrolet 138
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EPA orders rare earth mine in California to correct hazardous waste violations

Green Car Congress

'The US Environmental Protection Agency ordered Molycorp Minerals, LLC, to pay a $27,300 penalty for improper management of hazardous waste at its San Bernardino County mine and mineral processing facility. The violations were discovered as part of unannounced EPA inspections in October 2012. EPA testing at the facility determined that leaked or spilled lead-iron filter cake had impacted on-site stormwater, with the potential to contaminate soil along the edge of the holding area.

Waste 186
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ExxonMobil announces 6th oil discovery offshore Guyana with Ranger-1; Guyana may move from non-producer to regional powerhouse

Oil

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Citroen reveals lightweight SUV

Green Cars News

'As the Beijing Motor Show gets underway this week, there are plenty of great new concepts to look at. Next up, is Citroen, with is new C-XR concept; a ‘contemporary take on the SUV’ which claims to deliver the performance akin to a real off-road vehicle without the emissions. Developed jointly b[.].

Citroen 52
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Crumb rubber from old tires can lower road noise and reduce need for road maintenance

Green Car Congress

'With funding from The National Science Foundation (NSF), Magdy Abdelrahman, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at North Dakota State University, is experimenting with “crumb” rubber—ground up tires of different sized particles—and other components to improve the rubberized road materials that a number of states already are using to enhance aging asphalt.

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The big electric car dilemma: range or price?

Green Cars News

'In less than a month, the first UK-spec Tesla Model S cars are due to be delivered to customers all over the UK. Capable of more than 300 miles per charge if you opt for the high-end 85 kilowatt-hour model, the Model S is the longest-range EV on the market today. It’s also one of the most expensiv[.].

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Volkswagen prepares to electrify China

Green Cars News

'As China shows a growing interest in electrified motoring as part of its efforts to reduce its growing air pollution problem, car giant Volkswagen has released details of a new major initiative to improve EV offerings in the country. This kicks off with the launch of the fully electric e-up! and e[.].

China 48
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Lexus reveals new NX compact crossover

Green Cars News

'Lexus is the latest name to make a move into the compact crossover sector, unveiling the new NX concept at the Beijing Motor Show. The new Range Rover Evoque rival is set to be offered with a choice of three drivetrains; a fuel-economy focused hybrid; a newly developed 2.0 litre petrol turbo engin[.].

Lexus 46
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Corn ethanol worse for the environment than petrol

Green Cars News

'Using corn residues to produce ethanol and other types of biofuel can generate more greenhouse gases than even fossil fuel sources, according to a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The results of the study will come as a massive blow to the Obama administration which has been push[.].

Petrol 43