Thu.May 26, 2016

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PSI team demonstrates direct hydrocarbon fuel production from water and CO2 by solar-driven thermochemical cycles

Green Car Congress

Solar-driven thermochemical cycles offer a direct means of storing solar energy in the chemical bonds of energy-rich molecules. By utilizing a redox material such as ceria (CeO 2 ) as a reactive medium, STCs can produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide—i.e., syngas—from water and CO 2. The syngas can subsequently be upgraded to hydrocarbon fuels by the Fischer-Tropsch process.

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Secret Tesla software updates simulate new Autopilot abilities on customers' cars

Green Car Reports

Tesla Motors regularly releases new features for its electric cars via over-the-air software updates. The system allows Tesla to upgrade its cars quickly, without inconveniencing owners, while sidestepping the traditional model-year updates used by other carmakers. But Tesla owners are likely unaware that the company apparently uses this always-on.

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Johnson Controls funds two research projects with U Wisconsin to enhance fuel efficiency of start-stop vehicles and next-gen EVs

Green Car Congress

Johnson Controls will fund two multi-year research projects at the University of Wisconsin–Madison (UW–Madison) aimed at enhancing the fuel efficiency of start-stop and next-generation battery-electric vehicles. The projects will be funded by Johnson Controls, which includes a Fellows gift of $500,000. UW–Madison graduate students Jacob Dubie and Kevin Frankforter, the first recipients of Johnson Controls Distinguished Graduate Fellowships, will carry out the projects.

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Wireless charging guidelines issued by SAE standards group

Green Car Reports

There's been a lot of talking about wireless charging for electric cars recently. The convenience of being able to charge without plugging in may well appeal to buyers who, for whatever reasons, find plugging in a car to be an impediment. But while several companies are pursuing the technology, it isn't currently available from automakers in new.

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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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DSD and Solvay partner on use of structural plastics for lighter and more efficient transmissions

Green Car Congress

Automotive engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) and international chemical and advanced materials company, Solvay SA, have entered a development partnership to make the large scale use of structural plastic composites in transmissions a viable solution for future vehicles. DSD is contributing the transmission know-how while Solvay the materials expertise.

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Start-stop systems to be standard on all GM vehicles by 2020

Green Car Reports

General Motors is about to commit to engine start-stop systems in a big way. Start-stop systems—which shut off the engine while a car is stationary to save fuel—are already available on numerous models from multiple manufacturers. But GM reportedly plans to offer start-stop on at least one powertrain in every model it makes by 2020.

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VW diesel settlement: progress being made on details, judge says

Green Car Reports

The Federal judge overseeing negotiations toward a U.S. settlement of the Volkswagen diesel-emission cheating scandal said Tuesday that good progress was being made toward reaching a final resolution by June 21. The Environmental Protection Agency and Volkswagen are on track to file a final agreement for public comment, said U.S. District Judge.

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Innovasic and Intrepid Control Systems join AVnu Alliance

Green Car Congress

AVnu Alliance , the industry consortium driving open standards deterministic networking through certification, welcomed Innovasic, Inc. and Intrepid Control Systems as an expansion of both the industrial and automotive market segments represented within the organization. Innovasic is a supplier of silicon and software solutions in the industrial automation, transportation, instrumentation, automotive, and medical industries.

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Secret Tesla software, VW diesel settlement progress, wireless-charging standards: Today's Car News

Green Car Reports

Today, Tesla uses secret software to test "Autopilot" autonomous features on customer cars, Volkswagen and Federal regulators make progress on a diesel settlement, and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) drafts guidelines for wireless electric-car charging. All this and more on Green Car Reports. See how Tesla uses secret software to run.

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FPT International introduces 8.7-liter CNG engine in China

Green Car Congress

FPT Industrial has extended its range of on-road alternative fuel solutions with the 8.7-liter Cursor 9 CNG, based on the Cursor 9 diesel architecture. The Cursor 9 CNG offers power up to 400 hp @ 2000 rpm, and torque up to 1700 N·m @ 1.200 rpm, while at the same time having emissions lower than Euro VI. The CNG engine delivers equivalent performance to its diesel counterpart.

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

Brief

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Novelis commissions $120M finishing line for automotive aluminum sheet; importance of the closed-loop recycling program

Green Car Congress

Novelis, the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, celebrated the commissioning of its third CASH (Continuous Annealing Solution Heat) treatment finishing line for aluminum automotive sheet in Oswego, NY. Installed to support the production of stronger, lighter and safer vehicles, the $120-million CASH 3 line expands the company’s production to supply aluminum sheet for the body and cargo box of Ford’s 2017 F-150 SuperDuty pickups.

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Infineon and imec cooperate on 79 GHz CMOS radar sensor chips for the automotive industry

Green Car Congress

Nanoelectronics research center imec and semiconductor manufacturer Infineon Technologies are cooperating in CMOS sensor chip development. Infineon and imec are working on highly integrated CMOS-based 79 GHz sensor chips for automotive radar applications. Imec contributes its advanced expertise in high-frequency system, circuit and antenna design for radar applications thus complementing Infineon’s radar sensor chip knowledge.