April, 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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Wendy Greuel Gains Green Ground in South Bay L.A. – Stands Up & Speaks Out To Keep Hermosa Hermosa

Creative Greenius

'Your friendly neighborhood Greenius has been waiting for awhile now to see which of the candidates for Henry Waxman’s 33rd District seat was going to step up environmentally. Today that person turned out to be Wendy Greuel. My good friend, Dency Nelson, tells me Ted Lieu was already that guy and that Ted’s strong record speaks for itself.

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FTC Comes Out In Favor Of Tesla Direct Sales, Against Dealer-Backed Bans

Green Car Reports

'The ongoing fight between Tesla Motors and car dealers across the country has spilled from the headlines into the legal system, but so far, the outcome is far from certain. Will Tesla be allowed to sell its cars directly to consumers? Or is there some state interest in forcing Tesla into the dealer franchise model America''s major carmakers use?

Dealers 167
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British Gas commits to electric vans with Nissan e-NV200 order

Green Cars News

'British Gas has ordered 100 of Nissan''s all-electric NV200 after the panel van proved it could handle the British winter during a six month trial. Fifty e-NV200 models are due to join the British Gas fleet immediately, with the remaining 50 arriving by December. The order furthers British Gas'' a[.].

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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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Audi presents plug-in hybrid TT offroad concept car at Beijing; wireless charging

Green Car Congress

'Audi TT offroad concept. Click to enlarge. Audi is presenting an Audi TT offroad concept at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition. Like many of the brand''s new production models, the Audi TT offroad concept is also based on the versatile modular transverse matrix (MQB). The TT concept features a plug-in hybrid drive with two electric motors and a system output of 300 kW (408 hp) and 650 N·m (479 lb?

Audi 385
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ZSW: more than 400,000 plug-in cars on road worldwide at beginning of 2014; 2x 2013

Green Car Congress

'Accumulated number of xEVs in leading global markets. Annual growth rate over the past three years is more than 100%. Click to enlarge. At the beginning of 2014, there were more than 400,000 electric cars—battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extended electric vehicles—on the road worldwide, according to an analysis by Zentrums für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) in Germany.

Plug-in 354

More Trending

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Komatsu America launches third-generation hybrid hydraulic excavator; 20% fuel savings

Green Car Congress

'Komatsu America Corp. introduced its new HB215LC-2 hybrid hydraulic excavator. This third-generation model is based on iterations of Komatsu hybrid experience; Komatsu was the first in the industry to introduce a hybrid excavator in 2008. ( Earlier post.) Since then, the company has sold more than 2,500 hybrid excavators worldwide. The HB215LC-2 saves an average of 20% fuel with an equivalent reduction in CO 2 emissions as compared to the standard excavator model.

America 326
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Daimler buys out Evonik from Li-Tec and Deutsche ACCUmotive Li-ion companies; Daimler sole owner

Green Car Congress

'Daimler AG and Evonik Industries AG are restructuring their joint venture activities in the field of electric mobility. Daimler will acquire all of the shares held by Evonik in Li-Tec Battery GmbH (50.1%) and in Deutsche ACCUmotive GmbH & Co. KG (10%). This will make Daimler the sole owner of the two companies. The parties have agreed not to divulge the details of the agreement.

Li-ion 319
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SwRI D-EGR gasoline demo vehicle delivers diesel efficiency at lower cost; potential for LEV III/Tier 3 emissions

Green Car Congress

'Specific BSFC improvements from the D-EGR engine relative to baseline engine. Overall, the engine offered a 13.1% improvement in city fuel economy (24.5 to 27.7 mpg) and a 9.2% improvement on the highway (43.6 to 47.6 mpg). Chadwell et al., 2014-01-1190. Click to enlarge. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) announced preliminary test results of its Dedicated-Exhaust Gas Recirculation (D-EGR) demonstration vehicle ( earlier post ) at the SAE 2014 World Congress in Detroit.

Gasoline 317
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Study finds São Paulo switch from ethanol to gasoline dropped local ozone levels by 20%, increased CO and nitric oxide concentrations

Green Car Congress

'A study by a pair of researchers at Northwestern University found that when fuel prices drove residents of São Paulo, Brazil, to switch from ethanol to gasoline in their flexible-fuel vehicles, local ozone levels dropped 20%. At the same time, nitric oxide and carbon monoxide concentrations tended to go up. The four-year study by chemist Franz M. Geiger and Alberto Salvo, formerly with Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and now an associate professor of economics at the National Univer

Ozone 316
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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ORNL study quantifies fuel economy costs of common driver practices and vehicle alterations

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have quantified the fuel economy effects of some common driver practices and vehicle accessories or alterations—including underinflated tires, open windows, and rooftop and hitch-mounted cargo. They presented their results in a paper at SAE 2014 World Congress in Detroit. They first subjected a compact passenger sedan and a sport utility vehicle to SAE J2263 coastdown procedures.

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Opbrid B?sbaar demonstrates ultra-fast charging at 625 Amps; pathway to 2-3 minute bus charging

Green Car Congress

'The infrared photo shows a temperature increase of only 9.8 degrees at the junction between the pantograph and the overhead charging rail of the Opbrid B?sbaar at 625 A. Click to enlarge. During recent tests of Hybricon Bus Systems’ new Arctic Whisper (HAW) urban bus in Umeå, Sweden ( earlier post ), the Opbrid B?sbaar achieved ultrafast charging at 625 amps for 6 minutes.

Charging 311
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Navigant: US to remain largest national plug-in vehicle market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro market lead spot from LA

Green Car Congress

'Navigant Research forecasts that the United States will remain the largest national market for light-duty plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) during the next 10 years, with LD PEV sales exceeding 514,000 in 2023. Currently, North America is the strongest market for light duty PEVs with nearly 100,000 sold in 2013, according to the market research firm.

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Stanford researchers develop copper-based catalyst that produces ethanol from CO at room temperature; potential for closed-loop CO2-to-fuel process

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Stanford University have developed a nanocrystalline copper material that produces multi-carbon oxygenates (ethanol, acetate and n-propanol) with up to 57% Faraday efficiency at modest potentials (–0.25?volts to –0.5?volts versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) in CO-saturated alkaline water. The material’s selectivity for oxygenates, with ethanol as the major product, demonstrates the feasibility of a two-step conversion of CO 2 to liquid fuel that could be powered by renewab

Fuel 300
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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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FuelCell Energy receives contract for two 2.8MW direct fuel cell power plants from utility

Green Car Congress

'FuelCell Energy, Inc. has received a contract for two 2.8 megawatt DFC3000 fuel cell power plants from United Illuminating (UI), part of UIL Holdings Corporation. One direct fuel cell system will be located in Bridgeport, Connecticut as part of a distributed renewable power generation project that also includes a solar array. The second installation will be located within the UI service territory at a site to be named in the next 30 days.

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US Navy demos recovery of CO2 and production of H2 from seawater, with conversion to liquid fuel; “Fuel from Seawater”

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Materials Science and Technology Division have demonstrated novel NRL technologies developed for the recovery of CO 2 and hydrogen from seawater and their subsequent conversion to liquid fuels. Flying a radio-controlled replica of the historic WWII P-51 Mustang red-tail aircraft (of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen), NRL researchers Dr.

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Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive priced at $41,450 for US; 85-mile range

Green Car Congress

'The MY14 B-Class Electric Drive. Click to enlarge. The Mercedes-Benz MY14 B-Class Electric Drive ( earlier post )—the first electric offering for the brand in the United States—is priced at $41,450, excluding $925 destination and delivery. Customers may be eligible for federal tax credits (which run up to $7,500) or state/local tax credits.

Mercedes 291
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SwRI launches new automotive consortium focusing on fuels and lubricants

Green Car Congress

'Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is launching the Advanced Engine Fluids (AEF) consortium to better understand fuel and lubricant chemistry and its effects on engine combustion. The AEF consortium will research the impact of fuels and lubricants on engine combustion and the requirements needed for optimizing future engine technologies. These automotive pistons show ring land damage caused by low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI).

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DOE issues draft loan solicitation for up to $4B for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects; drop-in biofuels a key area

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Energy (DOE) issued a draft loan guarantee solicitation for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects located in the US that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases. The Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects Loan Guarantee solicitation is intended to support technologies that will have a catalytic effect on commercial deployment of future projects, are replicable, and are market ready.

Renewable 281
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Tesla launches business leasing program

Green Car Congress

'Tesla Motors has launched a new business leasing program for the Model S. The Tesla business lease is available through Tesla Finance, a new subsidiary set up especially to offer this new product to business customers. As an example, according to the configurator on Tesla’s site, the monthly lease payment for an 85 kWh model (cash price $79,900) would run $1,199; factoring in gasoline savings (-$261 per month) and the business tax benefit (-$395 per month) brings that to a net $543 per month.

Tesla 278
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Toyota introducing new series of gasoline engines with gain of at least 10% fuel efficiency; up to 38% maximum thermal efficiency

Green Car Congress

'New 1.3L Atkinson cycle engine can reach a thermal efficiency of 38%. Click to enlarge. Toyota Motor Corporation has developed a new series of fuel-efficient gasoline engines that achieve improved thermal efficiency. The new engines leverage combustion and loss-reduction technologies Toyota has refined in its dedicated hybrid engines (such as use of the Atkinson cycle) as well as in its conventional engines, and will deliver fuel efficiency improvements of at least 10% over current vehicles (ba

Gasoline 273
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Hydro-Québec and Sony forming JV to develop large-scale Li-ion energy storage system for power grids

Green Car Congress

'Hydro-Québec and Sony Corporation will establish a joint venture to research and develop a large-scale energy storage system for power grids. Sony and Hydro-Québec plan to establish the new company in June, 2014. Forecasts indicate that demand for large-scale energy storage systems will increase in the future, to meet high-level demand for electric power during peak times; stabilize fluctuations in electricity generated by renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power that are gaining t

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SOLAR-JET project demonstrates solar-driven thermochemical conversion of CO2 and water to jet fuel

Green Car Congress

'SOLAR-JET concentrated thermochemical reactor. Red arrow indicates ceria reduction (oxygen evolution); blue arrow indicates oxidation (fuel production). Click to enlarge. The EU-funded SOLAR-JET project has demonstrated the production of aviation kerosene from concentrated sunlight, CO 2 captured from air, and water. The process has also the potential to produce any other type of fuel for transport applications, such as diesel, gasoline or pure hydrogen in a more sustainable way.

Solar 268
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Continental takes over full ownership of Zytek Automotive

Green Car Congress

'With effect from 3 February 2014, international automotive supplier Continental has taken over full ownership of its former joint venture, Zytek Automotive, based in the UK. It previously had a 50% shareholding in Zytek Automotive. Both companies have agreed not to disclose the price for the acquisition. In future, Zytek Automotive will operate as a part of the Continental Engineering Services (CES) organization in the United Kingdom, embracing CES’ complete service and technology portfolio, an

Zytek 268
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UMTRI: average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in US in March was 25.4 mpg; best mark yet

Green Car Congress

'The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the US in March was 25.4 mpg (9.26 l/100km)—a 0.3 mpg improvement from the revised value for February and the best mark yet, according to the monthly report from University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) researchers Dr. Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle.

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Volvo Cars adds R-Design version of V60 diesel Plug-in Hybrid

Green Car Congress

'Volvo Cars has added an R-Design version of its V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which was has been one of the better selling plug-in vehicles in Europe since going on sale, and currently is in fifth place for the first quarter of 2014. 2015 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design. Click to enlarge. We sold almost 8,000 plug-in hybrids in 2013. Adding the R-Design dynamic attributes to the V60 Plug-in Hybrid—the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid—will give its attractiveness another boost.

Plug-in 265
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3-year, $75.7M eRamp power electronics research project launches at Infineon

Green Car Congress

'The three-year research project “eRamp”, intended to strengthen and expand Germany and Europe as centers of expertise for the manufacture of power electronics, launched at Infineon Technologies in Dresden. Twenty-six research partners from six countries are participating. Infineon, a global market leader in power semiconductors, is leading the €55-million (US$75.7-million) project.

Austria 265
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TDK licenses WiTricity patent portfolio for wireless charging of plug-in vehicles

Green Car Congress

'WiTricity announced an intellectual property license agreement with TDK Corporation which will enable TDK to commercialize WiTricity’s patented technology to create wireless charging systems for carmakers. Next-generation electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) will be able to charge by simply parking over a TDK wireless charging pad.

Plug-in 261
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BMW starts series production of electric scooters in Berlin

Green Car Congress

'BMW’s plant in Berlin has begun series production of the battery-electric BMW C evolution maxi-scooter. C evolution in the finish area. Click to enlarge. The C evolution is powered by a drivetrain swing arm with liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous motor via a toothed belt and ring gearing. The rated power output is 11 kW (15 hp), with a peak output of 35 kW (47 hp).

BMW 260
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LMU study finds 20% of gases from combustion of R1234yf MAC refrigerant consist of highly toxic carbonyl fluoride; urges reassessment

Green Car Congress

'Chemists at Ludwig Maximilians Universität München report that 20% of the gases produced by the combustion of R1234yf—the approved low global warming potential refrigerant for mobile air conditioning (MAC) systems, the adoption of which has met with resistance from German automakers ( earlier post )—consist of the highly toxic chemical carbonyl fluoride.

Hydrogen 259
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CSIRO and partners to test Direct Injection Carbon Engine to reduce brown coal emissions by up to 50%

Green Car Congress

'CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency) and its industry partners plan to conduct a A$1-million (US$930,000) trial of the Direct Injection Carbon Engine ( DICE ) in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley—the second largest and lowest-cost brown coal resource in the world—with the aim of reducing emissions from brown coal-generated electricity by 50% compared to current technology.

Coal 257
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California Air Resources Board adds another $25 million to expand clean vehicle rebate program

Green Car Congress

'The California Air Resources Board (ARB) voted to immediately expand the funding and current waiting list for incentive funds that help consumers buy zero-emission and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The Board’s action expanded the current $5-million waiting list, established last month, by an additional $25 million to accommodate expected market growth into the summer.

Clean 257
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IPCC: GHG emissions accelerating despite mitigation efforts; major institutional and technological change required to keep the heat down

Green Car Congress

'Decomposition of the decadal change in total global CO 2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion by four driving factors; population, income (GDP) per capita, energy intensity of GDP and carbon intensity of energy. WG III Summary for Policymakers. Click to enlarge. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a policymaker’s summary of Working Group III’s (WG III) latest report showing that despite a growing number of climate change mitigation policies, annual anthropogenic GH

Emissions 257
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18-month trial of 16t battery-electric truck returns positive technical and environmental results; range the only issue

Green Car Congress

'Logistics specialist STEF has been testing an experimental 16 tonne all-electric vehicle under actual operating conditions for Carrefour France. Developed by Renault Trucks on a Midlum vehicle chassis in partnership with PVI and IFP Énergies nouvelle, the truck covered 16,000 km and delivered 600 t of goods. This electric vehicle recorded a drop of 86% in well-to-wheel (WtW) CO 2 emissions compared with its equivalent equipped with an internal combustion engine.

Range 257