February, 2016

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Audi expanding e-gas capacity through partnership with Viessmann; power-to-gas with biological methanation of CO2 and H2

Green Car Congress

Audi is expanding capacities for the production of sustainably produced e-gas. ( Earlier post.) The Viessmann Group is Audi’s first partner company to produce additional quantities of the synthetic fuel using a new biological methanation process. The pilot plant in Allendorf, Germany officially opened today. Audi e-gas is currently produced using two process steps: electrolysis and methanation.

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VW T-Cross Breeze Concept in Geneva previews new small SUV

Green Car Reports

Right now, Volkswagen has two crossover SUVs in production: the new second-generation Tiguan that will come to North America next year, and the larger, pricier Touareg premium utility vehicle A concept introduced this morning at the Geneva Motor Show, however, points the way to a new and smaller SUV from VW--and the company says it'll be one of.

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Tesla Model 3 might not have auto pilot, Tesla to be profitable in Q4 2016

National Green Transportation

On Wednesday, Tesla Motors released Q4 2015 financial results showing that while the company had steep losses again, that free cash flow had improved. Now that the Tesla Model X is in production, Tesla management claim that Tesla&#39.

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Agility Fuel Systems unveils the industry’s lightest 160 DGE behind-the-cab CNG fuel system

Green Car Congress

Agility Fuel Systems launched its new 2016 160 DGE (diesel gallon equivalent) Behind-the-Cab compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel system. The new system is mounted up to six inches closer to the cab for improved aerodynamics and leaving more available rail space. Weighing just 2,150 lbs. (975 kg), the new model is the lightest in the industry. Among its other features: Up to 13% faster fill-ups than the nearest competitor.

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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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International Truck announces availability of over-the-air engine reprogramming

Green Car Congress

International Truck announced that over-the-air (OTA) reprogramming of engine control modules (ECM) for all International Truck models powered by its N9, N10 and N13 proprietary engines is now available as a no-charge offering. Additionally, OTA will be available for purchase for all International truck models, powered by proprietary engines, 2010 and newer through International Truck dealers.

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New route to renewable diesel and jet from biomass-derived platform compounds

Green Car Congress

Researchers in China have developed a new route to the production of renewable diesel and jet fuel-range branched alkanes by combining the hydroxyalkylation/alkylation (HAA) of 2-methylfuran (MF)—a biomass-derived platform compound—with angelica lactone—another biomass-derived compound—and subsequent hydrodeoxygenation. Under solvent-free conditions, the researchers obtained 81.3% yield of HAA products; after the HDO of the hydrogenated HAA products over 5 wt% Pd/C cataly

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More Trending

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Lux Research introduces “EV Inflection Tracker”

Green Car Congress

Lux Research has launched an “EV Inflection Tracker” which analyzes how compelling automakers’ plug-in offerings (PHEV and BEV) are as a leading indicator of when EVs will be positioned to take over the automotive market. Lux Research defines the “EV Inflection Point” concept as the year range when PEVs make up more than 50% of new car sales. Lux is particularly looking for BEVs with greater than 200 miles of driving range at a price point of $35,000 or less; such vehicles, they suggest, would r

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Tanaka introducing electrode catalysts for electrolysis

Green Car Congress

Tanaka Precious Metals will be showcasing a number of its hydrogen fuel cell and electrolyzer technologies at FC EXPO 2016—12 th International Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Expo,” at Tokyo Big Sight in March. Among the technologies on display will be its first-ever exhibit of electrode catalysts for polymer electrolyte electrolysis cells (PEECs). These electrode catalysts are used as the anodes (oxygen-generation poles) in water electrolysis systems.

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Michelin introduces new line-haul steer tire with 5% better rolling resistance

Green Car Congress

Michelin Americas Truck Tires, a division of Michelin North America, Inc., is launching the Michelin X Line Energy Z for heavy-duty line-haul steer applications. (Steer tires are the tires on the front steering axle of a tractor-trailer. Drive tires are designed for the tractor’s drive axles, and trailer tires are designed for the trailer axles.). The SmartWay-verified tire is guaranteed to deliver 20% more mileage than leading competitor line-haul steer tires, while also delivering 5% better ro

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Scania and Ericsson partner to accelerate commercial vehicle connectivity; focus on platooning

Green Car Congress

Ericsson and Scania are partnering in joint research efforts to accelerate the connectivity of commercial vehicles and infrastructure. Ericsson and Scania are convinced that advances in communications technologies and future deployments of 5G networks will enable improvements in the transport of people and cargo. New developments in LTE and future 5G standardization have created opportunities for dedicated vehicle-to-vehicle communications using the mobile network while minimizing risks of unpre

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

Brief

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TriboForm Engineering launches tribology simulation software for metal-forming processes; Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Škoda launch customers

Green Car Congress

TriboForm Engineering , a spin-out from the University of Twente in The Netherlands, introduced its TriboForm software at Triboforum 2016 , a triennial industry conference. Tribology is a branch of mechanical engineering that describes the contact between materials under different conditions. In metal-forming processes, tribology plays a key role through the relative motion and interaction between the applied sheet material, the lubrication and the tooling.

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Chevrolet introduces Malibu XL flagship for China; hybrid model following later this year

Green Car Congress

Chevrolet has launched the Malibu XL, the brand’s new flagship sedan for China. Chevrolet’s latest hybrid technology will also be available in the Malibu XL lineup later this year. ( Earlier post.). The Malibu XL currently comes with a choice of two engines with fuel-saving start/stop technology. GM’s popular Ecotec 1.5L turbocharged engine delivers an unmatched power-to-weight ratio in its segment, with maximum output of 125 kW (168 hp) and peak torque of 252 N·m (186 lb-ft) at 2,000 rpm

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J.D. Power study finds ACEN technology woes affecting vehicle reliability for consumers

Green Car Congress

Problems with technology continue to affect vehicle reliability for consumers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 US Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS). The number of problems with infotainment, navigation and in-vehicle communication systems—collectively known as audio, communication, entertainment and navigation or ACEN—has increased and now accounts for 20% of all customer-reported problems in the study.

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King County Metro putting Proterra electric buses into service

Green Car Congress

King County Metro Transit recently put its first Proterra battery-electric bus into service in Bellevue, Washington. The battery bus is the first of three that Metro will test this year. Metro will test the performance and efficiency of the new technology for up to a year on local streets and roads to determine whether battery-electric buses can be a future replacement option for its remaining diesel-powered coaches.

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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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Visa extends Visa Token Service to automakers to enable car-based commerce; Honda Developer demo partner

Green Car Congress

Visa Inc. is making the Visa Token Service available to auto manufacturers, helping to pave the way for easy and secure car-based commerce. To further advance car-based commerce, Visa is also offering a range of related digital payment solutions, including new standards for Bluetooth (BLE) and QR codes that could help expand enablement of mobile payments for both merchants and consumers in any environment.

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EPA announces availability of $26M for projects to reduce diesel emissions from existing fleet

Green Car Congress

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $26 million in grant funding to establish clean diesel projects aimed at reducing emissions from the US’ existing fleet of diesel engines. Diesel-powered engines move approximately 90% of the nation’s freight tonnage, and today nearly all highway freight trucks, locomotives, and commercial marine vessels are powered by diesel engines.

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Study finds autonomous vehicles may plausibly nearly double, or nearly halve, road transport GHGs depending on the scenario

Green Car Congress

A study by a team from the University of Leeds (UK), University of Washington (USA) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has found that vehicle automation might plausibly reduce road transport GHG emissions and energy use by nearly half—or nearly double them—depending on the scenario. The researchers also found that many potential energy-reduction benefits may be realized through partial automation, while the major energy/emission downside risks appear more likely at full automation.

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Dearman: zero-emission transport refrigeration systems could have a major impact on air quality

Green Car Congress

New analysis by Dearman suggests that zero-emission transport refrigeration systems could cut overall engine pollution from refrigerated vehicles by up to 93% and have a major impact on air quality. One application of Dearman’s engine technology is to provide high efficiency, zero-emission transport refrigeration units (TRUs). ( Earlier post.). The findings of Dearman’s research indicate that equipping a Euro6-standard 17-tonne rigid body truck with a zero-emission refrigeration system, as oppos

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Hawaiian Electric & Greenlots test combined EV fast charging and energy storage

Green Car Congress

Greenlots, a global provider of open standards-based technology solutions for electric vehicle (EV) networks ( earlier post ), has implemented its SKY platform—a scalable, vehicle-grid integration (VGI) technology—in an EV fast charger owned and operated by Hawaiian Electric Company as part of a joint research, development and demonstration project with the Electric Power Research Institute.

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DS Automobiles unveiling high-performance E-TENSE electric GT concept at Geneva

Green Car Congress

DS Automobiles, Citroën’s luxury brand spin-off, will introduce the high-performance electric GT concept DS E-TENSE at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show next week. A Formula E World Championship competitor in partnership with Virgin ( DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team ), DS Automobiles has equipped the DS E-TENSE with a 300 kW (402 hp) motor that produces 516 N·m (380 lb-ft) torque.

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Chevrolet to offer small number of 2016 Silverados pickups with e-Assist mild-hybrid technology; 13% better city cycle fuel economy

Green Car Congress

Chevrolet will offer a small number—initially approximately 500 through California dealers—MY 2016 Silverado pickup trucks equipped with eAssist mild-hybrid technology. Based on feedback from these initial customers, Chevrolet may adjust production for 2017 model year. The new mild-hybrid electrical system leverages many of the technologies and components from Chevrolet’s lineup of electrified vehicles, including battery cells from the Malibu Hybrid and software controls developed for the Volt.

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Opinion: Who Will Be Left Standing At The End Of The Oil War?

Green Car Congress

by Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com. This is a financial cold war—nothing more, nothing less. While there are billions of reasons to cut output, and every major producing country is reeling from the loss of revenues, some are weathering the current bust better than others, but the devil is in the details, and the details contain tons of variables.

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Berkeley Lab researchers devise new technique to reduce lignin and increase sugar yields; lowering biomass pretreatment costs

Green Car Congress

Scientists from the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Joint BioEnergy Institute have devised a new strategy for reducing lignin in plants by modifying a key metabolic entrypoint for the synthesis of the most important lignin monomers. The new technique, reported in an open-access paper in the journal Plant & Cell Physiology , could help lower the cost of converting biomass into lower carbon biofuels and bio-products.

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Sumitomo Metal Mining to boost production of NCA for Li-ion batteries by 38%; targeting Tesla Model 3

Green Car Congress

As part of its new 3-year business plan , Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM) will boost production of NCA ((lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide) materials for Li-ion cathodes, expanding from 1,850 tons/month to 2,550 tons/month (+38%). SMM is targeting supplying Tesla with the battery materials for the Model 3 being released next year. (SMM supplies the nickel-based material to Panasonic which builds the cells.).

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Boeing, Aeromexico, Mexican Government collaborate on sustainable aviation biofuel research and development

Green Car Congress

Boeing, Aeromexico and Mexico’s Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) will collaborate with a biojet program supported by Mexico’s Sector Fund for Energy Sustainability (SENER-CONACYT) to advance research and development of sustainable aviation biofuel in Mexico. The new initiative, coordinated through the Mexican Bioenergy Innovation Center, will support Mexico’s aviation sector as well as its environmental and socio-economic goals.

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DOE launches Energy Materials Network with $40M for first year

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy launched the Energy Materials Network ( EMN ), a new National Laboratory-led initiative. Leveraging $40 million in federal funding in its first year, EMN will focus on tackling one of the major barriers to widespread commercialization of clean energy technologies: the design, testing, and production of advanced materials.

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Volvo sells 11 electric hybrid buses with 2 ABB automated fast-chargers to Namur, Belgium

Green Car Congress

Volvo has received an order for 11 electric hybrid buses and 2 ABB automated electric bus fast-chargers to the city of Namur in Belgium with public transport authority and operator TEC. This is the largest order to date for the company’s electric bus system. TEC is buying the bus system as a turn-key solution. Volvo takes full responsibility for vehicle servicing, battery maintenance as well as maintenance of the standard-based charging stations for a fixed monthly cost.

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BNEF forecasts EVs to be 35% of global new car sales by 2040; cost of ownership below conventional-fuel vehicles by 2025

Green Car Congress

A new study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) forecasts that sales of electric vehicles will hit 41 million by 2040, representing 35% of new light duty vehicle sales worldwide. This would be almost 90 times the equivalent figure for 2015, when EV sales are estimated to have been 462,000, some 60% up on 2014. Driving the sales increase is a forecast significant reduction in battery prices—the result being that during the 2020s EVs will become a more economic option than gasoline or die

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Ford becomes first automaker to join Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition

Green Car Congress

Ford is the first automaker to join the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition—a nonprofit organization of leading electronics companies dedicated to improving social, environmental and ethical conditions in their global supply chains. Ford says that joining the coalition strengthens its commitment to respect human rights and improve basic working conditions at its global supplier facilities.

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SAE International selects GM’s Larry Nitz for Edward N. Cole Award for Automotive Engineering Innovation

Green Car Congress

SAE International announced that Larry T. Nitz, GM Executive Director, Global Propulsion Systems, is the winner of the Edward N. Cole Award for Automotive Engineering Innovation. He will receive the award during the SAE 2016 World Congress in April. Nitz leads GM’s Global Transmission and Electrification team, with engineering operations in North America, Europe, South America and Asia.

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U Chicago, MIT study suggests ongoing use of fossil fuels absent new carbon taxes

Green Car Congress

A paper by a team from the University of Chicago and MIT suggests that technology-driven cost reductions in fossil fuels will lead to the continued use of fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal—unless governments pass new taxes on carbon emissions. Their analysis is published in the Journal of Economic Perspectives. While renewable energy has made promising gains in just the last few years—the cost of solar dropped by about two-thirds from 2009 to 2014—new drilling and extractio

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IDT and 5G Lab Germany collaborate on technology to enable network-connected autonomous vehicles

Green Car Congress

Integrated Device Technology announced a planned multi-year collaboration with 5G Lab Germany on research related to 5G tactile networks, including the application of IDT technology to enable network-connected autonomous vehicles. The project’s core technology is IDT’s low-latency RapidIO interconnect, used in 4G telephone calls globally, as well as for real-time sensor analysis in a variety of aerospace and defense systems, applicable to autonomous vehicles.

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Pierburg GmbH electric compressor for turbos

Green Car Congress

Pierburg GmbH, part of the KSPG Group, has developed an electric compressor for spontaneously boosting the charge pressure of engines fitted with an exhaust-gas turbocharger. This component allows pressure to be increased regardless of the exhaust-gas energy availability. The compressor is compatible with both gasoline and diesel engines. Initial prototypes are now being tested by various customers.

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Automotive Grade Linux adds four new members

Green Car Congress

Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), an open source project developing a common, Linux-based software stack for the connected car, announced that Collabora, HI Corporation, MediaTek and Witz Corporation are joining the project. Collabora Ltd. is a global software consultancy specializing in delivering the benefits of open source to the commercial world. Collabora combines more than ten years of open source software expertise with experience from working in numerous industries.