April, 2011

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Lux Research projects that bulk of energy storage market for vehicles will be for e-bike and micro-hybrids

Green Car Congress

The overall market for energy storage technologies that power electric vehicles is set to grow from $13 billion in 2011 to $30 billion in 2016, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%. Despite the visibility of plug-in passenger cars with large packs such as the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf grab most of the headlines, the bulk of future growth will be driven by more humble vehicles, such as e-bikes and micro-hybrids, according to a new report from Lux Research.

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CicLaVia is Back This Sunday & We’ll Be Rolling Against Coal!

Creative Greenius

How’d you like to enjoy 7-and-a-half miles of L.A. streets free of motorized vehicles and open only to bicyclists and pedestrians? Stroll, play, talk, celebrate -do whatever you want on the public street without sucking up gas fumes or fearing for your life from drunk drivers, texting drivers, drivers eating or putting on makeup or just plain dangerous behind the wheel lunatics.

Coal 257
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FIRST-EVER plug-in prius! Really?

Plugs and Cars

A story on Toyota's announcement that an ordering system for the plug-in prius will be coming later this year prompted me to check out the site. I find it rather funny and rather sad. "THE FIRST-EVER prius plug-in hybrid," it says. Really? Ask Felix Kramer of CalCars. Ask any of the hundreds of individuals and fleets driving around in prius converted to have plug-in capability.

Prius 220
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Miles-Per-Gallon Is Just Stupid. No, Really, It Is.

Green Car Reports

Americans aren't stupid. We're just badly informed. And occasionally, stubborn. Why else would we ignorantly cling to using miles per gallon as the way to measure how efficiently a car uses fuel? But maybe you don't quite see the problem. OK, so here's a little test: Which saves more gasoline, going from 10 to 20 mpg, or going from 33 to 50 mpg?

Miles 167
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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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How Many Consumers Are Really Ready to Switch to Electric Cars?

All Cars Electric

A study conducted by the energy research and advisory firm E Source has revealed that as much as 85 percent of consumers could be ready to buy plug-in electric cars, provided the conditions were right. The data for the report was collected from the Nielsen Energy Survey, which asked 3,200 energy consumers across the U.S. their views on energy.

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DoE Secretary Chu brings Sputnik Moment message to San Francisco

National Green Transportation

David Herron On Saturday (April 9) Energy Secretary Stephen Chu brought the "sputnik moment" message to the 7th Berkeley-Stanford Cleantech Conference in San Francisco, saying "The countries that lead the 21st century clean energy economy will. April 10, 2011.

More Trending

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Free Earth Day Movie Friday, April 22, in Manhattan Beach

Creative Greenius

From my great friends, Carolyn Miller and Transition South Bay L.A. and Sona Kalapura and the green city of Manhattan Beach. If you don’t know how damaging plastics are to our environment here are two free showings on Earth Day 2011 – Friday, April 22 – of the movie BAG IT that will enlighten you and make you angry. Angry is good when it comes to more petroleum based products that we have shoved down our throats until they choke our landfills and oceans.

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Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf excel in crash tests

Green Cars News

The Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf have earned top safety ratings in the very first US crash tests evaluations on electric cars. According to the country’s Institute for Highway Safety, both models earned the top rating for front, side, rear, and rollover crash protection. With standard electronic stability control, they qualify as winners of Top [.].

Volt 60
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2012 Volkswagen Beetle Revealed, Offers 40 MPG With Diesel Engine

Green Car Reports

It’s been more than a decade since Volkswagen’s new-generation ‘New Beetle’ first hit showrooms but a successor is finally here, making its debut this week at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show before reappearing just a couple of days later at the 2011 New York Auto Show. It won’t be on sale in the U.S. until the second half.

MPG 135
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Review: 'Revenge Of The Electric Car' Optimistic, Accurate, Lacks A Villain

All Cars Electric

From Michael Moore's Roger And Me in 1989 to Chris Paine's 2006 Who Killed The Electric Car?, there's no shortage of documentaries that portray auto-industry executives as incompetent, bumbling, short-sighted, arrogant fools. So it may be a surprise that merely five years later, two global automakers and one upstart new car company are the heroes.

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

Brief

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Zero Motorcycles announces they will compete in 2011 AMA Mini Moto SX race

National Green Transportation

Zero Motorcycles announced today they will enter competition in the 2011 AMA Mini Moto race in Las Vegas. The May 6 race will be held at the South Point Hotel and Casino, and is the worlds biggest mini bike. David Herron April 20, 2011.

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Toyota targeting thermal efficiency of more than 45% for next-generation gasoline engines for hybrids

Green Car Congress

Among the R&D projects Toyota Motor is exploring to further lower fuel consumption and emissions are two concepts on a pathway to deliver gasoline engines featuring more than 45% thermal efficiency for application in its future hybrid vehicles, according to Koichi Nakata of Toyota in his presentation today at SAE 2011 High Efficiency IC Engines Symposium in Detroit.

Toyota 337
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Life cycle analysis of three battery chemistries for PHEVs and BEVs; environmental impacts higher than expected

Green Car Congress

Flow diagram of the battery system, defined by the functional unit of 50 MJ stored and delivered to the powertrain. Credit: ACS, Majeau-Bettez et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have performed life cycle assessments (LCA) of three batteries for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and full performance battery electric (BEV) vehicles.

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Siemens introducing new 22 kW fast charging station for plug-ins

Green Car Congress

Siemens has launched a new electric-vehicle charging station on the market that can fully recharge a battery within one hour. By doubling the output to 22 kW, the charging station cuts charging times in half. The station is also protected against vandalism, with a doubly secured charging cable and the option of connecting the device to a remote surveillance system so that it can be used as part of a smart grid.

Plug-in 330
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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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Scuderi working on turbocharged variant of split-cycle engine; smaller, more powerful, and more fuel efficient

Green Car Congress

Cartoon of the proposed turbocharged split-cycle engine. Note the reduction in size of the intake/compression cylinder. Click to enlarge. The Scuderi Group announced at the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit that boosting one of its air-hybrid split-cycle engines ( earlier post ) with a turbocharger to 3.2 bar decreases the BSFC (brake specific fuel consumption) up to 14% compared to the air-hybrid engine, while resulting in a simultaneous increase in the engine’s power BMEP (brake mean effectiv

Engine 316
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HEI study finds London Congestion Charging Scheme shows little evidence of improving air quality

Green Car Congress

The London Congestion Charging Scheme (CCS)—which charged for travel into central London and reduced traffic volume ( earlier post )—has shown little evidence that it improved air quality as well, according to Part I of a new study published by the Health Effects Institute (HEI). The study, “The Impact of the Congestion Charging Scheme on Air Quality in London”, was led by Professor Frank Kelly of King’s College London as part of HEI’s research program to meas

London 299
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Better Place, China Southern Grid sign strategic agreement on battery switching; Guangzhou accord to encourage production of EVs with switchable batteries

Green Car Congress

Better Place and China Southern Power Grid Co. (CSG) signed a strategic agreement calling for the companies to open a battery switch station and joint education center in Guangzhou before the end of the year, while working to formalize a joint-venture partnership. CSG is the world’s eighth-largest utility, according to the Fortune Global 500. The agreement, which focuses on joint electric car and infrastructure projects in CSG’s service areas, will further advance electric cars with switchable b

Grid 299
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Siemens developing inductive charging system for plug-in vehicles with BMW; testing in Berlin in June 2011

Green Car Congress

At Hannover Messe 2011, Siemens presented a development project for inductive charging (“Contactless Charging of Battery-Electric Vehicles”), developed in cooperation with BMW. In June 2011, the capabilities of this non-contact charging system will be tested in a project funded by the German Environment Ministry and involving several vehicles in Berlin.

2011 299
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EPFL team discovers molybdenum-based catalysts enable more cost-effective hydrogen production from water

Green Car Congress

A team led by Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Professor Xile Hu has discovered that a molybdenum-based catalyst allows the electrolytic production of hydrogen at room temperature, and is inexpensive and efficient. The results provide new opportunities for the development of renewable and economic hydrogen production technologies. A paper on the work appears in the RSC journal Chemical Science.

Water 294
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DOE to provide nearly $170M in funding to advance solar energy technologies

Green Car Congress

As part of the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, the US Department of Energy (DOE) is making nearly $170 million for funding over three years available to support a range of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology areas. The SunShot Initiative aims to reduce the total cost of solar energy systems by about 75%—to roughly $1 per watt—before the end of the decade.

Solar 294
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Chevrolet introduces 2013 Malibu ECO with eAssist

Green Car Congress

Chevrolet Malibu ECO PowerFlow screen. Click to enlarge. Chevrolet has introduced the 2013 Malibu ECO, its most fuel-efficient midsize sedan yet. The Malibu ECO features GM’s eAssist light electrification technology ( earlier post ), which is engineered to deliver an estimated 26 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway. Malibu ECO’s eAssist system is mated to a 2.4L Ecotec direct-injection four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Chevrolet 286
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PNNL study finds algal oil could replace 17% of US petroleum oil imports

Green Car Congress

A new Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) study shows finds that oil from algae grown in outdoor raceway ponds located in the Gulf Coast, the Southeastern Seaboard and the Great Lakes could replace 17% of the United States’ imported oil for transportation. The study also found that shows that water use for algae cultivation is much less if algae are grown in the US regions that have the sunniest and most humid climates: the Gulf Coast, the Southeastern Seaboard and the Great Lakes.

Oil 281
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Gevo contracts with Mustang Engineering for the conversion of Gevos renewable isobutanol to biojet fuel

Green Car Congress

High-level process schematic for hydrocarbons from isobutanol. Source: Gevo. Click to enlarge. Gevo, Inc., a renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company, signed an engineering and consulting agreement with Mustang Engineering, LP for the conversion of Gevo’s renewable isobutanol to biojet fuel. This effort will focus on the downstream processing of isobutanol to paraffinic kerosene (jet fuel) for jet engine testing, airline suitability flights and advancing commercial deployment. ( Earlier

Renewable 278
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New diesel Ford Focus ECOnetic to debut at Amsterdam Motor Show; 67 mpg US

Green Car Congress

Ford Motor Company will stage the debut of the new Focus ECOnetic next week at the Amsterdam Motor Show. The new diesel ECOnetic, which will go on sale early next year, leverages a number of advanced technologies that Ford expects will make it more fuel efficient than any other compact vehicle on the road today in Europe, including conventional diesel-, gasoline- and hybrid-powered vehicles.

Diesel 278
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DOE announces EcoCAR 2; focus on electric drive technology

Green Car Congress

EcoCar 2 Malibu. Click to enlarge. At the SAE 2011 World Congress in Detroit, Michigan, US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Policy and International Affairs, David Sandalow, announced the official launch of the EcoCAR 2 : Plugging into the Future competition and the sixteen university teams selected to participate. Established by the DOE and General Motors, EcoCAR 2 is a three-year competition that. builds upon a 23-year history of DOE Advanced Vehicle Technology Compet

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Self-cooling observed in graphene electronics

Green Car Congress

With the first observation of thermoelectric effects at graphene contacts, University of Illinois researchers found that graphene transistors have a nanoscale cooling effect that reduces their temperature. A paper on their findings is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. All electronics dissipate heat as a result of the electrons in the current colliding with the device material, a phenomenon called resistive heating.

Illinois 271
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Leyden Energy providing Li-ion cells with imide electrolyte for electric Dream Car

Green Car Congress

Li-ion battery manufacturer Leyden Energy provided its high energy-density, high-performance Li-ion battery cells for SSI Racing’s electric Dream Car at the annual Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. The Dream Car, which holds three world records and accelerates from 0-60 mph in three seconds, was on display at the Long Beach Convention Center from 15-17 April.

Li-ion 268
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Study finds aluminum can reduce vehicle body structure weight safely by up to 40%

Green Car Congress

Body in white is the next area of focus for downweighting. Source: ATG. Click to enlarge. Using aluminum in select automotive components could reduce vehicle body structure weight safely by as much as an additional 40% compared to today’s vehicles, according to a recent study by the University of Aachen (Germany) for the European Aluminium Association (EAA).

Vehicles 268
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Mn/DOT assessing potential for mileage-based user fee to replace fuel tax; Battelle conducting technology assessment

Green Car Congress

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) will recruit 500 people from Wright and Hennepin counties to take part in research to test technology that could someday be used to collect a mileage-based user fee (MBUF) in lieu of a gasoline tax. Mn/DOT will start recruiting volunteers for the Minnesota Road Fee Test in May and research will begin in July 2011.

Fuel Tax 262
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500M people worldwide to use their mobiles as metro and bus tickets by 2015

Green Car Congress

Half a billion people worldwide will use their mobile devices as travel tickets on metros, subways and buses by 2015, according to new forecasts from Juniper Research. This is more than five times the number generated last year but Juniper expects usage to spread widely from the current concentration in Japan and several European countries. Outside Japan, systems in operation typically use SMS or bar codes.

2015 262
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Nissan unveiling LEAF NISMO RC (Racing Competition) electric demonstrator

Green Car Congress

Nissan LEAF NISMO RC Click to enlarge. Nissan will unveil the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC (Racing Competition) battery-electric racer at the 2011 New York International Auto Show on 20 April. Nissan says it is looking at the racing world as a way to draw attention to the potential of electric vehicles. The new electric race vehicle will likely make a series of special demonstration appearances at various motorsports venues in 2011, with the company exploring pioneer zero emission competition spec serie

Nissan 261
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GE study finds 5% of worlds natural gas production wasted per year by flaring

Green Car Congress

Gas-flaring countries and trends. Click to enlarge. A newly released GE study — Flare Gas Reduction: Recent Global Trends and Policy Considerations —estimates that 5% of the world’s natural gas production is wasted by burning or “flaring” unused gas each year, despite some progress on the flaring issue. This is an amount equivalent to 30% of consumption in the European Union and 23% in the United States.

Waste 260
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Siemens building HVDC transmission system with record capacity of 2,000 MW

Green Car Congress

Siemens is building power converter stations for a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system with a record capacity of 2 x 1,000 megawatts. Beginning in 2013, the new HVDC PLUS technology will transmit 2,000 MW as direct current over a distance of 65 kilometers underground. This system, which is being partially funded by the EU, connects the French and Spanish grids between Baixas and Santa Llogaia.

Building 259
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GM leads in clean-energy US patents in 2010

Green Car Congress

General Motors received more clean-energy patents last year than any other organization, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index (CEPGI) of US patents. The Clean Energy Patent Growth Index tracks the granting of US patents in solar, wind, hybrid/electric vehicles, fuel cells, hydroelectric, tidal/wave, geothermal, biomass/biofuels and clean, renewable energy.

Clean 257