February, 2015

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TM4 receiving $3.7M to develop low-cost wheel motors

Green Car Congress

'TM4, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, is receiving $3.7 million in funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada’s (SDTC) SD Tech Fund, through the ecoENERGY Innovation Initiative, to develop low-cost wheel motors for electric and hybrid vehicles. The objective of this project is to design an in-wheel motor electric drive system with one of the highest power densities in the world, and at the lowest possible cost.

Low Cost 190
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2016 Volt Powertrain, Electric-Car Performance, Tesla Again At The Top: The Week In Reverse (Video)

Green Car Reports

'Interested in the powertrain technology in the 2016 Volt? Or the performance potential in electric cars? Of course you are. This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending on Friday, February 27, 2015. If you think pure electric cars DO have a lot of performance potential, well.

Volt 96
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GM's Chevy Bolt committed for production, little known about date or features

National Green Transportation

'The Chevy Bolt is now committed to going to production, according to an announcement on Thursday GM North America President Alan Batey ahead of the Chicago Auto Show. The Chevy Bolt, unveiled in January at the NAIAS, is.

GM 61
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Beijing researchers engineer K. pneumoniae to produce 1-butanol

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Beijing University of Chemical Technology have engineered Klebsiella pneumoniae —a pathogen—to produce 1-butanol. A paper on their work appears in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. Although K. pneumoniae is a pathogenic microorganism, it has been studied widely because of its ability to metabolize glycerol and its similar genetic background to E. coli.

Engine 190
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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 testing carbon-fiber exoskeleton “chairless chair” for assembly workers at Neckarsulm

Green Car Congress

'Audi is testing a new technology that eases many assembly activities at its plant in Neckarsulm: the “chairless chair.” The carbon-fiber exoskeleton allows employees to sit without a chair. At the same time, it improves their posture and reduces the strain on their legs. The chairless chair, which Audi has further developed together with a Swiss start?

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NREL refines method to convert lignin to nylon precursor

Green Car Congress

'A new study from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) demonstrates the conversion of lignin-derived compounds to adipic acid, an important industrial dicarboxylic acid produced for its use as a precursor to nylon, plasticizers, lubricants, polyesters, and other popular products and chemicals. Published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science , the research demonstrates how lignin-derived compounds can first be converted to muconic acid via a biological p

Convert 295

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POSTECH researchers develop new high-strength, lightweight steel

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed a new type of steel with improved tensile strength and lightness. In their approach, they effectively utilized a brittle intermetallic compound (B2) that metallurgists usually try to suppress by modifying B2 morphology and dispersion in the steel matrix.

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New catalyst delivers high yield of biofuel 5-EMF

Green Car Congress

'Researchers in China have developed an effective method for the conversion of carbohydrates into liquid biofuels 5-ethoxymethylfurfural (EMF) over a magnetic solid acid catalyst (Fe 3 O 4 @C—SO 3 H). A paper on their work is published in the journal Fuel. Ethoxymethylfurfural has an energy density of 8.7 kWh/L—very close to that of regular gasoline (8.8 kWh/L), nearly as good diesel (9.7 kWh/L) and significantly higher than ethanol (6.1 kWh/L). ( Earlier post.).

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Magna unveiling lightweight plug-in hybrid sportscar at Geneva show

Green Car Congress

'Global automotive supplier Magna International Inc. will debut MILA Plus, an two-seat plug-in hybrid sports car, at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The lightweight (1,520 kg, 3,351 lb) concept vehicle, the latest member of the MILA family of concept vehicles ( earlier post ), offers an all-electric range of 75 km with reduced CO 2 emissions of 32g/km.

Plug-in 190
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California approves sale of DME as compression-ignition engine fuel

Green Car Congress

'The California Department of Food and Agriculture has approved specifications for dimethyl ether (DME) used as fuel in compression ignition engines. (The Department of Food and Agriculture Division of Measurement Standards has the responsibility for establishing and enforcing the quality standards for spark- and compression-ignition engine fuels sold in California.

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

Brief

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DOE issues Request for Information on aggregating purchases of alternative fuel vehicles

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a request for information ( DE-FOA-0001312 ) to solicit feedback from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to purchasing/procurement processes designed to coordinate and consolidate bulk alternative fuel vehicle (AFV), advanced vehicle orders, and vehicle subsystems.

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UK announces $49M for plug-in infrastructure through 2020, $17M for low emission vehicle technology

Green Car Congress

'The UK government will provide £32 million (US$49 million) up to 2020 to support the installation of chargepoints for plug-in vehicles. Homes, hospitals, train stations and A-roads will be some of the locations. In addition, the government announced another £11 million (US$17 million) of funding to support 15 low-emission vehicle research and development projects undertaken by a total of 50 organizations, ranging from small businesses to major universities.

Plug-in 190
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Researchers in China investigate use of coal as source of lithium

Green Car Congress

'Coal could become a major source of the metal lithium, according to a review of the geochemistry by scientists from Hebei University of Engineering in China published in the International Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology. Worldwide annual consumption of lithium grew from 15,100 tonnes in 2003 to 37,000 tonnes by 2012, a 145% increase; demand is expected to rise even further with the move towards sustainable power and electrical storage capacity increases.

Coal 183
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EU 2014 PEV registrations: +36.6% full year; ?7.7% in Q4

Green Car Congress

'In 2014, 75,331 new electrically chargeable vehicles (ECVs, or plug-in vehicles, PEVs) were registered in the EU, a 36.6% rise, according to figures released by the ACEA. In Q4 2014 PEV registrations in the EU decreased slightly (?7.7%), totalling 24,552. Of these, pure battery electric vehicles (BEVs) represented about half of the total: 12,755 in Q4 2014, up from 8,418 in Q4 2013 (+51.5%).

2014 183
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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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DOE FCTO selects 11 fuel cell incubator projects for up to $10M in awards; exploring alkaline exchange membrane FCs

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Energy (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) has selected 11 projects to receive up to $10 million in funding through the fuel cell technology incubator FOA ( earlier post ) in support of innovations in fuel cell and hydrogen fuel technologies. The intention of these selections is to identify high-impact technologies that are not already addressed in FCTO’s strategic plan or mainstream project portfolio.

Fuel 183
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Electrovaya and Mondelez Canada partner on Li-ion batteries for forklifts

Green Car Congress

'Li-ion maker Electrovaya is working with Mondelez Canada on forklift batteries. This should enhance productivity, reduce emissions and reduce power requirements by up to 35% by replacing lead acid batteries used in the material handling equipment. Electrovaya plans to deliver lithium-ion battery packs with intelligent battery management systems (iBMS) to Mondelez Distribution Center.

Li-ion 183
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Siemens researching use of infrastructure radar sensor networks to support parking management

Green Car Congress

'Siemens is researching the use of infrastructure sensor networks in an advanced parking management solution intended to counter the increasing parking space crisis in cities. The system, analogous to vehicle-based research underway by Ford Motor on the same problem ( earlier post ), will be used this spring for the first time in a pilot project in Berlin.

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New PNNL zinc-polyiodide redox flow battery offers 2x energy density of next-best system; potential for mobile applications

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a new zinc-polyiodide redox flow battery offering more than two times the energy density of the next-best flow battery used to store renewable energy and support the power grid. Lab tests revealed the demonstration battery discharged 167 Wh l -1 of electrolyte. In comparison, zinc-bromide flow batteries generate about 70 Wh l -1 , vanadium flow batteries can create between 15 and 25 Wh l -1 , and standard lithium iron ph

Li-ion 209
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Audi to offer new R8 e-tron EV on request; almost 2x pack capacity, 280-mile range with new Li-ion technology (update 1)

Green Car Congress

'Audi is presenting the second generation of its high-performance R8 sports car at the upcoming Geneva show, featuring new V10 engines, newly developed quattro drive, and a new multimaterial Audi Space Frame (ASF) combining aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). The top of the range version delivers 449 kW (610 hp), achieving 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h (205.1 mph).

Audi 244
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Cal Energy Commission adopts report outlining how state transforming transportation system to meet climate goals

Green Car Congress

'The California Energy Commission adopted its 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update, which outlines, among many things, how the state is working to transform the transportation system to zero- and near-zero technologies and fuels to meet its climate and clean air goals. This report highlights the importance of incentives in helping speed this transition and specifically explores the role Assembly Bill 8, which makes more than $2 billion available for public investment, can play in h

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Iowa gives B11 and above a tax break

Green Car Congress

'Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed into law a bill ( Senate File 257 ) which, among other things, raises the state’s fuel tax while providing a small incentive for biodiesel. A provision of the bill gives a partial exemption to the new tax for diesel blended with at least 11% biodiesel (B11). The increase of 10 cents a gallon for both diesel and gasoline will help repair and improve Iowa’s roads and bridges.

Iowa 197
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Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell drivers in SoCal accumulate more than 238,900 miles

Green Car Congress

'Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell drivers recently accumulated more than 238,900 miles on the roads of Southern California—a distance Hyundai chose to highlight as the average distance from the earth to the moon. Hyundai has delivered more than 60 Tucson Fuel Cells since its introduction to the US market in June 2014 ( earlier post ). Hyundai service engineers, with permission from vehicle owners, receive periodic mileage updates from Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles in Southern California, allowing them

Tucson 195
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Senators Feinstein, Toomey introduce bill to repeal ethanol mandate in RFS

Green Car Congress

'US Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) have introduced a bill to abolish the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is also a co-sponsor of the measure. The federal mandate for corn ethanol is both unwise and unworkable. Our bill addresses that with a simple, smart modification to the Renewable Fuel Standard program.

2004 241
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Aventine installs $2.4M corn-oil separation system at ethanol plant

Green Car Congress

'Aventine Renewable Energy Inc. has installed a $2.4-million Valicor corn-oil separation system (COSS) at its Nebraska Energy LLC plant in Aurora, Nebraska. The system began operations in early January. Since corn oil has a higher market value, removing the oil improves dried distillers grain processing properties. High production levels and excess inventories nationally have led to tight margins, particularly in Nebraska.

Oil 197
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Mitsubishi Motors to unveil new small crossover PHEV concept at Geneva; headed for production

Green Car Congress

'Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will stage the global debut of the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV II at the 85 th Geneva International Motor Show. The Concept XR-PHEV II is a small crossover powered by a new plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system. Mitsubishi said it expects the Concept XR-PHEV II to become MMC’s second production PHEV following the Outlander PHEV launched in January 2013. ( Earlier post.

PHEV 264
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McPhy Energy and De Nora partner on electrolyzers

Green Car Congress

'The French company McPhy Energy, specializing in hydrogen-based solutions for industrial and energy storage, and the Italian De Nora group, a provider of electrochemical products and services, announced a technology partnership agreement. Under this agreement, De Nora will supply McPhy Energy with activated electrodes for its range of new-generation alkaline water-electrolyzers.

Energy 183
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SwRI wins $20M EPA contract for emissions and fuel consumption testing, analytical services

Green Car Congress

'Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has been awarded a five-year, $20.16-million contract by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide testing and analytical services related to vehicle emissions and fuel consumption. Key areas of support include emissions characterization and technology assessment. SwRI can develop test procedures and equipment for regulated and unregulated emissions in light- and heavy-duty vehicles and components as well as marine, railway, aircraft, small engi

EPA 174
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Volkswagen presents Gen 3 MQB-based Touran; engines up to 19% more fuel efficient

Green Car Congress

'At the Autostadt in Wolfsburg, Germany, Volkswagen showcased the new Touran MPV. The completely redeveloped Touran is the first MPV to be based on the modular transverse matrix (MQB); it offers a range of six new economical engines and an extensive line-up of assistance and infotainment systems. The public premiere of the new Touran will take place in the coming week at the Geneva motor show.

Engine 183
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UC Riverside CELF biomass pretreatment technology could cut cellulosic biofuel production cost by about 30%

Green Car Congress

'Yields of glucose, xylose, and arabinose from CELF- and dilute acid-pretreated corn stover solid. “D” equals day. Source: UCR. Click to enlarge. Researchers at the University of California, Riverside led by Professor Charles Wyman, the Ford Motor Company Chair in Environmental Engineering, have developed a novel biomass pretreatment called co-solvent-enhanced lignocellulosic fractionation (CELF) to reduce enzyme costs significantly for high sugar yields from hemicellulose and cellulose—an

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Audi introducing Audi prologue Avant diesel plug-in hybrid show car at Geneva; 147 mpg, wireless charging

Green Car Congress

'At the Los Angeles Auto Show, Audi presented the Audi prologue concept car, featuring a mild hybrid powertrain with a 48V electrical subsystem. ( Earlier post.) At the upcoming Geneva show, Audi will show a new variant of the prologue—the Audi prologue Avant—featuring a plug-in hybrid powertrain. Both prologue variants provide a view into coming Audi design language, as well as the technology experience inside and outside.

Audi 174
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Chevrolet one of 16 organizations across US recognized by EPA for Climate Action; only automaker

Green Car Congress

'The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 2015 Climate Leadership Awards to 16 organizations and one individual representing a wide array of industries from finance and manufacturing to retail and technology for showing what the agency said was exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate change. One of the 16 was Chevrolet ( earlier post ), the only automaker among the group.

Climate 221
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A*STAR, IREQ silicate nanoboxes as high-performance cathodes for Li-ion batteries

Green Car Congress

'Researchers from Singapore’s Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) of A*STAR and Québec’s IREQ (Hydro-Québec’s research institute) have synthesized silicate-based nanoboxes that could more than double the energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries as compared to conventional phosphate-based cathodes. A paper on their work is published in the journal Nano Energy.

Li-ion 190
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Park24 and Toyota to trial i-Road sharing service in central Tokyo

Green Car Congress

'Starting in April, Park24 Co., Ltd. and Toyota Motor Corporation will trial a car-sharing service in central Tokyo using the Toyota “i-Road”, an ultra-compact three-wheeled electric vehicle. ( Earlier post.) The i-Road, designed for flexibility and ease of use, will be paired with Park24’s “Times Car Plus” service, which allows members to use share cars at any time of day or night.

Toyota 183
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Tennessee DEC announces Sustainable Transportation Awards and Forum

Green Car Congress

'Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau announced the launch of the TDEC Sustainable Transportation Awards initiative to recognize outstanding and voluntary achievements by governments, businesses, industries, public and private institutions of higher learning, and utilities that demonstrate leadership in advancing sustainable transportation in the State.