May, 2015

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Reduced graphene oxide separator improves performance of Li-sulfur battery

Green Car Congress

Researchers in have shown that a lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery with a reduced graphen oxide (rGO) -coated separator exhibits much smaller impedance and much better electrochemical performance than cells with an uncoated separator. After coating with rGO, the initial discharge capacity can be as large as 1067 mAh g −1 at 0.2 C; the cell can retain 878 mAh g −1 after 100 cycles; and the discharge capacity can reach 710 mAh g −1 even at 2 C.

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Town Bully Laughed Out of Court

Creative Greenius

This morning I met my friend Ron at the Torrance Traffic Court just a 15 minute drive from my house. I had other things on my to do list, but Ron asked me to be there to testify on his behalf. I first met Ron when we were both working on the No Oil Drilling in Hermosa Beach campaign with Keep Hermosa Hermosa. Ron was in court because the same bully who chased me down in his SUV on the streets of Hermosa and then tried to intimidate me by making phony claims about having a restraining order out

Oil 262
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Zero Electric Motorcycles Cuts Prices, Sells To Police, Gets Big Grant Too

Green Car Reports

While its competitor Brammo sold itself to Polaris, the electric-motorcycle maker Zero continues to follow its own path. Each year it has significantly improved the performance of its line of motorcycles. And, Zero Motorcycles has attracted high-level executives from within the motorcycle and automotive industries. DON'T MISS: 2015 Electric.

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DARPA program integrates non-mechanical optical scanning tech on microchip; new class of low-cost, miniature LIDAR could support autonomous vehicle apps

Green Car Congress

DARPA’s Short-range Wide-field-of-view Extremely agile Electronically steered Photonic EmitteR ( SWEEPER ) program has successfully integrated breakthrough non-mechanical optical scanning technology onto a microchip. Freed from the traditional scanning architecture of gimbaled mounts, lenses and servos, SWEEPER technology has demonstrated that it can sweep a laser back and forth more than 100,000 times per second, 10,000 times faster than current state-of-the-art mechanical systems.

Low Cost 232
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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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Voith receives order for high-volume production of CFRP components for future Audi model

Green Car Congress

Audi AG has placed an order with Voith for the high-volume production of a CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) component for a future Audi model. Voith and Audi will jointly prepare the manufacturing ramp-up for the CFRP component. The order is one more important step in developing the industrialization of composite production. Voith founded Voith Composites GmbH & Co.

Audi 195
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EPA proposes volume requirements for Renewable Fuel Standard for 2014-2016

Green Car Congress

Adhering to a schedule in a proposed consent decree ( earlier post ), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its long-awaited proposed volume requirements (renewable volume obligations, RVO) ( earlier post ) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and also proposed volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2017.

2014 200

More Trending

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Daimler enters stationary energy storage market with ACCUmotive battery systems; 500 kWh unit already on line for grid stabilization

Green Car Congress

Daimler is entering the commercial and residential stationary energy storage system (ESS) market with its wholly-owned subsidiary Deutsche ACCUmotive. The announcement comes four weeks after Tesla Motors announced its own entry into the ESS market with the home PowerWall Li-ion battery system ( earlier post ), although Daimler has been considering the move for several years.

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MIRA and FPTI partner in Brazil to develop new Li-ion battery for stationary and transportation applications

Green Car Congress

UK-based advanced vehicle and systems technology consultancy MIRA Ltd. announced a collaborative agreement with Fundação Parque Tecnológico Itaipu ( FPTI ) to develop a new centre of excellence for energy storage in Brazil. Their first project together will focus on the research and development for a new and flexible architecture lithium battery for stationary power and transportation applications.

Brazil 190
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First Dragon-class ethane carriers w/ Wärtsilä integrated systems and engines delivered

Green Car Congress

The first in a series of 27,500 cbm Dragon-class ethane carriers ordered by Evergas is being delivered from the Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering (SOE) shipyard in China. The vessel features a comprehensive Wärtsilä solutions package, including two Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines, Wärtsilä propulsion equipment including the gearbox, two Wärtsilä 20DF auxiliary generating sets, a Wärtsilä LNG fuel system and a Wärtsilä cargo handling system. ( Earlier post.).

Engine 174
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Vanadium oxide microspheres as high performance Li-ion anodes

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the Beijing Institute of Technology have developed hydrangea-like amorphous mixed-valence VO x (vanadium oxide) microspheres (a-VO x MSs) for use as Li-ion anode materials. The a-VO x MSs—composed of intercrossed nanosheets, thus constituting a 3D network structure—show excellent lithium-storage performance in terms of high capacity, good rate capability, and long-term stability upon extended cycling.

Li-ion 183
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Toyota revamps Auris powertrain lineup, including hybrid; debut of new 1.2L turbo with Otto/Atkinson technology

Green Car Congress

Toyota’s 2015 Auris range in Europe features significant improvements in five key areas; design; sensory quality; the hybrid model; safety; and, improving the model’s segment coverage by some 40%, powertrains. Toyota had introduced the facelifted Auris at the Geneva show earlier this year. ( Earlier post.). Reflecting changing trends in the C-segment market which call for further reductions in fuel consumption, emissions and cost of ownership without detriment to performance or driving pleasure,

Toyota 174
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New Si-based multicomponent anode exhibits high-performance for Li-ion batteries

Green Car Congress

Researchers in S. Korea have designed a novel silicon-based multicomponent anode material for high energy density Li-ion batteries. The Si-based multicomponent anode delivers high capacity of ~1000 mAh g -1 , highly stable cycling retention (~65% after 1000 cycles at 1C), excellent rate capability (~800 mAh g -1 at 10 C), and remarkably suppressed volume expansion (12% after 100 cycles).

Li-ion 183
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Sandia RAPTOR turbulent combustion code selected for next-gen Summit supercomputer readiness project

Green Car Congress

RAPTOR , a turbulent combustion code developed by Sandia National Laboratories mechanical engineer Dr. Joseph Oefelein, was selected as one of 13 partnership projects for the Center for Accelerated Application Readiness (CAAR). CAAR is a US Department of Energy program located at the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility and is focused on optimizing computer codes for the next generation of supercomputers.

Universal 174
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DOE announces $26.6M SBIR/STTR FY15 Phase 1 Release 2 awards; fuel cells, batteries, power electronics and efficient combustion engines

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 162 projects to receive about $26.6 million in the 2015 Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Phase I Release 2 Awards. ( Earlier post.) Of these, 16 are vehicle-related, encompassing projects developing batteries, power electronics and improved combustion engine technology including on-board reformers, and two are specifically hydrogen fuel cell-related.

Li-ion 195
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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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IHS forecasts global EV charger market to grow to more than 12.7M units in 2020

Green Car Congress

The global EV Charger (EVC) market is forecast to grow from more than 1 million units in 2014 to more than 12.7 million units in 2020, according to a new EV Charging Infrastructure report by IHS Inc. IHS Automotive foresees that AC charging—i.e., Level 1 and 2 charging, the dominant type now—will play a crucial role in the public domain of the EV charging infrastructure.

2020 282
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UK study provides observational evidence linking ocean circulation to weather and decadal-scale climate change

Green Car Congress

A new study by scientists from the University of Southampton and the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) suggests that the global climate is on the verge of broad-scale change that could last for a number of decades. The change to the new set of climatic conditions is associated with a cooling of the Atlantic, and is likely to bring drier summers in Britain and Ireland; accelerated sea-level rise along the northeast coast of the United States; and drought in the developing countries of the S

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Volkswagen Tiguan gets new range of diesel engines; up to 17g/km cut in CO2

Green Car Congress

Volkswagen has updated some key equipment specifications of the Tiguan for the new model year. Along with a new generation of engines, the compact SUV now also offers new radio and radio navigation systems. The Tiguan has been one of Volkswagen’s global best sellers for more than seven years. The 2-liter diesel engines will have more power. The output of the 103 kW (138 hp) engine was increased to 110 kW (148 hp), while the 130 kW (174 hp) engine now delivers 135 kW (181 hp).

Engine 174
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U Waterloo team identifies key reaction in sodium-air batteries; implications for improving Li-air

Green Car Congress

Chemists at the University of Waterloo have identified the key reaction that takes place in sodium-air batteries. The researchers from the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, led by Professor Linda Nazar who holds the Canada Research Chair in Solid State Energy Materials, have described a key mediation pathway that explains why sodium-oxygen batteries are more energy efficient when compared with their lithium-oxygen counterparts.

Sodium 203
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Oxea launches new phthalate-free plasticizer as C8/C10 trimellitate replacement

Green Car Congress

Oxea is expanding its phthalate-free plasticizer portfolio with the introduction of Oxsoft L9 (linear trinonyltrimellitate). Oxsoft L9 is suited for special applications where products must meet the most rigid demands, such as the manufacture of resilient and durable high temperature automotive cables that comply with the most severe requirements in this industry.

Oman 174
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DENSO invests in truck platooning company Peloton; platooning as managed service

Green Car Congress

DENSO International America, Inc. has entered into an investment agreement with Peloton Technology, a developer of platooning systems for large truck transportation fleets. Peloton’s truck platooning system is an integrated safety, efficiency and analytics platform that builds on advanced safety technologies such as collision mitigation and adaptive cruise control systems.

Companies 174
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Ford opens portfolio of patented technologies to competitors to accelerate industry-wide electrified vehicle development

Green Car Congress

Ford Motor Company is offering competitors access to its electrified vehicle technology patents in a move to help accelerate industry-wide research and development of electrified vehicles. In 2014, Ford filed more than 400 patents dedicated to electrified vehicle technologies. This is more than 20% of the patents the company filed, totaling more than 2,000 applications.

Ford 277
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Ford partners with Haier, Trina Solar and Delta Electronics to launch MyEnergi Lifestyle in China

Green Car Congress

At Consumer Electronics Show Asia, Ford launched a strategic collaboration with Haier (home appliance), Trina Solar (solar power) and Delta Electronics (power management) to introduce MyEnergi Lifestyle ( earlier post ) to China, a holistic approach for lowering the energy costs and carbon footprint of Chinese families. MyEnergi Lifestyle, designed to address China’s energy needs and air quality concerns, showcases how combining renewable energy sources, efficient home appliances and a plug-in v

Solar 214
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Lamborghini confirms SUV, launch in 2018

Green Car Congress

Lamborghini, a Volkswagen Group company, confirmed that a luxury SUV will join its product range as its third series model, with market introduction planned for 2018. A concept of the car was first presented as the Lamborghini Urus in 2012 at the Beijing auto show. This will be Lamborghini’s first SUV since the LM002, which was built between 1986 and 1993.

2018 188
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Amyris/Cosan JV Novvi introduces 100% renewable Group III and IV base oils

Green Car Congress

Novvi LLC, a joint venture of Amyris, Inc. and Cosan S.A. Industria e Comercio, unveiled two new 100% renewable base oil—the main component of motor oils—products: a renewable polyalphaolefin (PAO) Group IV and a renewable version of its NovaSpec Group III+ base oil. The new base oil products add to Novvi’s growing portfolio of renewable oils.

Oil 174
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GM and Shanghai Jiao Tong University begin vehicle sharing pilot program with EN-V 2.0 fleet

Green Car Congress

General Motors and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have begun a two-year vehicle sharing pilot program in Shanghai featuring 16 Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 ( earlier post ) electric concept vehicles. ( Earlier post.) The EN-V 2.0 pilot vehicles will be integrated into the multi-modal transportation system at SJTU’s Minhang campus alongside bicycles, cars and shuttle buses.

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Honda targets new Guinness World Records title for fuel efficiency with 8,500-mile diesel drive across Europe

Green Car Congress

Honda aims to win a new Guinness World Records title for fuel efficiency in an 8,500-mile (13,679 km) drive across all 24 contiguous EU countries in a 1.6 i-DTEC diesel engined Honda Civic Tourer. In the Civic Tourer, the 1.6 i-DTEC engine provides 120 PS (118 hp, 88 kW) of power and 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) of torque, 62 mpg US (3.8 l/100 km) on the European combined cycle, a range of 817 miles on one tank of fuel and CO 2 emissions of 99 g/km.

Honda 190
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Hydrogenics and Alstom Transport to develop and commercialize H2 fuel-cell commuter trains in Europe; €50M, 10-year agreement

Green Car Congress

Hydrogenics Corporation, a leading developer and manufacturer of hydrogen generation and hydrogen-based power modules, signed a 10-year exclusive agreement to supply Alstom Transport with hydrogen fuel cell systems for Regional Commuter Trains in Europe. Alstom Transport is a unit of Alstom, a France-based global leader in power generation, transmission and rail infrastructure with sales of €6.2 billion.

Hydrogen 255
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Renault-Nissan Alliance to provide 200 EVs for Paris climate conference

Green Car Congress

The Renault-Nissan Alliance will provide a fleet of 200 all-electric vehicles as the official passenger-car provider for the United Nation’s COP21 climate conference in Paris later this year. The fully electric car fleet will shuttle delegates during the event from 30 November to 11 December. More than 20,000 UN participants from 195 countries are expected to attend the annual climate summit.

Climate 183
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UN Secretary-General urges transport ministers to reshape world’s transport systems

Green Car Congress

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the world’s transport ministers meeting at the International Transport Forum 2015to accelerate efforts to combat climate change and “ find new green solutions ”. Ban called sustainable transport “ a common thread ” linking the upcoming UN Summit in September in New York and the COP21 climate change conference in Paris in December.

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Navigant forecasts annual plug-in electric vehicle sales in N America to exceed 1.1M by 2024

Green Car Congress

In a new report, Navigant Research forecasts that North American plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) sales will exceed 1.1 million annually by 2024. The report, Electric Vehicle Geographic Forecasts , provides data and forecasts for LD PEV sales in North America, including US states, MSAs, and utility service territories and Canadian provinces and cities.

Plug-in 195
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Indiana U study suggests cost-effectiveness of EPA air quality regs more uncertain than commonly believed

Green Car Congress

The US EPA estimates that its air pollution regulations save thousands of lives annually. A new study by researchers at Indiana University suggests the estimates are more uncertain than commonly accepted. An open-access paper on their study appear in the Journal of Cost-Benefit Analysis. Researchers Kerry Krutilla, David H. Good and John D. Graham of the IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs analyzed the costs and expected lifesavings of nine EPA air quality regulations issued between 20

Indiana 195
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CMU study compares lifecycle GHGs of natural gas pathways for MHDVs; MD BEVs can deliver large reductions, but diesel hard to beat for Class 8

Green Car Congress

A study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers comparing life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from different natural gas pathways for medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) found that the GHG reduction potentials of the pathways vary sharply between non-Class 8 MHDVs (e.g., pick-up trucks, parcel delivery trucks, and box trucks), Class 8 transit buses, and Class 8 MHDVs (e.g., refuse trucks and tractor-trailers).

Gas 214
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GM to invest $1.2B in full-size truck plant

Green Car Congress

General Motors is investing $1.2 billion in its full-size pickup truck plant in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, for upgrades and technology that will improve the plant’s competitiveness in assembling high-quality light- and heavy-duty models. Construction of the new pre-treat, electro-coat paint operation and sealing facility, expanded body shop, expanded and new material sequencing centers, and upgraded general assembly area is expected to begin in June and take several years to complete.

GM 174
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GM Powertrain Europe strengthens collaboration with Politecnico di Torino; diesel engine focus

Green Car Congress

To mark the 10 th anniversary of the foundation of GM Powertrain Europe Turin, GM President Dan Ammann visited the engineering site and announced plans to strengthen the collaboration with the Politecnico di Torino, further expanding the engineering development center. The letter of intent with the Politecnico and the Regione Piemonte reinforces the research collaboration with the university through the growth of projects carried out by Politecnico and GMPT-E Turin as well as a project for the e

GM 174