Sat.Apr 25, 2015 - Fri.May 01, 2015

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U Toronto studies find traffic emissions spread farther than thought; 25% of cars causing 90% of pollution

Green Car Congress

A trio of recently published studies from a team of University of Toronto engineers has found that air pollution could be spreading up to three times farther than thought, contributing to varying levels of air quality across cities. Past research on tailpipe criteria pollutants has shown poor air quality anywhere between 100 to 250 meters of major roadways.

Pollution 290
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Will Tesla Model 3 Electric Car Hit 2017 Production Date?

Green Car Reports

Electric-car maker Tesla Motors has done many remarkable things in its short decade of existence--including a few the auto industry viewed as impossible. But the company has never managed to get a car into volume production on the date it first announced. That applied to its Roadster, the Model S sedan, and the Model X electric SUV. DON'T MISS.

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Jaguar bringing XE diesel to US in 2016

Green Car Congress

The Jaguar US lineup will expand in 2016 with the addition of the all new, aluminum-intensive Jaguar XE compact sports sedan in 20d (diesel) and 35t models each in Premium, Prestige and R-Sport trim levels and available in RWD or AWD. The Jaguar XE will be offered with a lighter version of the ZF 8-speed automatic used in the rest of the Jaguar range.

Diesel 254
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Phoenix Cars delivers electric flatbed truck with V2G capability to US Navy

Green Car Congress

Phoenix Cars LLC, a developer of electric vehicle technologies for the fleet market, delivered an electric Zero Emissions Utility Shuttle flatbed (ZEUS) to US Naval Base Ventura County Port Hueneme, California. Vehicle To Grid (V2G) charging capability will provide mobile power capability available for future needs. ZEUS. Click to enlarge. The fully sized electric flatbed truck will be used as a service vehicle to transport supplies and equipment for facilities maintenance around Naval Base Port

Phoenix 253
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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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Volvo Cars announces improved fuel consumption/GHG numbers for XC90 T8 Twin Engine PHEV

Green Car Congress

Volvo Cars reports that its XC90 T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid is now rated with fuel consumption of 2.1 l/100 km (112 mpg US) and 49 g CO 2 /km, with 43 km (27 miles) all-electric range on the NEDC cycle for hybrids. In December 2014, the figures were 2.5 l/100 km and 59 g/km. ( Earlier post.). Further tuning of the 7-seat luxury SUV resulted in the drop of 10 g/km from the initial prognosis, bringing fuel consumption down to 2.1 l/100 km while also adding horsepower: now 407 hp (304 kW), up fr

Volvo 246
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BMW, GM sites in top 5 US generators of onsite green power

Green Car Congress

According to the latest Top 30 list for organizations generating and consuming the most green power on-site within the EPA Green Power Partnership, BMW Manufacturing in Spartanburg, SC and General Motors’ Fort Wayne Assembly Plant rank fourth and fifth, respectively, with both using biogas. BMW. BMW Manufacturing earned a 2003 Green Power Leadership Award for using landfill gas to generate a portion of the power needed to operate its Spartanburg, South Carolina manufacturing facility.

BMW 223

More Trending

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Self-propelled catalytic microparticles boost hydrogen release from liquid storage media

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) have developed catalytically active micromotors that significantly increase the release of hydrogen from liquid storage media. In a paper in the journal Angewandte Chemie , they introduce their new concept with a model vehicle powered by a hydrogen–oxygen fuel cell. The new motion-based H 2 -generation concept relies on the continuous movement of Pt-black/Ti Janus microparticle motors in a solution of sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ).

Hydrogen 214
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EnerNOC and Tesla to collaborate on stationary energy storage

Green Car Congress

EnerNOC, Inc., a provider of energy intelligence software (EIS), will collaborate with Tesla on the deployment and management of energy storage systems in commercial and industrial buildings. Tesla announced its PowerWall line of stationary Li-ion battery storage systems last night. ( Earlier post.). EnerNOC and Tesla will enable enterprises to monetize the batteries through demand charge management and demand response using EnerNOC’s EIS.

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California Governor orders more stringent GHG reduction target for the state: 40% below 1990 levels by 2030

Green Car Congress

California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. issued an executive order (B-30-15) to establish a California greenhouse gas reduction target of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030—the most aggressive GHG reduction target enacted by any government in North America to reduce GHG emissions over the next decade and a half. Under the order, all state agencies with jurisdiction over sources of greenhouse gas emissions will need to implement measures, pursuant to statutory authority, to achieve reductions of

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HRL Labs video demonstrates principle of thermal battery based on advanced metal hydrides for EV heating and cooling

Green Car Congress

In 2011, the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) awarded $2.7 million to a team comprising researchers from the University of Utah, HRL Laboratories and GM Global R&D for a project to develop a new generation of high-density thermal battery based on advanced metal hydrides. ( Earlier post.) The goal of the project, part of ARPA-E’s HEATS (High Energy Advanced Thermal Storage) portfolio, was to develop a compact thermal battery for climate control in electric vehicles.

Batteries 207
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Heliocentris launches HyDrive Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Trainer

Green Car Congress

Germany-based Heliocentris has launched HyDrive – Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Trainer as part of its training systems product family. HyDrive—targeted at academic programs—provides students with a hands-on experiment set to examine the construction, functionality and benefits of fuel cell hybrid electric vehicles. HyDrive. Click to enlarge.

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European Parliament votes to cap crop-derived biofuels at 7% of transport energy consumption by 2020

Green Car Congress

The European Parliament approved a draft law to to cap crop-derived biofuel consumption and accelerate the shift to alternative sources. Member states must enact the legislation by 2017. Current legislation requires EU member states to ensure that renewable energy accounts for at least 10% of energy consumption in transport by 2020. The new law says that first-generation biofuels (from crops grown on agricultural land) should account for no more than 7% of energy consumption in transport by 2020

2020 197
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UC Berkeley/Berkeley Lab teams develops high-rate, long-life Li-S battery with Li2S-graphene cathode

Green Car Congress

Li 2 S/GO@C Nanosphere. Credit: ACS, Hwa et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers with appointments at both UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a high-rate and long-life Li-sulfur battery cell. The cathode material is a core–shell nanostructure comprising Li 2 S nanospheres with an embedded graphene oxide (GO) sheet as a core material and a conformal carbon layer as a shell.

Li-ion 195
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Li-ion maker Electrovaya acquires Evonik Litarion and licenses SEPARION IP

Green Car Congress

Canada-based Li-ion developer and manufacturer Electrovaya Inc. has completed the acquisition of Evonik Litarion GmbH and the licensing of the ceramic composite separator SEPARION intellectual property from Evonik. The transaction includes an advanced and automated production plant for lithium-ion electrodes and ceramic composite separators, with a rated capacity of 0.5 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of electrodes and 10 million m 2 of ceramic separators along with all associated intellectual property.

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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Japan Ministries propose light commercial vehicle fuel economy standards for 2022

Green Car Congress

In a policy update, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) reports that Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) and Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) have finalized new proposed fuel economy standards for light- and medium-duty commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weights less than 3.5 tonnes.

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PATHION develops new LiRAP-based solid-state electrolytes for Li-sulfur and sodium-ion batteries

Green Car Congress

At the Spring 2015 Materials Research Conference in San Francisco earlier this month, PATHION presented two new derivative superionic solid-state electrolytes built upon LiRAP (Lithium-Rich Anti-Perovskite). PATHION has an exclusive worldwide license for LiRAP from Los Alamos National Laboratories. Supported by an ARPA-E grant, LiRAP has proven to be a safe alternative compared to the liquid electrolytes used in most of today’s lithium ion batteries.

Li-ion 195
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Extending low-load limit of HCCI through adjusting two fuel injection parameters

Green Car Congress

A team comprising researchers from GM R&D, the University of Michigan, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia, Volvo Car Corporation and Stony Brook University reports in a paper in the International Journal of Engine Research that an optimal adjustment of two fuel injection parameters— injection pressure and spray cone angle—can significantly extend the low-load limit of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) through a delayed fuel injecti

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More Tesla stationary ESS partnerships: Cargill and PG&E, LichtBlick

Green Car Congress

Following last night’s unveiling of Tesla Motors’ new lineup of stationary energy storage systems ( earlier post ), more early partners and pilots are emerging. ( Earlier post.). Cargill. Cargill is collaborating with Tesla and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to install a 1 MWh Tesla energy storage product at the company’s Fresno, California beef processing facility.

Fresno 190
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BRUSA Elektronik AG licenses WiTricity patent portfolio for wireless charging

Green Car Congress

BRUSA Elektronik AG, a leading global supplier of advanced power electronics for electrified vehicles, will license WiTricity’s patented intellectual property to commercialize efficient, high-performance wireless charging systems for carmakers. BRUSA’s “ICS” wireless charging system, utilizing WiTricity’s patented technology, can transfer power to a vehicle safely and at high efficiency, eliminating the need for the charging cables required by existing electrified vehicles.

Charging 190
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VIA Motors launches Chicago voucher program for fleet and businesses for extended range EVs

Green Car Congress

VIA Motors announced a voucher program for Chicago-area fleet and business owners that will reduce the initial costs of owning a VIA Motors extended range pickup truck, extended range electric passenger van, or extended range electric cargo van. Incorporating a proprietary power train, the V-DRIVE, into new OEM vehicles, VIA Motors sells units directly to fleets under the VTRUX brand name.

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DOE to re-fund Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis with $75M for solar fuels R&D

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy announced $75 million in funding to renew the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis ( JCAP ), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub originally established in 2010 with the goal of harnessing solar energy for the production of fuel. ( Earlier post.). Under the renewal plan, the five-year-old center would receive funding for an additional five years of research, subject to Congressional appropriations.

Solar 190
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Navigant now forecasting slower growth for 48V systems

Green Car Congress

In January 2014, Navigant Research forecast a slow start through the end of this decade but then a quick ramp from 2020 to 2023 for light-duty vehicles with 48V electrical subsystems, with sales reaching nearly 13.5 million worldwide by 2023. ( Earlier post.) In an update, Navigant has significantly pared back its expectations for 48V growth, now forecasting that global annual sales of new cars with any form of 48V system are now not expected to exceed 1 million until after 2020, after which gro

2014 190
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AVIS Denmark orders 401 Nissan e-NV200 vans and 60 more LEAFs; largest fleet of Nissan EVs in Europe

Green Car Congress

Nissan and AVIS Denmark have signed a deal to create the largest fleet of Nissan electric vehicles anywhere in Europe, with a new order of 401 Nissan e-NV200 vans and a further 60 units of the battery-electric Nissan LEAF, brining its total EV fleet to date to 861 vehicles. In 2014 AVIS ordered 400 Nissan LEAF electric cars and after successfully placing them through its leasing scheme.

Denmark 188
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Opinion: Have Natural Gas Prices Bottomed?

Green Car Congress

by Leonard Brecken of Oilprice.com. Last Friday we finally got confirmation of where all the natural gas supply has been coming from as Cabot (COG) reported its earnings. Just like Chesapeake (CHK), they reduced natural gas output, but on a much grander scale. CHK has yet to report and will do so on May 6 th providing even more color on the subject.

Gas 188
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GM investing $5.4B in US plant improvements over next 3 years

Green Car Congress

General Motors will invest $5.4 billion in US plant improvements over the next three years; an initial $783.5 million is headed for three Michigan facilities. $124 million for Pontiac Metal Center; $520 million for tooling and equipment for future new vehicle programs at the Lansing Delta Township assembly plant; $139.5 million for a new body shop and stamping facility upgrades at Pre-Production Operations in Warren.

GM 183
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Cargill acquires OPX Biotechnologies’ fermentation-based processes and systems

Green Car Congress

Cargill has acquired OPX Biotechnologies' proprietary fermentation-based processes and systems. These technologies are used to produce bio-based chemicals from sugars for use in non-food applications such as lubricants, detergents, plastics, agrichemicals and personal care products. Cargill is already a large supplier of carbohydrates and other biotech offerings.

Renewable 183
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Universal LNG Solutions rolling out Class 8 LNG truck fleet for pilot

Green Car Congress

Universal LNG Solutions ( ULNG ) has introduced the first four trucks in a fleet of 95 of liquefied natural gas (LNG) big rigs at the campus of Sancus Energy, an LNG processing technology company. The trucks are Freightliner Cascadia models with Cummins Westport ISX 12G 400hp engines and can haul 80,000 pounds of goods for more than 700 miles (1,127 km) per fill-up.

Universal 183
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Audi and partners advancing intelligent laser adaptive headlights; Matrix Laser technology

Green Car Congress

Audi and its partners Bosch, Osram and the Lichttechnischen Institut (LTI; “Lighting Technology Institute”) of the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT) are working on the project “intelligent laser light for compact and high-resolution adaptive headlights” (iLaS), sponsored by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research. The Matrix Laser technology and its high resolution will make roadway illumination even more flexible and highly versatile, in all situations.

Audi 183
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Volkswagen Group to tweet bits from its new sustainability report; role of EVs in China

Green Car Congress

The Volkswagen Group will present its annual sustainability report on Twitter for the first time. Snippets on topics of economic, environmental and social sustainability will appear as tweets on twitter.com/vwgroup_en (hashtag #VWCSR). The complete sustainability report for 2014 will be published next Monday, 4 May. The new report will includes essays on strategically relevant topics from Board of Management members.

China 183
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DOE launches wave energy competition

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy (DOE) opened the registration period for the new Wave Energy Prize competition that aims to double the state-of-the-art performance of wave energy conversion (WEC) devices over the next two years. DOE announced the Wave Energy Prize at the International Marine Renewable Energy Conference co-located at the National Hydropower Association Annual Conference.

Energy 183
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Volvo Group invests in Peloton Technology and its platooning technology

Green Car Congress

Volvo Group Venture Capital, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, has invested in Peloton Technology , a developer of vehicle technologies that deliver safety and fuel savings to fleets in the trucking industry. 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.

Volvo 183
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Quantum receives follow-on orders from Linde for retail dispensers to support California’s H2 infrastructure

Green Car Congress

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide has received multiple orders from Linde North America to develop and manufacture additional retail hydrogen fueling dispensers for the further development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure in California. The hydrogen dispensers are targeted to be delivered to and commissioned by Linde North America around the fourth quarter of 2015.

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Bayer MaterialScience names BioAmber as bio-succinic acid supplier for new bio-based polyurethanes for textiles

Green Car Congress

p> Bayer MaterialScience has chosen BioAmber Inc. ( earlier post ) as the supplier of bio-succinic acid used to produce a new range of innovative, bio-based polyurethanes for textile applications that Bayer MaterialScience has begun commercializing. Bayer MaterialScience has launched IMPRANIL eco, a series of bio-based waterborne polyurethane dispersions with renewable content that reaches as high as 65%.

Renewable 183
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Allison Transmission introduces more fuel-efficient xFE transmission models for buses; up to 7% improvement

Green Car Congress

Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. announced a new series of bus transmissions that incorporate the latest advances in fuel economy technology. Referred to as xFE, designating extra fuel economy, the fully automatic bus transmissions have demonstrated improvements up to 7% in addition to the company’s FuelSense features. Models with xFE are new transmissions with the same space claim and ratings as current models, but incorporate optimized gear ratios coupled with the FuelSense Max package.

St. Louis 174