Green Car Congress

MARCH 27, 2015

'DTNA’s SuperTruck was unveiled at the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show. Click to enlarge. Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) SuperTruck program has achieved 115% freight efficiency improvement (gallons of fuel consumed per ton of goods moved per mile traveled)—surpassing the Department of Energy (DOE) program’s goal of 50% improvement and exhibiting the best results of all reporting OEMs. ( Earlier post.

2009 294

2009 Engine Detroit Oregon 294

Green Car Reports

MARCH 27, 2015

'We spend more time than we probably should in grumbling at media coverage of plug-in electric cars. Journalists try to get it right, in general, but often the specific and complex issues around electric cars, who buys them, and how they''re really used get lost or ignored in general reporting. At one reader''s suggestion, then, here are the five.

Electric Cars 131

Electric Cars Plug-in Cars Plug 131

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Five years and more than 35,000 European sales since the launch of its all-electric LEAF, proprietary data released by Nissan show that 99.99% of its battery units remain entirely fit for purpose. The failure rate of the battery power unit is less than 0.01 percent—three units in total—a fraction of the equivalent industry-wide figure for defects affecting traditional combustion engines.

Nissan 286

Nissan Batteries Battery Europe 286

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2015

'Siemens researchers have developed a new electric motor that, with a weight of just 50 kilograms (110 lbs), delivers a continuous output of about 260 kW—five times more than comparable drive systems. The motor was specially designed for use in aircraft. Due to its record-setting power-to-weight ratio, larger aircraft with takeoff weights of up to two tons will now be able to use electric drives for the first time, Siemens said.

Motor 269

Motor Motors Motoring Hybrid 269

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Norway

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'In the 2015 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and in the Le Mans 24 Hours as the season’s pinnacle event, Audi will compete with a thoroughly revised R18 e-tron quattro diesel hybrid racer in the 4-megajoule class. ( Earlier post.) A two-fold quantity of hybrid energy, fundamentally revised aerodynamics, the next step in lightweight design and detailed optimization work characterize the fifth generation of the Audi R18.

Audi 265

Audi 2015 Diesel Hybrid 265

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2015

'by Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. Oil companies continue to get burned by low oil prices, but the pain is bleeding over into the financial industry. Major banks are suffering huge losses from both directly backing some struggling oil companies, but also from buying high-yield debt that is now going sour. The Wall Street Journal reported that tens of millions of dollars have gone up in smoke on loans made to the energy industry by Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, and UBS.

Energy 263

Energy Oil Prices Oil Price 263

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'GM will introduce a strong hybrid version of the next-generation Malibu. Using technology from the 2016 Chevrolet Volt propulsion system ( earlier post ), Malibu Hybrid will offer an estimated combined fuel economy rating exceeding 45 mpg (5.22 l/100 km), higher than the combined cycle mileage ratings of the Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata hybrid variants and a significant boost over the 29 mpg combined of the MY 2015 Malibu with 2.5L engine with start/stop.

Fuel Economy 246

Fuel Economy Malibu Hybrid MPG Volt 246

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Purdue researchers have developed a process to manufacture carbon-nanoparticle and microsheet anodes for Li-ion batteries from polystyrene and starch-based packing peanuts, respectively. The work, performed by postdoc Vinodkumar Etacheri, Professor Vilas Pol and undergraduate chemical engineering student Chulgi Nathan Hong, is being presented at the 249 th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in Denver.

Li-ion 244

Li-ion Convert Batteries Battery 244

Green Car Congress

MARCH 21, 2015

'At the recent ISTAT (International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading) Americas conference, Randy Tinseth, vice president, marketing for Boeing Commercial Airplanes unveiled a series of product improvements that will be available on the 777-300ER, the 777-200LR and the 777 Freighter. Baseline engine, airplane weight and aerodynamic improvements will be phased into production by the third quarter of 2016, lowering trip fuel use by 2%.

Fuel 235

Fuel 2016 Engine America 235

Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'BASF and Floatility have partnered for the development of an ultra-lightweight and solar-powered electric scooter. Weighing less than 12 kilograms (26.5 lbs) and consisting of more than 80% composite and plastic materials from BASF, the scooter will give commuters the sensation of floating and thus has been named ‘e-floater’. The e-floater is designed to bridge the gap on the last mile between home or city center and the nearest public transport.

Solar 233

Solar Power Powered Personal 233

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Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'Keeping pace with its announced intention to roll out 10 plug-in hybrids by 2017 ( earlier post ), Mercedes-Benz introduced the new GLE550 e 4MATIC plug-in hybrid (PHEV) along with the other members of the new GLE family of full-size SUVs. The GLE550 e is Mercedes-Benz’ first plug-in hybrid SUV. The high-performance SUV models, the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 4MATIC and the GLE63 S 4MATIC, will also celebrate their world premieres at the same time at the New York International Auto Show.

Plug-in 228

Plug-in Mercedes SUV Plug 228

Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'Process for determining compliance status. Source: EPA. Click to enlarge. For the second consecutive model year, the automotive industry outperformed the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards by a wide margin, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) second annual Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Light Duty Vehicles: Manufacturer’s Performance Report.

Standards 228

Standards EPA Emissions 2013 228

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'EV Connect, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, including a cloud-based software platform for managing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, their interaction with utilities and the driver experience, entered into a joint marketing and product agreement with GE’s Industrial Solutions business. Under the terms of the agreement, GE will be a preferred charging station supplier of EV Connect, and EV Connect will be a preferred management provider for GE charging stations wor

Connect 228

Connect Connected Los Angeles Charging 228

Green Car Congress

MARCH 21, 2015

'Daimler is investing about €1 billion (US$1.07 billion) in the Mercedes-Benz plant in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and is transforming it into a center of competence for highly efficient engines, hybrid powertrains and the production of fuel cell systems. From 1 June, Untertürkheim will assume responsibility for a facility in Nabern in the greater Stuttgart area where assembly of the fuel cell system will take place.

Engine 226

Engine Hybrid Mercedes Fuel 226

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Guyana

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'FEV GmbH, headquartered in Aachen, Germany has acquired French test systems and engineering service provider D2T Powertrain Engineering S.A. FEV GmbH takes over the business of D2T in France, its subsidiaries in Germany, China, the US and interests in South Korea and Japan. Through this strategic expansion, FEV, a leading provider of engineering services for powertrain and vehicle technologies expands its expertise in the test systems business area, in particular.

South Korea 223

South Korea France Germany Mariner 223

Green Car Congress

MARCH 22, 2015

'The US Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released final rule covering hydraulic fracturing on public and American Indian lands. As of 30 June 2014, there were approximately 47,000 active oil and gas leases on public lands, and approximately 95,000 oil and gas wells. Of wells currently being drilled, more than 90% use hydraulic fracturing.

Oil 221

Oil Water Gas MIT 221

Green Car Congress

MARCH 22, 2015

'Researchers at Rutgers University have developed a new noble metal-free catalyst—Ni 5 P 4 (nickel-5 phosphide-4)—performing on par with platinum for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in both strong acid and base. The development, the team concludes in a paper published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science , can offer a key step towards industrially relevant electrolyzers competing with conventional H 2 sources.

Hydrogen 220

Hydrogen Conversion Water Solar 220

Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'Russian commercial vehicle manufacturer KAMAZ is proposing to create an artificial city as a testing ground for unmanned vehicles. The project will cost about 5 billion rubles (US$87 million). In it, trucks without drivers will test out moving through traffic and navigating complex intersections and pedestrian crossings. Models of cars, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians will be placed on the testing ground.

Russia 218

Russia Pakistan Kazakhstan Iran 218

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Honda is introducing new lease programs for both existing and prospective Fit EV customers in the US. For current, eligible Fit EV customers, Honda is offering a two-year lease extension that includes a lower $199 monthly payment (previously $259) and extends the unlimited mileage, routine maintenance and collision coverage that were included in the original lease.

Honda 218

Honda EPA 2014 Volt 218

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'Kenworth will now offer the Maxwell Technologies ultracapacitor-based Engine Start Module (ESM) ( earlier post ) as a factory-installed option on new Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks. Kenworth dealers have offered the ESM as an aftermarket solution since 2011. With increasing demand for reliable truck engine starting, Kenworth is now the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to offer Maxwell’s ESM as a factory-installed option.

Kenworth 214

Kenworth Installation Engine North America 214

Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'Under a newly signed agreement, ChargePoint will install Australia-based Tritium’s Veefil DC fast charging stations ( earlier post ) across the US. The 50 kW Tritium stations are able to charge all cars equipped for DC fast charging, using the included SAE-Combo connector or a CHAdeMO connector. Tesla drivers will be able to use the CHAdeMO connector with an adapter slated to go on sale shortly.

Charging 214

Charging DC Maintenance Installation 214

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'The California Energy Commissions has selected 9 projects to receive a combined $24,873,512 in proposed funding for cost share in the field demonstration of advanced medium- and heavy-duty on-road vehicle technologies—primarily battery electric and fuel cell technology—that may become commercially available in California. The match amount for the nine projects is $17,212,984.

California 214

California Energy Davis USA 214

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2015

'Advanced Battery Technologies signed a strategic partnership agreement with Jiangsu Duke New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd to supply its fast charging lithium-ion batteries for Jiangsu Duke’s 20,000 electronic sports cars in 2015. Jiangsu Duke New Energy Automobile specializes in research and development, design and manufacture of its Supercar-branded electric sports cars.

Automobile 209

Automobile Li-ion Lithium Ion Supplies 209

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Consumer Watchdog has petitioned the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reject a PG&E proposal for a major buildout of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on grounds that it will raise costs for ratepayers while stifling innovation.( Earlier post.). In February, PG&E filed an application with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for permission to build an estimated 25,000 electric vehicle (EV) chargers at sites across its service area in Northern and Central

Charging 209

Charging California Installation 2018 209

Green Car Congress

MARCH 21, 2015

'Hainan Airlines made China’s first passenger flight with sustainable aviation biofuel, a key environmental milestone for China’s commercial aviation industry. The regularly scheduled Hainan Airlines flight—which carried more than 100 passengers from Shanghai to Beijing in a Next-Generation 737-800—used biofuel made by Sinopec from waste cooking oil collected from restaurants in China.

Commercial 207

Commercial Africa Brazil China 207

Green Car Congress

MARCH 27, 2015

'In 2012, Toyota Motor introduced its new development framework, the Toyota New Global Architecture. ( Earlier post.) Designed to balance product advances with cost reductions, TNGA supports the grouping of the development of new vehicles to promote strategic sharing of parts and powertrain components. One goal is the reduction of resources required for development by 20% or more.

Toyota 200

Toyota 2020 Vehicles 2008 200

Green Car Congress

MARCH 25, 2015

'XALT Energy (originally founded in 2009 as Dow-Kokam, LLC), a leading developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion batteries, signed a global exclusive agreement with Hybrid Kinetic Group (HK Group) of China for the supply of its Lithium Titanate (LTO) batteries from its manufacturing facilities in Midland, Michigan for all-electric buses in China. Production is expected to begin during the third quarter of 2015.

China 200

China Lithium Ion Supplies Lithium Titanate 200

Green Car Congress

MARCH 26, 2015

'SABIC has introduced a thermoplastic roof fairing concept that can potentially reduce annual fuel consumption of a heavy-duty truck by at least 3%. SABIC’s design concept is aerodynamically optimized to deflect air by accelerating airflow through and across the top and sides of the roof fairing. The result is a significant drop in drag, up to 5.9%, improving the aerodynamic performance and fuel efficiency of a heavy-duty truck.

Fuel Economy 197

Fuel Economy Concept Economy Fuel 197

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'DeltaWing Technology Group is beginning development of a DeltaWing GT race car concept. The racer will be designed to demonstrate that with far less horsepower than many of today’s best sports cars, a two-seat performance car based on the DeltaWing architecture would deliver the same performance, yet with previously unattained fuel economy and efficiency.

Legal 197

Legal Concept Cars Audi 197

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Imports of biomass-based diesel fuel (both biodiesel and renewable diesel) into the US fell 36% to 333 million gallons in 2014, following record levels of imports in 2013 according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). EIA attributed the decline mainly to uncertainty surrounding future Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets and the absence of a late-year influx of volumes from Argentina.

2014 197

2014 Renewable Diesel Argentina 197

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2015

'Innovate UK will award £1.1 million (US$1.6 million) to a consortium of UK companies and academic partners led by Steatite for the research and development of the next generation of Lithium batteries for marine autonomous systems. In addition to Steatite, whose speciality is the design and manufacture of lithium battery pack solutions, collaborators include Li-sulfur battery company OXIS Energy, underwater vehicle designers and manufacturers MSubs Ltd, and the National Oceanography Centre (NOC)

Mariner 195

Mariner Lithium Sulfur Li-ion Batteries 195

Green Car Congress

MARCH 23, 2015

'Professor Neville Jackson, Ricardo’s chief technology and innovation officer, presented the results of a research project carried out by the Automotive Council UK to establish a long-term (to 2050) transition from current gasoline and diesel fuels to a majority renewable energy portfolio. Inputs to the new Energy & Fuels Roadmap included recent UK & EU studies on automotive technologies, as well as roadmaps for passenger cars, commercial vehicles and internal combustion engines previously publi

Gas 195

Gas Transportation Fuel Power 195

Green Car Congress

MARCH 27, 2015

'Before the end of the decade, Mercedes-Benz will launch the first pickup from a premium manufacturer. The new Mercedes-Benz midsize pickup will initially be targeted at markets in Latin America, South Africa, Australia, and Europe, all of which are posting sustained growth in this segment. The Mercedes-Benz pickup will contribute nicely to our global growth targets.

Mercedes 190

Mercedes South Africa Africa Plug-in 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 24, 2015

'EV bus manufacturer Proterra Inc. congratulated its customers on logging one million miles in revenue service. The company celebrated this achievement with an event at its plant in Greenville, S.C. honoring its transit agency partners for their leadership as EV pioneers. Proterra presented each transit agency with an award recognizing them as one of the early pioneers in EV bus technology adoption and honoring their role in building the future of mass transit and sustainable urban mobility.

San Antonio 190

San Antonio Miles Manufacturer Louisville 190