Sat.Sep 06, 2014 - Fri.Sep 12, 2014

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Boeing successfully flight tests new ceramic composite engine nozzle; reduces noise, weight and fuel use

Green Car Congress

'Boeing recently successfully flight-tested an innovative engine nozzle made of ceramic composites designed to reduce noise and weight and to lower fuel use. The ceramic matrix composite (CMC) nozzle, attached to a Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine, went through a series of tests on the ecoDemonstrator 787 Flight Test Airplane, including community noise testing, passing over a large acoustic array in Moses Lake, Wash.

Engine 321
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Self-Driving Cars From Tesla In About 3 Years, Says CEO Elon Musk

Green Car Reports

'Autonomous vehicles have become a hot talking point in recent years, as major firms like Google continue high-profile development of the technology. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] has also expressed an interest in recent years, and now tells Nikkei that the firm could introduce self-driving technology in the next three years. Musk says.

Google 167
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Mercedes reveals spec details for new plug-in hybrid S-Class

Green Cars News

'Mercedes-Benz has announced the price and spec details for its new S 500 plug-in hybrid – which will be rated with official fuel economy of an impressive 100.9mpg on a combined cycle. Fitted with a V6 333hp bi-turbo petrol engine, an 8.7kWh lithium ion battery pack and a 116hp electric motor, the n[.].

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Boeing truck-mounted laser demonstrator destroys targets through wind and fog; “photons on target”, only diesel required

Green Car Congress

'Boeing and the US Army have demonstrated the capabilities of the truck-mounted High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator ( HEL MD ) under maritime conditions (i.e., wind and fog), successfully targeting a variety of aerial targets at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The demonstrator is the first mobile, high-energy laser, counter rocket, artillery and mortar (C-RAM) platform to be built and demonstrated by the US Army.

Wind 316
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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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Team led by Local Motors 3D-printing a car during 6-day IMTS

Green Car Congress

'The Strati is being 3D-printed at IMTS. Click to enlarge. A team led by Local Motors is 3D-printing a full vehicle body over 44 hours during the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014 and will follow it up with a first drive set to take place the morning of Saturday, 13 September. Local Motors collaborated with Cincinnati Incorporated, a large-scale manufacturing system builder; Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a pioneer in advanced materials research; and SABIC to develop and va

Motor 303
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Peugeot showcasing 208 Hybrid Air 2L Demonstrator at Paris show

Green Car Congress

'PEUGEOT is showcasing its 208 HYbrid Air 2L Demonstrator at next month’s Paris Motor Show. The 2L stands for two liters per 100 km, equivalent to 118 mpg US, and is based on a production version of the Peugeot 208 1.2-liter PureTech 82 hp 5-seater Hatchback. Peugeot’s Hybrid Air ( earlier post ) is a full-hybrid solution combining compressed air and hydraulic power, with no battery required for energy storage.

Hybrid 301

More Trending

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KIA prices 2015 Soul EV starting at $33,700

Green Car Congress

'Kia Motors America (KMA) announced pricing for the all-electric version of the Kia Soul. ( Earlier post.) Offered in two trims, Base and + (Plus), the 2015 Soul EV MSRP will be $33,700 (not including federal tax rebate of $7,500) for the Base and $35,700 for the Plus (not including federal tax rebate of $7,500). 2015 Soul EV +. Click to enlarge. With an expected introductory lease price of $249 per month, the Soul EV offers an EPA-estimated range of 93 miles (150 km) and 92 MPGe on the highway

Kia 278
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Study warns on possible air pollution link to neuroinflammatory, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s pathologies in megacity children

Green Car Congress

'Children living in polluted megacities are at increased risk for brain inflammation and neurodegenerative changes, including Alzheimer or Parkinson’s disease, according to a study led by University of Montana Professor Dr. Lilian Calderón-Garcidueñas and her colleagues. The study found when air particulate matter and their components such as metals are inhaled or swallowed, they pass through damaged barriers, including respiratory, gastrointestinal and the blood-brain barriers and can result in

Pollution 275
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Mayor of London backs diesel car scrappage scheme; London ranked 9th best world city in new air quality study

Green Car Congress

'The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has renewed calls for scrapping the most polluting diesel cars and giving drivers cash incentives to switch to cleaner vehicles as part of the evidence he gave to the Environmental Audit Committee today. The Mayor is supporting proposals for the UK Government to help motorists by offering between a £1,000 and £2,000 (US$1,614 to US$3,228) grant per vehicle for the most polluting diesels which are more than 12 months old.

London 273
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Cadillac to offer advanced V2V and semi-automated driving technologies in certain 2017 MY vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Super Cruise, GM’s semi-automated driving technology, will come to market in a new 2017 Cadillac vehicle. Click to enlarge. Cadillac will begin offering advanced “intelligent and connected” vehicle technologies on certain 2017 model year vehicles, General Motors CEO Mary Barra said Sunday during her keynote address at the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) World Congress in Detroit.

Cadillac 262
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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SwRI, UTSA researchers show biochar is low-cost, effective method to treat fracking water

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) have determined that biochar, a substance produced from plant matter, is a safe, effective and inexpensive method to treat flowback water following hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Flowback water treatment is a critical sustainability issue for the oil and gas industry.

Water 257
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Eaton launches new line of medium-duty 7-speed dual-clutch transmissions; up to 8-10% better fuel economy

Green Car Congress

'Eaton has introduced Procision, a new line of medium-duty dual-clutch transmissions, that delivers 8 to 10 percent better fuel economy than a similarly equipped vehicle with a torque converter automatic. Scheduled to be available in the North American market mid-year in 2015 and available globally in the future, the new 7-speed transmissions feature a dual-clutch design and electronic shifting that uses grade, vehicle weight and throttle input to provide optimal fuel efficiency and smooth, cont

Eaton 252
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Renault Trucks’ Optifuel Lab 2 lab vehicle integrates technologies for more efficient big rigs; road test results coming in 2015

Green Car Congress

'Renault Trucks’ heavy-duty Optifuel Lab 2 laboratory vehicle brings together various technologies designed to reduce fuel consumption in heavy-duty trucks and to prepare the way for future production models. Renault Trucks will display a scale model of Optifuel Lab 2 at the upcoming IAA. The vehicle is currently on the road to calculate the fuel savings it can achieve.

2015 247
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Facelifted Mercedes-Benz B-Class with diesel, gasoline, natural gas and electric drives debuting at Paris show

Green Car Congress

'Mercedes-Benz has given its B-Class range—more than 350,000 of which have been sold worldwide since market launch in late 2011—a major facelift including exterior and interior enhancements along with redefined design and equipment lines. Sales of the new B-Class commenced on 12 September, with the world première taking place during the Paris Motor Show (4 to 19 October).

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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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California Energy Commission awards $5M grant to AltAir Fuels to expand renewable diesel production; $3M to GFP Ethanol for sorghum feedstock

Green Car Congress

'The California Energy Commission approved $8 million in grants to two biofuel companies stemming from a solicitation issued earlier this year (PON-13-609: Pilot-Scale and Commercial-Scale Advanced Biofuels Production Facilities). AltAir Fuels LLC ( earlier post ) will receive $5 million to expand production of renewable diesel fuels at its Paramount facility in Los Angeles County from 30 million gallons per year to 40 million gallons per year, and allow for processing of additional feedstocks.

Renewable 246
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EIA forecast of 2014 US gasoline use has risen 2 billion gallons (1.6%) in past 10 months

Green Car Congress

'The US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) short-term forecasts of US gasoline consumption, which cover the current and upcoming calendar year, have risen 1.6% over the past year. The latest Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) expects 2014 gasoline consumption to be 8.82 million barrels per day (135.2 billion gallons). This is 0.13 million barrels per day (2 billion gallons) higher than last November’s forecast, which was close to the average 2014 consumption forecast across the 12 editions

2014 246
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Proterra selects Toshiba SCiB cells for next-gen electric bus

Green Car Congress

'Proterra Inc. has selected Toshiba as the battery supplier for its next-generation, all-electric bus from Proterra Inc. The new fleet will use Toshiba’s Rechargeable Batteries (SCiB), a safe rechargeable battery solution with high-rate performance and long-life capabilities that is used in a wide range of applications, from EVs to grid energy storage. ( Earlier post.).

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ClipperCreek upgrades HCS-40 and CS-40 series EV charging stations from 30A to 32A

Green Car Congress

'ClipperCreek has upgraded the popular HCS-40 and CS-40 series EV charging stations from 30 Amps to 32 Amps continuous as a standard offering, with no increase in price. The HCS-40 is the first major brand, low cost, Level 2 electric vehicle charging station to break through to the 32 Amp level without increasing the selling price, the company said.

Charging 240
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California Energy Commission to award $13M to further ZEVs and advanced vehicle technology manufacturing in the state

Green Car Congress

'The California Energy Commission has issued two solicitations for a combined $13.3 million to further advanced ZEV and advanced vehicle technologies in the state. The first, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Readiness ( PON-14-603 ), will award about $3.3 million to support planning efforts for plug-in and fuel cell vehicles. The second, Advanced Vehicle Technology Manufacturing ( PON-14-604 ), will award about $10 million to support the development of either full advanced vehicles or advanced vehicl

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BMW to showcase new generation 2.0L diesels at Paris show

Green Car Congress

'BMW will showcase members of its new generation of diesel engines for the BMW 5 Series at the upcoming Mondial de l’ Automobile Paris 2014. The new 2.0-liter units with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology boost the output of both the new BMW 518d and the new BMW 520d by an extra 5 kW. At the same time, fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions in the EU test cycle fell by up to 0.4 liters per 100 kilometres / 10 grams per kilometer.

BMW 239
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UC Riverside team shows new eco-routing navigation tool can cut EV energy use up to 51%

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at the University of California, Riverside’s Bourns College of Engineering have shown that a vehicle navigation tool they created can cut electric vehicle energy use up to 51%. The researchers outlined their findings in a report to the California Energy Commission, which paid for the study with a $95,000 grant. ( Earlier post.). The researchers tested the “eco-routing” navigation system—which takes into account real-time traffic information, road type and road grade—on t

Energy 239
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DNV GL researchers develop concept autonomous, battery-electric short-range shipping vessel; 3,000 kWh battery

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at classification society DNV GL have developed “ReVolt”, an autonomous, fully battery-powered and efficient vessel. Instead of using diesel fuel, “ReVolt” is powered by a 3,000 kWh battery. This reduces operating costs by minimizing the number of high maintenance parts such as rotational components. The vessel has a range of 100 nautical miles, before the battery needs to be charged.

Concept 236
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Opbrid Tr?kbaar ultra-high-power automatic charging station for heavy-duty trucks debuts at IAA 2014

Green Car Congress

'The Opbrid Tr?kbaar. Click to enlarge. Spain-based Opbrid, the provider of the overhead pantograph-based ultra-fast charging Opbrid B?sbaar V3 for buses ( earlier post ), is introducing the Opbrid Tr?kbaar for trucks at IAA 2014. The system for the automatic fast charging of heavy-duty electric trucks is 100% compatible with the standards-based B?sbaar.

2014 236
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Porsche SE acquires ~10% stake in real-time traffic information company INRIX; 1st step to complementing investment in VW AG

Green Car Congress

'Porsche Automobil Holding SE has acquired a stake of around 10% in INRIX, one of the leading providers of real-time traffic information. The investment volume is around $55 million. For Porsche SE, the acquisition is the first step towards creating a portfolio of investments complementing its existing shareholding in Volkswagen AG. Porsche Automobil Holding SE is a listed holding company and holds the majority of the ordinary shares in the Volkswagen Group, one of the world’s leading automobile

Porsche 231
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Ricardo to display functional integration prototype of ADEPT 48V “intelligent electrification” diesel

Green Car Congress

'ADEPT schematic. Click to enlarge. Ricardo will display the first functional integration prototype of the Advanced Diesel Electric Powertrain (ADEPT) collaborative research project ( earlier post ) in public for the first time this week at the Low Carbon Vehicle Event (LCV 2014) in the UK. The ADEPT project was launched in 2013 to demonstrate the potential for 48V-based intelligent electrification to deliver full hybrid-scale fuel efficiency from a highly cost-effective package.

Diesel 231
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Braskem joins Amyris and Michelin to accelerate the industrialization and commercialization of renewable isoprene

Green Car Congress

'Braskem is joining a collaboration already launched in 2011 between Michelin and Amyris. ( Earlier post.) This collaboration was initiated to develop and commercialize renewable isoprene, sourced from various biomass as an additional sustainable pathway to produce isoprene. Under the terms of the new agreement, Braskem, Michelin and Amyris will work together to develop a technology to utilize plant sugars, such as those found in Brazilian sugarcane or cellulosic feedstocks, to produce renewable

Renewable 231
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Li-ion cell provider XALT Energy partners with Williams Advanced Engineering

Green Car Congress

'Williams Advanced Engineering, the engineering services and technology business of the Williams Group, has entered a partnership agreement with XALT Energy , supplier of the lithium-ion cells for the Williams’ battery in the Formula E racing series. This new partnership will also see the two companies collaborate on future projects involving lithium-ion battery technology for a range of applications beyond motorsport.

Li-ion 231
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2015 Lincoln Navigator replaces 5.4L V-8 with 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost; power up 22.6%, fuel economy up 12.5%

Green Car Congress

'The 2015 Lincoln Navigator full-size SUV, which goes on sale this year, features a new 3.5L V-6 EcoBoost engine delivering 380 hp (283 kW) @ 5250 rpm, and 460 lb·ft (624 N·m) @ 2750 rpm. This marks the highest power and torque rating yet for this powerplant—the first of the EcoBoost line to be introduced ( earlier post )—which is also applied in the most recent Ford Transit (310 hp, 400 lb-ft); Flex, Taurus SHO, Explorer Sport, Police Interceptor Sedan and Utility, Lincoln MKS, Linc

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Taiwan’s Aleees, Sony and Siemens team on electric buses

Green Car Congress

'Taiwan-based Aleees , a supplier of nano-crystalline lithium iron phosphate cathode materials , has entered into an agreement to team up with Sony to advance electric buses in conjunction with Siemens. Alees has partnered for four years with Siemens on the production of E-buses, which have accumulated 1 million miles of practical operation. Aleees ARK All-Electric-Powered Bus.

Taiwan 231
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Constellium joins fracture research consortium led by MIT to improve design of automotive structural components

Green Car Congress

'Global aluminum products company Constellium N.V. has joined the Industrial Fracture Consortium established by Professor Tomasz Wierzbicki from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The primary objective of the Consortium is to develop a fracture predictive technology with application to Finite Element (FE) codes. The consortium will engage in research to develop and improve modeling and mathematical simulations software designed to predict the behaviors of the structural components duri

MIT 225
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CO2-to-chemicals company Liquid Light raises $15M Series B financing; process scale-up and application validation

Green Car Congress

'Start-up Liquid Light, a developer of process technology to make major chemicals from low-cost, globally-abundant carbon dioxide ( earlier post ), has closed a $15-million Series B financing. New investors include Sustainable Conversion Ventures, which focuses on renewable fuels and chemicals investments. Existing investors VantagePoint Capital Partners, BP Ventures, Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital, and Osage University Partners also participated in this round.

Financing 218
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Allison Transmission names Enerdel Li-ion pack as approved support equipment for its hybrid drive systems

Green Car Congress

'Allison Transmission has named Li-ion battery manufacturer Enerdel’s PP320-689-LP Vigor+ battery pack as approved Allison support equipment. The low-profile Vigor+ pack is approved for use with the Allison Hybrid H 40/50 EP system installed in diesel-hybrid buses globally. PP320-689-LP Vigor+ Battery Pack and specs. Click to enlarge. EnerDel is a supplier of advanced lithium-ion batteries and ESS for heavy-duty transportation and hybrid power applications.

Li-ion 218
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New Ford Focus in Europe delivers fuel economy improvements up to 19% with new 1.5L TDCi; 1.5L EcoBoost, Enhanced Transitional Stability

Green Car Congress

'New Ford Focus. Click to enlarge. The new Ford Focus for Europe ( earlier post ) delivers the car’s most fuel-efficient powertrain line-up yet with improvements of up to 19%, and a significant CO 2 emission reduction across the entire line-up. The new Focus will be the first vehicle in Europe to offer Ford’s new 1.5-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine and new Focus also will be available for the first time with Ford’s 1.5-liter TDCi diesel engine.

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Ohio State researchers use neutron depth profiling to track flow of Li atoms into and out of anode in real time

Green Car Congress

'Using a neutron beam, chemists and engineers at The Ohio State University have been able to track the flow of lithium atoms into and out of an anode in real time as a Li-ion battery charged and discharged. The study, published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition , suggests that neutron depth profiling (NDP) could one day help explain why rechargeable batteries lose capacity over time, or sometimes even catch fire.

Ohio 218