Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'Top: Components of well-to-wheels pathway. Middle: WTW efficiency for CNGVs. Bottom: WTW efficiency for EVs. Curran et al. Click to enlarge. A well-to-wheels analysis of the use of natural gas for passenger vehicles by a team of researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has found that, with a high PTW (pump-to-wheels) efficiency and the potential for high electrical generation efficiency with NGCC (natural gas combined cycle) turbines, natural gas currently is best used in an effici

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Green Car Reports

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

'Electric-car buyers who want to feel the wind in their hair don''t have many choices. Aside from the 2014 Smart ForTwo Electric Drive--and the now-discontinued Tesla Roadster--electric convertibles haven''t been a segment in which carmakers have expressed much interest. However, a California firm has decided this could be a niche worth filling. ALSO.

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Green Cars News

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'Fast charging electric cars might not be as bad for their lithium ion battery packs as first feared according to a new study. Researchers at Stanford University and the Stanford Institute for Materials & Energy Sciences (SIMES) found that the benefits of slow draining and charging compared to r[.].

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Lithium Ion Charging Universal Electric Cars 58

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'Southwest Airlines has signed an agreement with Red Rock Biofuels LLC ( RRB ) to purchase low carbon renewable jet fuel, made using forest residues that will help reduce the risk of destructive wildfires in the Western United States. The airline’s agreement with RRB covers the purchase of approximately three million gallons per year. The blended product will be used at Southwest’s Bay Area operations with first delivery expected in 2016.

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Purchase Renewable Fuel Alternative Fuels 312

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Norway

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

'Scientists from the Max Planck Institutes for Chemical Energy Conversion and Coal Research and from the research group Photobiotechnology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) have discovered a way of increasing the efficiency of hydrogen production in microalgae by a factor of five by using a combined metabolic engineering approach. An open access paper on their work is published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science.

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Hydrogen Production Engine Conversion 278

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

'Li-ion battery maker Boston-Power Inc. ( earlier post ) recently launched its Ensemble Module System; a “kit” of standard components that provides OEMs and pack assemblers with a simple, cost-effective way to assemble large format battery pack solutions for electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) applications. Available in 155 Wh and 116 Wh increments, module designs can be created to meet a wide variety of voltage and capacity requirements.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

'On 16 September 2014, California introduced a legal requirement for an official licence for testing vehicles in autonomous driving mode on public roads. On Senate Bill No. 1298 taking effect, Mercedes-Benz received a corresponding licence permitting it to test vehicles in autonomous driving mode in daily traffic on California''s roads. With the approval from the US federal state of California we can now take autonomous driving to a new level in the USA.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'Four companies—Pathfinder Renewable Wind Energy, Magnum Energy, Dresser-Rand and Duke-American Transmission—have proposed a first-in-the-US, $8-billion green energy initiative that would bring large amounts of clean electricity to the Los Angeles area by 2023. The project would require construction of one of America’s largest wind farms in Wyoming, one of the world’s biggest energy storage facilities (compressed air energy storage, CAES) in Utah, and a 525-mile electric transmission

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Utah Wyoming Wind Los Angeles 261

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Foothill Transit, the primary public transportation provider for the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys in Los Angeles County, California, is launching a heavy-duty, fast charging, fully electric bus line at the Pomona Transit Center on 27 September. Almost four years ago to the day, Foothill Transit became the first public transit agency to put fast-charge electric buses into service.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

'The US Departments of Navy, Energy, and Agriculture have awarded contracts worth a combined $210 million to three companies—Emerald Biofuels, Fulcrum BioEnergy and Red Rock Biofuels—to construct and commission biorefineries capable of producing drop-in biofuels. In total, these projects are intended to produce more than 100 million gallons of military-grade fuel beginning in 2016 and 2017 at a price competitive with their petroleum counterparts.

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Fuel Energy 2012 Waste 261

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Westport Innovations Inc. unveiled the first generation of its new, proprietary enhanced spark-ignited (ESI) natural gas system. The new approach to natural gas combustion technology is designed to provide vehicle and engine original manufacturers (OEMs) with a “downsized” natural gas solution that is cost competitive while providing similar levels of power, torque, and fuel economy to a larger diesel engine.

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Diesel Gas Fuel Economy Power 259

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

'Aleris will invest $350 million to upgrade capabilities at its aluminum rolling mill in Lewisport, Kentucky. The investment positions Aleris to meet anticipated significant growth in North American automotive demand as the industry pursues broader aluminum use for the production of lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles. Aleris is currently a leading supplier to the European premium auto industry, which has led the transition to aluminum driven by tighter emissions standards.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

'Researchers at MIT have improved a proposed liquid battery system that could enable renewable energy sources to compete with conventional power plants. Professor Donald Sadoway and colleagues have already started a company, Ambri (initially Liquid Metal Battery Corporation), to produce electrical-grid-scale liquid batteries, which comprise layers of molten material which automatically separate due to their differing densities. ( Earlier post.).

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

'Velocys plc (VLS.L) announced that the UK High Court has ruled in its favor in the patent infringement case it brought against CompactGTL Ltd. The case, filed by Velocys in March 2013, concerns infringement by CompactGTL in relation to its smaller scale Fischer-Tropsch (FT) technology. The judgment upheld the validity of the two patents in suit (known as 508 and 509), and found CompactGTL to be infringing both patents—six separate patent claims in total—based on CompactGTL’s sworn s

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South Korea Oklahoma Oregon Waste 255

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'US Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency John Laird released a landscape-level draft renewable energy and conservation plan covering more than 22 million acres in the California desert. The draft Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan ( DRECP ) proposes to protect areas in the California desert important for wildlife, recreation and other uses while streamlining permitting in areas appropriate for siting of solar, wind and geothermal

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Westport will unveil its natural gas powered 2015 Ford Transit Van at Parcel Forum. Used to transport passengers and cargo, the Westport WiNG Power System Transit van and cutaway models operate on dedicated CNG using a 3.7L V6 gaseous prep engine. Westport also offers the smaller Transit Connect with a 2.5L I4 engine. The Transit Van and Cutaway is offered at 10,000 GVW and below and will be EPA and CARB certified.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 21, 2014

'Automatic uses vehicle data from the OBD port to report on driving performance. Click to enlarge. Automatic Labs and Ford Motor Company announced a joint experimental collaboration to improve the driving experience for Ford & Lincoln vehicle owners. Together, the companies will test and develop new features that provide enhanced capabilities enabling drivers to opt-in to provide data from their vehicle and then use that information to be smarter, safer drivers.

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Connect Connected Ford F-150 250

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Clariant, Haltermann and Mercedes-Benz have fleet-tested high-octane sunliquid 20 fuel—containing 20% cellulosic ethanol produced from straw—since January. ( Earlier post.) The test found that the use of sunliquid 20 improves engine efficiency—more than compensating for its 4% lower energy content compared to E10. For drivers, this means with sunliquid 20, CO 2 emissions are reduced while consumption remains the same.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 20, 2014

'Nissan Motor Co., Ltd and the City of Yokohama will extend the one-year trial run of the first large-scale One-way Car Sharing Service in Japan, called “Choimobi Yokohama,” for another year. ( Earlier post.). The service, which kicked off on 11 October 2013, features Nissan’s ultra-compact New Mobility Concept electric vehicles. The program''s main objectives are to encourage low-carbon emission transport options, improve the quality of transportation in the city, and promote tourism.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

'SAKOR Technologies, Inc., a recognized leader in the area of high-performance dynamometer systems, will be exhibiting at the Automotive Testing Expo 2014 North America in Novi, Michigan in October. The company will showcase a number of its technologies, including hybrid and electric vehicle testing; high voltage battery testing and simulation; and the smallest AC regenerative engine dynamometer available in the industry. ( Earlier post.).

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Ford Engine Hybrid Batteries 239

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'The battery-electric Fiat 500e is now available as a 2015 model year at Fiat studios in California and Oregon for $199 a month for 36 months with $999 due at signing. Sales of the Fiat 500e expanded to Oregon earlier this year. Previously, the all-electric Fiat had been sold only in California since its introduction in 2013. 2015 Fiat 500e. Click to enlarge.

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Oregon 2015 Available California 239

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

'Skygo Fuel Systems ’ latest dual fuel (natural gas/diesel) conversion system has been approved by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The dual fuel system is available as an aftermarket upgrade for 2007 to 2009 Cummins ISX engines. According to data provided to the EPA, the dual fuel system will reduce emissions by up to 20%, with displacements (natural gas substitution) of approximately 60%.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2014

'Jaguar says that its new four-cylinder Ingenium diesel ( earlier post ) is its most efficient diesel to date; with the new Ingenium diesel engines driving the rear wheels, the aluminium-intensive XE ( earlier post ) is also the most fuel-efficient Jaguar yet, with CO 2 emissions as low as 99 g/km. The new aluminum-intensive XE will feature two versions of the 2.0-liter Ingenium diesel.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'General Motors for the first time achieved perfect scores on both climate change data disclosure and performance submitted to CDP , the world’s only global environmental disclosure system. The CDP program enables management of greenhouse gas emissions and risks and opportunities associated with climate change. Scores are communicated to investors and other decision makers.

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Climate Change Climate GM New York City 236

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Increased greenhouse gas emissions equal to 4.4 million additional cars on US roads are likely as a result of EPA inaction on finalizing the 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rules, according to a new white paper issued by The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO). The white paper updates earlier BIO’s March 2014 study, “Estimating Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Proposed Changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard Through 2022.”.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

'Audi TT Roadster. Click to enlarge. Audi is presenting the new TT Roadster and the TTS Roadster at the Paris Motor Show; the introduction follows the recent introduction of the 3rd-generation TT Coupé. ( Earlier post.) A particular highlight in the third TT generation is the Audi virtual cockpit. For the first time, the digital instrument cluster provides all information within the driver’s field of vision; the Audi TT’s new display and control system has already received the Car Connectivity A

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories’ Z pulsed-power accelerator have produced a significant output of fusion neutrons, using a method fully functioning for only little more than a year. The experimental work is described in a paper to be published 24 September in Physical Review Letters online. A companion theoretical paper helps explain why the experimental method worked.

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Fusion Power Powered Fuel 231

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 22, 2014

'The 2015 Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon ( earlier post ) will offer segment-leading highway fuel efficiency for four-cylinder mid-size pickup trucks, according to EPA fuel economy estimates. The Canyon will also offer segment-leading payload ratings. No competitor in the segment offers more payload capacity than the Colorado or Canyon, GM noted.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

'Isuzu Motors Limited and General Motors Company signed a formal agreement jointly to develop a next-generation midsize pickup. Isuzu and GM previously developed two generations of pickups that have been popular in more than 100 countries around the world due to their strong performance, fuel efficiency and durability. The next-generation midsize pickup is expected to be sold in several major markets around the world.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Southland Transportation (Alberta, Canada) recently added 101 Blue Bird Propane Vision buses to its propane autogas school bus fleet. Districts in Canada are specifying the technology due to the superior cold weather operation, reduced maintenance and clean emissions, the company said. Southland Transportation is a subsidiary of the largest family-owned pupil transportation provider in Canada with operations in school, motor coach and public transportation.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

'GM has launched the GM Innovation Challenge at four major universities, recruiting student teams to develop new uses for additive manufacturing (3D printing) and augmented reality (e.g., devices similar to Google Glass) in manufacturing. The participating institutions are Pennsylvania State University; Georgia Institute of Technology; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

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Universal GM Manufacturer Pennsylvania 225

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

'GranBio, a 100% Brazilian industrial biotech company, has begun production at the first commercial-scale plant for second-generation (cellulosic) ethanol in the Southern Hemisphere. The Bioflex 1 unit, built in São Miguel dos Campos, Alagoas, has an initial production capacity of 82 million liters (21.6 million gallons US) of ethanol per year with sugarcane straw and bagasse residues as the feedstocks.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2014

'Researchers from the Key Laboratory of Materials for Energy Conversion, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed a strategy to suppress the polysulfide shuttle effect in Lithium-sulfur batteries—which can result in severe low efficiency—using a novel anode protection. Their paper is published in the RSC journal Chemical Communications.

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Lithium Sulfur Batteries Battery Chinese 225

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

'Neste Oil Singapore Pte Ltd and National Oxygen Pte Ltd (NOX), one of the one of the largest industrial gas manufacturers in Singapore, have signed an agreement to install a carbon dioxide recovery and liquefaction plant at Neste Oil’s renewable diesel (NExBTL) refinery in Singapore. Construction is planned to commence in the fourth quarter of 2014 and the plant, which will process an average 40,000 tons of CO 2 -rich gas from the refinery yearly, is expected to be completed and fully operation

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