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

article thumbnail

EIA: California home to almost half of US plug-in electric vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Total US sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)—battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric—have increased in recent years, but still represent only about 0.7% of new vehicle sales in 2014 so far, up from 0.6% in 2013 and 0.4% in 2012. California is home to almost half of all of the nation’s PEVs, but even in California, only about 5 out of every 1,000 registered vehicles are PEVs, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Plug-in 381
article thumbnail

2016 Toyota Mirai Fuel-Cell Car Will Alter Industry As Prius Did, Says Exec

Green Car Reports

'When it launched in the U.S. in 2000, the first-generation Toyota Prius hybrid was met with more than a little skepticism by the automotive establishment and the buying public. As with any new application of technology, it was unclear whether the Prius--and hybrid cars in general--would have a lasting impact or simply fizzle out. MORE: How Much.

Prius 167
article thumbnail

UW Madison team investigates cycle-to-cycle combustion instability in HCCI and RCCI

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have used computational fluid dynamics modeling to investigate cycle-to-cycle instability of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) and reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines—two approaches to low-temperature combustion. Low-temperature combustion engines offer the promise of simultaneously increasing engine efficiency and reduce NO x and PM emissions, but have not been widely implemented due to difficulties con

Wisconsin 329
article thumbnail

Ioxus introduces high-temperature ultracapacitors with Titan technology; targeting automotive and transport

Green Car Congress

'Ioxus, a manufacturer of premium performance ultracapacitor technology for use in transportation, industrial and energy applications, has introduced high-temperature 1250 Farad (F) cells with Titan high-temperature technology. Titan follows Ioxus’ earlier release of the results of an extensive durability test of its flagship hybrid bus product, the 48V / 165F module. ( Earlier post.).

article thumbnail

How serious is Norway about climate change? So much that its streetlights self-dim

emissions global warming Norway climate change carbon dioxide youtube lighting

article thumbnail

Audi introducing 2nd-gen Q7 SUV at NAIAS; e-tron quattro diesel PHEV model; 2nd gen MLB

Green Car Congress

'The new Q7. Click to enlarge. Audi will present the new second-generation Audi Q7 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. In addition to other advances in drivetrain, chassis, lightweight construction, assistance systems and infotainment systems, the new Q7 will also offer an e-tron quattro version: the first plug-in hybrid with a six-cylinder diesel engine and quattro all-wheel drive.

Audi 278
article thumbnail

New Mazda bio-based engineering plastic features high-quality finish without paint; suitable for exterior parts

Green Car Congress

'Mazda Motor Corporation, in conjunction with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, has developed a new bio-based engineering plastic that can be used for exterior design parts for automobiles. The new plastic will help Mazda to reduce its impact on the environment in a number of ways. As the plastic is made from plant-derived materials, its adoption will help to curb the use of petroleum resources and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Mazda 275

More Trending

article thumbnail

BMW i3 electric motor, Hyundai Tucson fuel cell selected for Ward’s 10 Best Engines 2015

Green Car Congress

'Among the winning powerplants for the 2015 edition of Ward’s 10 Best Engines are the 127 kW electric motor in the BMW i3 EV and the 100-kW fuel cell in Hyundai’s Tucson FCV. The other winners are: 6.2L OHV V-8 (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray). 6.2L Supercharged OHV V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat). 1.0L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl. (Ford Fiesta). 1.5L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl.

Tucson 268
article thumbnail

Alcoa unveils major advance in aluminum manufacturing technology; new Micromill targeting future automotive aluminum products

Green Car Congress

'Alcoa’s Micromill has a much smaller footprint than conventional direct casting technology, and produces automotive aluminum alloys with 40% greater formability and 30% greater strength. Click to enlarge. Alcoa has developed new manufacturing technology—the Micromill—that will produce what the company says is the most advanced aluminum sheet on the market.

article thumbnail

Qualcomm invests in Chargemaster Plc in acceleration for wireless charging in UK

Green Car Congress

'Qualcomm Incorporated has invested in Chargemaster Plc, the UK’s largest manufacturer and operator of electric vehicle charging points. The two companies have been working together for several years. The move will accelerate the planned UK development, production and deployment of Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology, Chargemaster said.

Charging 261
article thumbnail

Report: VW invests in novel energy storage company QuantumScape and its solid-state “All Electron Battery”

Green Car Congress

'Bloomberg recently reported that the Volkswagen Group has made an investment in QuantumScape, a Silicon Valley stealth startup commercializing a novel solid-state energy storage technology—the “All-Electron Battery” (AEB), originally developed at Stanford and supported by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) ARPA-E BEEST program ( earlier post ), as noted by Katie Fehrenbacher at GigaOM.

article thumbnail

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

Brief

article thumbnail

ExxonMobil: global GDP up ~140% by 2040, but energy demand ~35% due to efficiency; LDV energy demand to rise only slightly despite doubling parc

Green Car Congress

'As the world population increases by the estimated 30% from 2010 to 2040, ExxonMobil sees global GDP rising by about 140%, but energy demand by only about 35% due to greater efficiency. Click to enlarge. Significant growth in the global middle class, expansion of emerging economies and an additional 2 billion people in the world will contribute to a 35% increase in energy demand by 2040, according to ExxonMobil’s latest Outlook for Energy report.

Energy 252
article thumbnail

GM hits new sales record in China

Green Car Congress

'General Motors and its joint ventures set new sales records for November and the year as a whole in China. In November, domestic sales increased 5.3% year on year to 310,094 units. For the first 11 months, sales in China rose 10.1% to 3,182,595 units—surpassing last year’s previous full-year sales record of 3,160,377 vehicles. As a point of comparison, GM sales in the US for the first 11 months of the year were 2,660,525 units.

GM 247
article thumbnail

Lux: lower-cost flow batteries likely to create $190M energy storage market in 2020

Green Car Congress

'Lower costs redox flow batteries will likely carve out a 360 MWh market for stationary energy storage in 2020, worth $190 million, according to Lux Research. In the optimistic case, significant project cost reduction could yield a $380-million opportunity or 760 MWh of flow battery systems in 2020. Within the stationary energy storage market, four flow battery chemistries, led by vanadium-based systems, are gaining commercial traction.

article thumbnail

HyperSolar reaches 1.25 V for water-splitting with its self-contained low-cost photoelectrochemical nanosystem

Green Car Congress

'HyperSolar, Inc. announced that it had reached 1.25 volts (V) of water-splitting voltage with its novel low-cost electrolysis technology. Future development efforts will focus on increasing the currents and photovoltages beyond 1.5V. The theoretical minimum voltage needed to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen is 1.23 V (at 25 °C at pH 0).

Low Cost 246
article thumbnail

ExxonMobil announces 6th oil discovery offshore Guyana with Ranger-1; Guyana may move from non-producer to regional powerhouse

Oil

article thumbnail

Williams Advanced Engineering’s simulator technology to help in trial of driverless cars

Green Car Congress

'Williams Advanced Engineering is part of a consortium that has secured government funding from Innovate UK to test driverless cars in the Bristol region. This appointment follows the UK Chancellor’s recent autumn statement announcement to make the UK a world center for the testing and development of this new technology. Williams will bring its simulator and artificial intelligence technology to the project.

Qatar 236
article thumbnail

ICCT: US airlines will need to sharply increase fleet renewal to meet 2020 carbon-neutral growth goal

Green Car Congress

'In order for the US commercial aviation sector to meet its 2020 carbon-neutral growth goal, airline efficiency improvements via the acquisition of new aircraft and engine technology will to increase sharply from their present rate, according to a brief analysis posted by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The quick analysis comes on the heels of ICCT’s recently released 2013 US airline fuel efficiency ranking that found no net gain in the fuel efficiency of US domestic ai

2020 236
article thumbnail

Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid 7-seater SUV delivers 59 MPGe; more powertrain details

Green Car Congress

'XC90 T8. Click to enlarge. Volvo Cars’ new XC90 T8 plug-in 7-seater hybrid SUV delivers total system output of 400 hp (298 kW) and 640 N·m (472 lb-ft) of torque combined with ultra-low emissions (59 g/km) and high fuel efficiency (2.5 l/100km). The fuel economy according to the US driving cycle is 59 MPGe. Volvo earlier this year had suggested the fuel economy rating on the US drive cycle would be around 60 MPGe. ( Earlier post.).

Plug-in 231
article thumbnail

Volvo Cars well along with 3-cylinder gasoline engine development program; prototype testing underway

Green Car Congress

'Volvo Car’s 3-cylinder gasoline engine. Click to enlarge. Volvo Cars confirmed its production program to develop a lightweight 3-cylinder Drive-E gasoline engine. The engine, wholly developed in Sweden, will join the company’s 4-cylinder Drive-E engines ( earlier post ). “The development program for the new 3-cylinder engine is very advanced and we have already begun prototype testing of the unit,” said Dr.

Volvo 230
article thumbnail

CLEVER to add 100 ABB fast charging stations in Denmark and neighboring countries

Green Car Congress

'Danish electric mobility operator CLEVER will expand its charging network in Denmark and neighboring countries with 100 ABB multi-standard Terra 53 DC fast charging stations. The chargers will be installed in Denmark and in neighboring countries through partners, including a first collaboration with Ă–resundskraft in Sweden. The network will continue expanding into other countries with support of the European TEN-T funding program, an EU transportation infrastructure policy implemented in Januar

Denmark 230
article thumbnail

Ricardo delivers latest TorqStor flywheel energy storage unit to DDflyTrain project

Green Car Congress

'Ricardo has delivered the latest generation of its award-winning TorqStor high speed flywheel energy storage technology to digital hydraulics specialist Artemis Intelligent Power Ltd. for use on the DDflyTrain research project, aiming to demonstrate the effectiveness of flywheel energy storage on diesel multiple unit (DMU) trains. The latest generation of the TorqStor can be integrated into mechanical, electrical or an advanced hydraulic transmission system, providing a modular energy storage s

article thumbnail

International Truck fuel efficiency package for Class 8 ProStar; 11% better than 2010 baseline

Green Car Congress

'International Truck today announced a new fuel efficiency package for the International ProStar—the International ProStar ES. The ES, short for efficiency specification, offers improved aerodynamics, a drivetrain with advanced downspeeding and what the company says is the most efficient rear axles in the industry. The ProStar ES was developed to have the lowest wind averaged drag coefficient in the industry.

article thumbnail

DOT releases ITS 5-year strategic plan with focus on connected vehicles and automation

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has released a new plan for ITS (Intelligent Transportation Systems) research and priorities for the second half of the decade. The new ITS Strategic Plan 2015-2019 outlines the direction and goals of the Department’s ITS Program and provides a framework around which the ITS Joint Program Office and other Department agencies will conduct research, development, and adoption activities to achieve them.

Connect 225
article thumbnail

Ford supports launch of mobility-focused startup business accelerator program in Detroit: Techstars Mobility

Green Car Congress

'Ford, Magna International Inc. and Verizon Telematics, are supporting the launch of “Techstars Mobility, driven by Detroit”—a startup business accelerator program sited in downtown Detroit. Together, the companies are committing $2 million in funding plus mentors and other resources to support participating startups. Several Michigan-based venture capital firms will provide guidance to participants.

Detroit 225
article thumbnail

USDA awards $5.6M to 220 biofuel producers

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $5.6 million in grants to 220 producers (awards of less than $500 not listed) to support the production of advanced biofuels, and is awarding more than $4 million in additional grants that will advance the bioeconomy. These awards include: The National Biodiesel Board and Regents of the University of Idaho received $768,000 and $192,000 respectively, through the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program.

article thumbnail

New BMW 218i Coupe to offer new 3-cylinder gasoline engine

Green Car Congress

'New BMW 3-cylinder turbo gasoline engine for the 218i. Click to enlarge. With the market launch of the new BMW 218i Coupe, BMW will offer a new a three-cylinder gasoline engine from the BMW Group’s latest engine family ( earlier post ) for the first time in the compact model. With a displacement of 1.5 liters, the newly developed power unit delivers a maximum output of 100 kW/136 hp and a maximum torque of 220 N·m (162 lb-ft) available at 1,250 rpm.

BMW 220
article thumbnail

Samsung Ventures invests in Li-poly battery company Seeo; targeting 400 Wh/kg product

Green Car Congress

'Seeo, a developer of advanced lithium polymer batteries, has closed its largest funding round to date, and added Samsung Ventures Investment Corporation. Earlier investors Khosla Ventures and GSR Ventures also participated in the round. The invested capital will be used to accelerate the commercialization of Seeo’s high energy density advanced lithium polymer batteries. ( Earlier post.).

article thumbnail

DOE issues FY 2015 SBIR/STTR Release 2 funding opportunity, including hydrogen fuel cells, electric drive batteries

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued its FY 2015 Phase I Release 2 Funding Opportunity Announcement ( DE-FOA-0001227 ) for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Technical topics for this FOA—which span the range of DOE interests from fossil to nuclear to renewable and low-carbon energies—include two hydrogen- and fuel-cell-related topics: fuel cell-battery electric hybrid trucks and in-line quality control devic

2015 218
article thumbnail

Ex-BMW development chief Dr. Herbert Diess to take over as Chairman of Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand

Green Car Congress

'The Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG has unanimously appointed Dr. Herbert Diess—formerly the Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Development—as a full member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG effective 1 October 2015. In his capacity as a member of the Group Board of Management, Diess will take over as Chairman of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand from Prof.

BMW 218
article thumbnail

NCKU in Taiwan unveils hydrogen hybrid scooter

Green Car Congress

'National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan recently unveiled its first hydrogen-fueled electric hybrid scooter “Pegasus One”. Overall range of the scooter will be more than 160 km (99 miles), said Dr. Wei-Hsiang Lai, professor of aeronautics and astronautics at NCKU. Pegasus One. Click to enlarge. Pegasus One is upgraded from the original electrical scooter to the current hybrid power system combining fuel cell and lithium battery.

Taiwan 218
article thumbnail

Virent successfully produces full range of bio-aromatics

Green Car Congress

'Virent has successfully produced bio-paraxylene, bio-toluene and bio-benzene at demonstration scale and has confirmed that all three chemicals meet typical industry specifications. Virent has also produced sample volumes of bio-Aromatic 100, an aromatic solvent widely used in paint, industrial, and agricultural solvent applications. The company has broadened its product offerings for renewable chemicals through this process.

Range 210
article thumbnail

Continental, IBM and HERE to demo cloud-based eHorizon at CES; the cloud as a vehicle sensor

Green Car Congress

'At the international CES in Las Vegas in January, Continental, together with its collaboration partner IBM and location cloud company HERE, will demonstrate a new stage in the evolution of eHorizon, which currently provides drivers with information about hills, curves and junctions on the route ahead. ( Earlier post.). Known as “dynamic eHorizon,” the new service is connected to the HERE location cloud with real time digital maps and the IBM connected car cloud.

Las Vegas 210
article thumbnail

XL Hybrids installs hybrid drives in 4 City of Boston vans

Green Car Congress

'XL Hybrids, Inc. announced the successful installation of its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System ( earlier post ) in four city-owned vans for The City of Boston. The newly converted vans support the Greenovate Boston goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The City of Boston is striving to replace 10% of its fleet each year with alternative fuel vehicles.

Boston 210
article thumbnail

Sandia study finds underground geologic storage of hydrogen could boost transportation, energy security

Green Car Congress

'Salt caverns such as the one depicted here could provide a low-cost solution for the geologic storage of hydrogen. The colors in the illustration represent depth, with blue as the deepest part of the cavern and red the most shallow. (Image courtesy of Sandia National Laboratories) Click to enlarge. Underground large-scale geologic storage of hydrogen for transportation fuel and grid-scale energy applications could offer substantial storage cost reductions as well as buffer capacity to meet poss

Hydrogen 210
article thumbnail

Mitsubishi Electric verifies VP-X high-efficiency turbine generator; first 900-MVA-class generator with indirect H2 cooling; 99% efficiency

Green Car Congress

'Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has successfully completed verification tests on its VP-X turbine generator for thermal power plants—the first generator in the 900-MVA class to use indirect hydrogen cooling for stator conductors. (Hydrogen is used extensively in power generation to cool turbine generators because of its low density and good thermal characteristics.).