Sat.Aug 11, 2012 - Fri.Aug 17, 2012

article thumbnail

New mobile phone app identifies driver phone use, enabling action to reduce distracted driving

Green Car Congress

Illustration of the logical flow in the system. By measuring the amount of time that sound takes to travel from each speaker, the cell phone app can determine whether the phone is on the driver’s side or the passenger’s side of the car. Source: Yang et al. Click to enlarge. A team from Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology have designed and tested a smart phone application that can pinpoint where in the car a cell phone user is sitting—i.e., on the driver’s side or the pas

Connect 342
article thumbnail

Electric DeLorean DMC-12: Better Than The Original? (Video)

Green Car Reports

There's a line of thinking that recommends that you never meet your heroes, as they'll only disappoint you. You could argue that the same applies to cars, and the DeLorean DMC-12, stainless star of the silver screen, is often described as one of those cars--slow, crude, not great fun to drive. But Matt Farah from the DRIVE channel on Youtube has.

Electric 157
article thumbnail

In electric cars, what is a compliance car? (EV 101)

National Green Transportation

In the electric car market some of the cars are dismissed as a "compliance car" indicating a manufacturer that's apparently not fully on board with building electric or plug-in hybrid cars. The fans of.

article thumbnail

Folding electric car to go on sale in 2013

Green Cars News

A folding electric car first designed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is to go on sale in Europe with prices expected to be in the region of €13,000 ($16,000 US dollars) according to PSFK. Exact production levels are not known, but prototype models of the new Hiriko Fold car are already [.].

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

EIA: Estimated US 2012 gasoline consumption low compared to five-year average

Green Car Congress

US gasoline consumption in the first quarter of 2012, which averaged about 8.5 million barrels per day (bbl/d), was down 124 thousand bbl/d compared with the same time last year, continuing the trend of lower consumption and higher prices, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). However, EIA noted, the second quarter of 2012 shows some signs of higher consumption.

Gasoline 261
article thumbnail

Volt Executive Tony Posawatz Is New CEO Of Fisker Automotive

Green Car Reports

In an unexpected announcement, struggling startup electric-car maker Fisker Automotive this morning named Tony Posawatz its new CEO and President. He replaces Tom LaSorda, himself appointed CEO only in late February. LaSorda will leave the company but remain available as an advisor. Posawatz spent more than four years in executive positions on the.

Fisker 142

More Trending

article thumbnail

London EV owners offered free charging point

Green Cars News

Electric vehicle owners living within the M25 are to be offered free home charging units as part of a year-long trial into usage. The Low Carbon London project has signed an agreement with POD Point and UK Power Networks which will see owners given the units worth over £1,000 if they agree to take part. [.].

London 56
article thumbnail

New data indicate 57% decline in carbon emissions resulting from 78% drop in deforestation In Amazon

Green Car Congress

Carbon emissions from deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon have dropped 57% from 2004 to 2011, according to new data recently released by the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in São José dos Campos, São Paulo. This decrease in emissions is a result of a 78% drop in deforestation in the region during the same period, as measured by INPE’s PRODES satellite monitoring system.

Carbon 258
article thumbnail

2013 Nissan Leaf: More Range, Cheaper Model, Report Says

Green Car Reports

The 2013 Nissan Leaf that will go on sale in January will be a slightly different car from the 2011 and 2012 models sold in the U.S. so far. We already know the electric car will offer leather seats and a 6.6-kilowatt charger as options, along with a more efficient heating system. Now a report from Japan suggests that Nissan will offer a 2013 Leaf.

2013 130
article thumbnail

RFF papers explore differing outcomes of higher gasoline taxes on public transit and rural areas

Green Car Congress

Variation across different regions of the United States of relative compensating variation (CV, additional money required to stay at same utility level). aggregated to the county level given a 10 cent per gallon tax shows tremendous. heterogeneity across and within states. Source: Spiller and Stephens (2012) Click to enlarge. Economists view higher gasoline taxes as one solution to reducing gasoline consumption and thus air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and reliance on oil, while at the s

Tax 257
article thumbnail

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

Brief

article thumbnail

UNSW team demonstrates high reversible hydrogen storage capacity under mild conditions for sodium borohydride using novel core-shell nanostructure; potential for vehicles

Green Car Congress

The core-shell NaBH 4 @Ni nanoparticles show high reversible hydrogen storage under reasonable conditions. Credit: ACS, Christian and Aguey-Zinsou. Click to enlarge. A team from the University of New South Wales (Australia) reports on a novel core-shell strategy leading to high and stable hydrogen absorption/desorption cycling for sodium borohydride (NaBH 4 ) under mild pressure conditions (4 MPa) in an open-access paper in the journal ACS Nano.

Sodium 255
article thumbnail

GM China begins prototype battery cell fabrication

Green Car Congress

GM China Advanced Technical Center’s Cell Fabrication Lab in Shanghai recently produced its first batch of battery cells. Click to enlarge. General Motors China is fabricating and testing prototype battery cells and complete systems at its Advanced Technical Center in Shanghai to support GM researchers and engineers in the development of next-generation vehicle battery systems.

GM 252
article thumbnail

Study finds SOx emissions from shipping down sharply in EU ports due to sulfur content rules

Green Car Congress

Sulfur dioxide emissions from shipping have sharply decreased in EU ports due to stricter EU rules for sulfur content in fuels used by ships at berth or at anchor in ports, according to a team at the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC). The air quality measurements were carried out using an automated monitoring station on the cruise ship Costa Pacifica which followed a fixed weekly route in the Western Mediterranean during 2009 and 2010.

Emissions 250
article thumbnail

Erosion-resistant nanocoating for turbine blades saves fuel, lowers costs

Green Car Congress

The commercialization of an advanced, erosion-resistant nanocoating developed with assistance from the US Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) promises to benefit both the nation’s transportation and energy sectors. The coating, developed by MDS Coating Technologies Corporation (MCT), and tested by researchers at NETL, protects the compressor blades of commercial aviation and industrial gas-turbine engines from erosion—saving fuel, cutting carbon emissions, r

Fuel 250
article thumbnail

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

Oil

article thumbnail

Report: Denso to produce engine control units in Brazil

Green Car Congress

The Nikkei reports Denso Corp. will begin production of engine control units (ECUs) in Brazil in September, becoming the first company to make ECUs for cars in South America. Denso will supply the ECUs to Toyota. Denso already has an ECU-related facility in the northern Brazilian city of Manaus, which it built at a cost of 400 million yen. In addition to Toyota, Denso aims to supply ECUs made in Brazil to other Japanese automakers, including Nissan Motor Co., which plans to bring a new plant onl

Brazil 247
article thumbnail

Toshiba develops dysprosium-free samarium-cobalt magnet to replace heat-resistant neodymium magnet in motors

Green Car Congress

Toshiba Corporation has developed a high-iron concentration samarium-cobalt (SmCo) magnet that is free of dysprosium, a rare earth mineral that is in extremely short supply and increasingly expensive. ( Earlier post.) At typical operating temperatures, the samarium-cobalt magnet has superior magnetic properties to the heat-resistant neodymium magnets—which contain dysprosium—currently used in motors.

Motor 246
article thumbnail

DOE issues RFI for high-accuracy meters for hydrogen fueling equipment

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Fuel Cell Technologies Program has issued an RFI ( DE-FOA-0000753 ) seeking feedback from interested stakeholders regarding the current and near-term status and availability of high-accuracy meters that can perform under hydrogen fueling conditions and meet measurement accuracy requirements. The commercialization of hydrogen fueling stations remains one of the critical barriers to the widespread market penetration of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Hydrogen 246
article thumbnail

BP Biofuels, Texas AgriLife Research partner to advance cellulosic biofuel feedstock development

Green Car Congress

BP Biofuels and Texas AgriLife Research, part of The Texas A&M University System, have signed a three-year agreement to develop and commercialize cellulosic feedstocks for the production of advanced biofuels. The collaboration will utilize AgriLife Research’s diverse high biomass energy crop breeding program and BP Biofuels’ position as one of the few global energy companies growing commercial-scale biomass crops for liquid fuels.

Texas 244
article thumbnail

New mixed-oxide catalysts shown as viable substitute for platinum catalysts for diesel exhaust aftertreatment

Green Car Congress

NO conversion versus ramp-up and ramp-down temperatures for MnCe-7:1 (?), SmMn 2 O 5 (?), GdSrCeMn 7 O 14.83 (?), and Pt (?). Credit: Science, Wang et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at nano-material catalysts startup Nanostellar and colleagues at the University of Kentucky and Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China have shown that mixed-phase oxide materials based on Mn-mullite (Sm, Gd)Mn 2 O 5 are an efficient substitute for the current commercial platinum (Pt)-based catalyst

Exhaust 240
article thumbnail

Siemens improving efficiency of steam turbines; more power from same heat

Green Car Congress

Siemens is making its industrial steam turbines more efficient and more flexible. The upgrade is based on an improved design that increases the efficiency of the turbines by up to two percentage points. In addition, the redesigned turbines can be started up much more quickly—in the best case, in only half the time that was previously needed. With the improved turbines, biogas plants, combined gas and steam turbine generating plants, and smaller coal-fired power plants can produce more elec

Power 240
article thumbnail

Scotland greenlights £3.3M for clean energy hub with 10 hydrogen buses in first phase

Green Car Congress

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond gave the green light for a pioneering clean energy hub in Scotland, including Europe’s largest hydrogen bus fleet, as he announced funding of up to £3.3 million (US$5.2 million) for the EU-backed project. The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise funding will enable Aberdeen City Council, supported by Aberdeen Renewable Energy Group, to start the project’s first phase with an order for 10 hydrogen fuel-cell buses.

Hydrogen 236
article thumbnail

Ford investing $135M in design, engineering and production of key components for hybrids

Green Car Congress

Ford is investing $135 million in the design, engineering and production of key components—including advanced battery systems—for its next-generation hybrid-electric vehicles going into production this year. For example, Ford’s battery-testing capabilities will double by 2013 to a total of 160 individual battery-test channels. This includes investing in more of the highly specialized machines that can test and simulate everything from power and performance to life and thermal behavio

Ford 236
article thumbnail

USGS releases new estimates of reserve growth for US conventional oil and gas

Green Car Congress

The US Geological Survey (USGS) has released a new estimate—based on a new methodology—for potential additions to domestic oil and gas reserves from reserve growth in discovered, conventional accumulations in the United States. The USGS estimates that the mean potential undiscovered, conventional reserve additions for the United States total 32 billion barrels (bb) of oil, 291 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas, and 10 bb of natural gas liquids, constituting about 10% of the ov

Oil 236
article thumbnail

Aura receives $370K order for electric retrofitting system for refrigeration trailers

Green Car Congress

Aura Systems, Inc. announced the first order from a Midwest meat packaging company for its electric solution for large refrigeration trailers. ( Earlier post.). The order calls for Aura to retrofit 20 existing Thermo King based trailer mechanical solutions with an electric solution and provide 15 tractors with 18 kW AuraGen generators. Trucks that utilize the Aura solution will no longer need to use the diesel engine connected to the refrigeration system when the truck is in motion, typically 10

Aura 236
article thumbnail

Fisker: recent Karma fire not caused by battery pack, new tech or exhaust routing

Green Car Congress

Fisker engineers, working with independent investigators from Pacific Rim Investigative Group, have begun preliminary examination and testing on the Karma involved in a fire in Woodside, California last Friday. Evidence revealed thus far supports the fact that the ignition source was not the Lithium-ion battery pack, new technology components or unique exhaust routing, according to a statement released by Fisker.

Karma 236
article thumbnail

IEA trims expected growth in oil demand for 2012/2013 by 300K–400K barrels per day

Green Car Congress

The International Energy Agency’s August Oil Market Report (OMR) trims 2012/2013 oil demand expectations by 300-400 thousand barrels per day (kb/d), although annual growth remains in an 800-900 kb/d range both years. This follows baseline data revisions and a weaker economic prognosis for 2012/2013. The implication is that global oil stocks have built solidly in the first half of 2012, albeit the recent trend in OECD countries has been downward.

2013 236
article thumbnail

Orbite Aluminae produces the first North American heavy rare earths from aluminous clay; prepares for commercialization in 2013

Green Car Congress

Canada-based Orbite Aluminae Inc. reports that it has successfully extracted the first commercial samples of heavy rare earth oxides—gallium and scandium—from its aluminous clay deposit in Grande-Vallée, Québec. The company says it is poised to become the first commercial North American gallium and scandium producer. By 2013, it plans to offer heavy rare earth separation services to third parties and to produce its own resources by 2014.

article thumbnail

Ballard receives purchase orders for 102 fuel cell systems for telecom backup

Green Car Congress

Ballard Power Systems has received purchase orders for 102 fuel cell power generation systems to be delivered to its new Southeast Asian distributor, Cascadiant Inc. The systems will be deployed in the networks of two wireless telecom customers in Indonesia, to provide reliable and cost-effective backup power in the event of grid outages. Ballard recently closed a transaction to acquire select assets from IdaTech, a Ballard customer for the past several years. ( Earlier post.

Purchase 231
article thumbnail

A123 Systems and Wanxiang execute definitive agreements for investment of up to $465M in A123

Green Car Congress

US-based Li-ion battery manufacturer A123 Systems announced the execution of definitive agreements with China’s Wanxiang Group Corporation, which follows the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) that A123 signed with Wanxiang on 8 August 2012. ( Earlier post.) Under the terms of the definitive agreements, Wanxiang plans to invest up to $465 million in A123, which includes an initial credit extension of $25 million that A123 expects to receive this week.

Convert 231
article thumbnail

COMAC of China, Boeing open Energy Conservation Center; first focus on aviation biofuel from waste cooking oil

Green Car Congress

Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China ( COMAC ) and Boeing opened the Boeing-COMAC Aviation Energy Conservation and Emissions Reductions Technology Center, a collaborative effort to support commercial aviation industry growth. The Boeing-COMAC Technology Center’s first research project will explore opportunities to refine waste cooking oil, often described in China as “gutter oil,” into sustainable aviation biofuel.

Waste 231
article thumbnail

2013 Range Rover sees 926-lb weight reduction

Green Car Congress

The new 2013 Range Rover luxury SUV, to go on sale in September and with deliveries to begin in 2013, is the first SUV with a lightweight all-aluminium monocoque body structure. It offers a 420kg (926 lb) weight saving over the outgoing model, delivering improved fuel economy and CO 2 emissions. The aluminium monocoque body structure is 39% lighter than the steel body in the outgoing model.

2013 231
article thumbnail

EIA: US energy-related CO2 emissions down 2.4% in 2011 while GDP rose

Green Car Congress

The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that after an increase in 2010 of 3.3%, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in the US in 2011 decreased by 2.4% (136 million metric tons), while GDP grew by 1.8%. This indicates that the carbon intensity of the economy declined by about 4.2%. Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions have declined in the United States in four out of the last six years.

2011 231
article thumbnail

DBT CEV fast chargers power 3 LEAFs 12,500 km over 42 days in 2012 Oranje Trophy

Green Car Congress

Three Nissan LEAF electric vehicles drove 12,500 km (7,767 miles) through ten countries in 42 days supported by France-based DBT CEV’s fast charging technology as part of the 2012 Oranje Trophy. The feat is thought to be the longest journey achieved by these electric vehicles in such a condensed period of time, enabled only through the use of fast charging technology.

2012 231
article thumbnail

Union Pacific Railroad investing $20M to test emissions-reducing locomotive technology in California; moving toward Tier 4 compliance with combination of EGR, DOC and DPF

Green Car Congress

Union Pacific Railroad is investing $20 million to test new technology designed to reduce diesel emissions from freight locomotives in California. A series of 25 experimental locomotives will be based in two Union Pacific rail yards in California as part of a test of emissions-reducing technologies. One locomotive in this series of 25 will be based in Roseville to test the combined use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), and diesel particulate filtering (DPF).