Sat.Mar 09, 2013 - Fri.Mar 15, 2013

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ExxonMobil: diesel will surpass gasoline as the number one global transportation fuel by 2020

Green Car Congress

Transportation fuel mix in millions of oil-equivalent barrels through 2020. Source: ExxonMobil Outlook. Click to enlarge. Diesel will surpass gasoline as the number one transportation fuel worldwide by 2020 and continue to increase its share through 2040, according to ExxonMobil’s recently published Outlook For Energy: A View To 2040. The relative shift away from motor gasoline to diesel is driven by improving light-duty vehicle fuel economy and the growth in commercial transportation activity.

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Breaking: Co-Founder Henrik Fisker Leaves Fisker Automotive, Struggling Electric-Car Firm

Green Car Reports

Henrik Fisker, co-founder and executive chairman of electric car company Fisker Automotive, quit the company today. In a statement sent to Autocar and other outlets, Fisker confirmed his resignation from the company bearing his name, citing disagreements over the company's strategy. The statement confirms, "The main reasons for his resignation are.

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Siemens and Scania electrifying trucks with repurposed trolly system parts

National Green Transportation

We could quickly have electrified trucks if a project by Siemens and Scania works out. On Monday, Siemens and Scania announced a partnership to develop electrified powertrains for trucks using technology from Siemens. One might think an electric.

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Aberdeen to boast Europe’s largest hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet

Green Cars News

If you were told that a city in the UK would be leading the way with fuel cell technology you’d be forgiven if you expected the city in question to be London, Edinburgh, Cardiff or Belfast. In reality however, it is Aberdeen that will soon boast Europe’s largest hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet. That’s because [.].

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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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DOE TEF project finds US can eliminate petroleum and reduce GHG by more than 80% in transportation by 2050; less use, more biofuels, expansion of electricity and hydrogen

Green Car Congress

TEF project points to deep cuts in petroleum and emissions in the transportation sector by focusing on modes, fuels, and demand. Source: DOE. Click to enlarge. The US Department of Energy (DOE) released findings from a new project—Transportation Energy Futures (TEF)—that concludes the United States has the potential to eliminate petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by more than 80% in the transportation sector by 2050.

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How Plasma TVs Led To Smaller Electric-Car Motor

Green Car Reports

All that sitting in front of the TV watching bad sitcoms could pay off, if a new electric motor proves successful in field trials. A startup in Melbourne, Australia, has developed a new motor for use in an electric-powered Holden Commodore. There's nothing wildly special about that, but the new, more efficient design was only possible due to the.

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More Trending

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Rare 1940s electric car discovered in French garage

Green Cars News

We’ve been discussing recently how old electric cars really are in our look at the history of the battery powered model (see story) and now we’ve the story of a rare, old electric car, dating from the 1940s Breguet electric car which was recently discovered, hidden in the garage of a chateau in France. The [.].

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Cummins/Peterbilt SuperTruck shows 54% improvement in fuel economy, 61% improvement in freight efficiency

Green Car Congress

The new SuperTruck achieved a 54% increase in fuel economy. Click to enlarge. Cummins Inc. and Peterbilt Motors Company, a division of PACCAR, released test results showing their demonstration SuperTruck tractor-trailer achieved a 54% increase in fuel economy, averaging nearly 10 mpg US (23.5 l/100 km) under real world driving conditions. In addition, the truck also demonstrated a 61% improvement in freight efficiency during testing compared to a baseline truck driving the same route.

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EV Project Tells Us How Drivers Use Electric Cars

Green Car Reports

Just how do electric car owners use their cars? It's the question everyone is trying to answer, as it could shape how electric cars of the future are developed. Virtually every manufacturer with an electric car runs its own field trials or keeps data on its users' driving habits, but the EV Project aggregates data from different makes and models.

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Stanford study quantifies energetic costs of grid-scale energy storage over time; current batteries the worst performers; the need to improve cycle life by 3-10x

Green Car Congress

A plot of ESOI for 7 potential grid-scale energy storage technologies. Credit: Barnhart and Benson, 2013. Click to enlarge. A new study by Charles J. Barnhart and Sally M. Benson from Stanford University and Stanford’s Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP) has quantified the energetic costs of 7 different grid-scale energy storage technologies over time.

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

Brief

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JOGMEC confirms first offshore production of methane from methane hydrates

Green Car Congress

Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) has confirmed offshore production of methane from methane hydrate layers under the Daini-Atsumi Knoll (seamount) in the eastern Nankai trough off the coast of central Japan. Conceptual diagram of the first offshore methane hydrate production test. Source: METI. Click to enlarge. Although the first offshore production test is not commercial production and is very much an experimental research operation, JOGMEC said, it marks a milestone in t

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Balqon to build electric buses in China with SAIG

Green Car Congress

California-based Balqon Corporation, a developer of heavy-duty electric vehicles, drive systems and lithium battery storage devices ( earlier post ), has entered into a Joint Development Agreement with China-based Sichuan Automobile Industry Co., Ltd (SAIG) to manufacture inner-city electric buses. Under this Agreement, SAIG purchased the Balqon electric drive system for integration into a 22-foot bus chassis.

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Scania and Siemens to develop heavy-duty hybrid vehicles with trolley-assist; enabling the eHighway

Green Car Congress

Scania truck with a pantograph on the roof (“trolley-truck”). Click to enlarge. Scania and Siemens have entered into a partnership which involves the integration of Siemens’ trolley-assist technology with Scania’s expertise in the electrification of powertrains in trucks and buses. Scania has for a long time explored the possibilities of electrifying the powertrain in buses and trucks, while Siemens has developed trolley-assist systems for heavy duty trucks and is selling its SIMINE trolley-assi

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DOE to award more than $50M for new plug-in vehicle technology research projects

Green Car Congress

The US DOE has released the final version of a new funding opportunity announcement ( DE-FOA-0000793 ) that will award more than $50 million in funding for new projects intended to accelerate the development of advanced plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) technologies to increase vehicle fuel economy and improve performance. DOE had earlier requested public comment on a draft of the solicitation. ( Earlier post.

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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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EPA annual report on CO2, fuel economy and technology trends finds 2012 heading for all-time best; rapid adoption of new technologies

Green Car Congress

Adjusted CO 2 emissions and adjusted fuel economy, MY 1975-2011. Source: EPA. Click to enlarge. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its annual report summarizing key trends in carbon dioxide emissions, fuel economy, and CO 2 - and fuel economy-related technology for gasoline- and diesel-fueled personal vehicles sold in the United States, from model years (MY) 1975 through 2012.

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IACS team develops high-performing bio-inspired electrocatalyst for hydrogen generation in an aqueous medium

Green Car Congress

Researchers from the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science ( IACS ), an autonomous—and the oldest—research institute in India, have developed a high-performing bio-inspired catalyst (an Fe?Fe hydrogenase mimic immobilized on graphite surfaces) for electrocatalytic hydrogen generation in an aqueous medium. In a paper published in the journal ACS Catalysis , they report that. the catalyst shows a turnover frequency of 6,400 s ?

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New app/widget combo taps into OBD port to connect iPhone to car’s onboard systems

Green Car Congress

Startup company Automatic has launched an iPhone app and companion widget called the Automatic Link that, by plugging into the OnBoard Diagnostics (OBD) port, connects the iPhone to the car’s onboard systems. Automatic for Android will ship this fall. Automatic is designed to work with almost every gasoline car sold in the US since 1996. Automatic Link plugs into the OBD port.

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BMW Manufacturing expands use of hydrogen fuel cell material handling equipment; advancing with landfill gas-to-hydrogen project

Green Car Congress

BMW Manufacturing has expanded its hydrogen fuel-cell material handling equipment across its 4.0 million square foot production facility in Spartanburg, SC. In 2010, BMW completed the installation of a hydrogen storage and distribution area near the plant’s Energy Center to power about 100 pieces of fuel cell material handling equipment. Since that time, the company has more than doubled its hydrogen-fuel cell fleet to approximately 230 units to service the entire plant’s production and logistic

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Ballard fuel cell modules to power fleet of 10 buses in Aberdeen, Scotland

Green Car Congress

Ballard Power Systems announced the recent signing of an agreement between Van Hool NV, Europe’s fourth largest bus manufacturer, and the Transit Authority in Aberdeen, Scotland for delivery of 10 buses that will be powered by Ballard’s 150 kW FCvelocity-HD6 fuel cell module. When deployed in revenue service, the 10-bus fleet to be operated in Aberdeen will be Europe’s largest hydrogen fuel cell bus fleet.

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OpinionAn open letter to Ford from a customer

Green Car Congress

I thought my 2013 C-MAX would be a Prius Killer? NOT! As a returning Ford buyer I feel deceived. I want to support US companies and US jobs. What was Ford thinking when they published 47/47/47 estimates? Based on the advertised EPA estimates, I would have been OK with low 40’s.but 28-33 mpg is not even in the ballpark. This is not an issue about EPA testing standards, but rather an issue about setting false customer expectations in order to promote sales.

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Volkswagen Group planning to launch 6 or more plug-in hybrids from 2014; the role of the MQB in the Group’s electrification plans

Green Car Congress

As part of its approach to e-mobility, the Volkswagen Group intends to launch at least 6 new plug-in hybrid models starting in 2014 and beyond, said Oliver Schmidt, General Manager Engineering and Environmental Office, Volkswagen Group of America, at the recent SAE 2013 Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Technologies Symposium. He was careful to note that “launch” referred to the global launch dates for global product—i.e., not the launch in a particular market.

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Leviton releases first UL-listed 40 Amp, cord-connected charging station for plug-in vehicles

Green Car Congress

Leviton introduced the Evr-Green 400 Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging Station , its latest entry to its Evr-Green line of residential, commercial and public electric vehicle charging systems. The new device provides up to 40 amps of continuous power at 240 volts AC (9.6 kW output) and enables fast charging of any SAE J1772 compatible electric vehicle.

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Study projects regional climate effects from ramping up Brazil sugarcane production

Green Car Congress

Conversion of large swaths of Brazilian land for sugar plantations will help the country meet its needs for producing cane-derived ethanol, but it also could lead to regional climate effects, according to a team of researchers from Arizona State University, Stanford University and the Carnegie Institution for Science. The team found that anticipated conversion to sugarcane plantations could lead to a 1 degree Celsius decrease in temperature during the growing season, to be followed by a 1 degree

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Lockheed Martin to produce liquefied natural gas tanks at Louisiana facility

Green Car Congress

Lockheed Martin is leveraging its expertise in the manufacture of Space Shuttle external tanks to meet the growing demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks for storage and transportation. Lockheed Martin has received initial orders to manufacture cryogenic tanks for fueling LNG powered vessels. As part of its longer-range LNG business plan, Lockheed Martin will adapt production equipment used to manufacture the external tank for the Space Shuttle for a wide range of LNG supply chain applicat

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ZeaChem begins production of cellulosic chemicals and ethanol, advances toward commercialization

Green Car Congress

Zeachem’s C 2 platform uses an acetogenic organism to ferment sugars to acetic acid, which is converted to ethanol. Source: Zeachem. Click to enlarge. ZeaChem Inc. has produced commercial-grade cellulosic chemicals and ethanol at its 250,000 gallons per year (GPY) demonstration biorefinery in Boardman, Ore. The demonstration facility is intended to showcase the scalability of ZeaChem’s biorefining process and serve as a stepping-stone toward large-scale commercial production.

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Chromatin signs pact with POET to use South Dakota-grown sorghum in ethanol production

Green Car Congress

Chromatin, Inc. has entered into an agreement with POET, LLC, one of the world’s largest ethanol producers, for the use of sorghum grown in South Dakota in the production of ethanol. Chromatin said the agreement covers up to 4,400 acres of sorghum grain that will be grown in South Dakota. It will be used in POET’s Chancellor plant, which is located about 20 miles southwest of POET’s headquarters in Sioux Falls, SD.

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ABB leads $12 million investment in tidal power company Scotrenewables

Green Car Congress

ABB led a $12-million investment in Scotrenewables Tidal Power, a provider of tidal turbine systems, to support the rollout of a new hydrokinetic device and to expand ABB’s renewable energy assets. ABB’s participation was made through its venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), which invests in early and growth stage companies with technologies of strategic importance to the industries it serves.

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SRI wins $925,000 DOE award to liquefy biomass for production of transportation fuels

Green Car Congress

Southern Research Institute (SRI) entered into a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop a mild liquefaction process that will economically convert biomass to petroleum refinery-ready bio-oils. The process will convert biomass to stabilized bio-oils that can be directly blended with hydrotreater and cracker input streams in a petroleum refinery for production of gasoline and diesel range hydrocarbons.

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BMW i partners with NOW! Innovations for mobile parking services; extension of ParkNow to include on-street parking

Green Car Congress

BMW i Mobility Services partnering with NOW! Innovations for mobile parking payment and billing solutions. The partnership will enable BMW i to extend the scope of its ParkNow service ( earlier post ) to include on-street parking. ParkNow is an electronic mobile parking service that allows users to reserve and pay for their parking place in advance.

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Owens Corning joins BASF and TenCate alliance for thermoplastic automotive composites

Green Car Congress

Owens Corning, the leading global producer of glass fiber reinforcements for composite systems, formally announced its inclusion in a strategic alliance with BASF and TenCate Advanced Composites. The goal of the alliance is to develop optimal solutions in thermoplastic composites for automotive mass production. ( Earlier post.). In this strategic alliance: BASF contributes comprehensive knowledge in the production and formulation of thermoplastic resins; TenCate Advanced Composites brings its ex

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BMW Concept Active Tourer PHEV and diesel 328d to make US debut at New York International Auto Show

Green Car Congress

BMW will introduce the Concept Active Tourer plug-in hybrid ( earlier post ) for the first time in North America at the 2013 New York International Auto Show on 27 March. In addition to other introductions, the automaker will also showcase the diesel-powered BMW 328d. The Concept Active Tourer features a 1.5-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor which allows for nearly 95 mpg (2.48 l/100 km).

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ITM Power to supply electrolyzer for power-to-hydrogen gas grid project in Germany

Green Car Congress

ITM Power has won a competitive tender process, based on both price and performance, to supply a hydrogen production unit to a 360kW Power-to-Gas (Strom zu Gas) energy storage plant Thüga Group project. The Thüga Group is the largest network of energy companies in Germany with around 100 municipal utility members. This is ITM Power’s first major commercial sale in Germany of a large hydrogen production unit based on its design of a self-pressurizing rapid response PEM electrolyzer.

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Nissan to expand use of Advanced High Tensile Strength Steel into up to 25% of new model parts; 1.2 GPa ultra high strength steel for weight reduction

Green Car Congress

Relationship of material strength and elongation in steel plates. Source: Nissan. Click to enlarge. Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. plans to expand the use of Advanced High Tensile Strength Steel (AHSS) into up to 25% of the vehicle parts (measured by weight) installed in its new production models starting in 2017 as one of its initiatives to help reduce vehicle weight.

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Eaton and Cummins introduce powertrain package for North American heavy-duty trucks offering 3-6% better fuel economy

Green Car Congress

Eaton and Cummins Inc. unveiled a new powertrain package for the North American heavy-duty truck market that is expected to deliver 3-6% fuel economy improvements, lower preventative maintenance costs, and total lifecycle cost improvements. The new product integrates an Eaton Fuller Advantage Series automated transmission ( earlier post ) with new Cummins ISX15 SmartTorque2 ratings.

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