Sat.May 25, 2013 - Fri.May 31, 2013

article thumbnail

Bosch chairman expects EVs to have a range of at least 300 km by 2020

Green Car Congress

'At a panel discussion on the topic of “research and development perspectives in electromobility” in Berlin, Dr. Volkmar Denner, the chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH said that he expected that by 2020, electric cars will have a range of at least 300 kilometers (186 miles). Electromobility is currently still a niche business, but after 2020 it could very well become a mass market.

2020 360
article thumbnail

Let's Talk About Electric Cars Book

Electric Cars are for Girls

'I''m happy to announce the release of our new book, called "Let''s Talk about Electric Cars: 8 Most Inspiring Interviews". This book is a collection of real conversations with real people about the electric cars that they drive every day: Volt and LEAF drivers, beer budget EV converters, high-end EV converters, electric drag racers, Prius plug-in converters.well, you get the idea: ) I hope this helps you decide which electric car might fit your life best - before you make the leap and invest yo

article thumbnail

Does The Tesla Model S Electric Car Pollute More Than An SUV?

Green Car Reports

'Does the supposedly clean, green Tesla Model S really pollute more than a gas-guzzling Jeep Grand Cherokee sport-utility vehicle? That''s what one analyst has claimed. In an exhaustive 6,500-word article on the financial website Seeking Alpha, analyst Nathan Weiss lays out a case that the Model S actually has higher effective emissions than most.

Pollution 167
article thumbnail

Social media powers student-built electric car

Green Cars News

'Students from schools across Kansas have built an electric car that is powered by social media. Not literally of course, but the idea is that the students will be able to take their 1967-built Karmann Ghia car, which has had its Volkswagen engine swapped for a modern lithium ion battery pack, fo[.].

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

ABB develops and demonstrates “flash charging” system for electric buses

Green Car Congress

'Close-up of the charging mechanism on the demo TOSA bus. Source: ABB. Click to enlarge. ABB has developed and is demonstrating a high-capacity “flash charging” system for electric buses. The system enables onboard batteries to be charged in 15 seconds with a 400 kW boost at selected stops using a roof-mounted system (“Flash station”). The flash stations are connected to the 50kVA electricity network and also have a 3kWh storage unit (supercap) for smoothing peaks in consumption.

Charging 354
article thumbnail

Let's Talk About Electric Cars Book

Electric Cars are for Girls

'I''m happy to announce the release of our new book, called "Let''s Talk about Electric Cars: 8 Most Inspiring Interviews". This book is a collection of real conversations with real people about the electric cars that they drive every day: Volt and LEAF drivers, beer budget EV converters, high-end EV converters, electric drag racers, Prius plug-in converters.well, you get the idea: ) I hope this helps you decide which electric car might fit your life best - before you make the leap and invest yo

More Trending

article thumbnail

Drayson Racing to attempt electric vehicle land speed record

Green Cars News

'A British-built and designed race car will attempt the FIA World Electric Land Speed record next month at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire. Former cabinet minister and now racing entrepreneur, Lord Drayson will race a low drag version of the Drayson B12 69/EV electric Le Mans prototype race car flat [.].

article thumbnail

Toyota to launch new “Big Data Traffic Information Service” in Japan

Green Car Congress

'T-Probe traffic information (Traffic congestion status shown with color coding). Click to enlarge. Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) had developed and will launch in Japan the “Big Data Traffic Information Service”, a new traffic-information service utilizing “big data” including vehicle locations and speeds, road conditions, and other parameters collected and stored via telematics services.

Japan 300
article thumbnail

Tesla expanding Supercharger network; boosting charging to 120 kW

Green Car Congress

'Tesla’s vision of the Supercharger network in 2015. Click to enlarge. Tesla Motors announced an accelerated rollout of its Tesla Supercharger network, which delivers quick charging for Tesla Model S drivers over long distances (i.e., city-to-city travel), for free. The company also said that it is currently in beta test with new technology for the Supercharger that will allow Model S to be charged at 120 kW, replenishing enough energy for three hours of driving in just over 20 minutes.

article thumbnail

Drayson Racing to make attempt for FIA World Electric Land Speed record with modified Lola-Drayson LMP EV

Green Car Congress

'Lola-Drayson B12/69EV at Rockingham in January. Photo: Drayson Racing Technologies. Click to enlarge. Drayson Racing Technologies will make an attempt for the FIA World Electric Land Speed Record in the sub-1000kg class on 25 June at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire using a modified version of the Lola-Drayson B12/69EV electric Le Mans Prototype ( earlier post ).

Electric 259
article thumbnail

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

Brief

article thumbnail

Ford LCA harmonization study clarifies benefits of lightweighting for vehicle life cycle energy use and GHG emissions

Green Car Congress

'Correlation between weight reduction and life cycle primary energy demand for (a) component and (b) total vehicle scenarios. Credit: ACS; Kim and Wallington. Click to enlarge. While reducing vehicle weight (lightweighting) by replacing steel and iron with alternatives such as aluminum, magnesium, and composites decreases fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during vehicle use, it can increase energy consumption and GHG emissions during vehicle production.

Emissions 247
article thumbnail

Florida repeals state Renewable Fuel Standard

Green Car Congress

'Florida Governor Rick Scott has signed into law HB 4001 , the “Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act”, which repeals the state’s Renewable Fuel Standard, effective 1 July 2013. HB 4001 was passed by the House on 12 April 2013, and subsequently passed the Senate on 24 April 2013. The bill repeals the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act (ss. 526.201-526.207, F.S.), which requires that, beginning 31 December 2010, all gasoline sold or offered for sale in Florida by a terminal supplier, importer, ble

Florida 240
article thumbnail

3rd generation BMW X5 to offer 5 diesel variants by end of year; more power, less fuel consumption

Green Car Congress

'BMW X5 xDrive30d. Click to enlarge. BMW’s newly introduced third-generation BMW X5 Sports Activity Vehicle will launch with two diesel engine model options, to be joined by three more in December. BMW has sold more than 1.3 million units of the X5 since the launch of the first generation model in 1999. At launch, the diesel line-up will include the BMW X5 xDrive30d with revised six-cylinder in-line diesel unit (190 kW/258 hp) and the BMW X5 M50d M Performance Automobile with tri-turbo six-cylin

BMW 220
article thumbnail

Ford Fusion first global vehicle program using seat fabric from recycled material

Green Car Congress

'Ford Fusion is the first global vehicle program from any automaker to use seat fabric made from recycled material, with the potential to recycle enough plastic bottles and post-industrial waste to make 1.5 million yards of fabric annually. The amount of recycled material in each vehicle varies depending on region. In North America, 100% of the seat fabric in Fusion Hybrid contains recycled material.

Fusion 220
article thumbnail

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

Oil

article thumbnail

US Navy launches its first solar-powered EV charging station

Green Car Congress

'Naval Support Activity (NSA) Mid-South officially welcomed into service the US Navy’s first solar-powered electric car charging station. The carport will enable NSA Mid-South to recharge its current fleet of 17 electric vehicles with renewable electricity in approximately four hours, while reducing demand on the commercial power grid. In addition to charging vehicles connected through either 110V or 220V plugs, the carport will also provide excess electricity to the local power grid, further re

Solar 218
article thumbnail

Honda cuts US lease price for Fit EV to $259/mo

Green Car Congress

'In the US, Honda has cut the lease price for the Fit EV in the US to $259 a month beginning 1 June, down from $389 a month. The new three-year lease includes no down payment, unlimited mileage, routine maintenance, collision coverage and 240 volt EV home charging station equipment (not including installation) from Leviton. The new reduced lease price and unlimited mileage term also will be applied to existing Fit EV customer leases going forward starting in June 2013.

Honda 218
article thumbnail

PHEV conversion company Echo Automotive completes $3M financing, joins CALSTART

Green Car Congress

'Echo Automotive, Inc., a developer of technologies enabling the conversion of existing fleet vehicles into plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, completed a $3-million financing with United Fleet Financing, LLC, through a private placement offering and mezzanine financing. Echo’s Chief Technology Officer is John Waters, the founder & CEO of Bright Automotive ( earlier post ).

Financing 218
article thumbnail

Study finds older drivers more likely to buy new vehicles

Green Car Congress

'A new study by Michael Sivak, research professor at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), found that in 2011, the peak probability of buying a new vehicle per driver in the US was among those between 55 and 64 years of age—a shift from four years earlier, when that peaked with the 35-to-44-year-old age group. Sivak examined the differences in the probability of licensed drivers purchasing a new light-duty vehicle (car, pickup truck, SUV or minivan) as a fun

Buy 210
article thumbnail

Williams F1 Team and Mercedes-Benz enter long-term engine partnership; downsized turbo hybrid Power Units

Green Car Congress

'The Williams F1 Team and Mercedes-Benz signed a long-term engine partnership from the 2014 Formula One World Championship season onwards. Under the terms of the agreement, Williams will be supplied with a Mercedes-Benz Power Unit (Internal Combustion Engine plus Energy Recovery System) by Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) based in Brixworth, UK.

Mercedes 210
article thumbnail

Ballard signs non-binding MOU with Azure Hydrogen for fuel cell bus development in China

Green Car Congress

'Ballard Power Systems has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with its partner Azure Hydrogen Corporation of Beijing, China, extending the scope of their collaboration to include fuel cell buses. ( Earlier post.). The MOU with Azure envisions Ballard providing a manufacturing license agreement, engineering services, fuel cell stacks and components.

China 210
article thumbnail

Australian Smart Grid demand management project shows EV drivers could halve charging costs

Green Car Congress

'In Australia, as part of the Victorian Government’s Electric Vehicle Trial ( earlier post ), DiUS Computing delivered a demand management demonstration project using Victoria’s Smart Grid. The project, which ran from June to December 2012, was the first end-to-end use of Victoria’s Smart Meter infrastructure for electricity demand management. The results of the project, released this week in a project report available via the DiUS website , showed that drivers could save around $250 each year&m

Grid 210
article thumbnail

AID reports W. European EV sales in April up almost 50% to 2,600 units, for 0.26% market share; France leading

Green Car Congress

'AID (Automotive Industry Data) reports that first-time registrations in April of electric vehicles in Western Europe were up almost one-half to just under 2,600 units, representing 0.26% of the region’s new car market. Registrations of electric cars this April were up in eight markets, down in seven, AID reported. France, thanks to the launch of the Renault ZOE, currently ranks as the region’s largest electric car market, with 3,188 new electric car registrations during the first four months of

France 210
article thumbnail

Alcoa facility to cut in half energy used to recycle aluminum for forged wheels

Green Car Congress

'Alcoa expects its $21-million Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products casthouse expansion at its Barberton, Ohio plant to cut in half the total amount of energy used to recycle aluminum for forged wheels, reducing greenhouse gases and increasing the overall efficiency and sustainability of the company’s manufacturing process. The recycling facility, the first of its kind in North America, produces wheels from re-melted and scrap aluminum.

Energy 210
article thumbnail

Navigant forecasts global light-duty fuel-cell-vehicle sales to surpass 2M annually by 2030

Green Car Congress

'Annual light-duty fuel cell vehicle sales through 2030. Source: Navigant Research. Click to enlarge. In a newly published research report (“ Fuel Cell Vehicles ”), Navigant Research forecasts that worldwide sales of light-duty fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs) will reach the 1,000 mark in 2015 and then begin a period of strong growth, surpassing 2 million vehicles annually by 2030.

Light 207
article thumbnail

PGE showcases 5MW Li-ion grid energy storage system; transactive control

Green Car Congress

'Portland General Electric showcased its 5 MW lithium-ion energy storage system to the public today at the utility’s Salem Smart Power Center in South Salem, Ore. The energy storage facility is part of PGE’s contribution to the Battelle-led Pacific Northwest Smart Grid Demonstration Project. Half of PGE’s $23-million portion of the regional project was paid for with US Department of Energy funds.

article thumbnail

Oxis Energy polymer Li-S pouch cell surpasses 450 cycles

Green Car Congress

'Oxis’ standard polymer Li-S pouch cell has surpassed 450 cycles. Click to enlarge. Oxis Energy, a UK-based developer of lithium-sulfur batteries, reported via Twitter that one of its standard polymer Li-S pouch cells surpassed 450 cycles this week. Oxis has developed a patented polymer lithium sulfur (Li-S) based battery technology platform using a lithium metal anode, a sulfur-based cathode, and a lithium sulfide electrolyte rendering the Li metal anode safe.

Polymer 199
article thumbnail

2014 Chevrolet Malibu equipped with new 2.5L iVLC base engine with start-stop

Green Car Congress

'2014 Malibu. Click to enlarge. Chevrolet unveiled the 2014 Malibu, featuring updated styling (and more rear seat room) and a new 2.5L base engine with variable valve lift control (Intake Valve Lift Control, iVLC earlier post ) and start/stop technology as standard. Estimated fuel economy with the base engine is 23 mpg US city / 35 mpg highway (10.2 and 6.7 l/100km, respectively)—5% and 3% improvement, respectively.

2014 199
article thumbnail

Honda joins DOE’s H2USA partnership to promote fuel cell electric vehicles and infrastructure

Green Car Congress

'American Honda Motor Co, Inc. has joined H 2 USA, a new public-private partnership launched by the US Department of Energy (DOE) earlier this month to promote the commercial introduction and widespread adoption of fuel cell electric vehicles. ( Earlier post.). Honda is looking forward to working with the U.S. Department of Energy, other automakers and related stakeholders to expand the market and infrastructure for FCEVs.

Honda 199
article thumbnail

Nissan LEAF hits 10,000-unit sales mark in Europe

Green Car Congress

'Nissan has now sold 10,000 units of the battery-electric LEAF in Europe. The LEAF went on sale in Europe in March 2011 in a handful of markets and is now available across the region. In March, Nissan sold more than 1,000 LEAFs, said Nissan Europe Director of Electric Vehicle, Jean-Pierre Diernaz. In April, LEAF was the second best-selling car overall in Norway. ( Earlier post.).

Nissan 199
article thumbnail

Westport partners with GAZ Group on new CNG medium-duty vehicle range

Green Car Congress

'Westport Innovations Inc. and GAZ Group, the leader of the Russian commercial vehicles market, signed a multi-year development and supply agreement for a new range of GAZ Group medium-duty compressed natural gas (CNG) commercial vehicles. Westport’s new WP580 Engine Management System will be applied to GAZ’s YaMZ-530 4.4L and 6.6L diesel engines and will incorporate Westport proprietary components and technology.

Russia 199
article thumbnail

Toyota launches 2013 Prius Plug-in MPG Challenge in US

Green Car Congress

'Toyota launched the first Prius MPG Challenge in the US, rewarding environmentally-conscious, charitable organizations in N.Y., N.J. and Conn., with contributions totaling $20,000. The Challenge—which consists of five separate waves of competition, each with up to eight challengers—awards those participants garnering the highest overall MPG over the course of a 30-day period.

Prius 199
article thumbnail

ICCT study finds increasing gap between rated and actual passenger car fuel consumption in Europe

Green Car Congress

'The divergence of real-world CO 2 emissions vs. manufacturers’ type-approval (100%) in Europe from various on-road data sources. Source: ICCT. Click to enlarge. A new white paper published by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) comparing official and “real-world” fuel consumption and CO 2 emission values for passenger cars in Europe and the United States shows that the average discrepancy between the values in Europe increased from less than 10% in 2001 to 25% in 2011.

Europe 199
article thumbnail

Fulcrum BioEnergy demonstrates integrated process to convert MSW to jet and diesel; $4.7M DoD grant to begin plant engineering

Green Car Congress

'Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. has successfully demonstrated the conversion of municipal solid waste (MSW)—household garbage—into jet and diesel fuels. Fulcrum says its ability to produce drop-in fuels from MSW opens up an 80 billion gallon per year fuel market and expands its customer base for its national development program. This demonstrated process adds fuel diversity to Fulcrum’s products and complements its previously demonstrated MSW-to-ethanol process.

Grant 199
article thumbnail

Oerlikon and Continental to cooperate on motor and transmission systems for hybrid & electric vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Swiss high-tech industrial Group Oerlikon and international automotive supplier Continental have entered into an agreement to cooperate on the development and marketing of integrated axle drive motor and transmission systems for hybrid and electric vehicles featuring optimized overall powertrain efficiency. Oerlikon Graziano SpA will contribute its know-how in the development, production and design of high-performance transmissions, while Continental’s Powertrain Division will bring to the tabl

Motor 199