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MIT team proposes flex-fuel gasoline-alcohol engine PHEV long-haul trucks

Green Car Congress

In a paper being presented at WCX SAE World Congress Experience in Detroit this week, a team from MIT is proposing the use of a flex-fuel gasoline-alcohol engine approach for a series-hybrid powertrain for long-haul Class 8 trucks. We think that the way to enable the use of electricity in these vehicles is with a plug-in hybrid.

MIT 247
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MIT, Ford researchers find lightweight conventional vehicles could have lower lifecycle GHG impact than EVs depending upon location

Green Car Congress

Researchers at MIT and the Ford Motor Company have found that depending on the location, lightweight conventional vehicles could have a lower lifecycle greenhouse gas impact than electric vehicles, at least in the near term. Their paper is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. —Wu et al.

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MIT and IEA reports take different views of the future of natural gas in transportation

Green Car Congress

MIT and the IEA both have newly released reports exploring the potential for and impact of a major expansion in global usage of natural gas, given the current re-evaluation of global supplies. The IEA takes a more conventional approach, assessing the impact on the penetration of vehicles burning gas as their fuel. Earlier post.)

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MIT Energy Initiative report on transforming the US transportation system by 2050 to address climate challenges

Green Car Congress

According to the report, “On the Road Toward 2050: Potential for Substantial Reductions in Light-Duty Vehicle Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions,” each element is separately important, but must collectively be pursued aggressively to achieve necessary emissions reductions.

MIT 150
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Texas study finds PHEV use could increase ozone at night, decrease ozone during the day

Green Car Congress

A study by researchers at the University of Texas found that in general, use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can lead to an increase in ozone during nighttime hours (due to decreased scavenging from both vehicles and EGU stacks) and a decrease in ozone during daytime hours. The results are less clear in Dallas and Houston.

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Vouchers are Becoming the Clean Vehicle Incentive of Choice for Fleets

Green Car Congress

The program has been very successful in helping California fleet managers realize a faster ROI on a range of important technologies, such as electrification and natural gas. For example, after only initially including plug-in vehicles like EVs and PHEVs, HVIP now also includes many non-plug-in HEVs, including Class 2 vans and pickups.

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MIT Year End Energy Review touts PHEVs

Plugs and Cars

The MIT Technology Review reports plug-in hybrids a big 2006 energy story: "The plug-in hybrid-vehicle era begins. For years, hobbyists and a few companies have been adding bigger battery packs to hybrid vehicles, which have both battery power and an internal combustion engine, and plugging them into electrical outlets.

MIT 100