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Ford displays prototype Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic hood

Green Car Congress

At the Composites Europe event in Dusseldorf, Ford Motor Company displayed a prototype carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) hood. Carbon fiber offers a very high strength-to-weight ratio; it is up to five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, and one-third the weight. Meeting requirements for painting.

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MAHLE Powertrain and White Motorcycle Concepts developing fully electric 3-wheeled motorcycle for police, emergency first responders

Green Car Congress

The project’s focus on sustainability is evident beyond the target of delivering zero-emission transport for rapid response fleets, such as in the use of recycled carbon-fiber in the motorcycle’s construction, and the selection of a downsized battery pack with fast charging capability that reduces the use of rare earth materials.

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Alset dual-fuel Hybrid Hydrogen system to debut in Aston Martin Rapide S at the Nürburgring

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Four carbon-fiber tanks holding 3.23 Four carbon-fiber tanks holding 3.23 liter engine will showcase that engine downsizing or electrification is not the only way to achieve low emissions, the company said. — Alset Global’s VP of product management and technology, Thomas Korn.

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GM to double models with 40 mpg highway or better by 2017; ongoing manufacturing efficiency improvements

Green Car Congress

Describing its product goals and tracking progress toward its 2020 manufacturing priorities in its 2012 Sustainability Report , General Motors reaffirmed its commitment to further reduce the energy used and the environmental impacts of building and operating an automobile. Earlier post.). This data includes data from some GM JVs.

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Toyota Aims to Reduce Fuel Cell Vehicle Cost to 1/10 of Current By Commercialization in 2015; Reduction to Another 1/10 With Scale

Green Car Congress

In a news conference at the Japan National Press Club on Friday, Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda said that the company plans to begin mass production of electric vehicles in the US in 2012, followed by US production of fuel cell vehicles in 2015. Toyoda positioned EVs for short-distance travel and fuel cell cars for longer ranges.

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Ford focused on lightweighting as a major enabling technology for low-emission, fuel-efficient vehicles from ICEs to EVs

Green Car Congress

The company is also running its largest display ever at NAIAS, featuring feature a broad spectrum of new products including the all-new Ford Focus, Ford Explorer, Mustang Boss 302, Ford C-MAX multi-activity vehicle and Ford F-150 with four all-new powertrains.

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DOE to award up to $137M for SuperTruck II, Vehicle Technology Office programs

Green Car Congress

Demonstrate the joining of steel to aluminum and aluminum to carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites using the existing spot welding infrastructure. Develop new coating and adhesives that enable carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic/aluminum closure panels and validate corrosion testing methods. Federal funding.

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