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NREL develops novel method to produce renewable acrylonitrile; carbon fibers from renewable biomass

Green Car Congress

This hybrid biological-catalytic process offers an alternative to the conventional petrochemical production method and achieves unprecedented acrylonitrile yields. Today, acrylonitrile is used in the production of acrylic fibers for carpets, clothes, and fabrics, and in plastics such as food containers, and packaging materials.

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ORNL, University of Toledo to collaborate on advanced materials, manufacturing research for vehicle applications

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The US Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory and The University of Toledo have entered into a memorandum of understanding for collaborative research into the advanced design and manufacturing of high-strength, intelligent, lightweight materials for use by the automotive sector.

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Researchers suggest hybrid graphene oxide/cellulose microfibers could supersede carbon fibers

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Researchers from Nanjing Forestry University and the University of Maryland have designed high-performance microfibers by hybridizing two-dimensional (2D) graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and one-dimensional (1D) nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) fibers. —Li et al. (a) GO, graphene oxide; NFC, nanofibrillated cellulose.

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NCKU in Taiwan unveils hydrogen hybrid scooter

Green Car Congress

National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan recently unveiled its first hydrogen-fueled electric hybrid scooter “Pegasus One”. Pegasus One is upgraded from the original electrical scooter to the current hybrid power system combining fuel cell and lithium battery. Pegasus One. Click to enlarge.

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BMW delivers first i3 EV in US

Green Car Congress

BMW delivered the first all-electric BMW i3 (earlier post) in the US to Boston electric vehicle advocate and Tufts University professor of practice Charles Rabie at the BMW of Boston dealership. The BMW i3 is the first of the BMW i vehicles constructed from the ground up primarily of carbon fiber to enter the US market.

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Porsche introduces 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid sports car

Green Car Congress

Porsche has introduced the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid sports car, the first of six or more plug-in hybrids coming from the Volkswagen Group. Porsche had unveiled the concept version of the 918 Spyder Plug-in Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010. Hybrid modules. The 918 Spyder. Click to enlarge. Earlier post.)

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Energy Harvesting for Wearable Technology Steps Up

Cars That Think

But we do actually need that energy to be generated,” says Alper Bozkurt, who with Veena Misra codirects the Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) at North Carolina State University. But solar is just the opening gambit.

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