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NREL plant-based epoxy enables recyclable carbon fiber; more cost-effective, lower GHG footprint

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have shown that making carbon fiber composites with bio-based epoxies and an anhydride hardener makes the material fully recyclable by introducing linkages that are more easily degraded. Synthesizing carbon fiber involves temperatures of more than 1,000 °C.

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Lux forecasts global market for carbon fiber composites to more than double to $36B in 2020; aerospace and wind to lead

Green Car Congress

As innovative new production technologies lower carbon fiber cost, the global market for carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) will more than double to $36 billion in 2020, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 13% from $14.6 billion in 2012, according to a new Lux Research report. kg today to $10.5/kg

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This German startup is pioneering recyclable wooden wind turbine blades

Baua Electric

Voodin Blade Technology In a first, German startup Voodin Blade Technology just installed wooden blades on a prototype wind turbine. foot) wooden blades specifically out of laminated veneer lumber (LVL), and installed them on an existing wind turbine in Breuna, Germany, near the city of Kassel. Voodin Blade Technology made the 9.3-meter

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Audi introduces new CNG A3 Sportback

Green Car Congress

Sales in Germany and other European countries begin in fall 2020 at a base price of €30,705.88. They are made of fiber-composite materials and, in keeping with Audi’s lightweight construction philosophy, each weighs just 26 kilograms (57.3 Audi first introduced an A3 Sportback g-tron in 2014. The A3 Sportback 30 g-tron 1.5

Audi 504
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US MSRP for BMW i3 EV will be $41,350, before incentives

Green Car Congress

BMW announced that the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (without Destination & Handling) for the i3 electric vehicle in the US will be $41,350, before any federal or state incentives. Hydro-electric, wind and solar power are used to power the CFRP production facilities in Moses Lake, Washington and the Leipzig, Germany assembly line.

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Lucid Air achieves industry-best 0.21 coefficient of drag

Green Car Congress

With tests recently completed at Windshear ’s advanced rolling-road wind tunnel, Lucid verified a coefficient of drag of 0.21, making the Lucid Air the most aero-efficient luxury car. Lucid Motors announced that it has achieved a new mark in aerodynamic efficiency for its luxury electric car, the Lucid Air.

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Toyota to begin sales of Mirai fuel cell vehicle in Europe by September

Green Car Congress

Initial price is €66,000 (US$73,735) + VAT (Germany). Tanks with a three-layer structure made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic and other materials are used to store hydrogen at a very high pressure of 70 MPa (70 megapascals, or approximately 700 bar). Toyota Mirai at Geneva 2015. Click to enlarge.

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