Coal, Conversion, Fuel Economy and Gas-Electric

ORNL study finds best current use of natural gas for cars is efficient production of electricity for EVs

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2014

However, they also noted, high PTW efficiencies and the moderate fuel economies of current compressed natural gas vehicles (CNGVs) make them a viable option as well. If CNG were to be eventually used in hybrids, the advantage of the electric generation/EV option shrinks. —Curran et al.

Gas-Electric

Gas-Electric Gas Fuel Economy PHEV

National Research Council Report on Americas Energy Future Highlights Vehicle Efficiency Technologies, Conversion of Biomass and Coal-to-Liquids Fuels, and Electrifying the Light Duty Fleet with PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs

Green Car Congress

JULY 31, 2009

Improvements result from an optimistic scenario achieving doubling of new vehicle fuel economy in 2035 from today’s value. Developing technologies for the conversion of biomass and coal-to-liquid fuels. from liquid-fuel production plants is captured and stored geologically. Click to enlarge.

Coal

Coal Conversion Light Future

Argonne releases latest updates to GREET life-cycle analysis models

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 3, 2015

This release includes the following expansions and updates: Major expansions and updates: Water consumption of fuel production pathways: developed and updated water consumption for hydrogen from various sources, petroleum fuels, biofuels, and hydro-electric power. Soybeans-based fuels: updated N 2 O emissions in soybean fields.

Oil-Sands

Oil-Sands Li-ion Fuel Economy Waste

U. Mich study: natural-gas-based ICE, BEV and FCV all show promise for environmental benefits relative to conventional ICE

Green Car Congress

AUGUST 19, 2014

Results of a lifecycle analysis by a team at the University of Michigan suggest that multiple types of natural gas-powered vehicles—i.e., Their study appears in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. … They assumed that the CNGV is fueled by natural gas contained within a 100 kg chrome steel storage tank.

Gas

Gas Li-ion Gas-Electric Conversion

Rice flash Joule heating process recycles plastic from end-of-life F-150 trucks into high-value graphene for new vehicles

Green Car Congress

MAY 27, 2022

The Rice lab of chemist James Tour introduced flash Joule heating in 2020 to convert coal, petroleum coke and trash into graphene. The researchers cited a study that estimates the amount of plastic used in vehicles has increased by 75% in just the past six years as a means to reduce weight and increase fuel economy.

F-150

F-150 Vehicles Ford Waste

NRC report concludes US LDVs could cut oil consumption and GHGs by 80% by 2050; reliance on plug-ins, biofuels and hydrogen; strong policies mandatory

Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2013

Projected rates of fuel consumption improvement under different scenarios relative to past experience and the 2016 and 2025 CAFE standards. Vehicles operating on electricity. While natural gas vehicles would reduce petroleum use, they would have limited impact on GHG emissions. Source: NRC. Click to enlarge. —Douglas M.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen Oil Plug-in Fuel Economy

Study projects emission impacts of inexpensive, efficient EVs: 36% further reduction in LDV GHG by 2050, or 9% economy-wide

Green Car Congress

JUNE 7, 2017

A new study by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder projects the emission impacts of the widespread introduction of inexpensive and efficient electric vehicles into the US light duty vehicle (LDV) sector. output of mining or importing technologies) to conversion or process technologies (e.g.,

Emissions

Emissions Economy Gasoline-Electric Coal

Inaugural Quadrennial Technology Review report concludes DOE is underinvested in transport; greatest efforts to go to electrification

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

The DOE-QTR defines six key strategies: increase vehicle efficiency; electrification of the light duty fleet; deploy alternative fuels; increase building and industrial efficiency; modernize the electrical grid; and deploy clean electricity. Impartial DOE research can help inform these standards.

Transportation

Transportation Fuel Economy Light Fuel

DOE to award $12.5M to improve efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks as part of new tech track for US-China initiative

Green Car Congress

MARCH 13, 2016

Advanced air management system (exhaust gas recirculation, turbocharger, supercharging). High conversion efficiency NO x after-treatment and particulate filters. Alternative fuel combustion. Hybrid electric powertrains. Combustion control and optimization technology. Engine thermal management. Waste heat recovery.

China

China Parts Chinese Obama

Plug-In Hybrids (or Plugin Hybrids)

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

You can fill it up at the gas station, and you can plug it in to any 120-volt outlet. Its like having a second fuel tank that you always use first -- only you fill up at home, from a regular outlet, at an equivalent cost of under $1/gallon. But when you do, your car essentially becomes an electric vehicle with a gas-tank backup.

Plug-in

Plug-in Plugin Plug Hybrid

Study suggests current levels of methane leakage would result in numerous decades of more rapid climate change from a shift to natural gas vehicles

Green Car Congress

APRIL 10, 2012

Technology warming potential (TWP) for three sets of natural gas fuel-switching scenarios. (A) A) CNG light-duty cars vs. gasoline cars; (B) CNG heavy-duty vehicles vs. diesel vehicles; and (C) combined-cycle natural gas plants vs. supercritical coal plants using low-CH 4 coal. Source: Alvarez et al. leakage.

Climate Change

Climate Change Climate Gas Coal

Using the PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) to Transition Society Seamlessly and Profitably From Fossil Fuel to 100% Renewable Energy

Green Car Congress

JULY 17, 2015

The PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a subset of the electric car, combines a primary electric motor with a much smaller back-up engine fueled with a hydrocarbon/biofuel mix. (In In this paper PHEV refers solely to the long-range PHEV of 60 miles (100 km) electric-only range.) It is much more than that.

PHEV

PHEV Plug-in Renewable Energy

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

Tony Karrer Delicious EVdriven

APRIL 21, 2009

GM has announced plans for public sales in 2010, and almost every carmaker now says it will sell PHEVs or highway-speed battery electric vehicles (BEVs) sometime after 2010. Shifted earlier focus to all-electric Focus in 2011 with Magna. Focusing on all-electric, Nissan-Renault partnership with Better Place for EVs.

Plug-in

Plug-in Plug Hybrid PHEV

EV Driven

ORNL study finds best current use of natural gas for cars is efficient production of electricity for EVs

National Research Council Report on Americas Energy Future Highlights Vehicle Efficiency Technologies, Conversion of Biomass and Coal-to-Liquids Fuels, and Electrifying the Light Duty Fleet with PHEVs, BEVs and FCVs

Argonne releases latest updates to GREET life-cycle analysis models

U. Mich study: natural-gas-based ICE, BEV and FCV all show promise for environmental benefits relative to conventional ICE

Rice flash Joule heating process recycles plastic from end-of-life F-150 trucks into high-value graphene for new vehicles

NRC report concludes US LDVs could cut oil consumption and GHGs by 80% by 2050; reliance on plug-ins, biofuels and hydrogen; strong policies mandatory

Study projects emission impacts of inexpensive, efficient EVs: 36% further reduction in LDV GHG by 2050, or 9% economy-wide

Inaugural Quadrennial Technology Review report concludes DOE is underinvested in transport; greatest efforts to go to electrification

DOE to award $12.5M to improve efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks as part of new tech track for US-China initiative

Plug-In Hybrids (or Plugin Hybrids)

Study suggests current levels of methane leakage would result in numerous decades of more rapid climate change from a shift to natural gas vehicles

Using the PHEV (Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle) to Transition Society Seamlessly and Profitably From Fossil Fuel to 100% Renewable Energy

How Carmakers Are Responding to the Plug-In Hybrid Opportunity

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