Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding more than $145 million to 69 projects in 24 states to help shape the next generation of solar energy technologies. Funded through DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the projects will also improve materials, manufacturing processes, and supply chains for a wide range of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and components of solar energy systems.

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Solar Obama Stimulus Washington 348

Electric Cars are for Girls

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

Here's an idea: 1. Decrease payroll taxes. 2. Increase taxes on dirty carbon-based fuels at the source. Yeah, you know who I'm talking about; ) 3. Retrain coal miners and refinery workers into green jobs. 4. Save the planet for future generations. Good idea? Follow the link to whitehouse dot gov to sign the petition.

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Coal Green IDEA Tax 229

Creative Greenius

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

Environment 186

Environment 186

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

FHSPV flywheel CVT system layout. Click to enlarge. A research vehicle fitted with a flywheel hybrid system including stop-start has demonstrated improvements in fuel economy of up to 22.4% in the new European ARTEMIS test cycles. Developed by a consortium of British companies as part of the Government-supported Flywheel Hybrid System for Premium Vehicles (FHSPV) program, the mechanically-driven flywheel system delivers up to 80 bhp (82 PS, 60 kW) of recovered energy from a self-contained hybrid

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Fuel Economy Economy Hybrid Fuel 338

Speaker: tara

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

Mercedes-Benz F 125! research vehicle. Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz presented the F125! research vehicle (the “125” marking 125 years of the automobile), a fuel-cell plug-in hybrid with a range of more than 1,000 km (621 miles) that anticipates more than two generations of vehicles to 2025 and beyond. The F125!, intended to demonstrate emission-free individual mobility in the luxury segment in the future, incorporates already well-proven concepts and technologies which are not yet

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Mercedes Hydrogen Plug-in Fuel 334

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Although the burning of natural gas emits far less carbon dioxide than coal, a new study by Tom Wigley, a senior research associate at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and an adjunct professor at the University of Adelaide in Australia, concludes that a greater reliance on natural gas would fail to significantly slow down climate change.

Coal 334

Coal Climate Gas Global 334

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Cylinder deactivation (Zylinderabschaltung, ZAS) relies upon two different profiles on the cam pieces: a conventional full profile and a zero-lift cam that is activated (right) under cylinder shut-off. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen will debut cylinder deactivation (cylinder shut-off) technology in the new 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged, direct-injection engine beginning in 2012.

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2012 Engine Exhaust Fuel Economy 325

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

The photos show wild type algae and magnetic algae placed in a test tube next to a permanent magnet. The wild type (left) settles to the bottom of the tube under the influence of gravity. The genetically transformed algae (right) stick to the wall due to magnetic attractions. Source: LANL. Click to enlarge. Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have genetically [link] “magnetic” algae to investigate alternative, more efficient harvesting and lipid extraction methods for biofuels.

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Engine Low Cost Cost Of Green 323

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

Federal-Mogul’s Advanced Corona Ignition System (ACIS, left) uses a high-energy, high frequency electrical field to produce repeatable, controlled ionization, creating multiple streams of ions to ignite the fuel mixture throughout the combustion chamber, whereas conventional spark ignition (right) creates only a small arc in the gap between the electrodes of a spark plug.

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Fuel Exhaust Plug-in Plug 316

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

Ford has confirmed that the first production applications for the new 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder EcoBoost engine ( earlier post ) will be three models in the European product range: first the Focus, followed by C-MAX and the all-new Ford B-MAX. The new 1.0-liter engine is the latest addition to Ford’s global family of EcoBoost engines, which currently range in capacity from 1.6 to 3.5 liters globally.

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Ford Engine Range Exhaust 316

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, launched its new “ Flex-to-Green ” lease offering, making it easier for private fleet operators to jump start their sustainability programs by providing the option of incorporating alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets in support of their business objectives.

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Green Commercial Fuel Alternative Fuels 304

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

Reversible Li extraction capacity of nanoSi electrodes with alginate, CMC and PVDF binders vs. cycle number collected for the current density of 4200 mA g –1 for cells cycled in the potential window of 0.01-1 V vs. Li/Li +. Click to enlarge. Researchers from Clemson University and the Georgia Institute of Technology have identified a promising new binder material for lithium-ion battery electrodes that not only could boost energy storage, but also eliminate the use of toxic compounds now used to

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Li-ion Lithium Ion Batteries Battery 301

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

The Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) has selected 60 research projects for up to a combined $156 million in funding from the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. The new ARPA-E selections focus on accelerating innovations in clean technology while increasing US competitiveness in rare earth alternatives and breakthroughs in biofuels, thermal storage, grid controls, and solar power electronics.

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Energy Cleaning Clean Grid 294

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 13, 2011

A Kia Optima Hybrid ( earlier post ) driven by hypermiler Wayne Gerdes and his colleague Chris Bernius set a new Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption in a hybrid gasoline vehicle while driving through all 48 adjoining US states. ( Earlier post.). Gerdes and Bernius successfully piloted a factory-standard 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid sedan through a 7,899 mile (12,712 km) route across America and achieved an average fuel consumption of 64.55 mpg US (3.64 l/100 km), beating the car’s of

MPG 294

MPG Kia Fuel Economy Hybrid 294

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 11, 2011

A team from the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia and the Universidad de Valencia has synthesized a hybrid graphene-nickel/manganese mixed oxide that, when used as an anode material for Li-ion batteries, shows a maximum capacity of 1030 mAhg -1 during the first discharge; capacity values higher than 400 mAhg -1 were still achieved after 10 cycles.

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Li-ion Ni-Li Hybrid Lithium Ion 292

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Gas-to-liquids (GTL) process systems boundary with co-product displacement. Credit: ACS, Forman et al. Click to enlarge. Using a co-product displacement method (i.e., substitution) rather than an energy-based allocation method to assess the lifecycle (well-to-wheels, WTW) emissions of gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology results in WTW greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions lower than that of petroleum diesel, according to a paper by a team from Sasol Synfuels International and Baker and O’Brien publis

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Diesel Emissions Oil-Sands Production 290

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

Fisker Automotive has signed an agreement with BMW that will cover the supply of engines and other components for future Fisker models. BMW will supply a four-cylinder turbocharged engine for the next generation of Fisker cars, code-named ‘Project Nina’, which are scheduled to go into production in the re-commissioned former GM plant in Wilmington, Delaware at the end of 2012 and be on sale globally in 2013.

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Extended Range Fisker BMW Supplies 290

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2011

Cyclists in London and other major cities have higher levels of black carbon in their airway cells, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society’s Annual Congress in Amsterdam. The results suggests that cyclists inhale more black carbon than pedestrians, which may cause damage to the lungs. The combustion of fossil fuels results in the generation of large numbers of inhalable particles of soot (black carbon).

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Carbon London Congress Personal 285

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

An overwhelming number of drivers envision they will charge their EVs at home, new Chartwell research shows. Coinciding with the launch of its EV Customer Strategy Research Council and Electric Vehicle Programs Summit, Chartwell has conducted a study that reveals 89% of consumers would be “likely” or “extremely likely” to charge their plug-in EVs at home.

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Charging Atlanta Vehicles Plug-in 284

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 21, 2011

Global CO 2. emissions from fossil fuel use and cement production per region. Source: JRC. Click to enlarge. After a decline in global CO 2 emissions in 2009 of 1% (including a. correction for the leap year 2008), global emissions have. jumped by more than 5% in 2010, which is unprecedented. in the last two decades, 2 %20emissions%20report%20-%2021%20Sept.pdf">according to the newly published report “Long-term trend in global CO 2 emissions,” prepared by the European Commission’s Joi

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Emissions Global Transportation Industrial 281

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 30, 2011

(A) Plot of the efficiency vs. time for a wired configuration under AM 1.5 illumination. The traces are for solar cells of 7.7% PV efficiency. The cells were operated in a two-electrode cell configuration. (B) MS signal and SFE values for a wireless configuration. The cell was illuminated over the 2 h of the experiment. Reece et al. Click to enlarge.

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MIT Water Solar Hydrogen 278

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 14, 2011

SG Biofuels (SGB) has teamed with JETBIO, leader of a multi-stakeholder initiative including Airbus, the Inter-American Development Bank, Bioventures Brasil, Rio Pardo Bioenergia, Air BP and TAM Airlines, to accelerate the production of crude Jatropha oil as a source for aviation biojet fuel in Brazil. SGB will work with Bioventures Brasil, an energy crop project developer, and other program partners on a multi-phased program leading to the deployment of 75,000 acres of intercropped Jatropha pla

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Brazil Fuel Commercial Oil 278

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 1, 2011

The new ruthenium-based catalyst supports air-stabile ammonia borane dehydrogenation. Conley et al. Click to enlarge. A team of University of Southern California (USC) scientists has developed an efficient ruthenium-based catalyst for the dehydrogenation of ammonia borane (AB). The new catalyst liberates more than 2 equiv of H 2 and up to 4.6 system wt % H 2 from concentrated AB suspensions under air.

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Hydrogen Denver 2010 2011 275

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 8, 2011

Total US exports of finished petroleum products have increased more than 60% since 2007 as markets have become more globally integrated, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). This trend is driven primarily by finished motor gasoline and distillate fuel oil which are increasingly exported to Latin America. Annual U.S. exports of gasoline and distillate increased by 133% and 144%, respectively, from 2007 to 2010.

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2007 Global Market Production 273

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 4, 2011

The battery housing made of lightweight component materials weighs only 35 kg (77 lbs)—25% less than traditional solutions made of steel. Credit: Fraunhofer ICT. Click to enlarge. Engineers from the Fraunhofer Institutes for Chemical Technology ICT in Pfinztal, for Mechanics of Materials IWM, for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and for High-Speed Dynamics, Ernst-Mach Institut EMI, have developed a lightweight, fiber-reinforced composite battery housing for electric vehicle

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Batteries Battery Production Carbon Fiber 273

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 17, 2011

Car Charging Group Inc., a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services, announced a partnership with Central Parking System Inc. and its subsidiary, USA Parking System Inc., the US’ largest parking garage operator, to provide EV charging services at locations nationwide via Coulomb Technologies’ ChargePoint Network. Car Charging Group plans to install EV charging stations at sites owned by the two parking garage operators.

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Charging USA Cars Purchase 270

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2011

DriveGain and Ecofys have introduced a new iPhone application that helps Dutch drivers save fuel while driving. “Fueless” and is available to download now, in English and Dutch, for free from the Dutch iPhone AppStore. The application gives users audio and visual feedback on how they can increase their fuel savings as they drive. DriveGain research shows that, by making changes to their driving behavior, drivers can reduce their average fuel consumption by 13% percent, and can save &

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Fuel Insight Emissions Transportation 268

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

The Volvo Car Corporation is introducing a new, downsized engine range consisting solely of four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines. The upcoming four-cylinder VEA (Volvo Environmental Architecture) engine range includes common rail diesels and direct injected gasoline engines. It covers the range from high-power and -torque variants to fuel-efficient derivatives.

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Downsizing Fuel Economy Volvo Economy 268

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

2013 Lexus GS 450h. Click to enlarge. Lexus has introduced its all-new 2013 GS 450h hybrid at the Frankfurt motor show. The hybrid version of the 2013 GS 350 incorporates improvements to its hybrid powertrain and is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. GS 450h engineers have aimed for reductions in fuel consumption and emissions without sacrificing performance.

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GS 450h Lexus 2013 Hybrid 268

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

2012 Sonic. Click to enlarge. The 2012 Chevrolet Sonic with the Ecotec 1.4L turbo delivers an EPA-estimated 40 mpg US (5.9 L/100km) on the highway with a six-speed manual transmission and city fuel economy of 29 mpg (8.1 L/100km), resulting in 33 mpg US (7.1 L/100km) combined. The Sonic’s highway fuel economy makes it one of the most fuel-efficient small cars in the market, with fuel economy equivalent to the 2012 Ford Fiesta SFE and on a par with the 2012 Hyundai Accent.

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MPG 2012 Fuel Economy Economy 262

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2011

Pike Research forecasts that annual sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) will reach 358,959 vehicles by 2017, representing a compound anual growth rate (CAGR) of 43% between 2011 and 2017. To understand where these vehicles will likely be sold, Pike Research created a geographic forecast model using a variety of inputs including population and demographic trends; affinity towards electric vehicles; and automakers’ intended availability of vehicles.

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Plug-in Plug San Diego New York 261

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 29, 2011

(a) Chemical structure of the PEDT:PSSH polymer blend. (b) Formation of hydrated ionic conduction channels in the PEDT:PSSH film network due to the presence of the hydrophilizing SO 3 ? groups. Xie et al. Click to enlarge. A team from the National University of Singapore's Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Initiative (NUSNNI), led by principle investigator Dr.

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Energy Storage Singapore Universal Polymer 259

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 5, 2011

In May, the 82 nd Texas Legislature passed and the Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 1353 , which took effect on 1 September. This legislation allows the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to create a 75-mph speed limit on sections of the highway system found to be reasonable and safe through a speed study. The bill also eliminates the speed limit distinction between day and night and between cars and trucks.

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Texas MPH Davis 2002 259