Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2015

Nissan has begun testing its first prototype vehicle that demonstrates piloted drive on both highway and city/urban roads. Nissan’s “Intelligent Driving” comprises features that will be introduced in stages, all toward achieving Nissan’s “Zero Fatality” goal of eliminating virtually all fatalities stemming from traffic accidents. For Stage One, Nissan will offer “Piloted Drive 1.0” by the end of 2016 in Japan.

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Nissan Vehicles Electric Vehicles Japan 233

Electric Cars are for Girls

OCTOBER 12, 2015

Oh, this is brilliant. Level 2.5 charging for electric motorcycles like the Zero, using the j-plug we're all so familiar with. You can charge your Zero in about an hour! I *want* this for my LEAF, sigh.

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Electric Motorcycles Motorcycles Electric Electrical 182

Green Car Reports

OCTOBER 31, 2015

Why is one family really happy that its Tesla Model S got destroyed? And, what car did we drive this week--but plan to report on next week? This is our video look back at the Week In Reverse--right here at Green Car Reports--for the week ending on Friday, October 30, 2015. Friday, we reported from Japan on what it's like to drive a new.

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Tesla Green Cars Honda Motor 129

National Green Transportation

OCTOBER 12, 2015

A new age of electric motorcycling has dawned thanks to a product announcement on Monday from DigiNow and Electric Motor Werks. The two companies have jointly developed the DigiNow Super Charger Charge Tank, a super-high-speed charging.

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Electric Motorcycles Motorcycles Electric Electrical 81

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Norway

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2015

RJ Lee Group has signed an agreement to license an invention developed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory that converts waste rubber into a valuable energy storage material. The technology turns rubber sources such as tires into carbon black composites through a proprietary pretreatment process invented by ORNL’s Amit Naskar, Parans Paranthaman and Zhonghe Bi. ( Earlier post.).

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Lithium Ion Carbon Energy Storage Batteries 214

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2015

Volkswagen AG and leading Chinese bank Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Limited (ICBC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Beijing setting out a long-term strategic partnership. Under the MoU, ICBC will provide Volkswagen AG with a wide range of banking services in China and globally. In the presence of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Dr.

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China Chinese Dealers Commercial 203

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Audi has begun using a new 1,000 horsepower plug-in hybrid shunting locomotive manufactured by Alstom in daily operations at the Audi plant in Ingolstadt, Germany. The new locomotive runs without any emissions inside the plant buildings and can operate for up to two hours at a time in purely electric mode. Its battery is plugged in during breaks for recharging with CO 2 ‑free electricity, or is supported while in motion by a diesel engine.

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Audi Plug-in Plug Hybrid 228

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Engineers at The Ohio State University have developed a new welding technique—Vaporized Foil Actuator Welding (VFAW)—that consumes 80% less energy than a common welding technique, yet creates bonds that are 50% stronger. The new technique could have a significant impact on the auto industry, which is poised to offer new cars which combine traditional heavy steel parts with lighter, alternative metals to reduce vehicle weight.

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Energy Ohio Gas-Electric Manufacturer 214

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2015

The first production Detroit Electric SP:01 ( earlier post ) has rolled off the line at the company’s Leamington Spa (UK) manufacturing facility. The new SP:01 is destined for one of Detroit Electric’s export markets to be delivered to the EV company’s first customer. The lightweight SP:01, which goes on sale in Asia and Europe over the coming weeks, combines a carbon fiber body with an aluminum chassis.

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Detroit Carbon Fiber South Korea South Africa 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a working laboratory demonstrator of a lithium-oxygen battery which has very high energy density, is more than 90% efficient, and, to date, can be recharged more than 2000 times, showing how several of the problems holding back the development of these devices could be solved. In contrast to standard Li-O 2 cells, which cycle via the formation of Li 2 O 2 , the Cambridge team used a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) electrode, the additive LiI

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Li-ion Batteries Battery Lithium Air 218

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2015

Researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) have performed a preliminary analysis of the cumulative on-road safety record of self-driving vehicles for three of the ten companies that are currently approved for such vehicle testing in California (Google, Delphi, and Audi). The analysis compared the safety record of these vehicles with the safety record of all conventional vehicles in the US for 2013 (adjusted for underreporting of crashes that do not involv

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Vehicles Audi Miles Michigan 203

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Following the Transatlantic Economic Council’s decision to promote electric vehicles and smart grid interoperability, on 29 October the European Commission inaugurated the European Interoperability Centre, a laboratory operated by the JRC. Together with its partner facility in the US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory, the new lab will ensure that the next generation of electric cars and smart grids are fully interoperable, based on harmonized standards, technology validation and

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Grid Vehicles Electric Vehicles All-Electric 221

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Volkswagen Group has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its Chattanooga facility, where it plans on producing a newly developed midsize SUV for the US market, despite a Group crackdown on spending as the company prepares to deal with the impacts of resolving the diesel emissions scandal. As previously announced, the Group plans on a total investment of approximately $900 million in the production of a newly developed, seven-passenger SUV.

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SUV North America Tennessee Diesel 199

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Using complementary microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have “ unambiguously ” described the crystal structure of lithium- and manganese-rich transition metal oxides (LMRTMOs)—materials of great interest as high-capacity cathode materials for Li-ion batteries. Despite their being extensively studied, the crystal structure of these materials in their pristine state was not fully understood.

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Li-ion Ni-Li Energy Lithium Ion 188

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is partnering with 21 states through the Biofuel Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) nearly to double the number of fueling pumps nationwide that supply renewable fuels to American motorists. In May 2015, USDA announced the availability of $100 million in grants through the BIP, and that to apply states and private partners match the federal funding by a 1:1 ratio.

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Fuel Renewable South Dakota North Dakota 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Honda opened a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station on its property in Troy, Ohio. The CNG station, which was designed, constructed and will be operated by Trillium CNG, is the second public CNG station located on a Honda property in North America, following one opened at Honda of America Mfg. in Marysville, Ohio in August. ( Earlier post.).

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Honda Ohio Fuel America 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) unveiled the Mitsubishi eX electric crossover concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. MMC intends the eX to showcase next-generation electric vehicle technologies, as well as a new take on the Dynamic Shield front design concept. The next-generation EV system employs a 45 kWh battery pack together with compact 70 kW electric motors, one on each axle, for a combined output of 140 kW.

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Mitsubishi Electric Vehicles Vehicles Concept 221

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Indonesian Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently signed an agreement to promote developing and using sustainable, alternative aviation fuels and additional environmental collaboration between the two nations. FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said that the MOU’s primary focus areas are research and development of alternative aviation fuels; energy conservation; environmental protection and sustainable aviation growth; critical

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Alternative Fuels Indonesia Fuel Transportation 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

by Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. We are a little more than a month away from OPEC’s next meeting, which will be held in Vienna on December 4, 2015. OPEC altered the course of the oil markets last year when it decided to cast aside its traditional role of maintaining balance through production cuts. Instead it pursued a strategy of fighting for market share, contributing to an immediate rout in oil prices.

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Saudi Arabia Price Oil Prices Oil 197

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2015

Panda Power Funds has financed the 1,124 megawatt Panda “Hummel Station” power plant—one of the largest coal-to-natural gas power conversion projects in the United States. The plant will be located at the site of the retired Sunbury coal-fired power plant near Shamokin Dam in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. The 400 MW, 65-year old plant was shuttered in 2014 in response to low natural gas prices and the onset of strict environmental regulations promulgated by the Obama Administration.

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Coal Gas Gas-Electric Power 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

The fourth international “ Science Award Electrochemistry ” from BASF and Volkswagen ( earlier post ) was awarded to Dr. Bryan McCloskey, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley. The jury of representatives from BASF, Volkswagen and from academia selected Dr. McCloskey for his outstanding research results in the area of lithium-oxygen batteries.

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Batteries Battery Energy Storage All-Electric 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Matthias Müller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, has announced the five key steps to realign the Group following the eruption of the diesel emissions cheating scandal. Müller announced that the cornerstones of the Group’s new Strategy 2025—replacing the current Strategy 2018—will be presented next year.

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Diesel 2018 Motor Motors 197

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Mercedes-Benz introduced a new advanced design concept at the Tokyo Motor Show: the Vision Tokyo. The concept is powered by a fuel cell electric drive system based on the F-CELL PLUG-IN HYBRID of the self-driving F 015 Luxury in Motion concept introduced at CES in January. ( Earlier post.) The next combines the on-board generation of electricity with a particularly powerful and compact high-voltage battery that can be charged wirelessly via induction.

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Mercedes Concept Fuel Hybrid 197

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Primus Green Energy Inc., a gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology and solutions company that transforms methane and other hydrocarbon gases into gasoline, methanol and diluent ( earlier post ), and Jereh, an international, integrated oil and gas company specializing in Oil and Gas EPC services, oilfield technology services and equipment manufacturing, have launched a global market collaboration.

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Gas Green Gasoline Energy 197

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Acura unveiled the production model of the next-generation NSX at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) this past January ( earlier post ), and now has provided more technical detail on the high-performance hybrid sports car and its new Sport Hybrid-AWD power unit. At the core of this new hybrid power unit is a bespoke, mid-mounted twin-turbocharged, 75-degree 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine with dry sump lubrication, mated to an all-new 9-speed dual clutch transmission (9DCT) and Direct-D

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Acura Hybrid Lithium Ion Motor 207

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Lexus revealed the LF-FC flagship concept, an all-wheel-drive hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, at the Tokyo Motor Show. This marks the Lexus brand’s first foray into fuel cell technologies. The high-output fuel cell power system energizes the rear wheels, and also sends power to two in-wheel motors in the front. This innovative drive system allows precise torque distribution control between the front and rear wheels, giving the full-size sedan exceptional dynamic handling and superior road stability.

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Lexus Hydrogen Fuel Concept 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Nissan Motor unveiled a concept vehicle that embodies Nissan’s vision of the future of autonomous driving and EVs: the Nissan IDS Concept. Nissan Intelligent Driving, Nissan’s concept of autonomous drive technology, integrates advanced vehicle control and safety technologies with artificial intelligence (AI) and represents what Nissan believes next-generation vehicles should be. “ Nissan Intelligent Driving improves a driver’s ability to see, think and react.

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Nissan Concept Carbon Fiber Future 220

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Royal Dutch Shell plc will not continue construction of the 80,000 barrel per day Carmon Creek thermal in situ oil sands project located in Alberta, Canada. Shell originally sanctioned the project in October 2013 and announced in March 2015 that the project would be re-phased to take advantage of the market downturn to optimize design and retender certain contracts.

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Oil-Sands Oil Oil Prices Re-Charge 177

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Enevate Corporation, developer of a silicon-dominant composite anode material and high energy density batteries ( earlier post ), announced ultrafast charging for their batteries with HD-Energy Technology. Enevate’s ultrafast charging feature has been demonstrated to provide a 90% charge in 15 minutes (4C charge rate) while increasing energy, capacity and performance when compared to today’s conventional Li-ion batteries.

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Li-ion Batteries Battery Charging 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL customers ventured beyond Southern California last week for the first time, while only filling up at existing public hydrogen stations along the route from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The opening of a new hydrogen station in Coalinga along the I-5 corridor made this opportunity possible. A team driving five B-Class F-CELL refilled at four permanent hydrogen fueling stations located in Burbank, Coalinga, West Sacramento and Emeryville, accumulating nearly 1,000 mile

Mercedes 188

Mercedes Hydrogen Vehicles Fuel 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Mazda Motor Corporation unveiled the rotary-powered Mazda RX-VISION sports car concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. Although Mazda earlier put production of rotaries on hold, it continued R&D efforts in that area. The next rotary engine has been named SKYACTIV-R, expressing the company's determination to take on challenges with convention-defying aspirations and the latest technology, just as it did when developing SKAYCTIV TECHNOLOGY. ( Earlier post.).

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Mazda Concept Power Powered 203

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2015

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled the planned production model of its all-new fuel cell vehicle (FCV), called Clarity Fuel Cell, at the 44 th Tokyo Motor Show 2015. This model will be on display at the Honda booth during the show. The name honors its predecessor, the FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle, introduced at the LA Auto Show in 2007. ( Earlier post.).

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Honda Fuel Miles Range 220

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2015

Ballard Power Systems announced that Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. will make a $5-million strategic equity investment in Ballard. The investment will be made through a subscription and purchase of 3,322,479 common shares issued from treasury at a price per share of US$1.5049 (based on a 10-day volume weighted average price calculation). Ballard intends to use the proceeds from the financing for general corporate purposes, including potentially funding of future acquisitions or investments in complemen

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Gas-Electric Hydrogen Carbon Fuel 188

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2015

UK-based Aeristech, a provider of electrically driven pressure charging solutions ( earlier post ), is developing electric air compressor technology that the company says could double the output from a hydrogen fuel cell. The electric compressor would enable vehicle manufacturers to increase performance or to specify a considerably more compact fuel cell, improving packaging and weight.

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Fuel Electric Electrical Motor 228