December, 2014

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EIA: California home to almost half of US plug-in electric vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Total US sales of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs)—battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric—have increased in recent years, but still represent only about 0.7% of new vehicle sales in 2014 so far, up from 0.6% in 2013 and 0.4% in 2012. California is home to almost half of all of the nation’s PEVs, but even in California, only about 5 out of every 1,000 registered vehicles are PEVs, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

Plug-in 381
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2014 Tesla Model S P85D: First Drive Of All-Electric AWD Performance Sedan

Green Car Reports

'As a long-time Tesla Model S owner—almost two years now—I was naturally eager to get behind the wheel of the new dual-motor P85D. I’d had a couple of brief stints in 416-hp P85 loaners while my standard S85 was in for service. Those had been exhilarating enough, almost scary. What would it be like to drive a Model S with 691 hp.

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Used Electric Cars

Electric Cars are for Girls

'For the first time in around 80 years, it is possible in many parts of the world to buy a used electric car.

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Report: Toyota to invest ~$165M to triple Japan production capacity for Mirai fuel cell vehicle

Green Car Congress

'The Nikkei reports that Toyota will invest about ¥20 billion yen ($165 million) to triple production capacity in Japan for its new Mirai fuel cell vehicle ( earlier post ) to meet what it describes as strong corporate and public-sector demand. The Mirai is due to go on sale in Japan 15 December; Toyota expects orders to exceed its current annual capacity of 700 units by the release date.

Japan 348
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How serious is Norway about climate change? So much that its streetlights self-dim

emissions global warming Norway climate change carbon dioxide youtube lighting

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Renault & partners show research prototypes: 2-cyl. 2-stroke diesel, 48V mild-hybrid diesel, delivery EV

Green Car Congress

'POWERFUL two-cylinder, two-stroke diesel. Click to enlarge. At its recent Innovations@Renault event, the France-based automaker presented three research prototypes developed in tandem with its partners as cooperative projects: a mild-hybrid diesel produced as part of the HYDIVU (Hybrid Diesel for LCVs); a two-cylinder, two-stroke diesel from the POWERFUL (POWERtrain for FUture Light-duty vehicles) project ( earlier post ); and an electric light commercial van developed as part of the du VELUD (

Diesel 341
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Scania to test wirelessly charged plug-in hybrid city bus for the first time in Sweden

Green Car Congress

'Starting June 2016 a prototype for a new Scania plug-in hybrid bus (based on Scania Citywide Low Entry) will go into daily operation in Södertälje. Click to enlarge. Scania is undertaking intensive research into various types of electrification technologies that could replace or complement combustion engines. Inductive charging is among the options the company is exploring and would enable vehicles wirelessly to recharge their batteries via electrified roads.

Sweden 338

More Trending

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UW Madison team investigates cycle-to-cycle combustion instability in HCCI and RCCI

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have used computational fluid dynamics modeling to investigate cycle-to-cycle instability of homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) and reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines—two approaches to low-temperature combustion. Low-temperature combustion engines offer the promise of simultaneously increasing engine efficiency and reduce NO x and PM emissions, but have not been widely implemented due to difficulties con

Wisconsin 329
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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV now able to supply vehicle-to-home (V2H) power

Green Car Congress

'Mitsubishi Motors’ Outlander PHEV is now also able to supply electrical power to the home in Japan using the SMART V2H (vehicle-to-home) system made by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, the EVPower Station made by Nichicon Corporation and the Tsubaki eLINK made by Tsubakimoto Chain Co. Connecting to the V2H system is available only with vehicles with a CHAdeMO quick charging socket installed.

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Volvo’s new Electric Hybrid (PHEV) buses with overhead fast charging enter scheduled service in Hamburg for first time; Innovation Route 109

Green Car Congress

'New Volvo Bus 7900 Electric Hybrid (plug-in hybrid) buses ( earlier post ) began scheduled operation in Hamburg on 18 December, coinciding with the opening of the Innovation Route 109. The public transport company in Hamburg, the Hamburger Hochbahn AG, is using the route to run comparative tests of innovative drive technologies under the strict everyday conditions of scheduled services.

PHEV 316
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Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive reduces lifecycle CO2 emissions by as much as 64% compared to B 180 gasoline model

Green Car Congress

'CO 2 emissions of the B-Class Electric Drive compared with the B 180 gasoline-engine variant [t/car]. Click to enlarge. The Mercedes-Benz B-Class Electric Drive ( earlier post ) delivers up to 64% lower CO 2 emissions than the equivalent B 180 gasoline model (when charged with hydroelectricity), according to Mercedes-Benz and TÜV Süd. The 132 kW B Class Electric Drive has a range of some 200 km (124 miles).

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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Ioxus introduces high-temperature ultracapacitors with Titan technology; targeting automotive and transport

Green Car Congress

'Ioxus, a manufacturer of premium performance ultracapacitor technology for use in transportation, industrial and energy applications, has introduced high-temperature 1250 Farad (F) cells with Titan high-temperature technology. Titan follows Ioxus’ earlier release of the results of an extensive durability test of its flagship hybrid bus product, the 48V / 165F module. ( Earlier post.).

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Siemens, Duke Energy and Ford demonstrate lower cost home smart charging technology for plug-ins; due on market next year

Green Car Congress

'Siemens Energy Management Division has teamed with Duke Energy and Ford to demonstrate the results of an 18-month effort to reduce the cost and expand electric vehicle charging technologies. Held at the Duke Energy Envision Center in Erlanger, Ky., and utilizing a Ford Fusion Energi Plug-In Hybrid, Siemens provided the first UL-approved residential electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) to demonstrate the ability to monitor status, report energy use, and be controlled locally from the local a

Plug-in 299
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Ford Racing offering programming handset to performance enthusiasts for EcoBoost aftermarket tuning

Green Car Congress

'Power and torque curves for stock and performance-tuned Focus ST with 2.0L I-4 EcoBoost. Click to enlarge. Ford is now offering EcoBoost engines in all of its high-performance nameplates—from Fiesta ST to Mustang—enabling a new kind of aftermarket tuning. Modifying engine performance can be accomplished with hand-held programmers that adjust several engine parameters; adjusting engine control unit programming can result in performance gains of up to 90 lb-ft (122 N·m) of torq

Ford 290
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Vitruivan crowd-sourcing funding for novel biofuel from sewage treatment bio-solids

Green Car Congress

'Vitruvian Energy is trying to crowd-fund its novel biofuel EEB (ethyl 3-ethoxybutyrate). EEB is produced from organic waste, including (and initially) sewage treatment bio-solids—the leftover, dirt-like organic material that remains after a community’s wastewater is treated. With 20 days left in the campaign, the company has raised $3,500 of a targeted $200,000.

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ExxonMobil announces 6th oil discovery offshore Guyana with Ranger-1; Guyana may move from non-producer to regional powerhouse

Oil

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U Alberta team develops hybrid sodium-ion capacitor; intermediate in energy & power between ultracaps and batteries

Green Car Congress

'A team led by researchers from the University of Alberta (Canada) Scientists has developed a hybrid sodium-ion capacitor (NIC) using active materials in both the anode and the cathode derived entirely from peanut shells—a green and highly economical waste globally generated at more than 6 million tons per year. The hybrid NIC stores charge both electrostatically and electrochemically, and sits between ultracapacitors and batteries in terms of power (ultracaps) and energy (batteries) stora

Sodium 278
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Audi introducing 2nd-gen Q7 SUV at NAIAS; e-tron quattro diesel PHEV model; 2nd gen MLB

Green Car Congress

'The new Q7. Click to enlarge. Audi will present the new second-generation Audi Q7 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January. In addition to other advances in drivetrain, chassis, lightweight construction, assistance systems and infotainment systems, the new Q7 will also offer an e-tron quattro version: the first plug-in hybrid with a six-cylinder diesel engine and quattro all-wheel drive.

Audi 278
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New Mazda bio-based engineering plastic features high-quality finish without paint; suitable for exterior parts

Green Car Congress

'Mazda Motor Corporation, in conjunction with Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, has developed a new bio-based engineering plastic that can be used for exterior design parts for automobiles. The new plastic will help Mazda to reduce its impact on the environment in a number of ways. As the plastic is made from plant-derived materials, its adoption will help to curb the use of petroleum resources and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Mazda 275
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Canadian study finds commuters may be exposed to increased levels of traffic-related pollution

Green Car Congress

'A study by researchers led by a team from the Air Health Science Division of Health Canada (the Federal department responsible for helping Canadians maintain and improve their health) finds that commuters may be exposed to increased levels of traffic-related air pollution owing to close proximity to traffic-emissions. The study also found that traffic characteristics, land use, road types, and meteorology are important determinants of these exposures.

Pollution 271
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California makes first investments in $100M energy research & development program; also biogas and H2

Green Car Congress

'The California Energy Commission approved its first $10 million to fund Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) research and development (R&D) projects during its monthly business meeting today. The Commission also approved grants for the operation of a hydrogen fueling station, biofuel production, geothermal exploration and rooftop solar for schools.

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Commentary: Could falling oil prices spark a financial crisis?

Green Car Congress

'by Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. The oil and gas boom in the United States was made possible by the extensive credit afforded to drillers. Not only has financing come from company shareholders and traditional banks, but hundreds of billions of dollars have also come from junk-bond investors looking for high returns. Junk-bond debt in energy has reached $210 billion, which is about 16 percent of the $1.3 trillion junk-bond market.

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Researchers develop free-standing nanowire mesh for direct solar water-splitting to produce H2; new design for “artificial leaf”

Green Car Congress

'The mesh with BiVO 4 nanowire photoanode for water oxidation and Rh-SrTiO 3 nanowire photocathode for water reduction produces hydrogen gas without an electron mediator. Credit: ACS, Liu et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers from UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore have developed a new technology for direct solar water-splitting—i.e., an “artificial leaf” to produce hydrogen—based on a nanowire mesh that lends itself to l

Water 270
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BNEF: Oil price plunge to have only moderate impact on low-carbon electricity development, but likely to slow EV growth

Green Car Congress

'The collapse in world oil prices in the second half of 2014 will have only a moderate impact on the fast-developing low-carbon transition in the world electricity system, according to research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance. However, the slump in the Brent crude price per barrel from $112.36 on 30 June to $61.60 on 22 December will nevertheless have an impact in various sectors and regions.

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Ford CEO: Ford to focus on 5 key areas of innovation: mobility, autonomy, connectivity, customer experience and performance

Green Car Congress

'In a pre-Christmas media event, Ford president and CEO Mark Fields said while 2014 was a good year for the company, 2015 has the potential to be a “ breakthrough year ”. Fields said that Ford’s investments in products, people, plants and technology, combined with industry growth, are not only delivering a year of growth in terms of revenue, pricing power, operating margins and profitability in 2014, but are setting the stage for growth in and beyond 2015.

Ford 268
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BMW i3 electric motor, Hyundai Tucson fuel cell selected for Ward’s 10 Best Engines 2015

Green Car Congress

'Among the winning powerplants for the 2015 edition of Ward’s 10 Best Engines are the 127 kW electric motor in the BMW i3 EV and the 100-kW fuel cell in Hyundai’s Tucson FCV. The other winners are: 6.2L OHV V-8 (Chevrolet Corvette Stingray). 6.2L Supercharged OHV V-8 (Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat). 1.0L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl. (Ford Fiesta). 1.5L Turbocharged DOHC 3-cyl.

Tucson 268
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Alcoa unveils major advance in aluminum manufacturing technology; new Micromill targeting future automotive aluminum products

Green Car Congress

'Alcoa’s Micromill has a much smaller footprint than conventional direct casting technology, and produces automotive aluminum alloys with 40% greater formability and 30% greater strength. Click to enlarge. Alcoa has developed new manufacturing technology—the Micromill—that will produce what the company says is the most advanced aluminum sheet on the market.

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Qualcomm invests in Chargemaster Plc in acceleration for wireless charging in UK

Green Car Congress

'Qualcomm Incorporated has invested in Chargemaster Plc, the UK’s largest manufacturer and operator of electric vehicle charging points. The two companies have been working together for several years. The move will accelerate the planned UK development, production and deployment of Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology, Chargemaster said.

Charging 261
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Volvo Cars, POC and Ericsson to demo connected car and bike helmet prototype at International CES 2015

Green Car Congress

'Volvo Cars, protective gravity sports gear manufacturer POC and Ericsson will present an innovative safety technology connecting drivers and cyclists at the International CES in Las Vegas next month. The technology consists of a connected car and helmet prototype that will establish 2-way communication, offering proximity alerts to Volvo drivers and cyclists with the goal of avoiding accidents.

Volvo 259
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BMW to show 360-degree collision avoidance and fully-automated remote parking in multi-story garages at CES

Green Car Congress

'The driver has the i3 park itself in a multi-story garage using a smartwatch. Click to enlarge. BMW will demonstrate new driver assistance and automated control functions including 360-degree collision avoidance and fully-automated parking in multi-story parking garages at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2015 in January. The platform for 360-degree collision avoidance is secure position and environment recognition; the research vehicle is a BMW i3.

BMW 257
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Report: VW invests in novel energy storage company QuantumScape and its solid-state “All Electron Battery”

Green Car Congress

'Bloomberg recently reported that the Volkswagen Group has made an investment in QuantumScape, a Silicon Valley stealth startup commercializing a novel solid-state energy storage technology—the “All-Electron Battery” (AEB), originally developed at Stanford and supported by the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) ARPA-E BEEST program ( earlier post ), as noted by Katie Fehrenbacher at GigaOM.

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Start-up Eco-Motive developing dual-fuel “H” engine; parallel, independently fueled piston banks

Green Car Congress

'The H-engine—basically two separate engines housed within the same engine block—comprises two switchable parallel piston banks, independently fueled by gasoline and CNG. Click to enlarge. Startup Eco-Motive has developed what it calls the first dual-fuel “H” engine; it recently received a patent (# 8807098 ) on the design. The H-shaped engine comprises parallel left-side and right-side vertical inline piston banks, each having a crankshaft and pistons, a cylinder head, and individua

Engine 257
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Calls for an international 48V electrical standard for vehicles; looming WLTP implementation

Green Car Congress

'At the 2 nd International Conference Automotive 48 V Power Supply Systems , held last week in Düsseldorf, Germany, Controlled Power Technologies (CPT), a major sponsor of the event, together with leading car makers and Tier 1 suppliers, argued the need for an internationally agreed 48V electrical standard. Such a standard will be necessary for the global automotive industry to achieve the economies of scale demanded by original equipment manufacturers.

Standards 257
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U Maryland team devises new method to stabilize high-capacity Si anodes for Li-ion batteries: interfacial oxygen

Green Car Congress

'Interfacial oxygen between the silicon and carbon improves electrode performance. Credit: ACS, Son et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at the University of Maryland have improved the cycle life of silicon/carbon matrix-composite electrodes by 300%, even at mass loadings, solely by the chemical tailoring of the interface between the silicon and the carbon with atomic oxygen.

Maryland 255
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Kroger division takes delivery of first 11 of 40 Freightliner LNG heavy-duty tucks; replacing diesel

Green Car Congress

'Oregon-based Fred Meyer Stores, a division of The Kroger Co. has taken delivery of its first 11 Freightliner heavy-duty trucks that run on liquefied natural gas (LNG). Fred Meyer will receive a total of 40 LNG trucks over the next several months, making Fred Meyer the first in Oregon to deploy a fleet of heavy-duty LNG trucks. The trucks are equipped with the Cummins Westport ISX12 G engine and Westport iCE PACK systems for LNG storage.

Diesel 255
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Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID can cut lifecycle CO2 by up to 56% compared to S 500

Green Car Congress

'Comparison of CO 2 emissions for the S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID and the S 500 [t/car]. Source: TÜV SÜD. Click to enlarge. The Mercedes-Benz S 500 PLUG-IN HYBRID ( earlier post ) can cut CO 2 emissions by some 43% when recharged using the European electricity mix and by up to 56% when using hydroelectricity compared to the conventional S 500 model on a full lifecycle basis, according to the environmental certificate awarded by TÜV SÜD.

Plug-in 255