Sat.Jan 12, 2013 - Fri.Jan 18, 2013

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Nissan cuts entry-level MSRP for 2013 LEAF by 18% to $28,800

Green Car Congress

Nissan announced that US pricing for the updated 2013 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle ( earlier post ) will start at an MSRP of $28,800 for the newly-added entry-level S grade—an 18% reduction from the $35,200 MSRP of the 2012 LEAF entry model, the SV. The entry-level 2013 LEAF S becomes the lowest priced five-passenger electric vehicle sold in the United States.

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Boeing 787 Batteries Same As Those In Electric Cars? Umm, NO

Green Car Reports

Gird yourself: It's possible we're about to see a new wave of attacks on electric cars that ignore battery science. This time the culprit is the troubled Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The FAA has grounded all 787s after a string of fires in their lithium-ion battery packs; other countries have done the same. Which has led at least one supposedly.

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Report: Lithium-ion battery market to be worth $22billion by 2020

Green Cars News

Ever wondered about the hottest new industries that are going to shape the way we live over the next decade? Well, if a new report is to be believed then few industries are going to be more successful than the production of lithium-ion batteries (pictured) for light duty transportation. According to Pike Research, the market [.].

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ORNL researchers quantify the effect of increasing highway speed on fuel economy

Green Car Congress

John F. Thomas, Brian H. West and Shean P. Huff Fuels, Engines and Emissions Research Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Figure 1. Vehicle installed on the chassis dynamometer in the ORNL vehicle research laboratory. Click to enlarge. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) staff have been performing vehicle research and testing in support of the fueleconomy.gov website.

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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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Williams Hybrid Power and Alstom cooperate to develop flywheel energy storage technology for Citadis trams

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Williams flywheel unit. Click to enlarge. Williams Hybrid Power, a division of the Williams group of companies that includes the Williams F1 Team, and Alstom Transport have signed an exclusive agreement that will see Williams Hybrid Power’s composite flywheel energy storage technology ( earlier post ) applied to Alstom’s Citadis trams by 2014. After several years of research into energy storage, Alstom teamed up with Williams Hybrid Power to trial its composite MLC (magnetically loaded composite

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G2X Energy and EMRE sign methanol to gasoline technology license and license option agreements; plans for $1.3B natural gas to gasoline plant

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The ExxonMobil MTG process flow diagram. Source: EMRE. Click to enlarge. G2X Energy, Inc., a developer of natural gas to gasoline projects, entered into a licensing agreement to use ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company’s (EMRE’s) methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology ( earlier post ) in the development of a world-scale natural gas to gasoline project. ( Earlier post.

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Volkswagen unveils mid-size SUV plug-in diesel-electric hybrid concept at Detroit Show

Green Car Congress

Powertrain of the CrossBlue SUV PHEV concept. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen unveiled the CrossBlue SUV concept at the North American International Auto Show. Developed specifically for US and Canada, the six- to seven-seat midsize crossover CrossBlue is targeted at the rapidly growing mid-size SUV segment, and would sit in the Volkswagen SUV lineup above the Tiguan and below the premium Touareg.

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FAA grounds US Boeing 787 Dreamliners after second incident with Li-ion battery; GS Yuasa Lithium Power the manufacturer

Green Car Congress

As a result of an in-flight battery incident on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner yesterday in Japan, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and to require operators to temporarily cease operations of the aircraft. Before further flight, operators of US-registered, Boeing 787 aircraft must demonstrate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the batteries are safe.

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Bosch and partners launch Alpha-Laion project for high-energy Li-ion traction batteries for EVs; targeting 250 Wh/kg

Green Car Congress

Robert Bosch GmbH and its partners BASF, Wacker Chemie AG, SGL Group, Daimler AG and BMW AG have launched the 3-year, €32.5-million (US$43 million) Alpha-Laion project to develop high-energy traction batteries for electric vehicles. Bosch is the project lead. The aim of the project is to raise the energy density of lithium-ion cells to about 250 Wh/kg.

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Researchers demonstrate water splitting to generate hydrogen using ultra-small Si nanoparticles

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Schematic showing CO 2 laser pyrolysis synthesis of silicon nanoparticles transferred to a custom stainless steel prototype cartridge used to generate hydrogen for fuel cell applications. Credit: ACS, Erogbogbo et al. Click to enlarge. A team of researchers from the University at Buffalo (SUNY) have demonstrated that hydrogen generation from ultra-small silicon nanoparticles (10 nm diameter) proceeds much more rapidly than expected based upon extrapolation of rates obtained using larger particle

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

Brief

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Verizon and VIA Motors unveil extended-range electric cargo vans

Green Car Congress

Verizon has collaborated with electric-vehicle developer and manufacturer VIA Motors to produce an extended-range electric cargo van. VIA developed and built the van, based on Verizon’s direction and fleet concepts, and expects it to achieve 100 miles per gallon with near zero emissions. Verizon will now test and deploy two of the vans in New Jersey and New York.

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City of Cologne completes smarter traffic pilot with IBM

Green Car Congress

The City of Cologne, Germany, and IBM have completed a smarter traffic pilot to predict and manage traffic flow and road congestion in the city. The pilot demonstrates how the city of Cologne can anticipate, better manage, and in many cases, avoid traffic jams and trouble spots across the city using analytics technology. The city’s traffic engineers and IBM were able to predict traffic volume and flow with more than 90% accuracy up to 30 minutes in advance.

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GM debuts 2014 Stingray; direct injection, cylinder deactivation, CVVT contribute to more power and reduced fuel consumption

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2014 Corvette Stingray. Click to enlarge. GM staged the debut of the all-new, 7 th generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show. The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with a new LT1 6.2L Small Block V8 delivering an estimated 450 hp (335 kW) and 450 lb-ft of torque (610 Nm). The new LT1 combines advanced technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation), continuously variable valve timing and an a

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DOE announces funding opportunity for enhancing algal biomass yield to support cost-competitive algal biofuels

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support longer-term projects to boost significantly the yield per acre cultivation equivalent of algae for use as a feedstock for algal biofuels. Approximately $10-20 million is expected to be available for new awards in FY 2013, and an additional $10-20 million is expected to be available for continuation awards made under this announcement in FY2014 through FY2016.

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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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BYD delivers 500 battery-electric e6 police cars to Shenzhen Public Security Bureau

Green Car Congress

After being selected through a public bidding process, BYD has delivered 500 battery-electric, e6 police vehicles to the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau this week. The BYD e6 reaches speeds of over 140 km/h (~87 mph) with a range of 300 km (187 miles), making it suited for the demands of police utility vehicles. In addition to police vehicles, BYD has deployed more than 300 all-electric, e6 taxis which have been in service in Shenzhen for the last several years, with an accumulated mil

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Yokohama Rubber shows AERO-Y EV concept car at Tokyo Auto Salon 2013

Green Car Congress

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., presented the AERO-Y EV concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2013. The AERO-Y was designed for the research and development of Yokohama proprietary technologies. In developing the AERO-Y, Yokohama focused on aerodynamic drag reduction as the theme and intensively utilized its latest technologies cultivated at various divisions through the aerodynamics-based designing of tires and bodies and the development of aerospace products and HAMATITE adhesives and sealants.

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Cadillac introduces the 2014 ELR extended range electric vehicle

Green Car Congress

2014 Cadillac ELR Click to enlarge. Cadillac unveiled the anticipated 2014 ELR extended range electric (EREV) vehicle (based on the Converj concept, earlier post ) at the North American International Auto Show. ( Earlier post.) ELR production begins in the US in late 2013 in limited numbers, said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac global vice president. Sales start early in 2014 in North America, expanding to global markets including China and Europe.

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China to join International Renewable Energy Agency

Green Car Congress

China has announced it will join the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ). IRENA is mandated by 159 countries and the European Union to promote the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, and to serve as the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange. Formally established in 2011, IRENA is the first major international organization to be headquartered in the Middle East.

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NREL joins 3 ARPA-E AMPED projects to optimize electric vehicle battery management and controls

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The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has joined DOE and research partners in launching the Advanced Management and Protection of Energy Storage Devices (AMPED) program ( earlier post ). Over the next three years, NREL engineers will work with teams led by Utah State University, Washington University, and Eaton Corporation to optimize utilization, life, and cost of lithium-ion batteries for electric-drive vehicles (EDVs) through improved battery manageme

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Ford-sponsored poll finds 35% of Europeans say they would spend more for an environmentally friendly car

Green Car Congress

One in three Europeans would spend more to buy an environmentally friendly car even though 71% say they have reduced overall spending as a result of the economic recession, according to a Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll. The survey also shows 53% consider climate change to be the world’s biggest issue and 57% would prefer to lead a more environmentally conscious lifestyle.

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TIAX introduces Li-ion battery safety sensor system

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TIAX LLC introduced its lithium-ion battery safety sensor system for detecting and pre-empting short circuits inside a lithium-ion cell. Short circuits can lead to safety events such as explosions and fires. A key component of TIAX’s lithium-ion battery safety sensor system is based on a proven sensing technology that TIAX has had in the market for many years in a different application.

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Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. and China Oilfield Services Ltd. intend to cooperate on oilsands technology; possible testing of new thermal recovery technique

Green Car Congress

Canada-based Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China Oilfield Services Ltd. (COSL) amicably to negotiate and communicate with each other in respect of cooperation in developing multiple thermal fluid oilsands exploration technology in Canada. COSL is a majority owned subsidiary of Chinese state-owned company CNOOC Group.

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Renault adopts post-industrial recycled grade of NORYL GTX resin for fenders

Green Car Congress

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business announced that the French automaker has successfully adopted a new post-industrial recycled (PIR) grade of NORYL GTX resin as part of its ongoing drive to comply with the European Union’s end-of-life vehicle (ELV) requirements. The OEM adopted the new SABIC material for the fenders of its 2013 Clio IV and will expand the resin’s use to the upcoming ZOE electric vehicle.

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4 Japanese companies agree to provide free use of EVs and energy supply devices to government of Kyoto Prefecture in disasters

Green Car Congress

Kyoto Prefecture and four Japanese companies entered into a partnership last September under which the prefectural government can call on the companies to provide free use of their electric vehicles (EVs) and power feeding devices for emergency response and disaster relief operations in times of natural disaster or large-scale power outage. The partner companies are Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Kyoto-Mitsubishi Group, Nichicon Corp., a manufacturer of electronic components, and GS Yuasa Corp., a man

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Sweetwater Energy signs 2nd cellulosic ethanol deal; 15-year, $100M agreement with Front Range

Green Car Congress

Sweetwater Energy, Inc., a cellulosic sugar producer, announced a 15-year commercial agreement with Windsor, Colorado-based Front Range Energy, to generate cellulosic ethanol at Front Range’s current corn-ethanol facility. The agreement, Sweetwater’s second such ( earlier post ), has a total potential value in excess of $100 million, and requires a minimal capital outlay by Front Range while stabilizing the company’s feedstock costs.

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EPA’s 2011 Toxics Release Inventory shows air pollutants continue to decline, releases of toxic chemicals up

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Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8% from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published today. The TRI program collects information on certain toxic chemical releases to the air, water and land, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention

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BMW ActiveE testing in Leipzig for longer-range commuting and recuperation strategies

Green Car Congress

BMW Group, TU Chemnitz and Stadtwerke Leipzig are launching an electromobility user study with long-distance commuters and 15 BMW ActiveE EVs in the Leipzig, Germany area. The project is funded as part of the showcase “Electromobility Connects” Bavaria-Saxony by the federal government. Another focus of the project is on the application of different recuperation strategies while driving.

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Honda unveils Urban SUV Concept

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Honda unveiled its “Urban SUV Concept” vehicle at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The concept hints at the styling direction of an all-new small SUV slated to launch in Japan by the end of 2013, followed by the US market in 2014. Urban SUV Concept. Click to enlarge. The Urban SUV Concept represents the expansion of vehicles based on Honda’s Global Compact Series, which includes the Honda Fit subcompact and the Honda City subcompact sedan, a model sold in marke

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Schaeffler presents Efficient Future Mobility North America concept vehicle; cost-effective reductions in fuel consumption

Green Car Congress

Technologies and contributions to reduced fuel consumption in Efficient Future Mobility North America. Click to enlarge. Schaeffler presented a new concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Efficient Future Mobility North America vehicle is based on a mid-size SUV and highlights a range of Schaeffler solutions for optimizing North American internal combustion engine drive trains.

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2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers new 3.0L EcoDiesel V-6 and 8-speed for 30 mpg highway

Green Car Congress

3.0L EcoDiesel. Click to enlarge. Among the many features of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee—introduced at the Detroit Auto Show—two in particular contribute to significantly improved fuel economy and driving performance: an optional new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain delivers 30 mpg (7.8 L/100km) highway for the SUV (4x2) and a range of more than 730 miles (1,175 km).

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Lincoln unveils MKC Concept at Detroit Show, targeting fast growing small luxury utility segment

Green Car Congress

Lincoln introduced the MKC Concept, a vision of how Lincoln will enter the small luxury utility segment, which grew nearly 60% in 2012 and more than 200% in the last four—the fastest growing segment of the luxury market. This segment growth is being driven at both ends of the demographic spectrum. Many new buyers are coming into affluence and purchasing their first luxury vehicle.

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Tsinghua University provincial-level lifecycle study finds fuel-cycle criteria pollutants of EVs in China could be up to 5x those of natural gas vehicles due to China’s coal-dominant power mix

Green Car Congress

Consumption-based power mixes and NG transmission distances by Chinese province in 2010. Credit: ACS, Huo et al. Click to enlarge. A province-by-province life cycle analysis of natural gas and electric vehicles by a team from Tsinghua University concludes that while, from the perspective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria pollutant emissions, natural gas vehicles (CNGVs) are “ an option with no obvious merits or demerits ”, electric vehicles (EVs) are “ an option with significant meri

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Opel introducing new 1.6L diesel engine family; fuel consumption reduced by up to 10%, Euro 6 compliant

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The 1.6-liter CDTI Ecotec diesels will replace existing 1.7-liter engines and certain lower powered versions of the 2.0-liter range. Click to enlarge. Opel is introducing a new four-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel engine as part of the fundamental renewal of its powertrain portfolio. The second family of new downsized power units to be introduced after the gasoline 1.6-liter SIDI Ecotec ( earlier post ), the 1.6-liter CDTI Ecotec diesels will replace existing 1.7-liter engines and certain lower

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Mazda and Fiat sign agreement for new Alfa Romeo roadster

Green Car Congress

Further to the joint announcement of May 23, 2012, Mazda Motor Corporation and Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A. (Fiat) signed a final agreement which will see Mazda produce an open-top two-seater sports car for Fiat’s Alfa Romeo brand at its Hiroshima, Japan, plant starting from 2015. The new Alfa Romeo roadster will be developed for the global market, and will be based on the architecture of the next generation Mazda MX-5.

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