Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

'A new study from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) demonstrates the conversion of lignin-derived compounds to adipic acid, an important industrial dicarboxylic acid produced for its use as a precursor to nylon, plasticizers, lubricants, polyesters, and other popular products and chemicals. Published in the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science , the research demonstrates how lignin-derived compounds can first be converted to muconic acid via a biological p

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Convert Renewable Polymer Energy 295

Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

'Before next week''s official debut of the second-generation Audi R8 sports car at the Geneva Motor Show, Audi released some advance information—including the first official details about the all-electric R8 e-tron sports car that will soon follow the gasoline version. The R8 e-tron information arrives far earlier than expected, as company.

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Audi All-Electric 2017 Gasoline-Electric 131

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Results from a study by a team from Carnegie Mellon University, Ford and Drexel University suggest that Chinese consumers are more receptive to adopting battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) than their American counterparts, regardless of subsidies. The study is published in the journal Transportation Research Part A. The team modeled consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for conventional, hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV), and battery electric (BEV) vehicle technologies in

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Chinese Ford Gasoline-Electric China 279

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Land Rover will stage the world debut of the MY 2016 Range Rover Evoque. Equipped with the EU6-compliant, four-cylinder Ingenium diesel ( earlier post) , the new Evoque will be the most efficient production Land Rover yet, with fuel consumption as low as 4.2 l/100 km (56 mpg US) and CO 2 emissions of 109 g/km. The all-aluminium 2.0-liter Ingenium TD4 engine, 20-30 kg (44-66 lbs) lighter than its predecessor with stiff cylinder blocks and decoupled injectors ensuring low levels of vibration and

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2016 MPG Land Rover Diesel 269

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Norway

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

'Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will stage the global debut of the Mitsubishi Concept XR-PHEV II at the 85 th Geneva International Motor Show. The Concept XR-PHEV II is a small crossover powered by a new plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) system. Mitsubishi said it expects the Concept XR-PHEV II to become MMC’s second production PHEV following the Outlander PHEV launched in January 2013. ( Earlier post.

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PHEV Mitsubishi Concept Motor 264

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

'Driven by a faster-than-expected pace of technology development, carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) will be poised to gain widespread adoption for automotive lightweighting by 2025, according to a new report from Lux Research, “Scaling Up Carbon Fiber: Roadmap to Automotive Adoption.”. Advances already underway in fiber, resin and composite part production will lead to a $6 billion market for automotive CFRPs in 2020, more than double Lux’s earlier projection. ( Earlier post.

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Carbon Fiber Carbon Automobile 2007 260

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'Audi is presenting the second generation of its high-performance R8 sports car at the upcoming Geneva show, featuring new V10 engines, newly developed quattro drive, and a new multimaterial Audi Space Frame (ASF) combining aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). The top of the range version delivers 449 kW (610 hp), achieving 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.2 seconds, with a top speed of 330 km/h (205.1 mph).

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Audi Li-ion MPH Range 244

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'Electric transitbus manufacturer Proterra Inc. has launched a new extended-range product line. With the new TerraVolt XR extended-range battery, Proterra buses can now be configured to travel up to 180 miles (290 km) between charges. This newest high energy density battery complements the existing TerraVolt FC fast-charge battery which has been extensively tested over nearly one million customer revenue miles.

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Extended Range Lithium Titanate Miles Range 244

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'The Ricardo RapidSR switched reluctance drive motor avoids the use of rare earth elements. Click to enlarge. Ricardo has developed a new prototype 85 kW synchronous reluctance motor designed primarily for electric vehicle traction applications. The motor avoids the use of expensive rare earth elements, while delivering strong performance at a significantly reduced cost.

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Motor Motors Motoring Land Rover 243

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'US Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) have introduced a bill to abolish the corn ethanol mandate in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is also a co-sponsor of the measure. The federal mandate for corn ethanol is both unwise and unworkable. Our bill addresses that with a simple, smart modification to the Renewable Fuel Standard program.

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2004 Renewable 2005 Price 241

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'In a pilot vehicle-to-grid project, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is actively bidding a group of energy storage systems and electric vehicle fleets as one resource directly into the California Independent System Operator’s ( CAISO ) energy markets. These markets include those that address short-term imbalances in electricity supply caused by such things as intermittent renewable energy.

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Energy Storage San Diego Energy Market 230

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a new electrolyte that allows lithium-sulfur, lithium-metal and lithium-air batteries to operate at 99% efficiency, while having a high current density and without growing dendrites that short-circuit rechargeable batteries. An open-access paper on their work is published in the journal Nature Communications. “ This new discovery could kick-start the development of powerful and practical next-generation rechargeable batt

Batteries 224

Batteries Battery Lithium Sulfur Recharge 224

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

'The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) has selected seven projects to receive up to $10 million to support innovative technologies and solutions to help advance the development of advanced biofuels, including bugaboo and drop-in hydrocarbons. The Bioenergy Technologies Office is working to produce cost-competitive ($3/gallon of gasoline equivalent) advanced biofuels from non-food biomass resources that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% or more versus petro

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North Carolina Conversion Universal Oil 224

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

'The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded 2015 Climate Leadership Awards to 16 organizations and one individual representing a wide array of industries from finance and manufacturing to retail and technology for showing what the agency said was exemplary corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate change. One of the 16 was Chevrolet ( earlier post ), the only automaker among the group.

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Climate Chevrolet San Diego EPA 221

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Guyana

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Commissioner Bob Martineau announced the launch of the TDEC Sustainable Transportation Awards initiative to recognize outstanding and voluntary achievements by governments, businesses, industries, public and private institutions of higher learning, and utilities that demonstrate leadership in advancing sustainable transportation in the State.

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Sustainable Transportation Tennessee Transportation Memphis 221

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'A team from Australia and India have developed a novel zinc iron oxide nanocomposite ZnFe 2 O 4 –C as an electrode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries. The composite ZnFe 2 O 4 –C electrodes are capable of delivering a very stable reversible capacity of 681 mAh g ?1 (96% retention of the calculated theoretical capacity of ?710 mAh g ?1 ) at 0.1 C after 100 cycles.

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Li-ion Batteries Battery Lithium Ion 221

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'The California Energy Commission adopted its 2014 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update, which outlines, among many things, how the state is working to transform the transportation system to zero- and near-zero technologies and fuels to meet its climate and clean air goals. This report highlights the importance of incentives in helping speed this transition and specifically explores the role Assembly Bill 8, which makes more than $2 billion available for public investment, can play in h

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Transportation Climate Energy Gas-Electric 214

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a new zinc-polyiodide redox flow battery offering more than two times the energy density of the next-best flow battery used to store renewable energy and support the power grid. Lab tests revealed the demonstration battery discharged 167 Wh l -1 of electrolyte. In comparison, zinc-bromide flow batteries generate about 70 Wh l -1 , vanadium flow batteries can create between 15 and 25 Wh l -1 , and standard lithium iron ph

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Li-ion Energy Batteries Battery 209

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'Maxity Electric with fuel cell range extender. Click to enlarge. Renault Trucks and the French Post Office (La Poste) will introduce on an experimental basis, and as a first in Europe, an electric truck equipped with a hydrogen-powered range extender. The range-extended 4.5-ton Maxity Electric model doubles th electric truck range to 200 kilometers (124 miles) and will be tested for one year under actual operating conditions in the city Dole (Jura Department), allowing Renault Trucks to explore

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Range Fuel Hydrogen Li-ion 209

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'Lomiko Metals Inc. announced that Graphene Energy Storage Devices (Graphene ESD) has signed a research agreement with the Research Foundation of Stony Brook University (SBU). Graphene ESD will partner with the SBU Center for Advanced Sensor Technologies (Sensor CAT) to develop new supercapacitors designs for energy storage. Lomiko Metals Inc. currently owns a 40% stake in Graphene ESD and Mr.

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Low Cost Energy Storage Grid Recharge 204

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'IC Bus, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navistar, announced the CE Series school bus powered by the Power Solutions International (PSI) 8.8-liter propane engine is available for order. The CE series PSI heavy-duty propane engine offers a cleaner, quieter and more user-friendly alternative to diesel that won’t sacrifice power, torque or durability. The PSI 270 hp (201 kW) 8.8-liter propane engine is engineered to deliver the highest torque at the lowest speed; rated peak torque is 565 lb-ft (766 N&

Available 203

Available Engine 2000 Cleaner 203

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

'Canada’s Minister of Transport, Lisa Raitt, introduced legislation in the House of Commons that will enhance railway safety and make the rail industry and crude oil shippers more accountable. The new Safe and Accountable Rail Act proposes amendments to the Canada Transportation Act and Railway Safety Act. Changes include a new liability and compensation regime for federally regulated railways, including minimum insurance requirements; a compensation fund financed by levies on crude oil shippers

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Canada Pollution Oil 2015 203

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Asahi Kasei projects significant growth in demand for Li-ion battery separators in the automotive segment. Source: Asahi Kasei. growth in Click to enlarge. Polypore International, Inc., a manufacturer of microporous membranes, signed definitive agreements for its sale. 3M will acquire the assets of Polypore’s Separations Media segment for approximately $1.0 billion; as an integrated step in the transaction, Asahi Kasei Corporation, through a US subsidiary, will then purchase what remains of Pol

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Li-ion Energy Storage Lead Acid Batteries 200

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Hydro-Québec and the Aquitaine Regional Council recently formed SCE France, the activities of which will focus on research and technology transfer in transportation electrification and energy storage and conservation. SCE France, as a subsidiary of Hydro-Québec, will set up a laboratory dedicated to research and technology transfer in the Aquitaine region to develop lithium-iron-phosphate-based batteries and carry out research on new battery technologies that use advanced materials.

Energy Storage 200

Energy Storage Batteries Battery France 200

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

'Scientists from the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in the UK have developed a novel reference electrode for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) and used it to measure the electrochemical surface area (ECSA) of Pt catalysts in situ for the first time. Their results showed that the decay in open-circuit potential of commercial PEMWEs is due to the platinum cathode, not to changes in the anode, as conventionally assumed.

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Water Polymer Hydrogen Connect 200

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'Iowa Governor Terry Branstad signed into law a bill ( Senate File 257 ) which, among other things, raises the state’s fuel tax while providing a small incentive for biodiesel. A provision of the bill gives a partial exemption to the new tax for diesel blended with at least 11% biodiesel (B11). The increase of 10 cents a gallon for both diesel and gasoline will help repair and improve Iowa’s roads and bridges.

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Iowa Tax Fuel Tax Grant 197

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 25, 2015

'Aventine Renewable Energy Inc. has installed a $2.4-million Valicor corn-oil separation system (COSS) at its Nebraska Energy LLC plant in Aurora, Nebraska. The system began operations in early January. Since corn oil has a higher market value, removing the oil improves dried distillers grain processing properties. High production levels and excess inventories nationally have led to tight margins, particularly in Nebraska.

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Oil Nebraska Installation Illinois 197

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

'Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed a new type of steel with improved tensile strength and lightness. In their approach, they effectively utilized a brittle intermetallic compound (B2) that metallurgists usually try to suppress by modifying B2 morphology and dispersion in the steel matrix.

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South Korea Light Design Carbon 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 26, 2015

'Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell drivers recently accumulated more than 238,900 miles on the roads of Southern California—a distance Hyundai chose to highlight as the average distance from the earth to the moon. Hyundai has delivered more than 60 Tucson Fuel Cells since its introduction to the US market in June 2014 ( earlier post ). Hyundai service engineers, with permission from vehicle owners, receive periodic mileage updates from Tucson Fuel Cell vehicles in Southern California, allowing them

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Tucson Hyundai Miles Fuel 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'A team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) reports a new method for the synthesis of polycrystalline silicon nanoparticles for use as anode materials in Li-ion batteries in a paper in the journal Angewandte Chemie. As an anode for rechargeable Li-ion batteries, the as-prepared Si delivers the reversible capacity of 3083 mAh?

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Li-ion Molten Salt Lithium Ion Recharge 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 24, 2015

'As expected, President Obama vetoed S. 1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act, which had been passed by Congress. In his veto message to the Senate, Obama cited procedural issues rather than any potential impacts of the pipeline itself. He wrote: Through this bill, the United States Congress attempts to circumvent longstanding and proven processes for determining whether or not building and operating a cross-border pipeline serves the national interest.

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Obama Congress United States Environment 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Samsung SDI has agreed to acquire the battery pack business of Magna International, a leading global automotive supplier. Samsung SDI expects the acquisition to enhance its capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles by combining the company’s established position in battery cells and modules with Magna’s expertise in battery packs. Samsung SDI also said that Magna’s technology and experience in providing global automakers with battery packs will help it secure customers in the fast-growing

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Batteries Battery Austria North America 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 23, 2015

'Fuel cell company Ballard Power Systems signed two new Technology Solutions contracts, one with Ardica Technologies and one with an unnamed global automotive OEM. Under each contract Ballard will provide expertise in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology in order to advance customer programs through development stages. These latest contracts are indicative of the growing interest we are seeing in fuel cell development programs.

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Fuel Lithium Ion Global 2015 195

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

'Researchers at RMIT University in Australia have developed a talking drone that can interact with air traffic controllers like a human pilot. The development, they say, is a critical step towards the full integration of unmanned aircraft systems into civil airspace. The project, part of a larger research initiative that aims to address safety and efficiency issues related to drones and air traffic management, is the result of a partnership between RMIT, Thales Australia and the company’s Centre

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Australia Congress 2015 Universal 190