Sat.Jan 30, 2016 - Fri.Feb 05, 2016

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President Obama proposes 50% increase in spending on clean transportation, funded by $10/barrel tax on oil

Green Car Congress

President Obama has laid out a plan for building a “21st Century Clean Transportation System”, the investment for which would be funded by a new $10 per barrel fee on oil paid by oil companies, which would be gradually phased in over five years. The President’s plan would increase US investments in clean transportation infrastructure by roughly 50%.

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Obama Proposes $10 Per Barrel Tax On Oil To Fund U.S. Transportation Needs

Green Car Reports

You have to give the man credit for vision. U.S. president Barack Obama will propose a tax of $10 per barrel on oil in the 2017 budget he will submit to Congress next week. According to the White House, its goal is to create "a clear incentive for private-sector innovation to reduce our reliance on oil, and at the same time invests in clean energy.

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Connected Energy and Renault to collaborate on energy storage and EV charging technology; second-life batteries in E-STOR

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Renault and distributed energy storage company Connected Energy are partnering to develop sustainable and efficient ways of using electric vehicle batteries at the end of their useable in-vehicle life in order to supply innovative and more affordable vehicle charging solutions. At the end of their useful in-vehicle life, Renault EV batteries still have considerable remaining capacity, enabling them to server in other applications before recycling.

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Study of eco-driving in hybrids finds need for systems that facilitate energy-efficient behaviors

Green Car Congress

A study of eco-driving behavior in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) by a team from Technische Universität Chemnitz (Germany) and the University of Southampton (UK) has found that simply providing drivers with a technology that has the potential for high energy savings—i.e., a hybrid—is not sufficient to result in high energy svings; systems must be developed in a way that facilitates energy efficient behaviors.

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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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UMTRI: average new vehicle fuel economy in US in January up from December

Green Car Congress

The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the US in January 2016 was 25.1 mpg—up 0.2 mpg from the value for December 2015, and the first increase in eight months, according to the latest monthly report from Dr. Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). This increase likely reflects the month-to-month seasonal decrease in sales of pickup trucks and SUVs, they said.

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European Parliament rejects proposed veto of plan to raise diesel NOx limits temporarily for RDE deployment

Green Car Congress

Members of the European Parliament voted yesterday to reject a proposed veto of the plan to raise NO x emission limits for diesel cars temporarily by up to 110% when the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) test procedure is introduced. The EU Commission promised a review clause and tabled a long-term legislative proposal to revamp the EU car approval regime, leading to the vote. ( Earlier post.).

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Maryland approves nearly $100M for 172 New Flyer new diesel buses; $800K for hybrid bus retrofits

Green Car Congress

The Maryland Transit Administration is now in line to receive $97,845,148 to invest in 172 40-foot advanced clean diesel buses after receiving approval from the Maryland’s Board of Public Works. The Maryland Transit Administration contracted a price of $556,774 per bus New Flyer Industries, plus additional costs for services such as training. MTA specified an IT package that cost $46,000 per bus.

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Study shows viability of RCCI in a two-stroke engine; higher efficiency than direct-injection spark ignition

Green Car Congress

A team at the Engine Research Center (ERC), University of Wisconsin-Madison has demonstrated the viability of reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) in a two-stroke engine. ( Earlier post.) A paper on their work is published in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering. RCCI is a dual-fuel combustion technology developed by Dr.

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USC team develops highly efficient catalyst system for converting CO2 to methanol; 79% yield from CO2 captured from air

Green Car Congress

Researchers at Loker Hydrocarbon Research Institute and Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, have developed a highly efficient homogeneous Ru-based catalyst system for the production of methanol (CH 3 OH) from CO 2 and H 2 in an ethereal solvent (initial turnover frequency = 70 h −1 at 145 °C). In a paper published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society , they reported demonstrating for the first time that CO 2 captured from air can be directly converted to CH 3 O

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HRL Laboratories achieves 1st demo of GaN CMOS FET technology

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Researchers at HRL Laboratories, LLC, have achieved the first demonstration of gallium nitride (GaN) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) field-effect-transistor (FET) technology. In doing so they have established that the semiconductor’s superior transistor performance can be harnessed in an integrated circuit. This breakthrough paves the way for GaN to become the technology of choice for power conversion circuits that are made in silicon today.

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

Brief

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Volkswagen Group begins EA189 diesel engine emission fixes in Europe; 2.0L Amarok first

Green Car Congress

In December 2015, the Volkswagen Group presented specific technical measures to the German Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) for the EA189 engines affected by the NO x issue. ( Earlier post.) As agreed, the Group began implementing the measures in Germany at the end of January for 2.0L engines. Volkswagen is starting with the Amarok (a mid-size pickup truck produced by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles), with the Passat to follow shortly.

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FCA updating Euro 6 calibrations to improve emission performance under real driving conditions

Green Car Congress

FCA (Fiat Chrysler), as a voluntary measure, not mandated or requested by any regulatory authorities, will be updating its Euro 6 calibrations with new data sets to improve emission performance in real driving conditions. These new calibrations will be ready starting from April 2016 and will be available on all new vehicles sold on or after that date, and will be made available to all other owners of Euro 6 FCA vehicles at no charge, as part of vehicle calibration update programs that are implem

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Daimler & enercity storing new replacement EV batteries in working 15 MWh grid storage system; “living storage”

Green Car Congress

Daimler AG, with its wholly owned subsidiary ACCUMOTIVE, and enercity (Stadtwerke Hannover AG) will begin construction of a new stationary energy storage system (ESS) this year; the facility also functions as a spare parts storage facility for electromotive battery systems. Around 3,000 new battery packs, destined for the current smart electric drive vehicle fleet, are being pooled to create the ESS at the enercity site in Herrenhausen.

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New UMTRI paper reviews major advantages and disadvantages of battery-electric and fuel-cell vehicles

Green Car Congress

A new report from the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) reviews the major advantages and disadvantages associated with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel-cell vehicles (FCVs). The team of Brandon Schoettle and Dr. Michael Sivak also incudes information for current gasoline-powered internal combustion engines as a baseline comparison.

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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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Technavio forecasts 45% CAGR in automotive fuel cell market through 2019

Green Car Congress

The global fuel cell market in the automotive industry is set to grow at a rapid CAGR of more than 45% (in terms of unit shipments) through 2019, according to a new report by global technology research and advisory company Technavio. Technavio calculated the market size for 2015-2019 based on the revenue generated from the global units and MW shipments of fuel cells in the automotive industry.

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German team reconfigures Li-S battery for improved performance; new porous conductive separator coating

Green Car Congress

Researchers in Germany report significant improvement in specific capacity and cycling stability of “reconfigured” Li-S cells compared to a standard cell setup. At a constant charging rate of C/5, cells with their modified separator showed 2.5 times higher residual capacity (1016 mAh g −1 ) than cells with pristine separator (405 mAh g −1 ). A paper on their work is published in the Journal of Power Sources.

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Continental urea sensors for efficient SCR NOx aftertreatment in diesels; measuring level, quality and temperature

Green Car Congress

Continental has begun production of urea sensors for the first time to support more efficient exhaust-gas aftertreatment in diesel engines. The sensor measures the level, quality, and temperature of the aqueous urea solution in the “AdBlue” tank used in conjunction with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for NO x reduction. The sensor-aided denitrification supports fulfillment of the legal requirements and reinforces drivers’ trust that their car emits no more than the maximum permissible level

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€3.4M OmniSteer project seeks to increase urban maneuverability with highly-integrated lateral and transverse guidance systems for EVs

Green Car Congress

Automobile maneuverability is limited by cramped inner city conditions. Those who need to park their vehicles frequently—such as delivery services and mobile care providers—lose a lot of working time searching for and then getting into parking spaces. New chassis types with wheels that can be steered individually and electric drives make it possible to increase maneuverability and therefore efficiency, particularly in flowing urban traffic.

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Researchers create graphene-like structure with transition metal atoms

Green Car Congress

An international group of physicists led by the University of Arkansas has created an artificial graphene-like structure with transition metal atoms in place of carbon atoms. The U of A-led group published its findings in Physical Review Letters. Graphene, discovered in 2004, is a one-atom-thick sheet of graphite. Graphene transistors are predicted to be substantially faster and more heat tolerant than today’s silicon transistors and may result in more efficient computers and the next-generation

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NREL patents method for continuous monitoring of materials during manufacturing; benefits for fuel cell components, semiconductor wafers

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was recently issued a patent for a novel method that rapidly characterizes specialized materials during the manufacturing process. This approach significantly improves on standard quality control techniques by allowing for complete monitoring of materials without interrupting workflow.

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Hyundai Heavy introduces first Tier III-compliant high pressure SCR for 2-stroke marine engines

Green Car Congress

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s largest shipbuilder and a leading marine engine maker, has produced the first High Pressure Selective Catalytic Reduction (HP SCR) system for the significant reduction of NO x emission from 2-stroke marine engines. The HP SCR can reduce NO x emission up to 99% by using ammonia as a catalyst, and thus complies with IMO NOx Tier III requirement that took effect in January 2016.

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U Toronto study measures GDI emissions in urban near-road environment

Green Car Congress

A study of emissions from gasoline direct injection (GDI) vehicles in an urban near-road environment in Toronto over a wide range of weather conditions (February 2014 to January 2015) found that—other than for NO x and CO—the GDI engines had elevated emissions compared to the Toronto fleet. In four campaigns over the year-long study, the team from the University of Toronto measured emissions 15 meters from the roadway, then converted the measurements to fuel-based emission factors (E

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Change in magnesium alloy microstructure changes corrosion resistance and improves potential for transportation applications

Green Car Congress

Changing the microstructure in magnesium alloys improves their corrosion resistance, and so improves the possibilities for the transport sector to use these materials to decrease the weight of vehicles, according to work done by Mohsen Esmaily, researcher in Atmospheric Corrosion at Chalmers University in Sweden. Magnesium is the lightest construction metal, but also the most reactive.

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New Flyer completes 1,150 mile in-service demonstration of the Xcelsior battery-electric bus for Miami-Dade Transit

Green Car Congress

New Flyer of America, a subsidiary of New Flyer Industries, the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses and motor coaches in the United States and Canada, has completed a two-week in-service demonstration with Miami-Dade Transit of the New Flyer Xcelsior heavy-duty battery-electric XE40 transit bus. The two-week demonstration, concluded on 21 January, resulted in more than 1,150 in-service miles and more than 1,800 passenger rides on 11 different service routes throughout Miami-Dade Cou

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ANGP gets exclusive license to UTRC technology for conformable natural gas vehicle storage tanks

Green Car Congress

Adsorbed Natural Gas Products (ANGP) announced an exclusive licensing agreement with United Technologies Research Center ( UTRC ) allowing ANGP to use UTRC’s patent-pending technology—developed with support from DOE’s ARPA-E ( earlier post )—to develop and produce the first commercially viable conformable adsorbent-based low pressure natural gas (ANG) storage tank for motor vehicles.

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New German ecoPtG project seeks to make power-to-gas commercially viable with help of automotive technology

Green Car Congress

In collaboration with engineering partner IAV, the Zentrum für Sonnenenergie- und Wasserstoff-Forschung Baden-Württemberg (Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg, ZSW); the Reiner Lemoine Institut (RLI); and Wasserelektrolyse Hydrotechnik (HT) are researching cost-effective methods of producing hydrogen with the help of automotive technology.

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Albemarle granted permit to increase lithium brine extraction rates in Chile; MOU for 27-year lithium quota

Green Car Congress

Albemarle Corporation, a premier specialty chemicals company and leader in the production of lithium and lithium derivatives, has been granted approval by the Environmental Assessment Commission (CEA) of the Antofagasta Region to increase its currently authorized lithium brine extraction rate at the company's facility in the Salar de Atacama, Chile.

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Honda to begin sales of hybrid Odyssey minivan in Japan on Friday

Green Car Congress

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. will begin sales of an affordably-priced hybrid version as well as the newly refreshed gasoline-powered version of the Honda Odyssey and Odyssey Absolute premium minivans on Friday, 5 February, at dealerships across Japan. ( Earlier post.) The hybrid is a new addition to the Odyssey lineup. The newly-added Odyssey Hybrid and Odyssey Hybrid Absolute are the first Honda premium minivan models equipped with the Honda-developed Sport Hybrid i-MMD powertrain and realize class-to

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Bio-isobutanol company Gevo signs licensing and joint development agreements with Porta in Argentina; corn feedstock

Green Car Congress

Gevo, Inc. has entered into a license agreement and a joint development agreement with Porta Hnos S.A. to construct multiple isobutanol plants in Argentina using corn as a feedstock. The first plant is to be wholly owned by Porta and is anticipated to begin producing isobutanol in 2017. The plant is expected to have a production capacity of up to five million gallons of isobutanol per year.

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Scion brand to fold in to Toyota brand

Green Car Congress

Scion, established as a separate brand in 2003 to explore new products and processes to attract youth customers, will transition to the Toyota brand. Toyota said that Scion achieved its goals of developing unique products and processes, and bringing in new, younger customers. With more than one million cars sold, 70% of Scions were purchased by customers new to Toyota and 50% were under 35 years old.

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US DOT releases assessment of DSRC technology for connected vehicles

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released its Report to Congress assessing the status of the 5.9 Gigahertz dedicated short-range communications (DSRC) to enable connected vehicle technologies and applications. The assessment found that DSRC is ready for deployment and DSRC-based technologies and applications offer a path to a safer and more efficient surface transportation system.

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easyJet to trial electric taxi system in aircraft; H2 fuel cells, batteries and wheel motors

Green Car Congress

European carrier easyJet plans to test an electric taxi system later this year that utilizes a hydrogen fuel cell stowed in the hold, batteries charged by regenerative braking, and electric wheel motors. The energy can then be used by the aircraft when taxiing without needing to use the jet engines. Due to the high frequency and short sector lengths of easyJet’s operations, around 4% of the airline’s total fuel consumed annually is used when the airline’s aircraft are taxiing.

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OSU-led team demonstrates effective vibration energy harvesting platform inspired by trees

Green Car Congress

Inspired by the damping mechanisms which sustain trees under wind and seismic loads, researchers at The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan are investigating the potential for the development of energy harvesting systems that efficiently convert the same motion- and wind-based excitations into electric power. In a paper in the Journal of Sound and Vibration , they report demonstrating that tree-like structures made with electromechanical materials can convert random forces&mdash

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IMP develops new material to remove nitrogen compounds from crude oil for more efficient desulfurization

Green Car Congress

The Mexican Oil Institute ( IMP ) has developed a catalyst adsorbent material that removes 80% of organic compounds from crude oil prior to hydrodesulfurization. It allows Pemex, the Mexican oil company, to generate ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) more quickly and cheaply. Dr. Rodolfo Mora, head of the project, said that the research was initiated by Pemex’ need to convert its diesel from 500 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur to 15 ppm ULSD.

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