Sat.Apr 19, 2014 - Fri.Apr 25, 2014

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Toyota Central R&D developing free-piston engine linear generator; envisioning multi-FPEG units for electric drive vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Toyota’s FPEG features a hollow step-shaped piston, combustion chamber and gas spring chamber. Click to enlarge. A team at Toyota Central R&D Labs Inc. is developing a prototype 10 kW Free Piston Engine Linear Generator (FPEG) featuring a thin and compact build, high efficiency and high fuel flexibility. Toyota envisions that a pair of such units (20 kW) would enable B/C-segment electric drive vehicles to cruise at 120 km/h (75 mph).

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Wendy Greuel Gains Green Ground in South Bay L.A. – Stands Up & Speaks Out To Keep Hermosa Hermosa

Creative Greenius

'Your friendly neighborhood Greenius has been waiting for awhile now to see which of the candidates for Henry Waxman’s 33rd District seat was going to step up environmentally. Today that person turned out to be Wendy Greuel. My good friend, Dency Nelson, tells me Ted Lieu was already that guy and that Ted’s strong record speaks for itself.

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FTC Comes Out In Favor Of Tesla Direct Sales, Against Dealer-Backed Bans

Green Car Reports

'The ongoing fight between Tesla Motors and car dealers across the country has spilled from the headlines into the legal system, but so far, the outcome is far from certain. Will Tesla be allowed to sell its cars directly to consumers? Or is there some state interest in forcing Tesla into the dealer franchise model America''s major carmakers use?

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RAC to charge to the rescue of stranded EV drivers

Green Cars News

'One of the the UK’s leading breakdown service providers, the RAC, is launching its first mobile electric charging system to help electric car owners whose batteries run flat. The rescue service firm will launch its new mobile charging system at tomorrow’s GreenFleet Scotland, where it show how the[.].

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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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Audi presents plug-in hybrid TT offroad concept car at Beijing; wireless charging

Green Car Congress

'Audi TT offroad concept. Click to enlarge. Audi is presenting an Audi TT offroad concept at the Beijing International Automobile Exhibition. Like many of the brand''s new production models, the Audi TT offroad concept is also based on the versatile modular transverse matrix (MQB). The TT concept features a plug-in hybrid drive with two electric motors and a system output of 300 kW (408 hp) and 650 N·m (479 lb?

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Al’s Bright Idea for Hermosa, Ted’s Tough Stance Against Oil & Why I’m Worried About It Mattering

Creative Greenius

'Sarah Sikich, Heal the Bay’s Science and Policy Director, Coastal Resources at the podium, California State Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and State Senator Ted Lieu behind her – Photo by Jose Bacallao (lifted from Facebook).

Oil 338

More Trending

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Driven: Hyundai i10

Green Cars News

'The i10 makes up one fifth of Hyundai’s European sales and, as a tiny citycar with an equally tiny thirst, the brand new i10 was something TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk just had to have a go in. Improved significantly We live in a world in which the manufacturers are desperately trying to reduce emissi[.].

Hyundai 53
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Navigant: US to remain largest national plug-in vehicle market over next 10 years; Tokyo to take metro market lead spot from LA

Green Car Congress

'Navigant Research forecasts that the United States will remain the largest national market for light-duty plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) during the next 10 years, with LD PEV sales exceeding 514,000 in 2023. Currently, North America is the strongest market for light duty PEVs with nearly 100,000 sold in 2013, according to the market research firm.

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SwRI launches new automotive consortium focusing on fuels and lubricants

Green Car Congress

'Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is launching the Advanced Engine Fluids (AEF) consortium to better understand fuel and lubricant chemistry and its effects on engine combustion. The AEF consortium will research the impact of fuels and lubricants on engine combustion and the requirements needed for optimizing future engine technologies. These automotive pistons show ring land damage caused by low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI).

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Volvo Cars adds R-Design version of V60 diesel Plug-in Hybrid

Green Car Congress

'Volvo Cars has added an R-Design version of its V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which was has been one of the better selling plug-in vehicles in Europe since going on sale, and currently is in fifth place for the first quarter of 2014. 2015 Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid R-Design. Click to enlarge. We sold almost 8,000 plug-in hybrids in 2013. Adding the R-Design dynamic attributes to the V60 Plug-in Hybrid—the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid—will give its attractiveness another boost.

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

Brief

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Renewable Energy Group has sold 1 billion gallons of biodiesel

Green Car Congress

'Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (REG) announced that it has sold a cumulative one billion gallons of biodiesel during its 17-year history. The company started by marketing 30,000 gallons of biodiesel in 1996; last year, it sold more than 258 million gallons. REG said that it achieved this milestone through investments in a fully integrated value chain including its manufacturing, sales & marketing, and supply chain management capabilities.

Renewable 255
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Nissan testing super-hydrophobic and oleophobic coating technology on Note

Green Car Congress

'Nissan has begun tests on innovative coating technology that repels mud, rain and everyday dirt. The specially engineered super-hydrophobic and oleophobic coating has been applied to the bodywork of the all-new Nissan Note to create a “self-cleaning car”. Nissan is the first carmaker to apply the technology, called Ultra-Ever Dry , which is being marketed and sold by UltraTech International Inc , on automotive bodywork.

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Tesla and Sixt Leasing partner in Switzerland; monthly Model S payments start at about US$920

Green Car Congress

'Tesla has expanded its strategic relationship with Sixt Leasing to include Switzerland as well as Germany. With 10% down on a 36-month lease, Sixt offers payments of approximately CHF 810 - 950 (US$919 - $1,078) per month, depending on the mileage selected by the customer. Tesla suggests that Model S customers will save up to CHF 300 (US$340) per month in fuel and tax savings compared to premium internal combustion vehicles, resulting in a potential effective net cost of driving Model S of abou

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Dearman-led consortium awarded $3.1M to develop waste-heat-recovery system using liquid air engine

Green Car Congress

'A consortium led by the Dearman Engine Company has been awarded £1.86 million (US$3.12 million) in the latest round of IDP10 funding from the UK’s Technology Strategy Board to support the development of a heat-recovery system for urban commercial vehicles. The tenth competition under the Low Carbon Vehicles Innovation Platform’s integrated delivery program (IDP), IDP10 is targeting the building of an integrated low-carbon-vehicle innovation chain, from the science base, through collaborative R&

Waste 246
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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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California Energy Commission approves plans to invest nearly $500M in electricity R&D and alternative fuels

Green Car Congress

'The California Energy Commission has unanimously approved two major investment plans that could total nearly a half a billion dollars. One will fund clean energy research that benefits electricity ratepayers. Another is an annual clean transportation investment plan that is designed to spark innovation in projects that will help transform California’s fleet to meet greenhouse gas and clean air goals.

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HELLA and Vahle developing wireless charging systems for plug-in vehicles

Green Car Congress

'HELLA is working with Paul Vahle GmbH to develop wireless (inductive) charging systems for plug-in vehicles. The cooperation between Vahle and HELLA combines the expertise and experience of both companies in the field inductive charging. Based in Kamen, Germany, Vahle has 15 years of experience in contact-free energy transfer in industrial environments, while HELLA is a recognized leader in the development of electronics, software, processes and production in the auto industry.

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EU-funded project develops diesel engine for light helicopters

Green Car Congress

'EU-funded scientists developed a novel 320 kW (429 hp) diesel engine for light helicopters as an alternative to conventional turboshaft engines. The technology demonstrated substantial reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Helicopters conventionally employ a turboshaft engine that has a much better power-to-weight ratio compared to diesel engines.

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Fiat Group Automobiles, Chrysler Group International and GAC Group to Produce Jeep vehicles in China for Chinese market

Green Car Congress

'Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Chrysler Group International LLC and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) have reached an agreement to expand the joint venture partnership. Under the agreement, the joint venture, GAC Fiat, will begin localized production of three new Jeep vehicles for the Chinese market, expanding the portfolio of Jeep sport-utility vehicles (SUV) currently available to Chinese consumers as imports.

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EcoCAR 3 competition to use Chevy Camaro as base vehicle

Green Car Congress

'General Motors is continuing its partnership with the US Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory for the EcoCAR 3 collegiate advanced vehicle technology competition. and will donate a Chevrolet Camaro to each one of the 16 universities that were recently selected for the exclusive competition. For EcoCAR 2: Plugging In to the Future, GM donated Chevrolet Malibus; for EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge, GM donated Saturn Vues; and for Challenge X: Crossover to Sustainable Mobility, the comp

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The voestalpine Group producing ultra-high strength automotive components in US

Green Car Congress

'The steel-based technology and capital goods group voestalpine’s 17 th production site in the United States began operation , manufacturing ultra-high strength body-in-white components for premium car manufacturers in Cartersville, Georgia. This completes the first phase of the Group’s internationalization program in the automotive sector. Since 2012, voestalpine has invested more than €100 million (US$140 million) in new plants in China, Germany, Romania, South Africa, and the US.

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SAE publishes technical paper on hydrogen fueling standard

Green Car Congress

'SAE has published the technical paper on hydrogen fueling, and the SAE J2799 standard. ( Earlier post.) The SAE J2601 (Hydrogen fueling standard) will be published, possibly within the next month. In March, SAE International’s Fuel Cell Standards Taskforce reported the completion of two technical standards: SAE J2601, “Fueling Protocols for Light Duty Gaseous Hydrogen Surface Vehicles”; and SAE J2799, “Hydrogen Surface Vehicle to Station Hardware and Software”.

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WSU researchers develop simpler drowsy driver detection system

Green Car Congress

'Researchers at Washington State University Spokane have developed a new way to detect when drivers are drowsy. The technology is based on steering wheel movements—which are more variable in drowsy drivers—and offers an affordable and more reliable alternative to currently available video-based driver drowsiness detection systems, the researchers suggest.

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EPA revises 2013 cellulosic biofuel standard down to 810,185 gallons; 0.0005%

Green Car Congress

'The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised the 2013 cellulosic biofuel requirements for obligated parties (e.g., refiners) under the Renewable Fuel Standard 2 program down to 810,185 ethanol-equivalent gallons, or a 0.0005% ratio of the renewable fuel volume to the non-renewable gasoline and diesel volume used in 2013. In August 2013, EPA had specified 6.0 million gallons as the cellulosic biofuel requirement for 2013.

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Land Rover unveils the diesel Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase in Beijing; first diesel hybrids in China

Green Car Congress

'Land Rover introduced the Range Rover Hybrid Long Wheelbase at the Beijing motor show. Together with the Range Rover Sport Hybrid ( earlier post ), it will be the first diesel hybrid from any manufacturer to be offered in China. Land Rover has identified China as a potentially strong market for its new premium hybrids, while the long wheelbase design is identified as best suiting Chinese customers’ preferences for luxury and spaciousness.

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Nanoscale downhole detector reports presence of H2S in crude oil and gas before production

Green Car Congress

'Scientists at Rice University have created a nanoscale detector that checks for and reports on the presence of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) in crude oil and natural gas while they’re still in the ground. The nanoreporter is based on nanometer-sized carbon material developed by a consortium of Rice labs led by chemist James Tour and is the subject of a new paper published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

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Iowa Legislature passes biofuel bill; butanol blends, E-15 and biodiesel tax credits extended

Green Car Congress

'Both houses of the Iowa Legislature have passed a bill ( SF2344 ) providing for biobutanol-blended gasoline; modifying the rate of the E-15 plus gasoline promotion tax credit; and extending provisions for a biodiesel production refund. The legislation, which Governor Terry Branstad is expected to sign into law, enables the sale of biobutanol-gasoline blends, which will be labeled “Bu-xx”, where “xx” refers to the percentage of butanol in the blend.

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New Toyota TS040 HYBRIDs take 1st and 2nd at Six Hours of Silverstone in UK; new Porsche 919 Hybrid takes 3rd

Green Car Congress

'Toyota Racing scored a one-two finish (#8 taking first, #7 second) from pole position in the Six Hours of Silverstone with its new TS040 HYBRIDs ( earlier post ) in a the first race of the 2014 FIA World Endurance Championship season. Porsche’s new 919 Hybrid with two energy recovery systems ( earlier post ) posted a third its in its first race. Track conditions varied from completely dry to torrential rain, which ultimately saw the race red flagged less than 30 minutes before the checkered fla

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Lufthansa to evaluate Gevo Alcohol-to-Jet renewable fuel for commercial aviation use

Green Car Congress

'Bio-isobutanol producer Gevo, Inc. has come to an agreement with Lufthansa under which the carrier will evaluate Gevo’s renewable jet fuel with the goal of approving the alcohol-to-jet fuel (ATJ) for commercial aviation use. ( Earlier post.). Lufthansa’s testing is being supported through work with the European Commission. ATJ, like the Fischer-Tropsch pathway, has the potential to use lignocellulosic waste as feedstock, but promises to do so at less cost than Fischer-Tropsch.

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UQM Technologies and Kinetics Drive Solutions collaborate on electric drive systems for all-electric commercial vehicles

Green Car Congress

'EV3-850 combined with PowerPhase HD220. Click to enlarge. UQM Technologies Inc. and Kinetics Drive Solutions Inc. are collaborating to offer an integrated electric motor and multi-speed transmission system for commercial vehicle applications that will benefit from a full system approach. This system is engineered to provide commercial vehicle manufacturers with an efficient electric drive powertrain while minimizing the development time for integration.

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Plug Power and Hyundai Hysco sign MOU to form fuel cell JV in Asia

Green Car Congress

'Plug Power Inc. signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hyundai Hysco Co. Ltd. (Hysco) to create a joint venture partnership to develop and to sell hydrogen fuel cells in countries throughout Asia using Hysco’s advanced stack and plate technology. Specifically, the proposed five-year joint venture will develop, manufacture and sell fuel cell solutions, products and stacks for applications in Asian markets.

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Ioxus to provide ultracapacitors for Long Island Railroad wayside energy storage system

Green Car Congress

'Ioxus ultracapacitors are being fitted to the railway wayside traction power on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR). The ultracapacitors will provide voltage support to assist the traction power system, capturing and storing the energy produced by the train, using it to facilitate better acceleration and allowing for greater energy efficiency and reduced energy consumption.

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Byogy and Avianca launch initiative to accelerate approval of Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ) fuel

Green Car Congress

'Byogy’s four-step process for the conversion of ethanol to renewable jet fuel. Click to enlarge. Byogy Renewables and airline partner Avianca Brasil ( earlier post ) have launched an initiative to support advanced testing to accelerate the approval by ASTM of Byogy’s alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel. ( Earlier post.) The Avianca/Byogy Team will perform advanced Flight Testing using the CFM-56 powered A319 to acquire test data and support an Environmental Impact Study to drive ASTM adoption of Byogy’s

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Mitsubishi Heavy selling MLiX Li-ion rechargeable battery business to Delta Electronics; focus shifting to ESS systems

Green Car Congress

'Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) is selling its Li-ion rechargeable battery business to Delta Electronics. MHI will focus on energy storage system (ESS) products using Li-ion batteries. Under the brand name MLiX, MHI designs and manufactures prismatic cells, modules, CMU (Cell Management Unit) / BMU (Battery Management Unit), packs and systems.

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MP&ES introduces dual fuel diesel/natural gas locomotive

Green Car Congress

'Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc. (MP&ES), a provider of new and remanufactured locomotives, introduced the Greenville locomotive, an ultra­low emissions Gen Set locomotive powered by a combination of natural gas and diesel fuels. The Greenville. MP&ES has been evaluating technology options and developing system designs for natural gas locomotives for more than two years.

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