Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Applied Nanotech Holdings, Inc. recently was awarded $999,990 for a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) from the US Department of Energy to develop ultra-lightweight hydrogen fuel tanks using carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforcement. This 24-month program has the overall objective significantly to improve the mechanical properties of the carbon fiber/epoxy material used to construct hydrogen fuel tanks with CNT reinforcement.

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Hydrogen Carbon Fiber Fuel Polymer 387

Green Car Reports

SEPTEMBER 22, 2012

It's been a few months now since reports of losses in battery capacity in Nissan Leaf electric cars began to filter out of Arizona. Owners have complained to Nissan's Consumer Affairs group and written hundreds of posts on owner forums. In July, Nissan Americas took seven different Leafs in for a complete assessment by the technical unit at its.

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Nissan Arizona Miles Batteries 141

National Green Transportation

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

DrivingElectric is a new online community aimed at connecting the "EV Curious" with "EV Drivers" to help prospective electric car owners choose to buy a plug-in car. The site was launched on Sunday, to.

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Buy Plug-in Connect Connected 104

Green Cars News

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

It wasn’t quite eighty days – more like eight months – but the Citroen C-ZERO (pictured) has become the first 100 per cent electric car to drive around the world. Driven by a two-man team, made up of Antonin Guy, 28, and Xavier Degon, 27, the vehicle navigated across 17 countries, covering 15,500 miles over [.].

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Citroen Electric Cars Cars Electric 74

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Timing and sequencing of energy technology policy. Source: OECD. Click to enlarge. While alternative fuel vehicles can potentially provide an important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and threats to air quality and human health; enhancing the energy security of countries; and providing governments with new sources of economic growth and competitiveness, there are a number of specific barriers retarding the development of the market, according to a detailed policy paper ne

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Green Cars Green Market Green Vehicles 360

Green Car Reports

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Last October, at the official launch of the 2012 Tesla Model S, we told you about Tesla’s plans to build a network of “Superchargers”: fast-charging stations that could add up to 150 miles of range to a Model S in 30 minutes. Yesterday, Tesla Motors [NSDQ:TSLA] launched its Supercharger network at an exclusive event at the.

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Electric Cars Tesla Motors 2012 Cars 130

Green Cars News

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Electric car maker Tesla revealed plans for a network of superchargers across the US which will allow its new Model S to recharge quickly from pure, clean solar power. Constructed in secret, the first six superchargers-the most powerful charger yet developed- are already installed in locations across California; Gilroy, Harris Ranch, Tejon Ranch, Barstow, Folsom [.].

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Installation Solar Power Powered 65

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Getrag PowerShift Transmission 7DCT300. Click to enlarge. At its fifth biennial Drivetrain Forum in Cologne, Getrag presented the seven-speed dual clutch transmission Getrag Powershift 7DCT300 and a hybrid derivative, the Getrag Hybrid Drive 7HDT300. The company said that the new transmissions complete its product portfolio to provide total coverage in terms of torque output and application size.

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Hybrid Plug-in Plug MPH 356

Green Car Reports

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

In its second year, National Plug-In Day this past Sunday certainly avoided sophomore slump. In 65 cities all over the U.S., tens of thousands of electric-car owners, potential buyers, and just curious onlookers pored over, rode in, and drove plug-in vehicles from more than a dozen makers. Here's a brief rundown of just a few of the major events.

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Plug-in Plug Electric Cars Cars 128

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

Diagram of direct injector placement used in the study; future work will use a more parallel alignment of the injectors. Wissink et al. Click to enlarge. By using a new strategy entailing the direct, separate injection of both low- and high-reactivity fuels, researchers at the University of Wisconsin have found another method for combustion phasing control of RCCI (reactivity controlled compression ignition) that offers the potential of decreasing the emissions of unburned hydrocarbons (UHC) and

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Emissions Fuel Gasoline Diesel 352

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Stack-designed cylindrical TEG, built with TE cartridges, developed for LDVs in first project. Click to enlarge. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded Gentherm (formerly Amerigon) a $1.55-million contract modification to apply the technology in its thermoelectric generator (TEG) for passenger cars to a similar program for heavy vehicles. The TEG technology, which converts waste heat from gas exhaust into electric energy and has the potential to improve passenger car fuel efficiency by as

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Fuel Economy Energy Waste Vehicles 341

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Comparison of brake thermal efficiency and specific fuel consumption at rated power (ICOMIA Mode 5), hydrogen vs. gasoline engines. Oh and Plante. Click to enlarge. A team at the Université de Sherbrooke, Ontario, Canada has developed a prototype small-displacement (. Such an engine could provide a cost-effective solution for small recreational vehicle- and motorcycle applications.

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Engine Emissions Fleet Market 329

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Belgium-based chemical group Solvay has opened two rare earth recycling units in France. In order to diversify its sources of supply and preserve resources, Solvay has developed a process for recovering rare earths contained in end-of-life equipment such as low-energy light bulbs, batteries or magnets. First launched in 2007, the project required two years of research and development followed by two years of industrialization studies and site selection.

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France Mercury Belgium Light 316

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Mazda6 Sedan & Wagon (European Specification). Click to enlarge. Both the wagon and sedan versions of the new Mazda6 made their collective debut at the Paris Motor Show. The Mazda6— now in its third generation— is also the company’s first mass-production model. equipped with i-ELOOP, its brake energy regeneration system. i-ELOOP joins the i-stop idle-stop system and SKYACTIV powertrains, chassis and body (introduced on the CX-5) to deliver fuel consumption as low as 3.9 l/100 km (60

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MPG Diesel Gasoline-Electric Fuel Economy 311

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Guyana

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Powertrain elements of the Panamera Sport Turismo. Click to enlarge. At the Paris Motor Show, Porsche presented the Panamera Sport Turismo concept, a plug-in hybrid that offers 416 hp (306 kW) of peak system power. The Panamera Sport Turismo is designed to be driven in pure electric mode up to a speed of 130 km/h (81 mph) and can cover distances of more than 30 km (19 miles).

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Porsche Plug-in MPG Concept 294

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. is expected to produce 1.2 million hybrid vehicles this year—twice the 2011 total—as it brings the vehicles into Asian markets. Batteries and motors for hybrids can be used in electric vehicles or in a coming generation of fuel-cell cars. Toyota thus believes that lowering costs for such key components through mass production will give it an edge in developing environmentally friendly vehicles.

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) showcased the utility’s first extended-range electric truck with manufacturer VIA Motors at three Bay Area National Plug-In Day events—in San Francisco, San Rafael and Cupertino—on Sunday. PG&E offered ride-alongs in its VTrux from VIA. In Cupertino, the truck powered the public-address equipment for the stage as well as a vendor booth, demonstrating the vehicle’s exportable power capacity.

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Extended Range Plug-in San Francisco Motor 281

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive. Click to enlarge. At the Paris Motor Show, Mercedes-Benz introduced the production of the SLS AMG Coupé Electric Drive ( earlier post ). The battery-electric supercar goes on sale in 2013. The price in Germany (incl. 19% VAT) will be €416,500 (US$535,898). (The new, conventional V8 SLS AMG Roadster going on sale next month carries a price in Germany, including VAT, of €213,010 (US$274,074).).

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Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

The Board of Transport for London (TfL) approved a production order for up to 600 of New Bus for London vehicles over the next four years. ( Earlier post.) This will create the largest fleet of hybrid buses in Europe, according to TfL. The 600 buses represent a 200% increase in the current hybrid bus fleet which is set to grow by a further 180 vehicles already on order.

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London Hybrid Production Ireland 276

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Left. Image of LMNO surface layer. Upper right. Simulated zone projection image based on LMNO crystal model with 20% Ni/Li disorder corresponding to blue rectangle. Lower right. Simulated zone projection image based on LMNO crystal model with 10% Ni/Li disorder corresponding to white rectangle. TM = transition metal. Credit: ACS, Gu et al. Click to enlarge.

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Li-ion Ni-Li Lithium Ion Batteries 274

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

Comparisons of life-cycle emissions from LUC phase for (a) sugar cane ethanol and (b) soybean biodiesel. Credit: ACS, Tsao et al. Click to enlarge. When including Land Use Change (LUC) factors, Brazilian sugar cane ethanol and soybean biodiesel have much larger life-cycle emissions than conventional gasoline and biodiesel for six regulated, non-greenhouse gas (GHG) air pollutants, according to a study led by a team from the University of California, Merced.

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Gasoline Emissions Diesel Brazil 273

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

On Friday, Chrysler Group LLC announced it was withdrawing from service its test fleet of plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles (PHEVs) to conduct a battery-pack upgrade. Three of the fleet’s 109 pickups equipped with plug-in hybrid powertrains sustained damage when their prototype 12.9-kWh lithium-ion propulsion batteries overheated. The Li-ion batteries in the plug-in pickups ( earlier post ) were from Electrovaya.

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Chrysler PHEV Fleet Minivan 268

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

General Motors Research & Development developed an aluminum-to-aluminum welding technology expected to enable more use of the lightweight metal on future vehicles, which can help improve fuel economy and driving performance. GM’s resistance spot welding process uses a patented multi-ring domed electrode that does what smooth electrodes are unreliable at doing—welding aluminum to aluminum.

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GM Yukon Tahoe Fuel Economy 268

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

The Ford biomaterials research team has been collaborating for the last three years with forest products leader Weyerhaeuser to investigate the use of a plastic composite material utilizing cellulose fibers from trees in place of fiberglass or mineral reinforcements. Because the cellulose fibers in this new composite come from sustainably grown and harvested trees and related byproducts, such as chips, the environmental impact of building cars could be lessened by replacing fiberglass, minerals

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Ford Fusion Escape Renewable 265

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

Building on its previously seen XIV and KEV design concepts, SsangYong Motor Company is showcasing the e-XIV (electric - eXciting user Interface Vehicle) ‘range extended EV concept at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. e-XIV concept extended range electric vehicle. Click to enlarge. SsangYong displayed its XIV 1 B segment CUV (crossover utility vehicle) concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, and the XIV 2 Coupé at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2012.

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Range Plug-in Li-ion Gasoline-Electric 262

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

ix35 Fuel Cell. Click to enlarge. In December 2012, Hyundai will begin production of the ix35 Fuel Cell crossover vehicle at its Ulsan manufacturing facility in Korea, with a target of building up to 1,000 vehicles by 2015. Hyundai called the ix35 Fuel Cell its “halo vehicle” in the Blue Drive sub-brand, the badge worn by Hyundai’s cleanest vehicles, including Sonata Hybrid, i20 Blue Drive and BlueOn, Hyundai’s battery-powered i10.

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Hyundai 2015 Fuel Production 261

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Nissan Senior Vice President, Research & Development–Nissan Americas, Carla Bailo sent an open letter to the LEAF community summarizing the company’s initial findings on reports of battery capacity loss expressed by a number of owners in the Phoenix market. ( Earlier post.). Bailo said that Nissan identified seven LEAF owners in the Phoenix area who had reported concerns with their vehicles.

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Nissan Arizona Phoenix Batteries 259

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

The city of Milton Keynes in the UK is replacing the diesel buses on its Nº7 route with eight electric buses that will use wireless charging. Eight organisations led by a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co Europe signed a five-year collaboration agreement committing to the replacement of the diesel buses with their all-electric counterparts on one of the main bus routes in the city by summer 2013.

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Charging Fleet Electric Electrical 258

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Electrovaya Inc. launched the next generation of its SuperPolymer lithiated manganese oxide-based MN series of cells, first introduced in 2007 ( earlier post ), the “MN-HP Series”. The company says that the energy version of technology (MN-eHP) exceeds 200 Wh/kg—one of the highest energy densities for a commercial Li-ion cell in a large prismatic design, according to the company.

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Li-ion Lithium Titanate Energy Lithium Ion 257

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 24, 2012

China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), one of China’s biggest energy companies and Airbus are developing and promoting renewable aviation fuel production for regular commercial use in China. Sinopec is the instrumental partner in helping the Central Government to establish a Chinese airworthiness certification for alternative aviation fuels made from locally grown feedstocks.

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Chinese Renewable Fuel Alternative Fuels 247

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Nikkei. Japan has decided to end a government subsidy program to encourage purchases of environmentally friendly cars as funds dwindle. According to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the government only has ¥2.5 billion (US$32 million) left of the ¥274.7 billion (US$3.5 billion) allocated for the program. The government revived the stimulus in a fourth supplementary budget for fiscal 2011 as many carmakers suffered disruptions to production and exports following the March 11 earthquak

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Japan Purchase Green Cars Stimulus 247

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 25, 2012

At MINExpo, Caterpillar is previewing its Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) product initiative for mining equipment and locomotives. The company’s first LNG-powered products are expected to include three large mining trucks—the Cat 793, 795 and 797—as well as locomotives produced by Electro-Motive Diesel (EMD), a subsidiary of Progress Rail Services, a Caterpillar company.

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Power Powered Gas-Electric Mariner 246

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 26, 2012

Scientists at the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have developed a new photo-biological process for the sustained production of ethylene from CO 2. The NREL team introduced a modified gene sequence encoding an ethylene-forming enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae pv. into a cyanobacterium— Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803—and demonstrated that the organism remained stable through at least four generations, producing ethylene gas that could be easily captured.

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Fuel Transportation Conversion Carbon 244

Green Car Congress

SEPTEMBER 23, 2012

Components of the electric biturbo system on the 3.0L V6 TDI diesel. Click to enlarge. Among the technologies it is developing to improve the fuel consumption of gasoline and diesel engines, Audi is working on an electric biturbo system in which a secondary compressor boosts the main turbocharger at lower engine speeds. Turbochargers are typically driven by energy from the exhaust—i.e., starting from very low revs, the rise in boost pressure and therefore torque becomes gradually greater o

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Audi Engine Exhaust Gas-Electric 244