Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'Mercedes-Benz is making a strategic push on plug-in hybrids: the Stuttgart-based automaker will introduce 10 new plug-in hybrid models by 2017. The company said that the main emphasis as regards alternative drives in years to come will be on plug-in hybrids. The announcement follows the market introduction of the C 350 e ( earlier post , earlier post ), the company’s second plug-in hybrid model following the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid ( earlier post ).

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Plug-in Mercedes Plug 2017 279

Green Car Reports

MARCH 18, 2015

'Suppose you could get a new electric car for $83 a month--and its running costs per mile were only a fraction of what a gasoline car would in fuel. That''d be almost a free car, right? Indeed, the allure of such a deal added to the viral nature of the Internet led to sales of roughly 100 Fiat 500e electric cars in California over the last week.

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Electric Cars Buy Gasoline-Electric Cars 131

National Green Transportation

MARCH 17, 2015

'On Tuesday, BMW announced availability of the long-awaited BMW X5 xDRIVE40e plug-in hybrid Sports Activity Vehicle. Combining BMW's award-winning 2.0-liter TwinPower Turbo four-cylinder engine, BMW's xDRIVE all-wheel-drive.

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Plug-in BMW Available Plug 63

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'President Obama today signed a wide-ranging executive order mandating cuts in greenhouse gas emissions for Federal agencies. Through more efficient Federal operations, agency direct greenhouse gas emissions can be cut by at least 40% over the next decade, the order suggests. The order has operational directives for building and fleet management, electricity generation, water use, waste management and purchasing.

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Obama PHEV Fleet Vehicles 265

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Norway

Green Car Congress

MARCH 15, 2015

'Cadillac will use an advanced mixed-material approach for the lightweight body structure of the upcoming CT6 range-topping full-size sedan, which will debut 31 March at the New York International Auto Show. The structure is aluminum-intensive, but the new Cadillac also includes 13 different materials customized for each area of the car to advance driving dynamics, fuel economy and cabin quietness; the mixed material approach saved 90 kg (198 pounds) compared to a predominately steel constructio

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Cadillac Detroit New York Fuel Economy 260

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'Modeling study showing possible bimetallic sites on a Ti-modified Cu surface. The two Cu-Cu-Ti hollow sites exhibit HBE values close to that of Pt. The Cu-Ti-Ti hollow site binds hydrogen too strongly. Lu et al. Click to enlarge. A team from the University of Delaware and Columbia University, with colleagues at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, reports that a new hierarchical nanoporous copper-titanium bimetallic electrocatalyst is able to produce hydrogen from water under a mild overpoten

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Hydrogen Water Delaware Environment 256

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Ford’s Go!Drive on-demand car sharing experiment apps allows users to register, select a vehicle and pay through a mobile app. Click to enlarge. Ford’s Go!Drive car sharing on-demand experiment in London is entering its beta phase, which will entail ramping up the fleet from 20 to 50 units and beginning to look at different elements of customer access around car sharing, including pricing and incentives in terms of how the car sharing model and operate smoothly and efficiently, according to Ali

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London Cars Ford Petrol 246

Green Car Congress

MARCH 16, 2015

'Researchers at NYU Langone Medical Center have linked fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) pollution to a dangerous narrowing of neck arteries that occurs prior to strokes. PM 2.5 pollutants are particulates with diameters less than 2.5 millionths of a meter. They are mostly by-products of combustion engines and burning wood. The scientists analyzed medical test records for more than 300,000 people living in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut.

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Pollution New York New Jersey Connecticut 240

Green Car Congress

MARCH 14, 2015

'Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) successfully conducted ground demonstration testing of “wireless power transmission,” a new technology presently under development to serve as the core technology of space solar power systems (SSPS). ( Earlier post.) In the ground demonstration test, 10 kW of power was sent from a transmitting unit by microwave; the reception of power was confirmed at a receiver unit located at a distance of 500 meters (m) away by the illumination of LED lights, using par

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Mitsubishi Solar Power Powered 226

Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'by James Stafford of Oilprice.com. Texas is famous the world over for two things on a massive scale: oil and droughts. Now the slick but dry state is becoming famous for water: that precious element that both resolves the drought problem and also makes it possible to pump more oil out of the ground. Not only does Texas have the Permian Basin and the Eagle Ford shale, but it also has the Gulf of Mexico and its massive oil deposits and endless gallons of seawater that are now economically treatab

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Water Texas Oil Mexico 223

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Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'Compared to the gasoline-engined C 250, the Mercedes-Benz C 350 e plug-in hybrid ( earlier post ) can reduce full life-cycle (manufacture, use over 200,000 km and recycling) CO 2 emissions by some 26% (9.6 tonnes) when charging with the European electricity mix and by up to 41% (15.1 tonnes) when charging with renewable power. The analysis is outlined in the plug-in’s newly release “Life Cycle” brochure, the results of which have also been confirmed by TÜV Süd, a branch of the German Technical

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Gasoline PHEV Emissions Mercedes 223

Green Car Congress

MARCH 20, 2015

'At its Annual Account Press Conference 2015, the BMW Group announced that, for the first time in the history of the Group, 51% of its electricity worldwide is being supplied from renewable sources. This is a significant milestone for the company, its aim being to gradually increase the share of renewable energy to 100% over the coming years. Examples of the use of renewable power include: In Leipzig, Germany, the BMW Group is using wind power.

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BMW Renewable South Carolina South Africa 214

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Toshiba Corporation will participate in the Levenmouth Community Energy Project in Fife, Scotland, a major 4-year project to investigate the potential of hydrogen as a future fuel. The project is funded by the Local Energy Challenge Fund, created in November 2014 by the Scottish Government. This marks Toshiba’s first hydrogen research project outside Japan.

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Hydrogen Power Powered Fuel 214

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Xinhua reports that the Chinese Ministry of Transport (MOT) is targeting 300,000 new energy vehicles on China’s roads by 2020: 200,000 new energy buses and 100,000 new energy taxis and city logistics delivery vehicles. China will create a favorable environment to foster quicker growth in the new energy vehicle sector through intense government-led promotion, according to the new MOT guideline.

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2020 Transportation China Energy 209

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Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'Drexel researchers, along with colleagues at Aix-Marseille University in France, have synthesized two-dimensional carbon/sulfur (C/S) nanolaminate materials. Covalent bonding between C and S is observed in the nanolaminates, which along with and an extremely uniform distribution of sulfur between the atomically thin carbon layers make them promising electrode materials for Li-S batteries.

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Carbon Batteries Battery Energy Storage 209

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'The 2016 BMW X5 xDrive40e plug-in hybrid ( earlier post ) will arrive in US showrooms in the fall of 2015. With a 9.0 kWh Li-ion battery pack, the newest BMW SAV can travel approximately 13 miles on all-electric power. The gasoline engine and electric motor put out 308 horsepower (230 kW )and produce 332 lb-ft (450 N·m) of torque, enough to propel the X5 xDrive40e from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds.

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BMW EPA Li-ion PHEV 209

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'IHS forecasts that 9% of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in North America will include attached storage in 2018. Led by commercial systems, IHS expects 700 megawatts (MW) of PV systems with energy storage will be installed by 2018, compared to just 30 MW in 2014. According to the IHS “Energy Storage in PV Report - 2014,” commercial buildings are subject to peak demand charges, which are based on the maximum power drawn from the grid during the billing period.

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North America 2018 America Solar 207

Green Car Congress

MARCH 20, 2015

'Stanford researchers led by Professor Yi Cui have used ceramic nanowire fillers to enhance the ionic conductivity of polymer-based solid electrolyte by three orders of magnitude. The ceramic-nanowire filled composite polymer electrolyte also shows an enlarged electrochemical stability window. Solid-state electrolytes could provide substantial improvements to safety and electrochemical stability in next-generation high-energy Li-ion batteries when compared with conventional liquid electrolytes.

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Li-ion Lithium Ion Polymer Batteries 203

Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'California-based Propel Fuels has launched Diesel HPR (High Performance Renewable) at its retail stations. Diesel HPR contains 98.5% Neste Oil’s NEXBTL renewable diesel and is available at 18 locations across Northern California in Sacramento, San Jose, East Bay, Redwood City and Fresno. Diesel HPR is a low-carbon renewable fuel that meets national and California diesel specifications for use in diesel engines while realizing the benefits of better performance, and lower emissions.

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Renewable California Diesel San Jose 203

Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'General Motors announced plans to change its business model in Russia. GM will focus on the premium segment of the Russian market with Cadillac and US-built iconic Chevrolet products such as the Corvette, Camaro and Tahoe. The Chevrolet brand will minimize its presence in Russia and the Opel brand will leave the market by December 2015. This change in our business model in Russia is part of our global strategy to ensure long-term sustainability in markets where we operate.

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Russia GM Tahoe Chevrolet 203

Green Car Congress

MARCH 20, 2015

'Since 2012, Ford Motor Company has worked with Unifi to bring environmentally responsible, high-performance REPREVE recycled polyester yarn to many Ford vehicles. ( Earlier post.) Now, this innovative fiber is available in the in the all-new F-150. By substituting with this recycled material, Ford will divert more than five million plastic bottles from landfills this year.

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F-150 Ford 2012 Global 200

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) are engaged in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) focused on accelerating scientific understanding and technical development of salt-cooled reactors, specifically fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors ( FHRs ). The project will draw on ORNL’s expertise in fuels, materials, instrumentation and controls, design concepts, and modeling and simulation for advanced reactors, as well as t

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Molten Salt Fuel Concept United States 197

Green Car Congress

MARCH 16, 2015

'The first plug-in hybrid production car from the BMW core brand is a Sports Activity Vehicle: the BMW X5 xDrive40e. With a total system output of 230 kW/313 hp generated by a four-cylinder gasoline engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, a synchronous electric motor integrated in the 8-speed Steptronic transmission, and a 9.0 kWh, 96-cell high-voltage Li-ion battery pack, the BMW X5 xDrive40e achieves a combined fuel consumption of 3.4 – 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers (69 - 71 mpg US mpg imp

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BMW PHEV Production MPH 197

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Tesla Motors will address range anxiety for Model S drivers through an over-the-air (OTA) software update that will include a Range Assurance application that runs even when the car is shut off and a Trip Planner, CEO Elon Musk said during a press conference. Range Assurance communicates with Tesla Superchargers en-route as well as available parking-spot chargers at a destination, and provides a warning to the driver when he or she is about to drive out of range.

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Range Tesla Tesla Motors Available 195

Green Car Congress

MARCH 20, 2015

'Specialty chemical company Evonik will present its new VESTAMID DX9360 product, a polyamide extrusion compound for tubing systems that has the potential to significantly extend the lifetime of engine lines at next week’s NPE2015: The International Plastics Showcase. Tubing made from Evonik’s new high-temperature resistant VESTAMID DX9360 compound can replace rubber hoses in encapsulated engine compartments, saving space and weight.

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Engine Polymer International Standards 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 18, 2015

'Flagship Ventures is investing in Red Rock Biofuels, which is commercializing a Fischer-Tropsch-based process for the conversion of woody biomass into renewable, drop-in diesel and jet fuels. As part of the investment, Flagship will assume a seat on the Red Rock Board of Directors and serve as a strategic advisor for future fundraising efforts. Red Rock is working to build its first commercial scale refinery in Lakeview, OR.

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Renewable Diesel Convert Commercial 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'Petrobras has started production on the P-61 Tension Leg Wellhead Platform (TLWP)—the first use of dry-tree floating technology offshore Brazil and the first Tension Leg Platform installation offshore South America—in Papa Terra field, located near the southern perimeter of the Campos Basin (State of Rio de Janeiro), 110 km (68 miles) off the coast of Brazil and with a water column of 400 to 1,400 m (1,312 to 4,593 feet).

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Production Brazil Chevron South America 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'Researchers from the University of New South Wales (Australia) have developed a highly efficient electrode for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in water-splitting that has the potential to be scaled up for industrial production of hydrogen. An open-access paper on their work is published in the journal Nature Communications. Create by the electrodeposition of amorphous mesoporous nickel–iron composite nanosheets directly onto macroporous nickel foam substrates, the OER electrode exhibits hig

Water 190

Water Hydrogen Gas-Electric Australia 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 17, 2015

'Frost & Sullivan forecasts that with the Chinese Government’s push and pull strategy of new energy vehicle development, gasoline powertrains’ unit production market share is expected to slightly reduce to 94.9%, while the electric vehicle (EV) powertrain segment’s share will expand to 4.2% by 2020, up from 0.1% in 2013. To accelerate the growth of the new energy vehicle market, the Government has provided cash rebates and imposed buying and driving restrictions for target models, including batt

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2020 Market China Chinese 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 16, 2015

'Researchers from A*STAR in Singapore have developed a fungal culture for use in a cheap and efficient method to transform waste oil palm material into biofuels and environmentally friendly plastics. After the harvest of the fruit from oil palm trees, large amounts of leftover biomass known as empty fruit bunch remain. The industry wants to use these leftover fruit bunches to produce bioethanol and biodegradable plastic, but has stumbled in their efforts to convert the leftovers in a cost-effici

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Waste Oil Production Convert 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 16, 2015

'At APEC 2015, ON Semiconductor and power conversion specialist Transphorm, building on their previously announced partnership to bring gallium nitride (GaN) based power solutions to market, introduced the co-branded NTP8G202N (TPH3202PS) and NTP8G206N (TPH3206PS) 600V GaN cascode transistors and a 240 W reference design that utilizes them. (A cascode is a two-transistor configuration comprising a common-emitter/-source stage followed by a common-base/-gate stage.).

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Production DC Low Cost Design 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 15, 2015

'Delphi Automotive is launching a US coast-to-coast automated drive—the longest automated drive ever attempted in North America—to showcase its technology capabilities and to gather data and further advance the company’s active safety technology development in this rapidly growing segment of the auto industry. The coast-to-coast trip will launch near the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco on 22 March and will cover approximately 3,500 miles.

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Las Vegas Fusion San Francisco Environment 190

Green Car Congress

MARCH 19, 2015

'Following several months of road trials and test bench programs adding up to the equivalent of 20,000 km (12,427 miles), Renault Trucks Optifuel Lab 2 laboratory vehicle ( earlier post ) is recording fuel consumption 22% lower than that of a production Renault Trucks T. This means 7.2 liters of diesel are saved for every 100 km covered, together with a 194 g reduction of CO 2 emissions for every kilometre travelled.

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Fuel Vehicles Waste MPH 188

Green Car Congress

MARCH 20, 2015

'EaglePicher Technologies, LLC broke ground on its new Lithium Ion Center of Excellence. The 100,000-plus square-foot facility will be built adjacent to its current Li-ion facility at the Crossroads Industrial Park in Joplin, Missouri and will expand the EaglePicher cell and battery portfolio. This new state-of-the-art facility will provide large-scale production of lithium-ion batteries for mission-critical application for the aerospace, defense, and medical industries.

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Li-ion Missouri Lithium Ion 2015 183