Sat.May 02, 2015 - Fri.May 08, 2015

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OEMs shifting towards onboard chargers > 6 kW for EVs; lower output chargers to remain dominant through 2020

Green Car Congress

Most battery and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) manufacturers in Europe and the US have been adopting onboard chargers with a power output between 3 to 3.7 kilowatts (kW). Now, EV manufacturers are moving towards onboard chargers with a power output greater than 6.6 kW to reduce charging time. While high-end PHEVs are contributing to this trend, lower-end models in this segment are still using 3.7 kW onboard chargers.

2020 265
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Tesla Model S Certified Used Electric Cars: Now On Sale Online

Green Car Reports

Tesla Motors strives not only to build electric cars that compete against established luxury brands, but also to provide the service that customers in that market tend to expect. However, there's one area Tesla hasn't gotten involved in so far. Buyers looking for a used Tesla Model S electric car have had to turn to independent sellers--until now.

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Volkswagen Group to offer more than 20 electric vehicle models in China “in near future”

Green Car Congress

The Volkswagen Group plans to offer more than 20 electric vehicle models—from small cars to large sedans and SUVs, plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles—to Chinese customers “ in the near future ,” according to Prof. Dr. Jochem Heizmann, Member of the Group Board of Management with responsibility for China, in a special essay published in the Environment section of the company’s newly released sustainability report.

China 228
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Cooper Tire completes work on $1.5M DOE project to develop fuel efficient tires, exceeding targets

Green Car Congress

Cooper Tire & Rubber Company completed work under a $1.5-million government grant to develop advanced tire technology aimed at increasing vehicle fuel efficiency. The grant, awarded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, called for Cooper to develop technology for light vehicle tires that delivered a minimum 3% improvement in vehicle fuel efficiency while lowering average tire weight by at least 20%, all without sacrificing performance.

Fuel 228
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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 introduces new high-efficiency 2.0L TFSI based on Miller cycle; 190 hp, 47 mpg

Green Car Congress

Audi introduced its new series-production 2.0 TFSI gasoline turbocharged direct injection engine for the first time at the Vienna Motor Symposium this week. The engine, which features a new combustion method, will be used for the first time in the next generation of the A4. The four-cylinder engine delivers 140 kW (190 hp) and 320 N·m (236.0 lb-ft) from a displacement of 1,984 cc; the high torque is applied in a broad range of 1,450 to 4,400 rpm.

Audi 224
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First 18-meter electric bus in China powered by TM4 SUMO HD powertrain with external rotor motor technology

Green Car Congress

China’s first 18-meter battery electric bus has been put into service in Beijing. The Foton AUV 18-meter Harmony City BJ6180 is powered by a TM4 SUMO HD electric powertrain with a maximum torque of 3,500 N·m (2,581 lb-ft), 1600 N·m (1,180 lb-ft) continuous. The SUMO HD is designed to interface with standard rear differentials without the need for an intermediate gearbox.

Motor 223

More Trending

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BMW will launch plug-in hybrid version of refreshed 3 Series in 2016: BMW 330e

Green Car Congress

As part of its introduction of the lifecycle freshening for all 3 Series Sedans and Sports Wagons, BMW announced that it will launch the BMW 330e plug-in hybrid in 2016. The BMW 330e will be powered by a plug-in hybrid drive system with a combined output of around 250 hp (186 kW) and 310 lb-ft (420 N·m) (preliminary). The BMW 330e will accelerate from 0–60 mph in approximately 6.1 seconds (preliminary) and have a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h) (preliminary).

BMW 223
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Production Peugeot diesel sets new test circuit long-distance fuel economy record: 117.5 mpg US

Green Car Congress

A 1.6-liter BlueHDi 100 S&S PEUGEOT 208 has set a new long-distance fuel consumption record, under the supervision of the UTAC: 1,337.19 miles (2,152 kilometers) were covered on 9.45 gallons (43 liters) of Diesel, with an average fuel economy of 117.5 mpg US (2.0 l/100km). This performance was achieved at the end of April on the Peugeot test circuit at Belchamp in France, supervised by the French Type Approval Authority, UTAC (Union Technique de l’Automobile, du motocycle et du Cycle).

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$13.5M in EPA clean diesel grant funding available

Green Car Congress

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $13.5 million in grant funding to help governments and nonprofit organizations switch to cleaner diesel engines. Local governments, tribal agencies and nonprofits can win grants up to $2.14 million each. Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, and port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality.

Grant 221
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Alternative Fuel Vehicle registrations in Europe up 28.8% in first quarter

Green Car Congress

In the first quarter of 2015, total alternative fuel vehicle (AFV) registrations in the EU significantly increased (+28.8 %), totaling 144,421, according to figures from the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). Of these, electric vehicles (EVs) saw their registrations more than double, rising from 11,304 units in Q1 2014 to 24,630 units in Q1 2015 (+117.9%).

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

Brief

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Momentum Fuel Technologies introduces CNG storage system for Class 6-8 trucks

Green Car Congress

Newly launched Momentum Fuel Technologies, a division of Rush Enterprises, which operates the largest network of commercial vehicle dealerships in North America, introduced a complete compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel storage system for Class 6 to Class 8 trucks, offering support from design and manufacturing, to sales and ongoing service throughout the product life cycle.

Fuel 216
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Bosch developing series production water injection system for SI engines to reduce fuel consumption and improve performance

Green Car Congress

Bosch is developing a water injection (WI) system for spark ignition engines in partnership with a pilot customer, said Dr. Rolf Bulander, member of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH and chairman of the Mobility Solutions business sector, in his talk on powertrain optimization at the Vienna Motor Symposium. The port water injection system comprises a water pump; a water rail; and injectors which have been designed to handle the specific challenges arising as a result of operation with

Water 214
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Toyota announces initial 8 California dealers for Mirai fuel cell vehicle

Green Car Congress

Toyota has announced the first 8 California dealers for the Mirai fuel cell vehicle, which will arrive in the dealerships in October. Toyota is planning for Mirai US sales volume of approximately 3,000 units through 2017. Northern California drivers will meet Mirai at San Francisco Toyota, Roseville Toyota, Stevens Creek Toyota or Toyota of Sunnyvale.

Dealers 214
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UMTRI: average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in US in April down 0.2 mpg to 25.2 mpg

Green Car Congress

The average fuel economy (window-sticker value) of new vehicles sold in the US in April was 25.2 mpg—down 0.2 mpg from March, according to the monthly analysis by Dr. Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI). This drop likely reflects the increased proportion of pickup trucks and SUVs in the sales mix, they suggested.

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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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Volkswagen presents next gen W12 TSI; dual fuel injection, cylinder deactivation, start-stop

Green Car Congress

At the Vienna Motor Symposium, Friedrich Eichler, Head of Powertrain Development for the Volkswagen brand, presented the Volkswagen Group’s new top-end 6.0 liter W12 TSI, destined for the Group’s premium models. New 6.0 W12 TSI. Click to enlarge. The Volkswagen Group has deployed W12 engines (a compact, 12-cylinder engine in a “W” configuration) in the premium models made by the Volkswagen, Audi and Bentley brands for some 13 years.

Fuel 207
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Report for the EC evaluates prospects for sugar-based platform for biofuels and bio chemicals

Green Car Congress

A comprehensive review of 94 potential pathways to biofuels and biochemicals via the sugar platform, prepared for the European Commission (DG ENER) by a team from E4tech, RE-CORD and Wageningen UR, finds that the global market value of the sugar platform is today of the order of $65 billion, with bioethanol (from sugar and starch crops) by far the dominant product in the market.

Polymer 207
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WSU team engineers fungus to produce jet-range hydrocarbons from biomass

Green Car Congress

Aspergillus carbonarius. Source: JGI MycoCosm. Click to enlarge. Researchers at Washington State University have engineered the filamentous fungus Aspergillus carbonarius ITEM 5010 to produce jet-range hydrocarbons directly from biomass. The researchers hope the work, reported in the journal Fungal Biology , leads to economically viable production of aviation biofuels in the next five years.

Engine 204
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UPS enters agreement with Clean Energy Fuels for renewable natural gas (biomethane) in the US

Green Car Congress

UPS has entered into an agreement to purchase renewable natural gas (RNG) for its delivery vehicle fleet from Clean Energy Fuels Corp. RNG (biomethane) can be derived from many abundant and renewable sources, including decomposing organic waste in landfills, wastewater treatment and agriculture. The deal signifies UPS’ plan to expand significantly its use of renewable natural gas for its alternative fuel and advanced technology fleet.

Clean 204
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Freightliner Inspiration truck receives autonomous vehicle licensing from Nevada DMV

Green Car Congress

Nevada has granted the first license for an autonomous commercial truck—the Freightliner Inspiration—to operate on an open public highway in the United States to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). The Freightliner Inspiration Truck is equipped with the Highway Pilot sensors and computer hardware is based upon a series production Freightliner Cascadia Evolution, fully certified to meet all US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Nevada 195
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Cummins Westport introducing new ISB6.7 G mid-range natural gas engine

Green Car Congress

At the opening reception at ACT Expo in Dallas, TX, Cummins Westport Inc. will unveil the ISB6.7 G , a 6.7-liter medium-duty, factory-built dedicated natural gas engine for school bus, shuttle bus, medium-duty truck and vocational applications. ( Earlier post.) The new ISB6.7 G is currently in field trials with full production expected to commence in mid-2016.

Gas 195
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Hyundai Heavy Industries fuel-saving propeller attachment can reduce consumption up to 2.5%, save a 8,600 TEU ship about $750,000 per year

Green Car Congress

Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), the world’s biggest shipbuilder, is putting its fuel-saving propeller attachment Hi-FIN into service. The energy-saving device attached at the hub of the propeller generates countering swirls that offset the swirls generated by the propeller, and thus improves propulsion efficiency. After a year-long trial of the energy-saving device installed on a 162,000 m 3 LNG carrier ordered from Maran Gas, HHI found that Hi-FIN can save up to 2.5% of fuel in comparison with

Hyundai 190
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Johnson Controls and Lawrence Technological University partner on advanced automotive batteries

Green Car Congress

Johnson Controls is partnering with Lawrence Technological University (LTU) to test and to develop advanced battery systems in vehicles aimed at helping automakers meet increasing fuel economy and emissions standards. The two will unveil the new Johnson Controls Vehicle Engineering Systems Lab, including a dynamometer, in a ceremony tomorrow. Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, will use the lab to test its recently announced 12-volt Lithium-ion battery in its prototype Advanced

Universal 190
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2016 Ford F-150 offers ability to run on compressed natural gas, propane

Green Car Congress

Ford will offer the 2016 F-150 with an available gaseous-fuel prep package that enables 5.0-liter V8-powered models to run on compressed natural gas or propane, making Ford the only manufacturer of a CNG/propane-capable half-ton pickup. The 2016 Ford F-150 with 5.0-liter V8 engine will be available to order this summer with a factory-installed, gaseous-fuel prep package that includes upgraded intake and exhaust valves and valve seats.

F-150 190
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Ford US sales up 5% in April; SUVs post an April record, hybrid sales down 31%

Green Car Congress

Ford Motor Company sales rose 5% in total US sales in April with 222,498 vehicles sold. Retail sales grew 7%, while fleet sales were up 1%—the company’s best April retail sales in nine years. Ford brand SUVs had a record-setting month—the company’s best April ever—with sales of 62,730 vehicles. This included record sales of the all-new Edge, up 78%, and Escape up 5%.

F-150 190
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BIO: RFS policy instability has chilled advanced and cellulosic biofuel investments; $13.7B shortfall

Green Car Congress

EPA’s delays in rulemaking for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) over the past two years have chilled necessary investment in advanced and cellulosic biofuels just as they reached commercial deployment. The industry has experienced an estimated $13.7-billion shortfall in investment as a result, according to a new analysis released by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO).

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XL Hybrids introduces hybrid electric Ford Transit Van for the North American market

Green Car Congress

XL Hybrids, Inc. has adapted its XL3 Hybrid Electric Drive System for the Ford Transit van—the first hybrid electric Transit van for the North American market. The XL3 system upfit will allow fleets to increase fuel economy and boost low-end torque. The Ford Transit unibody construction poses significant challenges for alternative ‘fueled’ vehicle upfits, but because of the simple compact design of the XL3 technology we were able to integrate our hybrid electric system to the Transit witho

Hybrid 190
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First aftertreatment technology for single-cylinder diesel driven pumpsets

Green Car Congress

BBA Pumps, a leading manufacturer of portable pumps equipment, has released the RF-system for PT150 wellpoint dewatering pumps. This aftertreatment technology includes a VERT certified Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) and Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). It is specially designed for use with small single-cylinder diesel driven pumpsets with minimal engine load and low combustion temperatures.

Diesel 190
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DOT updates National ITS Architecture and the Turbo Architecture software

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Transportation's Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Joint Program Office has updated the National ITS Architecture and the Turbo Architecture software to Version 7.1. The National ITS Architecture provides a common framework for planning, defining, and integrating ITS deployments. The Architecture was developed and has evolved with stakeholder input, using a consensus-building methodology in accordance with legislative direction.

Connect 190
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New bendable and thin sulfide solid electrolyte films enable higher performance solid-state Li-ion batteries

Green Car Congress

Schematic diagram of new cell. Credit: ACS, Nam et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers in South Korea have developed free-standing and stackable all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs) with high energy density and high rate capabilities. A paper on their work is published in the ACS journal Nano Letters. To make the batteries, the team developed bendable and thin sulfide solid electrolyte (SE) films reinforced with a mechanically compliant poly(paraphenylene terephthalamide) non-woven (PPTA NW)

Li-ion 190
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First experimentally observed all-boron fullerene shows promise for hydrogen storage

Green Car Congress

Researchers from Soochow University in China report that the newly found B 40 —the first experimentally observed all-boron fullerene—when coated with 6 titanium atoms (Ti 6 B 40 ) can store up to 34 hydrogen molecules, corresponding to a maximum gravimetric density of 8.7 wt%. According to their DFT calculations, it takes 0.2-0.4 eV/H 2 to add one H 2 molecule—assuring reversible storage of H 2 under ambient conditions.

Hydrogen 183
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California ARB releases concept paper for public review on reducing short-lived climate pollutants

Green Car Congress

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has released , for public review, a concept paper to initiate discussion on the development of a Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy. Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) include methane, tropospheric ozone, black carbon, and fluorinated gases. They are powerful climate forcers that remain in the atmosphere for a much shorter period of time than carbon dioxide.

Pollution 183
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Audi partner TTTech acquires 35% of RT-RK; automotive electronics

Green Car Congress

TTTech, a technology leader in robust networked safety controls and partner of Audi ( earlier post ), announced a strategic partnership with RT-RK d.o.o., one of the leading IT engineering companies for real-time embedded systems in Central and Eastern Europe. RT-RK is a long standing engineering partner of TTTech, especially in the field of automotive electronics and industrial applications.

Audi 183
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Gallium nitride power switching semiconductor company GaN Systems raises $20M in Series C

Green Car Congress

GaN Systems Inc., a developer of gallium nitride power switching semiconductors, closed a $20-million Series C financing round. Cycle Capital Management led the round and was joined by BDC Capital and Beijing-based Tsing Capital, as well as existing investors Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital and RockPort Capital. GaN Systems said the financing will enable it to ramp up sales and marketing support for its rapidly growing international customer base and to continue manufacturing line expansion.

Power 183
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Ricardo to support Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle on natural gas engine development for heavy duty trucks

Green Car Congress

DongFeng Commercial Vehicle Co., Ltd. (DFCV) has selected Ricardo to support further development of heavy-duty engines fueled by natural gas for the Chinese market. Under the agreement, Ricardo will leverage a global team to support DFCV to develop and implement improved technologies for natural gas heavy duty truck engines. DFCV is one of China’s biggest truck makers and holds a leading position for heavy and medium duty trucks, supplying the largest truck market in the world.

Gas 183