Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2012

Cool Planet’s process relies on three core elements: novel biomass fractionation, advanced catalysis, and a char-to-soil enhancer. Source: Cool Planet. Click to enlarge. Cool Planet Energy Systems projects that using its patented mechanical process and novel scaling approach ( earlier post ), it will be able to produce high-octane carbon-negative (with the use of its bio-char byproduct) renewable gasoline at a cost of $1.50 per gallon, without the need for government subsidies.

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Carbon Production Gasoline-Electric Google 356

Green Car Reports

OCTOBER 29, 2012

The battle of low-cost electric car leases has expanded: Ford is now enticing new customers to its 2013 Ford Focus Electric with offers as low as $199 per month. Nissan has attracted new customers with 24- and 36-month leases for its Leaf electric car at a base price of $199/month. This has greatly increased showroom traffic for the Leaf, says Los.

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Nissan Ford 2012 Low Cost 143

DIY Electric Car

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

What do we really need out of our EV automatic? We want it to drive like a normal car while getting GREAT mileage.LOL. There are many commonalities with an ICE transmission as it is doing the same job and it can not tell what is turning it. The huge benefit to electricity is that at stop lights, it can sit and not use any energy. It does not need to "idle" We can use a torque converter or not, but the automatic transmission does have one problem.

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Convert Light Building All-Electric 100

Green Cars News

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Consumer range anxiety about electric cars is a myth and motorists are largely positive about electric cars, new research suggests. Given the chance, drivers quickly get over any anxiety or concerns they have about battery-power cars, with many motorists who have driven them found to prefer them to conventional models, according to a study by [.].

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Electric Cars Cars Charging Electric 79

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Norway

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2012

Comparison of current federal subsidy to base case assumptions showing lifetime fuel savings (HomeEve charging scenario). An EPA estimate based on the Chevy Volt’s reported efficiency is also included for comparison. The federal subsidy significantly favors larger battery packs to a stronger degree than their potential for additional gasoline savings.

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Gasoline PHEV Gasoline-Electric Battery 308

Green Car Reports

OCTOBER 30, 2012

Larger-than-life TV presenter Jay Leno is known for his love and obsession of cars--and not just those fueled by gasoline. To prove it, he tests one of the hottest electric cars around in his latest video--the 2012 Tesla Model S. The comedian even counts a 1909 Baker Electric among his personal collection, as well as a Chevrolet Volt--as long as.

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2012 Electric Cars Tesla Gasoline-Electric 138

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Toyota has notified their dealer network that some 2012 RAV4 EV customers may complain of a “Check EV System” warning message after they try to charge their vehicle at a public Level 2 electric vehicle charging station. “Level 2” refers to a 240V AC electric vehicle charging station, or EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Toyota uses Leviton Manufacturing as its Level 2 EVSE supplier.

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Toyota Eaton Charging 2012 304

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Ford’s new C-MAX Hybrid ( earlier post ) sold 3,182 units in October in its first full month of sales, outselling the Prius v’s 2,769 units. (Sales of the entire Prius family were 16,774 units, with the sedan accounting for 8,788 of those.) The C-MAX Hybrid also led Ford in achieving its best October hybrid sales month ever with a total of 4,612 sales, up 142% over October 2011.

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Prius Ford Sale Hybrid 294

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Model of a Rotating Wave-Detonation Engine. Head end (fuel input) is at the bottom, nozzle is at the top. The detonation wave travels around the cylinder. Source: NRL. Click to enlarge. Scientists at the US Naval Research Laboratory are computationally studying the complex physics of Rotating Detonation-Wave Engines (RDEs or RDWEs) as a potential means to reduce fuel consumption in the gas-turbine engines upon which the Navy is highly dependent for propulsion.

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Engine Gas Fuel Power 286

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Sapphire Energy, a leading producer of crude oil from algae, and Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) announced a strategic partnership to further the research and development of algae biofuels. Through this partnership, the companies will focus on applying systems biology solutions to algae with the goal of significantly increasing oil yield and improving resistance to crop predators and environmental factors in order to further the advancement of commercialized algae biofuel production.

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Commercial Energy Production New Mexico 275

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Evatran has signed an agreement with SPX Service Solutions to distribute and install Plugless Power wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. ( Earlier post.) These systems, available to individual Nissan LEAF and Chevrolet Volt owners starting in April 2013, require station installation in customers’ homes, as well as the installation of an adapter onto the undercarriage of the EV.

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Installation Electric Vehicles Power Powered 268

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2012

As part of its work on developing new safety and driver assistance systems, Bosch will introduce a new mid-range 77 GHz radar sensor for front- and rear-end applications and a new stereo-video sensor. 77 Ghz radar. A leading European automaker is slated to deploy the new Bosch MRR rear mid-range radar sensor, which can precisely locate vehicles in blind spots or approaching from behind, in 2014.

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2014 Range Automobile Manufacturer Light 268

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2012

Novozymes, the world’s largest producer of industrial enzymes, and Beta Renewables have agreed to market, to demonstrate and to guarantee jointly cellulosic biofuel solutions. Beta Renewables is a $350-million (€250-million) joint venture formed from the Chemtex division of Gruppo Mossi & Ghisolfi and TPG focused on the development and broad licensing of the PROESA enzymatic hydrolysis technology. ( Earlier post.).

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Renewable Market North Carolina Brazil 265

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

KLD Energy Technologies, a developer of high-performance electric motor technology ( earlier post ), and Cenntro Group Limited, a developer of diesel and LPG powertrains for industrial, agricultural, transportation and construction equipment worldwide, entered into a relationship jointly to develop 4-wheel electric vehicles which will incorporate KLD’s electric vehicle drive system technologies.

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Energy Lithium Ion Neighborhood Gasoline-Electric 262

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Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2012

Neste Oil—the world’s largest producer of renewable diesel—has launched the commercial production and sales of renewable naphtha for corporate customers; the company is one of the first to supply bio-naphtha on a commercial scale. NExBTL naphtha is produced as part of the NExBTL renewable diesel refining process at Neste Oil’s sites in Finland, the Netherlands, and Singapore.

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Renewable Oil Gasoline Sale 262

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2012

The Nikkei reports that Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. has developed radar technology for cars capable of warning drivers about people appearing suddenly from behind walls and objects in the dark. Commercialization is targeted for 2014. Fujitsu plans to develop an early-warning system that sounds an alarm when it detects approaching people or hidden objects as drivers back into a parking space.

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Cars 2014 Commercial 257

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 28, 2012

Odyne Systems, LLC, and Altec, Inc., have agreed to market and promote the sale of Odyne’s plug-in hybrid products to Altec customers and potential customers. ( Earlier post.). Odyne Systems develops and manufactures turnkey hybrid solutions optimized for fleets that utilize vehicles with driving cycles that have a high percentage of starting and stopping, and extended periods of job site idle time.

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Plug-in Plug Hybrid Supplies 255

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2012

Honeywell Green Jet Fuel produced using Honeywell’s UOP Renewable Jet Fuel process powered demonstration flights by Gulfstream Aerospace to this year’s National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention. Five Gulfstream aircraft traveled on 27 and 28 October from Gulfstream’s headquarters in Savannah, Ga., to Orlando, Fla., for the NBAA convention, the world’s largest civil aviation tradeshow.

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Green Fuel Power Powered 253

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2012

With government policy and investment driving automotive companies toward plug-in vehicles, the technology for delivering electricity to these vehicles will rise to a $1.2 billion market in 2020, according to a Lux Research report. Lux Research developed a forecast using vehicle sales to project the global electric-vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) market.

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2020 Electric Vehicles Market Charging 247

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2012

A research team at the Energy Materials Center at Cornell (EMC 2 ) is developing platinum-cobalt nanoparticles with a platinum enriched shell that show improved catalytic activity for the oxygen reduction reaction in fuel-cell applications. The new class of Pt–Co nanocatalysts—composed of ordered Pt 3 Co intermetallic cores with a 2–3 atomic-layer-thick platinum shell—exhibited a more than 200% increase in mass activity and a more than 300% increase in specific activity when compared

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Fuel 2012 Energy Manufacturer 246

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Comparison of the discharge capacity and coulombic efficiency of MPSPs/PPAN anodes at various ratios versus cycle number. Thakur et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at Rice University have created an inexpensive silicon-based anode material for Li-ion batteries consisting of macroporous silicon particulates (MPSPs) created by crushing porous silicon films they had earlier developed. ( Earlier post.

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Li-ion Universal Battery Batteries 240

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2012

More than 120 attendees from leading US and Chinese clean truck and bus technology companies, together with representatives from key agencies of both governments, took part in the first US-China Clean Truck and Bus Summit in Beijing to help link US firms with Chinese partners and increase exports. The Summit was a first-of-its-kind event to link U.S. and Chinese companies specifically in clean fuels and technology for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and is a key component of CALSTART

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Clean Cleaning China Eaton 239

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2012

The California Energy Commission is issuing a competitive grant solicitation for up to $1.75 million in funding ( PON-12-501 ), sponsored by the Transportation Research Area of the Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (PIER), to address the economic and environmental impacts of battery packs for plug-in vehicles (PEVs). The commercial viability of PEVs faces barriers including high purchase costs and uncertain disposal impacts of PEV battery packs, according to the Commission.

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Plug-in California Plug Energy 236

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America will reduce their fuel economy (mpg) ratings for a number of 2011-13 model year models in showrooms after EPA testing found discrepancies between agency results and data submitted by the company. The changes affect the fuel economy ratings for approximately 900,000, or 35% of, 2011-13 model year vehicles sold through 31 October 2012.

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Fuel Economy EPA Kia Hyundai 231

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

FedEx Freight has begun beta testing two new Kenworth T660 tractors powered by Cummins Westport ISX12 G liquefied natural gas (LNG)-only engines. ( Earlier post.) The pre-production engine used in the new tractors is slated for limited release in 2013 and is currently the only all natural gas engine that begins to meet the size and power needs of Class 8 trucks.

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Dallas Kenworth Gas-Electric Texas 231

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2012

A team of scientists from the Institute for Atom Efficient Chemical Transformations (IACT)—an Energy Frontier Research Center ( earlier post ) led by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), and including Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin and Purdue University—is using atomic layer deposition (ALD) to build nanoscale “bowls” that protect metal catalysts from the harsh conditions of biofuel refining.

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Building Tampa Production Wisconsin 231

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

EcoDual, LLC, a provider of diesel-to-natural-gas dual-fuel conversion systems for heavy duty diesel powered trucks has partnered with Vision Financial Group (VFG) to provide lease-to-own financing options for fleet owners seeking to convert to natural gas operation. In dual fuel operation, the trucks maintain full torque and power with no loss of miles per gallon.

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Financing Conversion Gas Fuel 225

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 31, 2012

Slovak electromobility operator GreenWay Operator has inaugurated its first battery swap station for electrovans up to 3.5 t in Bratislava. The company says that it is the first up its kind (for vans up to 3.5 t)in Europe. The company plans to offer its clients a complete rental service for electrovans via its Greenway Project: integrating the electrovan fleet, charging stations and battery swap stations; providing electricity for recharging; and including system operations control, car service,

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Battery Batteries Recharge 2013 225

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 30, 2012

Westport Innovations Inc. announced an agreement with Tata Motors to develop an engine for light- and medium-duty trucks and buses. Details of the combustion technology are being withheld for competitive reasons, the company said. Westport is developing a next generation engine technology for integration into a new engine platform with Tata Motors. This is a great opportunity to work with India’s largest engine manufacturer in a fast-growing marketplace demanding cost effective and environmental

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Light Gas Engine India 225

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2012

TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. has won initial business awards for its integrated Electric Park Brake (EPBi) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system. The integration of the two technologies eliminates the need for a separate electronic control unit in the system network, as the EPB control functions are performed within the upgraded ESC electro-hydraulic control unit. ( Earlier post.).

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North America Asia Europe 2014 225

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 29, 2012

BP last week announced it was canceling plans to build a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant in Highlands County, Florida and refocusing its US biofuels strategy on research and development as well as licensing its biofuels technology. The Highlands project (formerly known as Vercipia Biofuels, earlier post ) was targeted to be the first commercial-scale cellulosic biofuel plant using dedicated energy grass.

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Highlander San Diego Brazil Florida 225

Green Car Congress

OCTOBER 27, 2012

IBM has launched the Smarter Energy Research Institute, a new industrial research collaboration model aimed at accelerating innovation across the global energy and utilities market. Hydro-Québec (Canada), Alliander (Netherlands) and DTE Energy (USA) join as the first members. Our mission is about bringing research and the energy industry closer together to work jointly on areas critical to the industry’s transformation, and for members to become major beneficiaries in extracting value from the i

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Energy Market Grid Maintenance 225

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

ITM Power signed an agreement with ABO Wind of Wiesbaden, Germany to identify and develop wind-to-hydrogen projects in the UK, Ireland and Germany. ABO Wind initiates wind farm projects, acquires site locations, organizes all technical and business planning, arranges international bank financing and delivers turnkey wind farms. To date, ABO Wind has connected more than 350 turbines with a total capacity of more than 600 megawatts through projects in the UK, Europe and Latin America.

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Ireland Wind Germany Hydrogen 218

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Ram Dantu, a professor of computer science and engineering at the University of North Texas, is developing “Mobile Life Guard”—a mobile app that will enable smart phones to detect weather, road conditions and bad driving using existing sensors in the devices. In the fall of 2011, Dantu, an expert in wireless networks and security, was among the first group of scientists to receive a $50,000 National Science Foundation Innovation Corps (I-Corps) award, which supports a set of activities and

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