Sat.Dec 14, 2019 - Fri.Dec 20, 2019

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Ballard-powered fuel-cell tram-buses from Van Hool now in revenue service in France

Green Car Congress

Ballard Power Systems announced that 8 ExquiCity tram-buses built by Van Hool NV and powered by 8 Ballard FCveloCity-HD 100-kilowatt fuel cell modules have been inaugurated at a ceremony in Pau, France and are now in revenue service in Pau’s Bus Rapid Transit System. The ExquiCity 18 trams are driven by a Siemens PEM2022 / 210 kW permanent magnet drive motor; a double-motor option with two Siemens PEM2016 / 160 kW motors is an option.

France 347
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EVgo fast charging network will offer Tesla connectors nationally next year

Green Car Reports

It’s about time for one of the charging networks to welcome Tesla drivers with open arms. And that’s exactly what EVgo is doing, with an announcement made Thursday. EVgo announced the availability of Tesla connectors now at five initial San Francisco locations, at Whole Foods Markets. After rollout in San Francisco at a total of seven.

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EV battery lifespan is better than you think

Discover EV

EV battery lifespan is one of the most commonly misconceived parts of electric car ownership. Perpetuated by shows like Top Gear and misinformed pub or office banter, some people will have you believe that after a few years, an EV will barely be able to get off the drive on a charge, but the truth is much more positive.

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6 Best Electric SUVs and Crossovers (and how they’re changing the cost of driving)

EV Life

Let’s face it. Americans are obsessed with SUVs and crossovers, which make up around 40% of all vehicles sold in the U.S. In addition to the mounting costs of gasoline, our love of SUVs is also costing the planet in terms of carbon emitted by sports utility vehicles (compared to more efficient sedans and hybrids.). Fortunately, most major car makers are introducing a new class of cost-competitive electric SUVs that promise to save the planet while saving you thousands of dollars at the pump each

SUV 52
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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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Mercedes-Benz switching to cameras instead of side-mirrors on heavy-duty trucks

Green Car Congress

Since June 2019, Mercedes-Benz Trucks has been supplying the new heavy-duty Actros truck with MirrorCam—side-mounted digital rear-view mirrors—as a standard feature. The digital rear-view mirror not only looks futuristic but can also do much more than conventional main and wide-angle mirrors. Its performance far exceeds the legal requirements.

Mercedes 307
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Rivian electric trucks’ battery packs more energy into less space

Green Car Reports

Until the infrastructure can catch up—and well beyond then, if you’re talking about go-anywhere electric trucks like those from Rivian—big batteries will be a necessity for getting more people switching to EVs. Rivian has accepted that from the start with its R1T electric pickup and R1S electric SUV, with battery packs that start.

Batteries 148

More Trending

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Top five cars we’re most looking forward to in 2020

Green Cars News

If 2018 was a year of veiled secrecy, with many manufacturers playing their cards close to their chest regarding what’s next, then 2019 appears to have been the year where many showed their hand

2020 38
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BMW iX3 to introduce Gen5 BMW eDrive technology; NMC-811 batteries

Green Car Congress

The battery-electric BMW iX3, the production of which will commence in 2020, will offer a range of more than 440 km (273 miles) (WLTP) with a net-battery size of 74 kWh. The first purely electric Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV) is the trailblazer for the fifth-generation (Gen5) BMW eDrive technology, which, starting 2021, will also be deployed in the BMW i4 and the BMW iNEXT.

BMW 286
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Electric Ford F-150 pickup confirmed for Michigan assembly, likely for 2021

Green Car Reports

In November the United Auto Workers ratified a four-year contract with Ford—one that included an agreement to invest more than $6 billion in U.S. plants and, as was reported then, included plans to keep high-visibility electrification plans for the F-150 in Michigan. Tuesday, Ford made good on that plan for its Michigan plants, confirming.

F-150 148
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First glimpse of the new MINI Electric

Discover EV

The new Electric MINI on sale in March 2020 will be an exciting car for the brand. Costing £1000 less than its petrol counterpart, with no compromise on space, go-kart handling and a range of 145 miles, we couldn’t wait to find out more. We get the lowdown from the Product Manager Chris Fryer.

Petrol 52
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Euro NCAP: new VW Golf shines with five-star safety rating

Green Cars News

It has been a busy year for Euro NCAP, the new car safety performance assessment programme, and it has finished 2019 off with a bang (or a crash) by awarding the Ford Puma, MG ZS EV, MG HS, Nissan Juke, VW Golf and Audi Q8 five stars.

Audi 38
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IBM Research announces heavy-metal-free battery design; partnering with Mercedes-Benz R&D to advance the discovery

Green Car Congress

IBM Research announced a chemistry for a new battery based on three new and different proprietary materials, which does not use heavy metals or other substances with sourcing concerns. The materials for this battery are able to be extracted from seawater, laying the groundwork for less invasive sourcing techniques than current material mining methods.

Mercedes 276
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2020 Mini Cooper SE electric car open to orders: Short range, low price

Green Car Reports

Mini USA has opened the order banks for the 2020 Mini Cooper SE, the brand’s first electric car in many years, a revival of the formula that earned a lot of enthusiasm a decade ago in the Mini E, and its first to be mass-produced. The Mini Cooper SE is “based on, and dimensionally almost identical” to the Mini Hardtop 2-door.

2020 145
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BMW 330e Review

Discover EV

Discover EV reviews the BMW 330e

BMW 41
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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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Top five things we learned this week

Green Cars News

As we begin the slow wind-down for Christmas and start training for a pants-busting Christmas dinner, here’s a quick question: how many times have you seen the same MyHermes delivery driver this month? Or had to take a parcel in for next door from an overburdened postman?

Wind 32
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EPA finalizes RFS volumes for 2020 and biomass-based diesel volumes for 2021

Green Car Congress

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that establishes the required renewable volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for 2020, and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2021. The EPA is committed to ensuring a net of 15 billion gallons of conventional biofuel is blended in 2020. EPA has modified the RFS program by projecting small refinery relief to ensure that these final volumes are met, while adjudicating small refinery relief when appropriate.

EPA 221
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2020 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is even more ready for infrastructure that hasn’t arrived

Green Car Reports

The cold-weather startup performance of the 2020 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell has been improved. If this feels like a low-priority item for a California car (with limited availability in Japan, too), let the irony fall like snowflakes: This piece of fuel-cell refinement was likely partly in preparation for a now-cancelled network of Air Liquide fueling.

Honda 144
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RPI researchers develop new aqueous Li-ion battery that improves safety without sacrificing performance

Green Car Congress

As the lithium-ion batteries that currently power most phones, laptops, and electric vehicles become increasingly fast-charging and high-performing, they also grow increasingly expensive and flammable. A team of engineers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has demonstrated how they could—by using aqueous electrolytes instead of the typical organic electrolytes—assemble a substantially safer, cost-efficient battery that still performs well.

Li-ion 221
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Florida-based public microtransit operator Freebee deploys Lightning Systems electric passenger vans

Green Car Congress

Lightning Systems, a global developer of zero-emission drivetrains, delivered the first two units on an initial order of six Lightning Electric Ford Transit 350HD wheel-chair accessible passenger vans to Freebee, an operator of on-demand public transportation in the South Florida region. Freebee serves local communities through municipal transportation contracts, using a microtransit model which provides passengers with free door-to-door rides.

Florida 221
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Delta enters offtake agreement with Gevo for 10M gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuel

Green Car Congress

Delta has entered a long-term offtake agreement under which Delta will purchase 10 million gallons per year of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) from Gevo—specifically, Gevo’s Alcohol-to-Jet Synthetic Paraffinic Kerosene (ATJ-SPK). The lifecycle carbon footprint of SAFs can be up to 75% less than conventional jet fuel. Delta’s agreement with Gevo complements the airline’s recent $2-million investment in Northwest Advanced Bio-fuels, LLC for the feasibility study of a facility to produce sus

Fuel 221
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California ARB approves air quality plan for South Coast Air Basin ahead of 2023 deadline; calls for Federal action

Green Car Congress

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted to approve an updated plan for the South Coast Air Basin aimed at further cutting smog-forming emissions to attain the federal 8-hour ozone standard. The air quality plan is the most stringent in the nation. In order to address some of the country’s highest levels of smog, the plan includes new strategies to improve air quality, ranging from a new statewide locomotive regulation to more stringent off-road diesel engine standards.

Ozone 221
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New doped graphene cathode with MoS2 loading enables highly stable Li-sulfur battery

Green Car Congress

A team at the University of Manchester (UK) has developed a doped graphene cathode for highly stable lithium-sulfur batteries. In an open access paper in the Nature journal Communications Chemistry , they report 100% charge capacity of Li-S batteries using the cathode material with 500 charge/discharge cycles at 0.5 C, 1 C, 2 C and 3 C charge rates.

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Mercedes-Benz initially offering electric eSprinter as a panel van

Green Car Congress

The new Mercedes-Benz eSprinter ( earlier post ) is intended to cover the broadest possible range of use in urban logistics. It is initially being offered as a panel van and a permissible gross mass of 3500 kilograms. Its maximum loading volume is 10.5 m 3 , the same as for the Sprinter with a combustion engine. As with the entry-level diesel engine, the electric drive in the eSprinter drives the front wheels with an output of 85 kW and a torque figure of up to 295 N·m.

Mercedes 195
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Shipping sector proposes US$5 billion R&D program over 10 years to cut emissions

Green Car Congress

The global maritime transport industry has submitted a proposal to the UN IMO to form the world’s first collaborative shipping R&D program to help eliminate CO 2 emissions from international shipping. The proposal includes core funding from shipping companies across the world of about US$5 billion over a 10-year period. International maritime transport carries around 90% of global trade and is currently responsible for approximately 2% of the world’s anthropogenic CO 2 emissions.

Emissions 195
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Northeast States, DC release proposal for regional plan to cut emissions and invest in clean transportation

Green Car Congress

The bipartisan group of Northeast and Mid-Atlantic jurisdictions that make up the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) have invited public input on a new draft proposal for a regional program to establish a cap on green house gas emissions from transportation fuels and to invest millions annually to achieve additional benefits through reduced emissions, cleaner transportation, healthier communities, and more resilient infrastructure.

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Ballard receives $19.2M order from Weichai-Ballard JV for MEAs to power fuel-cell-electric vehicles in China

Green Car Congress

Ballard Power Systems announced receipt of a purchase order from Weichai Ballard Hy-Energy Technologies Co., Ltd. (Weichai-Ballard JV) for Membrane Electrode Assemblies (MEAs) valued at $19.2 million, to be delivered in 2020 under a long-term MEA supply agreement. Ballard next-generation LCS fuel cell stack (CNW Group/Ballard Power Systems Inc.). Weichai Power Co., Ltd. is an investor in, and strategic partner with, Ballard.

China 195
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DOE: US transportation sector consumed 1.4 quadrillion Btu of fuel made from biomass in 2018; ~5%

Green Car Congress

Of the 28.4 quadrillion Btu (quads) of energy consumed by the US transportation sector in 2018, 1.4 quads (4.9%) were produced from biomass, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Fuel ethanol made up 81.4% of biomass-based transportation fuels in 2018, followed by biodiesel (17.1%) and other (1.5%). Note: The “other” category includes fuel blending components produced from renewable sources that meet the requirements of advanced biofuels.

2018 195
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DOE to issue a funding opportunity announcement on H2@Scale new markets

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a Notice of Intent ( NOI ) to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to advance innovations that will build new markets for H2@Scale. ( Earlier post.) H2@Scale supports innovations to produce, store, transport, and utilize hydrogen across multiple sectors, covering collaborations between various industry stakeholders and national laboratories.

Market 195
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NREL, Co-Optima research yields potential bioblendstock molecule for diesel fuel: 4-butoxyheptane

Green Car Congress

A novel oxygenate molecule that can be produced from biomass shows promise for use as a blend for diesel fuel, according to researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Their paper is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The NREL scientists, along with colleagues at Yale University, Argonne National Laboratory, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, are part of the Department of Energy’s Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) initiative.

Diesel 195
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Women are more likely to telecommute than men

Green Car Congress

by Michael Sivak. This analysis examined recent changes in the frequency of telecommuting in the United States. Of particular interest were the changes in telecommuting as a function of worker’s gender. Because various occupations differ in the extent to which they allow workers to telecommute, and the occupations differ in the proportion of men and women, finding gender differences in the overall rate of telecommuting would be possible.

2018 195
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Continental to premier sensor that detects different types of low-speed contact sound; automated parking application at CES 2020

Green Car Congress

Continental will premier its new Contact Sensor System (CoSSy) at CES 2020 next month in Las Vegas, Nevada. CoSSy closes a gap in the industry’s automotive sensor portfolio by enabling the detection of low-speed contact between a vehicle and a person or object. At CES 2020, Continental will demonstrate how CoSSy can help make future automated parking safer.

2020 195
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DENSO and NTT Communications start validating vehicle security operation center technology for connected cars

Green Car Congress

DENSO Corporation (DENSO) and NTT Communications Corporation (NTT Com) will begin validating their jointly developed Vehicle Security Operation Center (V-SOC) technology for monitoring and analyzing vehicle’s security status from January 2020. The two companies are creating the technology to realize resilient security solutions for connected cars. Novel automotive technologies and solutions are continuously appearing, utilizing ICT technology.

Connect 195
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SAL Heavy Lift first to equip vessels with new hydrogen / methanol injection technology

Green Car Congress

SAL Heavy Lift, a member of the Harren & Partner Group and one of the world’s leading carriers specialized in sea transport of heavy lift and project cargo, is the first shipping company in the world to adopt a new hydrogen/methanol technology to its fleet. With significant emission reductions in terms of CO 2 , SO x , NO x and other particles, the injection technology developed by FUELSAVE GmbH paves the way for making shipping greener and more energy efficient.

Hydrogen 195
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Steelmaker ArcelorMittal Europe targets 30% cut in carbon emissions by 30% by 2030

Green Car Congress

ArcelorMittal Europe announced a roadmap to reduce CO 2 emissions by 30% by 2030. The target for ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products is in line with an ambition announced in May to be carbon neutral in Europe by 2050. The roadmap to achieve the 30% target is based on three distinct pathways that have the potential to deliver a significant reduction in carbon emissions, including: Clean power steelmaking, using clean power as the energy source for hydrogen-based steelmaking, and longer term for

Carbon 195