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Toyota broadly outlines next-generation Prius; developing wireless inductive charging for the plug-in model; bullish on hydrogen

Green Car Congress

Ogiso—who earlier in his career had been the chief engineer for the Prius, chief engineer for the Prius family, and chief engineer, product planning—made the remarks at the “2013 Toyota Hybrid World Tour” event the company staged in Ypsilanti, Michigan. The next Prius will also feature electric motors that will be smaller in size.

Prius 277
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The Net-Zero Neighborhood: Advanced Energy Storage and Highly Efficient Photovoltaics Take Transportation Off the Gasoline Grid and Residential Off the Electric Grid

Green Car Congress

The Net-Zero Neighborhood is based on local generation using renewables; distributed energy storage in proportion to the population; electric transportation as an integral part of energy storage; energy becoming a consumer commodity that is bought and sold in a local marketplace; and a new jobs base in the form of local energy service providers.

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ARPA-E Selects 37 Projects for $106M in Funding in Second Round; Electrofuels, Better Batteries and Carbon Capture

Green Car Congress

The second round was focused specifically on three areas of technology representing new approaches for advanced microbial biofuels (electrofuels); much higher capacity and less expensive batteries for electric vehicles; and carbon capture. Electrofuels: Biofuels from Electricity. The grants will go to projects in 17 states.

Carbon 249
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EV Everywhere Blueprint outlines DOE technical and development goals for EVs for 2022

Green Car Congress

The US Department of Energy (DOE) released the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge Blueprint , which describes plug-in vehicle (PEV) technology and deployment barriers, and provides an outline for DOE’s technical and deployment goals for electric vehicles to 2022. Reducing the cost of electric drive systems from $30/kW to $8/kW.

Plug-in 247
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IBM Almaden Researchers Say Li-Air Batteries Offer Promise for Transition to Electrified Transportation, But Face Challenges and Multi-Decade Development Cycle

Green Car Congress

The transition to Li-air batteries (if successful) should be viewed in terms of a similar development cycle. The energy density of gasoline is approximately 13,000 Wh/kg. With a current average tank-to-wheel efficiency of 12.6%, the usable energy density of gasoline in an automotive application is about 1,700 Wh/kg.

Li-ion 239
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NRC report concludes US LDVs could cut oil consumption and GHGs by 80% by 2050; reliance on plug-ins, biofuels and hydrogen; strong policies mandatory

Green Car Congress

Achieving those goals will will be difficult—but not impossible to meet—and will necessitate a combination of more efficient vehicles; the use of alternative fuels such as biofuels, electricity, and hydrogen; and strong government policies to overcome high costs and influence consumer choices. Vehicles operating on electricity.

Hydrogen 244