As one example, GM Global Technology Operations LLC and the Regents of the University of Michigan recently were recently awarded a US patent (Nº 8,261,860) for a plug-in series hybrid or range-extended electric vehicle powertrain using multiple free piston linear alternator (FPLA) engines. As another, researcher at the Nanjing University of Science & Technology has proposed a novel opposed-piston free-piston linear generator for use in series hybrid electric vehicles. MORE

This week marked the opening of the Tsinghua University (Department of Automotive Engineering) - Nissan Joint Research Center for Intelligent Mobility (the Joint Research Center), a collaboration between Nissan and Tsinghua University in Beijing to work on research and development of electric vehicle and autonomous drive technologies for the Chinese market. Nissan and Tsinghua University have a long history of cooperation. MORE

Tritium is developing its strategy in China in collaboration with the Hong Kong office of Oxford University Innovation (Hong Kong), which facilitates international technology transfers between the rest of the world and Asia. Australia-based Tritium , a developer of infrastructure solutions for the EV market, has started trials of its Veefil-RT 50kW DC charger in China, a market currently experiencing stronger growth in EV sales than the US or Europe. MORE

A team of researchers at Kyushu University’s International Institute for Carbon-Neutral Energy Research (I 2 CNER) reports devising a method for using a new type of catalyst support for highly active gold nanoparticle catalysts for fuel cells. MORE

and Tohoku University’s Advanced Institute for Material Research (AIMR) have demonstrated technology reducing the internal resistance of all-solid-state lithium ion batteries (Li-ion battery) through the use of LiBH 4 -based complex hydrides as novel solid electrolytes. Hitachi, Ltd. MORE

Ken-ichi Uchida of Tohoku University (Keio University at that time). MORE

This universal charging system needs only a single charging interface at the vehicle allowing the customer to charge with all existing charging methods: one-phase AC-charging, fast three-phase AC-charging, DC-charging at home or ultra-fast DC-charging at public charging stations. MORE

Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) are developing a small-scale demonstration reactor that will process 40 tons of wood waste per year from the university into replacements for diesel fuel and gasoline. MORE

A collaboration of car makers including Audi, BMW, Daimler, Porsche, and Volkswagen are to present their new Combined Charging System at the 15th International VDI-Congress and Exhibition “Electronic Systems for Motor Vehicles” in Baden-Baden, Germany tomorrow. The new charging system, developed in collaboration with the American car makers Ford and General Motors (GM), is a [.]. Electric cars AC Audi BMW charging system compatible DC electric car MORE

Schaeffler signed a cooperation agreement with Chinese Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) to establish a joint research laboratory. The joint research project between Schaeffler and Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) was sealed as part of the celebrations marking the 120th anniversary of the founding of the university. MORE

The Volkswagen and BASF international “Science Award Electrochemistry 2016” goes to Dr. William Chueh from Stanford University. Also, on the occasion of the 5 th ceremony of the science award, a special prize for applied research goes to Dr. Martin Ebner from the ETH University Zurich, Switzerland for his excellent research in the area of fast charging of lithium-ion batteries. Dr. Martin Ebner received his PhD in Material Science at the ETH University Zurich. MORE

It's early days for both electric vehicles and autonomous cars, but the technology for the two seems to go hand-in-hand. After all, what better way to be whizzed home after a hard day at work than in a smooth, quiet, green, and entirely autonomous electric car? MORE

The Honda technology builds off of the research conducted by the University of Delaware and now supported by NRG Energy, Inc. Honda is supplying an Accord Plug-In Hybrid with added V2G capabilities to the University’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus jointly to investigate the potential of this technology to benefit the electrical grid, vehicle owners and society. MORE

a team of students from the University of Michigan beat 23. Other than charging a battery-electric car using electricity harvested by photovoltaic panels, solar power isn't exactly practical for current production cars. But every year, dozens of solar-powered race cars compete in events around the world held for college students. In the U.S., Michigan Students solar MORE

The University of Nottingham (UK) is leading a 3-year, £830,000 (US$1.1-million) research project on power electronics—the EPSRC Challenge Network in Automotive Power Electronics. The EPSRC Challenge Network in Automotive Power Electronics will bring together the academic and industrial communities to identify and to address the long-term challenges in the design, manufacture, deployment and operational management of automotive electrical-power conversion and conditioning systems. MORE

Jaguar Land Rover announced the creation of two new Centers of Excellence for Engine Combustion Research at two leading UK universities. million) investment will be shared equally between University College London (UCL) and the University of Oxford to support the development of new research facilities and fund two 5-year study programs. The university teams include a number of senior academic staff, research assistants, technicians and research students. MORE

Kettering University’s research in the power electronics fields has grown so much in the last six months that the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department recently opened the Advanced Power Electronics Lab (APEL) devoted solely to power electronics work. MORE

Ford has teamed up with Zipcar-the world’s biggest car-sharing network-to offer more sustainable and affordable transport to students at more than 250 university campuses across the US. universities ZipCarIn signing a two year alliance, the car maker has agreed to supply a further 650 Fords to the Zipcar fleet over the coming academic year including models [.]. Ford car sharing network U.S.A MORE

Researchers at Fudan University with colleagues at the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight have developed a LiMn 2 O4 material for a Li-ion battery cathode that exhibits superfast charging capabilities. MORE

General Motors and Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) have begun a two-year vehicle sharing pilot program in Shanghai featuring 16 Chevrolet EN-V 2.0 ( earlier post ) electric concept vehicles. MORE

According to the Detroit News, it will partner with the University of Michigan by helping to fund a laboratory where car makers can test prototype battery cells for future To launch its Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car, General Motors chose to build and expand its very own battery lab. Crosstown rival Ford is taking a different route. MORE

But the side of a Model S, used as the front of a receptionist''s desk--compete with two Tesla front seats--is what greets visitors to the Draper University The Tesla Model S all-electric luxury sedan is now close to ubiquitous on the streets of Silicon Valley. But you might not expect to see one walking into a building. Or at least part of one. MORE

Layers of graphene separated by nanotube pillars of boron nitride (PGBN) may be a excellent material for on-board hydrogen storage in vehicles, according to a computational study by a pair of Rice University scientists. MORE

A team from Rice University and the Houston Fire Department EMS has found a direct correlation between out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) and levels of air pollution and ozone. The research, based on a massive data set unique to Houston, was published this month in the American Heart Association journal Circulation. MORE

Nissan, Mitsubishi Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, PSA Groupe, NUVVE, Frederiksberg Forsyning, Enel, Insero and DTU (Technical University of Denmark) Electrical Engineering (PowerLabDK) are partnering in the Danish project Parker to develop a universal definition for grid integration for electric vehicles. The platform, initially developed by the University of Delaware is now supported and commercialized by Nuvve. MORE

A team at Zhejiang University has now investigated the impact of methanol–gasoline blends on the pollutant emissions of port-fuel injected spark ignition (SI) engines. Globally, the use of methanol as an alternative fuel has attracted interest because of its low production cost, renewable capacity, and good combustion-related properties (higher thermal efficiency, higher engine power, and lower regulated emissions). MORE

That’s the verdict of a new study by the University of Cambridge (logo, pictured), Stanford University and MIT. Global warming Green cars Green credentials Latest news Environmental Science and Technology Europe green cars greenhouse gas emissions University of CambridgeIf Europe is to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals for 2050, then it is going to have to make a series of policy interventions. MORE

The Department of Energy and a consortium of 122 companies, nonprofits, and universities led by the University of Tennessee-Knoxville will invest more than $250 million—$70 million in federal funds and more than $180 million in non-federal funds—to launch a Manufacturing Innovation Institute for Advanced Composites—the fifth institute to be awarded of the eight national institute competitions launched earlier ( earlier post ). MORE

At WCX 17: SAE World Congress Experience, SAE International and General Motors announced the eight North American universities which will compete in the upcoming AutoDrive Challenge. The participating universities are: Kettering University. Michigan State University. North Carolina A&T University. Texas A&M University. University of Toronto. University of Waterloo. MORE

The University of Surrey is launching a new multi-disciplinary research center next week to tackle air pollution. The Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE) will see the University leading on collaborative, cutting-edge research to identify an action plan to ensure “clean air for all”. NEST-SEAS is funded by the UGPN partners from Universities of Surrey, Wollongong, Sao Paulo, and North Carolina State University. MORE

A partnership has been formed between General Motors and the University of Wisconsin looking into high-speed petrol direct injection compression ignition operation in low temperature combustion of a light duty diesel engine. general motors Green cars Latest news compression ignition diesel engines direct injection GM University of Wisconsin MORE

Ford will expand its collaboration with Australian universities as part of a commitment to developing a world-class system of external alliances, programs and practices in Australia and Asia. The company has appointed senior Ford Technical Engineer, Richard Taube, as Ford Australia’s Manager for University Programs. Ford’s vision is to expand its research presence in Australia and to grow alliances with the most relevant and technically capable universities. MORE

The Academic Senate of the University of California has passed an Open Access Policy, ensuring that future research articles authored by faculty at all 10 campuses of the UC will be made available to the public at no charge. The policy covers more than 8,000 UC faculty at all 10 campuses of the University of California, and as many as 40,000 publications a year. It follows more than 175 other universities who have adopted similar so-called “green” open access policies. MORE

The Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, Australia, have collaborated on bioenergy and microbial biotechnology in the past. Now they are formalizing their relationship to enhance their bioenergy research, promote education, and develop industry around and viable bioenergy solutions in their respective countries—with special emphasis on adaptive bioprocesses. MORE

Electric vehicle technology is finding its way into various motorsport disciplines, but few are more exciting than the world of electric motorcycling. Not only did an electric motorcycle win the two-wheeled class at last year''s Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, each year one race at the world''s most famous motorcycle event is dedicated to MORE

A joint research institute has been formed between the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the University of Leeds (logo, pictured), in the UK, in an effort to boost next generation energy storage systems. Green cars Green credentials Latest news China energy storage green cars UK University of Leeds MORE

Rice University scientists, working with colleagues in France, have detected the presence of anthropogenic carbon nanotubes (CBTs) in cells extracted from the airways of Parisian children under routine treatment for asthma. MORE

The University of Waterloo has opened a new automotive research and testing facility, setting the stage for technological advances that will benefit both consumers and the environment. The $10-million Green and Intelligent Automotive (GAIA) Research Facility is supported by Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario, the University of Waterloo, and equipment suppliers. MORE

The late and much lamented GM EV1 electric car is by now a mythical creature. It''s been the subject of a much-discussed documentary, and is still cause for blind loathing of General Motors in some quarters. Designed, engineered, and offered for lease in California and a few other locations from 1998 to 2003, the two-seat EV1 was likely the most MORE

Petrobras and the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte inaugurated a pilot plant in Extremoz (state of Rio Grande do Norte) for the cultivation of microalgae for biodiesel production. The project is part of Thematic Networks, a program Petrobras set up in 2006 to enhance relations with Brazilian universities and research institutes. There are currently 50 networks covering upwards of 100 universities and research institutions nationwide. MORE

A new degree course at the University of Colorado could be right up your (electric) avenue. Department of Energy, the University will be running a master's level course in electric car drivetrain technology. Interested in a future working with electric cars? With the help of a five-year, $954,000 grant from the U.S. Earthtechling reports that the MORE

A UK university is to team up with the world-renown Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in USA to explore the development of nano-composite materials to help develop a new generation of more efficient fuel cell cars. MORE

This summer dozens of scientists from State and federal agencies and universities are using four different aircraft with more than 200 flight hours, balloons that measure ozone aloft, and a laser-based instrument that measures ozone above the ground up to 12,000 feet, to investigate ozone which enters California from the Pacific Ocean. As California continues to reduce local sources of ozone, ozone entering the state from the Pacific makes up a larger fraction of measured ozone levels. MORE