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GM and U Mich receive patent on plug-in series hybrid/extended range electric vehicle powertrain using multiple free piston linear alternator engines

Green Car Congress

GM Global Technology Operations LLC and the Regents of the University of Michigan recently were 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. Ethanol blended hydrocarbon fuels can include higher ethanol blends (e.g.

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Team from GM, Ford, FCA reviews how to calculate engine efficiency benefits of high octane fuels

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Alcohol and gasoline-alcohol blends also offer efficiency benefits independent of their octane value. Higher octane fuel improves the efficiency of today’s engines through reduced spark retard (from optimum) at high loads, and could enable even higher efficiency if engines were optimized for higher-octane fuel.

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Geely invests in Carbon Recycling Intl.; vehicles fueled by methanol from CO2, water and renewable energy

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Methanol-powered vehicles are one pillar of Geely Auto’s diversified new-energy strategy, which also encompasses ethanol, CNG, gasoline-electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, pure-electric, and extended-range solutions. Sileghem, L., Wallner, T., and Verhelst, S. 2014.07.002.

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