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China publishes plan to boost fuel-efficient and new energy vehicles and domestic auto industry; targeting 500K PHEVs and EVs in 2015, rising to 2M by 2020

Green Car Congress

China’s State Council has published a plan to develop the domestic energy-saving and new energy vehicle industry, which includes battery-electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and fuel cell vehicles. 2012 Chinese Auto Industry Development Report. Fuel cell stack research.

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12th Five-Year Plan for Chinas auto industry to make new-energy vehicles priority

Green Car Congress

The 12 th Five-year Plan for China’s auto industry reportedly will make developing new-energy vehicles the top priority. Under the plan, China will update the new-energy vehicle sector by focusing on integrating the two major technologies of electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles. People’s Daily.

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ISU study finds large potential for biobased materials in auto industry, but with challenges

Green Car Congress

However, they noted, there are also many challenges associated with the use of biobased parts in the auto industry. In 2007, Mazda announced the development of a new fabric made entirely from plant fibers to be used for seat covers and door trim in the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid car.

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ALTe Developing Series Plug-in Hybrid Powertrains for Conversion and OEM Applications

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Rendering of the Gen 2 series plug-in hybrid powertrain under development. A Bloomfield, Michigan startup is developing light- and medium-duty series plug-in hybrid electric vehicle powertrain systems—initially as conversions, but ultimately extending to an OEM basis. Tags: Conversions Hybrids Plug-ins. Source: ALTe.

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German ELAB study finds growth of alternative drivetrains to increase employment opportunities in auto industry

Green Car Congress

The researchers defined six different drive concepts and their components as essential for the future and examined them in detail: the mild hybrid; the full hybrid including its plug-in version; the range extender; all-electric vehicles with battery or fuel cell; as well as vehicles with combustion engines.

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Auto industry survey finds need for materials innovation to meet 2025 CAFE; greatest change seen in powertrain systems

Green Car Congress

Nearly half the respondents say the greatest change in materials will be in powertrain systems, noting that advanced propulsion systems—from downsized engines to hybrid and electric vehicle systems and batteries—will drive new material requirements.

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The Toyota Prius Transformed the Auto Industry

Cars That Think

The car was the worlds first mass-produced hybrid vehicle that combined gasoline and electric power to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. The Prius helped shape the role of hybrid cars in todays automotive market. In 1997 Toyota introduced the Prius to the Japanese market. Its worldwide debut came in 2000.

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