August, 2014

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Tour Engine receives $2M investment to further development of latest generation of split-cycle engine

Green Car Congress

'Tour Engine , the developer of a novel split-cycle engine ( earlier post ), has secured a $2-million investment from Joan and Irwin Jacobs to further the development of the latest generation of the engine, which features a new patent-pending crossover mechanism. Dr. Irwin Jacobs is the co-founder of Qualcomm. The premise of a split-cycle engine is that segregating the intake and compression strokes in one cylinder and the combustion and expansion strokes in another, coupled cylinder, provides a

Engine 370
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Tesla's Battery Gigafactory Will Achieve Nirvana: $100 Per Kilowatt-Hour, Report Says

Green Car Reports

'Many within the electric car industry believe that $100 per kilowatt-hour will be the tipping point for electric-car batteries. It is the point at which electric vehicles will be able to compete directly with internal combustion vehicles on price, and therefore a major step in boosting sales. According to investment pundits at The Motley Fool (via.

Battery 167
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California giving electric car owning tenants right to install charging stations

National Green Transportation

'On Monday, the California Legislature sent Gov. Brown a law meant to ease a big electric car adoption hurdle. The law, AB-2565, which passed in the California Senate on Monday after earlier approval by the House, will require.

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New Euro 6 clean diesels ‘up to six times more polluting’ than tests suggest

Green Cars News

'Emissions from diesel cars are unlikely to be significantly reduced by the introduction of new Euro 6 standard, according to new research. Nitrogen oxide emissions from new Euro 6 standard diesel vehicles are up to six times higher than the designated limit, research from Dutch consultancy, TNO sh[.].

Diesel 83
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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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NEVS presents Saab 9-3 EV prototype

Green Car Congress

'Under the hood. Click to enlarge. National Electric Vehicle Sweden (NEVS), the company working to resurrect the Saab brand, presented the Saab 9-3 Electric Vehicle as designed and produced as part of a prototype series in Trollhättan. NEVS halted production of the conventional Saab 9-3 Aero in May as it struggles to sort out its financing. ( Earlier post.).

Sweden 345
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Schaeffler introduces new automatic bicycle gearshift system

Green Car Congress

'Schaeffler is presenting the new automatic bicycle gearshift system FAG-VELOMATIC at EUROBIKE 2014. Whether going uphill, downhill, or on the flat, on a conventional bike, with a derailleur or hub gears, or on an e-bike, the FAG-VELOMATIC calculates the optimum gear and shifting point based on the cadence, force, wheel speed, and gradient. This ensures excellent riding comfort with maximum flexibility.

Connect 339

More Trending

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Nissan LEAF drivers pass 850M kilometers driven

Green Car Congress

'The collective electric distance driven by the Nissan LEAF EV worldwide now stands at more than 850 million kilometers (528 million miles), which translates to more than 150,000 tons of CO 2 emissions reduced. Nissan estimates that the billion-kilometer (621 million miles) mark will be passed by January 2015. Rising sales and a rapidly expanding quick charge network mean the target might be beaten even earlier, Nissan suggested.

Nissan 334
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Leviton launches industry-first 40A EV charge connector assembly

Green Car Congress

'Leviton has introduced an industry-first 40A Electric Vehicle Charge Connector Assembly: the Evr-Green 400 Charging Station. The connector assembly was specially designed for the Leviton Evr-Green family of electrical vehicle supply equipment. Rated to 40 amps of current or 9.7 kW of power, the connector assembly also complies with the Society of Automotive Engineers J1772 recommended standards.

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New palladium oxalate hydrodeoxygenation catalyst for production of drop-in paraffinic biofuels

Green Car Congress

'Researchers in Malaysia and Oman have developed a novel palladium oxalate catalyst supported on zeolite A (PdOx/ Zeol) with increased acidity for the hydrodeoxygenation and isomerization of bio-feedstocks into paraffinic (drop-in) biofuels. In a paper in the ACS journal Energy & Fuel , they report the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of stearic acid (SA) (one of the most common saturated fatty acids found in nature following palmitic acid) into paraffinic biofuel.

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EY: oil & gas megaproject overruns to cost industry more than $500B

Green Car Congress

'A new report by EY finds that 64% of multibillion-dollar, technically and operationally demanding oil & gas megaprojects continue to exceed budgets, with 73% missing project schedule deadlines. On average, current project estimated completion costs were 59% above the initial estimate. In absolute terms, the cumulative cost of the projects reviewed for the report has increased to $1.7T from an original estimate of $1.2T, representing an incremental increase of $500B.

Oil 311
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Rusatom Overseas and CNNC New Energy to partner on floating nuclear power plants

Green Car Congress

'Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM, and CNNC New Energy (China) signed a Memorandum of Intent to cooperate in the development of floating nuclear power plants. The next step in the implementation of the project will be establishment of a joint Chinese-Russian working group. Rusatom is currently building its first floating nuclear plant, the Akademik Lomonosov ; the second of the vessel’s two reactors was installed in February.

Powered 305
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Nissan to begin production of Pathfinder hybrid in Russia; importance of Russian market

Green Car Congress

'Nissan launched its Pathfinder range in the Russian market at the Moscow Motor Show. The Pathfinder made its debut alongside the new Russian-built Sentra sedan. Nissan’s all-new fourth-generation Pathfinder—which will be built in Russia—will be available with a standard 3.5L gasoline engine as well as the hybrid drive system. ( Earlier post.

Russia 300
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DOE to award more than $55M to 31 projects for plug-in and efficient vehicle technologies; Delphi receives $10M to further GDCI

Green Car Congress

'The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding more than $55 million to 31 new projects to accelerate research and development of vehicle technologies that will improve fuel efficiency and reduce costs under a program-wide funding opportunity announced in January. (DE-FOA-0000991, earlier post.) These new projects are aimed at meeting the goals and objectives of the President’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge (19 projects), as well as improvements in other vehicle technologies such as powertrains,

Plug-in 299
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Toyota???s Carter: we???re on the cusp of the automotive hydrogen age

Green Car Congress

'In his talk at the 2014 J.P. Morgan Auto Conference in New York, Bob Carter, Toyota Motor Sales (USA) Senior Vice President, Automotive Operations said that the company in spending an average of more than $1 million an hour this year on R&D. Carter said that a prime example of the R&D focus is the hydrogen fuel cell sedan to be launched to the public in California next summer ( earlier post ) and, he suggested, thereafter to the East Coast.

Hydrogen 299
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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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Using magnesium alloy waste for hydrogen storage materials

Green Car Congress

'Researchers have shown that magnesium industrial wastes of AZ91 alloy and Mg-10 wt.% Gd alloy can be used for the production of hydrogen storage materials. A paper on their work is published in the Journal of Power Sources. The team of researchers, from Germany, Denmark, Italy and Sweden, investigated the properties of the alloys by means of volumetric technique; in situ synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction (SR-PXD); and calorimetric methods.

Waste 294
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US MARAD study finds marine use of natural gas substantially reduces some air pollutants and slightly reduces GHG emissions

Green Car Congress

'A recently released total fuel cycle analysis for maritime case studies shows that natural gas fuels reduce some air quality pollutants substantially, and reduce major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions slightly, when compared to conventional petroleum-based marine fuels (low-sulfur and high-sulfur). The study was released by the US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) and was conducted through a cooperative partnership with the Maritime Administration, the Universit

Mariner 291
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Copper foam catalyst yields different product slate from CO2 than smooth electrodes; importance of catalyst architecture

Green Car Congress

'A catalyst made from a foamy form of copper has different electrochemical properties from catalysts made with smooth copper in reactions involving carbon dioxide, according to a new study by a team from Brown University. The research, reported in the journal ACS Catalysis , suggests that copper foams could provide a new way of converting excess CO 2 into useful industrial chemicals.

CO2 291
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Volkswagen and Audi launch sustainability programs for US introduction of e-Golf BEV and A3 e-tron PHEV; carbon offsets with 3Degrees and solar energy

Green Car Congress

'Volkswagen of America, Inc. introduced several e-mobility sustainability initiatives to commence with the US launch of the battery-electric e-Golf ( earlier post ). These begin with an investment in carbon reduction projects via a partnership with 3Degrees to offset emissions created from e-Golf production, distribution and from the estimated emissions produced from keeping the vehicle charged through the initial 36,000 miles of its life.

Audi 287
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Boeing partners with South African Airways to convert Solaris energy tobacco into jet fuel

Green Car Congress

'Solaris energy tobacco is optimized for seed production for energy applications, not leaf production. Click to enlarge. Boeing, South African Airways (SAA) and SkyNRG are collaborating to make sustainable aviation biofuel from Solaris, a new hybrid tobacco plant optimized for seed production for energy applications. This initiative broadens cooperation between Boeing and SAA to develop renewable jet fuel in ways that support South Africas goals for public health as well as economic and rural

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Toyota switches on solar array at Deeside engine plant

Green Car Congress

'Toyota recently switched on a solar array at its Deeside engine factory in North Wales. The solar array, designed and installed by British Gas, can produce up to 3,475,000 kWh a year—enough electricity to build up to 22,500 engines. The Toyota plant’s carbon emissions will fall by 1,800 tonnes a year, a figure matching the combined weight of 1,260 Auris hatchbacks.

Solar 286
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Renovo shows production prototype of Shelby-based electric supercar

Green Car Congress

'Renovo Coupe Click to enlarge. Renovo Motors , Inc. unveiled a production prototype of its Renovo Coupe electric supercar at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concourse d’Elegance. Using a factory-modified Shelby American CSX9000 rolling chassis (“Cobra Daytona Coupe”), Renovo’s eponymous coupe features twin mid-mounted sequential axial-flux motors producing more than 370 kW (500 hp) and 1,000 lb-ft (1,356 N·m) of torque, with a 0-60 mph time of less than 3.4 seconds.

Shelby 286
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Texas CNG, LNG motor fuel sales double FY 2014 estimate

Green Car Congress

'As of 31 July, fiscal 2014 tax revenue from sales of compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) motor fuel totaled $2,178,199, according to the Texas state Comptroller’s office. State forecasters projected fiscal 2014 natural gas motor fuel tax revenue of $992,000, equal to sales of 6.6 million gallon equivalents. The 31 July total is 220% of that estimate.

Texas 285
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Mercedes-Benz showcasing new 7.7L Euro VI natural gas engine for medium-duty commercial vehicles at IAA; replaces two earlier models

Green Car Congress

'Relative (percent) CO 2 emissions benefit of the new natural gas variant as compared to the 220 kW diesel engine. Benz et al. Click to enlarge. Among its trucks on display at the upcoming IAA in Hanover, Mercedes-Benz will showcase an Econic equipped with its new Euro VI medium-duty natural gas engine (M 936NGT), which is derived from the 7.7-liter Euro VI M 936 inline six-cylinder diesel.

Mercedes 285
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CDTi launches DuraFit line of replacement diesel particulate filters

Green Car Congress

'Clean Diesel Technologies, Inc. officially launched DuraFit, its new line of all makes original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement diesel particulate filters (DPFs), leveraging its proprietary catalyst technology within a new market segment. Designed and manufactured in North America, DuraFit DPFs are cost-effective, exact-fit alternatives to OEM replacements, meet or exceed OEM emission requirements, and are fully supported by CDTi’s nationwide distributor network and field application s

Diesel 284
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More work reported on approaches to stabilizing lithium metal anodes for high energy rechargeable batteries

Green Car Congress

'Metallic lithium, with a high theoretical capacity of ~3,860 mAh g -1 , is one of the most promising materials for anodes in next-generation high energy rechargeable battery systems for long-range electric vehicles. ( Earlier post.) Indeed, in a paper in ACS’ Chemical Reviews , Arumugam Manthiram et al. from the University of Texas suggest that “ it is reasonable to comment that the success of Li?

Recharge 281
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BYD electric bus logs 746 miles in 24h period

Green Car Congress

'The Antelope Valley Transit Authoritys (AVTA) and BYD operators have put AVTAs new BYD electric bus through a 24-hour marathon ride that looped from Rosamond to Palmdale (California) a total of 18 times. The BYD bus traveled 746 miles (1,201 km) over the 24-hour period, operating in three shifts. Each shift logged between 240 and 256 miles (386 and 412 km) before recharging the battery.

BYD 277
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DOE launches major 10-year project to use high performance computing for climate change research; ACME

Green Car Congress

'The ACME Project Roadmap, showing the relative sequencing of major simulation campaigns, model version development, and machine deployment. Click to enlarge. Eight national laboratories—Lawrence Livermore, Argonne, Brookhaven, Lawrence Berkeley, Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Pacific Northwest and Sandia—are combining forces with the National Center for Atmospheric Research, four academic institutions and one private-sector company in a 10-year project to use high performance computing (HPC

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Report: BYD to begin production of lithium manganese iron phosphate batteries for EVs in 2015

Green Car Congress

'Shanghai Metals Market. BYD Auto will begin production of a new high-energy density battery in 2015 and apply them in its vehicles, according to board secretary Wu Jing-sheng, as cited by Chinas Securities Times. BYD reportedly plans to add manganese to its lithium iron phosphate cathode material to improve the range of electric vehicles and reduce costs.

BYD 275
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Volvo Buses officially launching plug-in 7900 Electric Hybrid; up to 75% reduction in fuel consumption

Green Car Congress

'Volvo Buses will officially launch the plug-in 7900 Electric Hybrid bus at the International IAA Commercial Vehicles show in September. The plug-in technology reduces fuel consumption and carbon dioxide by up to 75%, compared to a conventional diesel bus. Total energy consumption is reduced by 60%. Three Volvo Electric Hybrids have run in a field test in Gothenburg the past year, a test which has verified the reduction in energy consumption and emissions. ( Earlier post.).

Volvo 274
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Stanford team reports new low-cost, non-precious metal catalyst for water splitting with performance close to platinum

Green Car Congress

'Structure of the NiO/Ni-CNT hybrid. Blue = nickel, green = nickel oxide. Credit: Gong et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at Stanford University, with colleagues at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other institutions, have developed a nickel-based electrocatalyst for low-cost water-splitting for hydrogen production with performance close to that of much more expensive commercial platinum electrocatalysts.

Low Cost 273
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EPA report shows progress in reducing urban air toxics across US; 50% reduction from mobile sources since 1990

Green Car Congress

'The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Second Integrated Urban Air Toxics Report to Congress—the final of two reports required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to inform Congress of progress in reducing public health risks from urban air toxics (also referred to as hazardous air pollutants or HAPs). HAPs are defined as those pollutants that cause or may cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental and

EPA 273
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California and Mexico sign agreement to reduce GHGs

Green Car Congress

'On Monday, California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. and Mexico’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Rodolfo Lacy and Mexican National Forestry Commission Director General Jorge Rescala Pérez signed an agreement to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). The new pact seeks to enhance cooperation through a range of activities, including: Aligning greenhouse gas reduction programs and strategies; Collaborating on fire emergency response along the border and other clim

Mexico 273
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Tesla boosts Model S drive unit warranty; 8 years, “infinite” miles

Green Car Congress

'Tesla Motors has increased the Model S drive unit warranty to match that of the battery pack—i.e., the 85 kWh Model S, the company’s most popular model, now has an 8-year, “infinite-mile” warranty on both the battery pack and drive unit. The warranty extension will apply retroactively to all Model S vehicles ever produced. There is also no limit on the number of owners during the warranty period.

Miles 268
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Continental Motors introduces new diesel V-6 aviation engine

Green Car Congress

'The new CD-300 engine made its debut in Oshkosh. Click to enlarge. Continental Motors introduced the CD-300, its new V-6 diesel engine, at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh this week. The CD-300 was flown for the first time in July at Continental’s German development center in Altenburg onboard an Cirrus airframe. The company said that the flying test-bed exhibited rates of climb and cruise performance that exceeded engineer’s expectations.

Diesel 268