Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 25, 2012

The GM/U Mich patent envisages using multiple free-piston engines (240A through 240D in the patent drawing). Click to enlarge. 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.

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Extended Range Plug-in Engine GM 400

Green Car Reports

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

The good news for plug-in electric car sales just keeps on keeping on. In October, Chevy sold 2,961 Volts--the highest-ever single-month total--and Nissan continued a recent resurgence, selling 1,579 Leafs. Those numbers compare with 2,851 Volts sold in September and 984 Leafs the same month. That brings 2012 sales for each car to 19,309 for the.

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National Green Transportation

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

On Tuesday, ahead of the 2012 LA Auto Show, GM unveiled specifications and other details about the 2014 Chevy Spark EV, GM's first all electric car since the now-crushed GM EV1. The Spark EV, first shown.

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Green Cars News

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

London homeowners aren’t just offering their driveways as somewhere for commuters to park, but are now also offering them up as somewhere for EV drivers to charge their cars. A new partnerships between Parkatmyhouse.com, energy company, SSE, Chargemaster and Source London means that for the first time, drivers entering the capital will be able to [.].

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London Charging Electrical Electric 82

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 10, 2012

One of the many charts available from the maps and data library on the AFDC site, this shows the number of light-duty alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), and diesel models offered by vehicle manufacturers from 1991 through 2012. Click to enlarge. The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has launched a new tool and redesigned DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center Web site to help fleet managers, municipalities and consumers choos

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Transportation Alternative Fuels Fleet Fuel Economy 388

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

Average values for WTW GHG emissions for oil sands and other crudes, tight boundary. Source: IHS CERA. Click to enlarge. When the boundary for measuring GHG emissions is placed around crude production and processing facilities, for fuels produced solely from Canadian oil sands the average well-to-wheels (WTW) life-cycle GHG emissions are 11% higher than for the average crude refined in the United States (results range from 4% to 18% higher), according to a new meta-analysis by energy market cons

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Oil-Sands Oil Emissions United States 388

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 4, 2012

SAIC Motor Corporation Limited (SAIC Motor) is launching the battery-electric Roewe E50 on the market in China. The company expects to sell 1,000 of them within the first year. The E50 is based on a newly developed electric vehicle platform. Roewe E50. Click to enlarge. With a 47 kW motor and a battery pack from A123 Systems ( earlier post ), the E50 has a range of 180 km (112 miles) and a top speed of up to 120 km/h (75 mph).

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Electric Vehicles China Vehicles MPH 359

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 15, 2012

GM and ABB partnered to produce a prototype back-up power storage unit that repackages five used Volt batteries into a modular unit that becomes an uninterruptible power supply and grid power balancing system. Click to enlarge. During a symposium for the media on GM’s electrification efforts, including a preview of the Spark EV to be unveiled at the LA Auto Show in two weeks, General Motors and ABB showed and demonstrated a new grid distributed micro-storage (at grid scale) system—i.e., a

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Energy Storage Volt GM Energy 348

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 30, 2012

2014 Accord PHEV. Click to enlarge. Although Honda’s presence at the Los Angeles Auto Show was dominated by the debut of the 2013 Civic, the company also announced that the 2014 Accord Plug-In Hybrid, featuring Honda’s new two-motor system ( earlier post ) earned an EPA-certified 115 MPGe rating and will go on sale in New York and California on 15 January with an MSRP of $39,780.

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Ford has developed EV+, a patent-pending feature that helps hybrids and plug-in hybrids learn frequent destinations, and then deliver more driving time in electric-only mode. EV+ is part of SmartGauge and is a standard feature on the Ford plug-in hybrids, C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi, along with the hybrid versions of Fusion and C-MAX. EV+ combines the built-in GPS of Ford SYNC with proprietary software algorithms developed by Ford engineers to learn frequent destinations.

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Early next year, the Chevrolet Spark (1LT, 2LT) and Sonic LTZ and RS will integrate Apple’s Siri “Eyes Free” voice recognition technology; GM is the first automaker to implement the technology in production vehicles. Apple had announced in June that it was working with automakers to integrate Siri (which officially still is in Beta) into select voice control systems.

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

A new Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll of 6,000 people across Europe found that most Europeans remain committed to car ownership, but have growing concerns about traffic congestion, the cost of driving and the environment. Ford commissioned the survey, conducted by the consultancy The Futures Company, to better understand the opinions and attitudes of Europeans across a range of mobility issues—from car sharing to green driving to the future of the internal combustion engine.

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Environment Ford Cost Of Cars 319

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 10, 2012

Honda is launching a Civic model equipped with a new 1.6-liter diesel i-DTEC engine in Europe. The i-DTEC Civic, which will arrive in dealerships early next year, delivers fuel economy of 65 mpg US (3.6 l/100 km) with CO 2 emissions of 94 g/km (down one gram from the 95 g/km level announced by Honda Motor Europe’s President, Manabu Nishimae, earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show). ( Earlier post.).

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MPG Europe Diesel Honda 317

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Diesel engine torque output as a function of the engine speed (rpm) for the tested fuels. Credit: ACS, Wahlen et al. Click to enlarge. Biodiesel (fatty acid methyl ester) derived from oleaginous microbes—microalgae, yeast, and bacteria—can effectively displace both petroleum diesel and biodiesel produced from plant oils, according to the findings of a new study by a team from Utah State University.

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 9, 2012

Overview of the C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid. Click to enlarge. Ford began production of the 2013 C-MAX Energi plug-in hybrid vehicle ( earlier post ) at Michigan Assembly in October, and the vehicles are heading for showrooms. Ford has tripled to more than 200 the number of dealers certified to sell its lineup of plug-in electrified vehicles, including the C-MAX Energi that is on sale now. ( Earlier post.).

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Plug-in Plug Ford Hybrid 312

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 22, 2012

Mercedes-Benz “Intelligent Drive” systems. Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz has augmented its driver assistance systems with new functions which are now able to support the driver in a broader range of situations. Using advanced sensor technology, they are able to monitor the area around the vehicle, providing the driver with warnings and support, and reducing driver workload.

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Fusion Mercedes MPH Range 311

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 20, 2012

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is [link] about $11 million to 20 new projects to help states and local governments to develop the infrastructure, training, and regional planning needed to help meet the demand for alternative fuel cars and trucks, including vehicles that run on natural gas, electricity, and propane. Through the Department’s Clean Cities initiative, these projects address a range of community infrastructure and training needs, such as providing safety and technical training for

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Clean Cleaning Alternative Fuels Fuel 308

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

Honda’s 1.6L i-DTEC engine. Click to enlarge. The new 1.6-liter i-DTEC diesel engine to be applied first in the Civic is the first engine from Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology series to be launched in Europe. This new engine offers 88 kW (120 PS, 118 hp) of power and 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) of torque at 2000 rpm with CO 2 emissions of 94 g/km (equivalent to 65 mpg US, 3.6 l/100 km). ( Earlier post.).

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Diesel Engine 2000 Emissions 306

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

Voltage profiles (A) and initial cycling behavior (B) of the Li x Si-O 2 -C cell. Cycling current: 200 mA g ?1 carbon. Credit: ACS, Hassoun et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers from University of Rome Sapienza (Italy), Hanyang University (Korea) and the Argonne National Laboratory (US) have shown that the highly reactive lithium metal anode typically projected for use in Li-air batteries can be replaced with a lithiated silicon-carbon anode.

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Li-ion Batteries Battery Lithium Air 306

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Toyota has notified their dealer network that some 2012 RAV4 EV customers may complain of a “Check EV System” warning message after they try to charge their vehicle at a public Level 2 electric vehicle charging station. “Level 2” refers to a 240V AC electric vehicle charging station, or EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment). Toyota uses Leviton Manufacturing as its Level 2 EVSE supplier.

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Toyota Eaton Charging 2012 304

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 12, 2012

Micro Commuter Prototype Click to enlarge. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. unveiled the Micro Commuter Prototype, a micro-sized short distance EV commuter. This vehicle was developed in consideration of the vehicle categories for micro-sized mobility products that are currently being discussed under the initiative of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan as well as for the regulations for the L7 category in Europe.

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Honda Design Li-ion Japan 301

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 16, 2012

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has not found evidence to support a finding of severe “economic harm” that would warrant granting a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). The decision is based on economic analyses and modeling done in conjunction with the US Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Energy (DOE). In August, in light of drought conditions affecting the country, governors from several states requested a waiver of the national volume requirements f

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 27, 2012

Researchers from UC San Diego and Sapphire Energy, Inc. have demonstrated for the first time that genetically engineered marine algae can be just as capable as fresh water algae in producing industrially relevant products such as enzymes or biofuels. The scientists engineered marine algae to produce five different kinds of industrially important enzymes; they suggest the same process could be used to enhance the yield of petroleum-like compounds from these salt water algae.

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San Diego Water Mariner Engine 299

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 19, 2012

The City of Chicago has awarded San Francisco Bay Area startup Motiv Power Systems a $13.4-million contract for 20 Class 8 electric refuse trucks. The 52,000-lb trucks, powered by a 200 kWh battery pack, will have a range of up to 60 miles. The Motiv electric Powertrain Control System (ePCS) uses off-the-shelf batteries and motors, which can be mixed and matched to fit the size of the electric truck application.

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Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 8, 2012

Biocrude from Nannochloropsis. Credit: Savage Lab. Click to enlarge. A team led by Prof. Phillip Savage at the University of Michigan has found that with appropriate parameters, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) can convert 65% of wet algae (a Nannochloropsis species) into biocrude in one minute. The team, which has been investigating HTL processing of algae to biocrude—along with techniques for dexoygenating the product for subsequent refining—for several years, presented its latest r

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Convert Oil-Sands 2012 2011 297

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 1, 2012

The 2013 Jetta Hybrid. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen is holding media drive events this week for the sporty new 2013 Jetta Turbo Hybrid ( earlier post ), which features the second version of a Volkswagen gasoline-electric hybrid drive system: a 1.4L turbocharged EA211 engine; a hybrid module featuring a 20 kW electric motor and a disengagement clutch; a 7-speed DSG transmission; and a 1.1 kWh Li-ion battery pack.

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Hybrid MPG Gasoline-Electric Sale 296

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 12, 2012

The three Honda SPORT HYBRID systems. Click to enlarge. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has developed a new lightweight and compact one-motor hybrid system optimized for small-sized vehicles: the Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive system. This new hybrid system will be the latest addition to the Earth Dreams Technology series of next-generation powertrain technology (replacing the current IMA hybrid system), and was previewed by Honda Motor Co.

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Motoring Motor Motors Honda 294

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) announced that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has approved a settlement agreement that will bring more than $100 million in electric vehicle charging infrastructure to California, including at least 200 public fast-charging stations and the infrastructure for 10,000 plug-in units at 1,000 diverse locations across the state. ( Earlier post.).

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San Diego California Charging San Francisco 294

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Ford’s new C-MAX Hybrid ( earlier post ) sold 3,182 units in October in its first full month of sales, outselling the Prius v’s 2,769 units. (Sales of the entire Prius family were 16,774 units, with the sedan accounting for 8,788 of those.) The C-MAX Hybrid also led Ford in achieving its best October hybrid sales month ever with a total of 4,612 sales, up 142% over October 2011.

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Prius Ford Hybrid Sale 294

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 6, 2012

A team at the Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt led by Prof. Dr. Eckhard Boles, has developed a new synthesis pathway for engineering the industrial yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to improve the production of isobutanol via fermentation. The work, noted Boles, is being done for the Swiss biofuels and biochemical company Butalco, of which he is a co-founder. ( Earlier post.).

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Engine Production Conversion 2012 294

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 5, 2012

Increasing complexity of vehicle design is driving the need for better simulation and more powerful computers. Wagner and Pannala. Click to enlarge. The complexity of new and future vehicles—driven by the need for increasing fuel efficiency and decreasing emissions with ever-changing drive-cycle demands and environmental conditions—is adding unprecedented flexibility in design and driving the need for better simulation and more powerful computers, observed Dr.

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Engine 2012 2001 Fuel 291

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 14, 2012

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is a member of a team that was recently awarded a $7-million contract from the US Army Corps of Engineers to demonstrate integration of electric vehicles, generators and solar arrays to supply emergency power for Fort Carson, Colo. The project is part of a Joint Capability Technology. Demonstration (JCTD) called the Smart Power Infrastructure.

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Parts Electric Vehicles Power Powered 290

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 26, 2012

Extended charge?discharge cycling of PPYT in LiNTf 2 /G4 at 45 °C, 1 C rate). Credit: ACS, Nokami et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers from Kyoto University and Panasonic have developed a rechargeable Li-ion battery using a new organic cathode material that exhibits “ remarkable ” charge–discharge properties with a high specific capacity of 231 mAh/g, excellent rechargeability (83% of the capacity retained after 500 cycles), and charge–discharge ability (90% of the capacity at 30 C as compared t

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Li-ion Charging Batteries Battery 287

Green Car Congress

NOVEMBER 23, 2012

Peugeot has further lowered the fuel consumption of its 1.6 HDi and 1.6 e-HDi diesel engine through a variety of technologies, including: New variable delivery oil pump, making it possible to adjust effort taken from the engine to just what is strictly necessary; new low viscosity engine and gearbox oils so as to reduce the mechanical losses resulting from friction; new generation crankshaft oil seals, allowing reduced sealing load and so of friction; redesigned alternator drive belt pulley for

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