Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 17, 2009

Examples of prospective 3-D architectures for charge-insertion batteries, as proposed by Long et al. (a) array of interdigitated cylindrical cathodes and anodes; (b) interdigitated plate array of cathodes and anodes; (c) rod array of cylindrical anodes coated with a thin layer of ion-conducting dielectric (electrolyte) with the remaining free volume filled with the cathode material (the Prieto Battery approach); (d) aperiodic “sponge” architectures.

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Creative Greenius

DECEMBER 21, 2009

When our South Bay 350 Climate Action Group asked for Congresswoman Jane Harman’s help with our October 24, International Day of Climate Action we got it. Her Environmental Deputy, Diane Moss, has been not just accessible but also terrifically responsive in a straight forward, no bullshit way the Greenius really loves. And what I also love is the obvious way the Congresswoman studies the issues and isn’t afraid to say and do the right things – despite opposition from the far r

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Electric Cars are for Girls

DECEMBER 19, 2009

It's been a few weeks since Nathan Abbot crashed his electric motorcycle during a cross country ride - you can read all about it in this Wired magazine article. Nathan is now in a Portland hospital recovering from his (severe) injuries, and he and his family need our help this holiday season! Please click on the link below and donate whatever you can until Dec. 31; I know they will really appreciate it.

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Electric Motorcycles Motorcycles Portland Electric 227

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 26, 2009

Toyota Industries’ solar charging station. Click to enlarge. Toyota Industries Corp (TIC) has developed a solar charging station for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs) and electric vehicles (EVs). The municipal government of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture plans to build 21 such stations at 11 locations such as the municipal office and branch offices. Full operation of the stations will begin in April, with 20 Prius Plug-In Hybrids.

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Solar Toyota Industry Industrial 316

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 28, 2009

The US Department of Energy will invest up to $366 million to establish and operate three new Energy Innovation Hubs focused on accelerating research and development in three key energy areas, one of which is developing an effective solar energy to chemical fuel conversion system—i.e., “Fuels from Sunlight” Each Hub, to be funded at up to $122 million over five years, will bring together a multidisciplinary team of researchers in an effort to speed research and shorten the path

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 11, 2009

by Jack Rosebro. Progressive deforestation in Rondonia, Brazil as seen in. satellite imagery; from left, 1975, 1989, and 2001. Sources: USGS. Landsat images via Google Earth. Click to enlarge. Through its philanthropic arm, Google.org, Google introduced an online suite of beta software that leverages cloud computing to track worldwide land-use changes such as deforestation.

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Google Climate Change Brazil 2006 294

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 21, 2009

A Li-air cell. Source: Argonne. Click to enlarge. Argonne National Laboratory, which has contributed heavily to the research and development of Li-ion battery technology, is now pursuing research into Lithium-air batteries. Li-air batteries use a catalytic air cathode that converts oxygen to lithium peroxide; an electrolyte; and a lithium anode. Li-air batteries will have a capacity for energy storage that is five to 10 times greater than that of Li-ion batteries, which Argonne is characterizing

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 18, 2009

In cooperation with eight partners, scientists from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) are working on the development of highly efficient methods for hydrogen production from microalgae. The “H 2 from microalgae: With cell- and reactor design towards economically feasible production” (HydroMicPro) project is being coordinated by Professor Clemens Posten from the KIT Institute of Engineering in the Life Sciences and involves several universities, research institutions and com

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Hydrogen Kits Production Universal 278

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 25, 2009

Panasonic Corporation announced the development of two new 18650-type (18 mm in diameter, 65 mm in height) high-capacity lithium-ion battery cells for use in laptop computers and in energy applications including electric vehicles. The newly-developed high-capacity 3.4 Ah and 4.0 Ah lithium-ion battery cells have an improved nickel-based positive electrode (Panasonic’s proprietary positive electrode material based on LiNiO 2 , allowing for high capacity and durability).

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 13, 2009

The AirPod. Click to enlarge. France-based MDI (Moteur Development International), the developer of a compressed air powertrain and several derivative vehicles, officially handed over the keys to two AirPods to KLM earlier in December. The AirPods are under testing for a minimum period of three months at KLM E & M at Schiphol Airport. One of the AirPods is a cargo version adapted to transport parts and maintenance equipment at Schiphol-Center and the other is for personnel transport at Schip

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Electric Vehicles Cars Battery Batteries 268

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 17, 2009

Fourteen major cities, members of the C40, announced the formation of the C40 Electric Vehicle Network at the Climate Summit for Mayors in Copenhagen. In collaboration with four vehicle manufacturers and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), these cities will focus on four key areas necessary for becoming electric vehicle ready. Initial members of the C40 Electric Vehicle Network are : Bogota, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Copenhagen, Delhi, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Toronto

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 11, 2009

A new report from Pike Research forecasts that the global natural gas vehicle (NGV) sector is poised for a new period of growth. The cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that the number of NGVs on the road worldwide will grow to 17 million vehicles by 2015, up from 9.7 million in 2008. Globally, Pike Research forecasts that the NGV market will grow at a CAGR of 5.5% to reach just more than 3 million vehicles (including conversions) by 2015.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 2, 2009

Volkswagen’s Up! Lite concept. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen staged the world premiere of the Up! Lite concept at the LA Auto Show. The new concept, based on Volkswagen’s New Small Family (the Up! models), incorporates a variation on the two-cylinder TDI hybrid powertrain from the L1 concept unveiled earlier this year at the Frankfurt Motor Show. ( Earlier post.).

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 30, 2009

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the first comprehensive list of 244 proposed renewable energy projects that could produce up to 69,925 MW of clean energy annually. These proposed projects throughout the state include solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and small hydro facilities and will help move California towards achieving the renewable energy goal of 33% by 2020.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 27, 2009

A desertification/land degradation status mapping effort by researchers from the Indian Space Applications Centre in collaboration with 17 other agencies and institutions found that 81.45 million hectares—24.78% of the total geographic area, TGA, of the country—is undergoing desertification. The total area undergoing processes of land degradation is 105.48 million hectares (32.07% of TGA).

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 28, 2009

The 400hp naturally-aspirated 5.0L is the current high-end application of Ti-VCT in the Ford lineup. Click to enlarge. Ford has officially announced the 2011 Ford Mustang with an all-new advanced naturally-aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 engine. The 5.0-liter four-valve Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT) V-8 engine in the new Mustang GT will deliver 412 hp (307 kW) and 390 lb-ft (529 N·m) of torque.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 16, 2009

Perspective by Deron Lovaas, Federal Transportation Policy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council. Oil is a strategic commodity second to none—it underlies the global economy and even the American way of life. Of course, other countries benefit from this fact, with about $900 million flowing out of the US to buy foreign oil every day, and about 40% of that going to OPEC. [ 1 ] Our dependence on oil also means that America must support military engagements in regions, such as the Persi

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Oil Transportation Congress Fuel Economy 255

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 29, 2009

Australia-based Plantic Technologies and National Starch will collaborate to establish a site for the manufacture of Plantic bioplastic products in the US. Through the partnership, Plantic will relocate one of its existing proprietary manufacturing lines from Australia to the US. The goal of the project, which represents the next phase of Plantic’s long-term manufacturing strategy, is to improve economies of scale and substantially shorten the supply chain by integrating the supply of the key ra

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Manufacturer Polymer Australia Boston 247

Creative Greenius

DECEMBER 11, 2009

Members of our South Bay Los Angeles 350 Climate Action Group speak to our representatives and fellow activists in Copenhagen at Friday night’s Candlelight Vigil in downtown Hermosa Beach. Unedited and unrehearsed, our straight from the heart messages. That’s our co-host and 350 supporter, the Mayor of Hermosa Beach, Michael DiVirgilio, behind the big number 5.

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Los Angeles Climate Change Climate Environment 246

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 6, 2009

Cartoon representation of a hybrid (enzyme-TiO 2 ) nanoparticle system showing aspects that are desirable for efficient and practical H 2 production from sunlight. The system is shown with a hydrogenase (Db [NiFeSe]-H) as catalyst and the complex (RuP) that proved to be the most suitable photosensitizer. Source: Reisner et al./ ACS. Click to enlarge.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 1, 2009

The Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) adopted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) earlier this year ( earlier post ) requires a 10% reduction in the average greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity of the state’s transportation fuels by 2020. The regulation also levies the calculation of Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) effects against biofuels, against the opposition of the biofuels industry.

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Standards Carbon California Fuel 244

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 28, 2009

On 19 December, President Obama signed into law the $636.3-billion Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3326) ( earlier post ) which provides FY 2010 appropriations for Department of Defense (DOD) military programs. Attached to the bill (now law) are $4.197 billion in 1,719 earmarks—Congressionally directed spending projects. Of those earmarks, about 156 (worth about $374 million) deal with advanced energy storage, ground vehicle technology, power electronics and motors, composites, rene

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 5, 2009

Toyota’s Prius maintained its top spot in Japan new passenger car sales in November for the seventh month in a row, posting 26,815 units, according to data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association. Total passenger car sales for the month were 268,450 units. Monthly sales of the Prius in Japan since 2007. Click to enlarge. Honda’s Insight hybrid came in fifth in the overall rankings for the month, with 9, 413 units sold.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 15, 2009

Volvo Trucks will begin field testing in Sweden and the UK in 2010 of heavy-duty diesel trucks fuelled by a combination of methane gas and diesel. The field tests will start with a mixture containing up to 70% methane gas. The remainder will consist of bio-mix diesel—fossil diesel mixed with diesel produced from renewable raw materials, says Mats Franzén, Manager Engine Strategy and Planning, Volvo Trucks.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 8, 2009

Nissan and the City of San Francisco, on behalf of the Bay Area EV Corridor program, are working to advance zero-emission mobility by promoting the development of an electric vehicle (EV) charging network in the nine-county region. The cities of Oakland and San Jose, county governments in the Bay Area and other public and private stakeholders are participants in the regional EV Corridor program.

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San Francisco San Jose Nissan Oakland 236

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 20, 2009

by Jack Rosebro. Following an all-night session that sent two weeks of climate talks into overtime, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 15 th Conference Of Parties (COP 15) yesterday tentatively approved a non-binding, three-page political statement that had been hashed out the previous night in face-to-face meetings between leaders of Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, South Africa, the UK, and the United States at the Bella Centre near the Copenhagen airport.

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Climate Climate Change Tuvalu Obama 236

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 3, 2009

The ECOresearch Network at MODUL University Vienna has released the latest edition of its interactive “ Media Watch on Climate Change ” to aggregate, track and visualize environmental Web coverage from news media sites, blogs, environmental organizations and the Fortune 1000 companies on climate change and related issues in the runup to the COP15 conference next week in Copenhagen.

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Climate Change Climate Universal Building 236

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 29, 2009

Well-to-wheels vehicle emissions (gCO 2 equiv.km -1 ) by energy source, vehicle energy intensity (MJkm -1 ), and fuel carbon intensity (gCO 2 equiv. MJ -1 ) by vehicle pathway and timing profile. Source: McCarthy et al. Click to enlarge. A study by researchers at the UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies suggests that the near-term marginal electricity mix for plug-in electric and fuel cell vehicles and fuels in California will come from natural gas-fired power plants, including a signifi

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 26, 2009

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) has developed a new gas turbine combustion technology for its proprietary dry low emission (DLE) combustion system used mainly in natural gas-fired turbines. This development in premix combustion technology has enabled Kawasaki to build a gas turbine with the lowest NO x emissions yet. Kawasaki has successfully lowered the guaranteed maximum NO x emissions level of its 7 MW-class M7A-03 gas turbines from 25 ppm to an all time low of 15 ppm (converted at 15%

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Emissions Gas Standards Building 231

Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 19, 2009

Panasonic Corporation has developed an 18650-type high-capacity 3.1 Ah lithium-ion battery and began mass production of the battery this December. The new 3.1 Ah cell has a nickel cathode and an energy density of 675 Wh/L. The company successfully achieved safety and higher capacity by using its Heat Resistance Layer (HRL) technology that forms an insulating metal oxide layer between the positive and negative electrodes.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 28, 2009

The supervisory board of the Russian Corporation of Nanotechnologies ( RusNano ) has approved the state corporation’s participation in a project with China-based Li-ion battery manufacturer Thunder Sky to manufacture Lithium-ion batteries, the first such project in Russia. The Russia-based enterprise established under this project will produce, foremost, lithium-ion batteries for all types of electric vehicles, including motorcycles and buses.

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Green Car Congress

DECEMBER 20, 2009

Mission NewEnergy’s basic plan is to ship biodiesel produced in Malaysia from jatropha seeds produced in India to markets in Europe and the US. M1 and M2 are its biodiesel plants in Malaysia. Source: Mission NewEnergy. Click to enlarge. Australia-based Mission NewEnergy Limited, a biodiesel refiner and one of the world’s largest Jatropha plantation companies by acreage (350,000 acres in India), has entered into a binding five-year biodiesel Supply Agreement with Valero Marketing and

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Creative Greenius

DECEMBER 17, 2009

I’m very proud to be a Greenpeace volunteer and supporter and I had a blast last night at the Greenpeace holiday party in Silver Lake with Southern California Field Organizer for Greenpeace, the amazing Jenny Binstock. I’ve met and worked with some terrific people through Greenpeace Los Angeles and most of them were there last night. I’m very excited about our plans for the year ahead.

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Creative Greenius

DECEMBER 7, 2009

How do you like me now South Bay spewers of greenhouse gases? Yeah, I’m talking to you Exxon/Mobil mercenaries who work at the Torrance refinery and you amoral assassins who get your blood money from the Chevron refinery in El Segundo. I told you there was a new sheriff in town and that your days in my community were numbered. Did you think I was kidding?

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