March, 2014

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nanoFLOWCELL unveils flow cell battery prototype vehicle

Green Car Congress

'Powertrain of the QUANT. The two 200L (400L, 106 gallons US total) electrolyte tanks are packaged in the rear and central tunnel of the vehicle. Click to enlarge. Liechtenstein-based nanoFLOWCELL unveiled the QUANT e-Sportslimousine, a prototype vehicle equipped with a nanoFLOWCELL flow cell battery powertrain, at the Geneva Motor Show. This flow cell system supports an electric driving range of between 400 to 600 km (249 to 373 miles) in the QUANT e-Sportlimousine prototype, the company claims

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2016 Chevrolet Volt To Launch Next Year: What We Know So Far

Green Car Reports

'There''s been very little news lately about the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car, and its sales in 2013 sales were stagnant. In fact, the most recent item of note was a $5,000 price reduction on the 2014 Volt last August, to bring it closer to the center of the volume-car market. But behind the scenes, Chevrolet is preparing the next.

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Tesla Motors sideswiped by NJ Gov. Christie's administration over Model S sales

National Green Transportation

'On Tuesday, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) approved a new rule requiring that all new-car dealers have a franchise agreement in order to sell cars in New Jersey. This effectively blocks Tesla Motors, who directly.

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Honda FCEV hydrogen car debuts in Geneva

Green Cars News

'One the most exciting appearances at the Geneva Motor Show this week has to be the Honda FCEV fuel cell concept which is expected to form the basis for a production car due to launch in 2015. First appearing at the Los Angeles Auto Show last November, the concept gives us a fascinating glimpse int[.].

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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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Honda opens Smart Home US in California; produces more energy than it consumes; direct DC-DC EV charging

Green Car Congress

'The Honda Smart Home US integrates a number of technologies, and is managed by Honda’s Home Energy Management System (HEMS). Click to enlarge. Honda marked the opening of Honda Smart Home US, showcasing technologies that enable zero net energy living and transportation, including Honda’s home energy management system (HEMS), a proprietary hardware and software system that monitors, controls and optimizes electrical generation and consumption throughout the home’s microgrid.

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A closer look at the basics of Volkswagen Group’s important new 2.0L diesel MDB engine

Green Car Congress

'The EA288 2.0-liter diesel, prominently showing the closely attached exhaust aftertreatment system. Click to enlarge. The Volkswagen Group’s new 2.0-liter TDI diesel (EA288) will eventually replace all the 2.0-liter TDI Clean Diesel engines fitted in Audi and Volkswagen TDI Clean Diesel models, and as such, is a strategically important engine. ( Earlier post.

Diesel 384

More Trending

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Volkswagen: e-mobility and sustainability; Part 1, the e-Golf and Golf GTE

Green Car Congress

'The e-Golf. Click to enlarge. In conjunction with its annual media and investor conference, Volkswagen is staging a two-week (8 - 21 March) e-mobility event at Berlin-Tempelhof. Although the company (both the brand and the larger Volkswagen Group) has been researching electromobility for a number of years; has previously outlined accelerating implementation of electric drive projects (e.g., earlier post ); and currently has two battery-electric passenger cars on the market (e-Up!

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WHO links 7 million premature deaths annually to air pollution; 12.5% of total global deaths

Green Car Congress

'The World Health Organization now estimates that in 2012 around 7 million people died—one in eight (12.5%) of total global deaths—as a result of air pollution exposure. This new estimate more than doubles previous estimates and confirms that air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk, according to WHO, which is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.

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Nissan introduces the e-NV2000 electric van

Green Car Congress

'e-NV200. Click to enlarge. Nissan introduced the Nissan e-NV200 battery-electric compact commercial van ( earlier post ), the second battery-electric vehicle in its global line-up, joining the Nissan LEAF. The e-NV200’s electric drivetrain, based on that used in the LEAF, is combined with the cargo volume of the NV200 to create a practical and versatile vehicle capable of carrying people or goods.

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Maxwell Technologies introduces ultracapacitor-based engine start module for medium-duty diesel trucks

Green Car Congress

'New medium-duty ESM. The third terminal connects to the starter solenoid. Click to enlarge. Maxwell Technologies, Inc. is expanding its ultracapacitor-based Engine Start Module (ESM) product line ( earlier post ) to provide the same benefits to class 3 through 6 medium-duty trucks that it has been offering previously to class 7 and 8 heavy-duty diesel trucks.

Diesel 352
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Eaton and Cummins Westport launch first automated transmission/natural gas engine package for N.A. Market; expanding SmartAdvantage diesel packages

Green Car Congress

'ISXG12 G paired with UltraShift PLUS. Click to enlarge. Eaton and Cummins Westport, a joint-venture company of Cummins Inc. and Westport Innovations (NASDAQ: WPRT/TSX: WPT), are introducing an integrated powertrain package for the Cummins Westport ISX12 G natural gas engine that will provide customers with the first automated transmission to be paired with a spark-ignited natural gas engine in the North American market.

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Study finds energy savings of PHEVs relative to HEVs dependent on charging coverage and daily VMT

Green Car Congress

'A study based on a spatial and longitudinal travel dataset by a team from Lamar University, Iowa State University and Oak Ridge National Laboratory found that whether plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) have lower energy costs that conventional gasoline vehicles (CGVs) or hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) depends on charger coverage. Their paper is published in the journal Energy Policy.

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Tesla to open 30 new service centers and stores across Europe, expand Supercharger network

Green Car Congress

'Tesla Motors will open more than 30 new service centers and stores across the continent, the company announced at the Geneva Motor Show. Tesla will also continue rapidly expanding its Supercharger network, allowing Model S drivers to travel long distances across Europe for free. The retail, service, and Supercharger expansions come as Tesla dials up its commitment to Europe, which continues to be a priority market for the company.

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BYD’s Qin plug-in hybrid the best selling automotive EV in China

Green Car Congress

'2 nd -generation Dual Mode (DM II) plug-in hybrid system of the Qin. Click to enlarge. BYD’s second-generation Dual-Mode, plug-in hybrid electric sedan Qin has posted a second month of strong sales in February. Trends in March now make it “China’s Best-Selling Electric Vehicle” according to China’s National Passenger Car Association. In the first weeks of 2014, more than 6,000 Qin vehicles were sold, accounting for more than one-half of the Chinese new-energy vehicle market.

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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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Study finds no benefit to delaying or weakening ZEV policies to drive transition to electric drive

Green Car Congress

'A study by a team from the Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and Oak Ridge National Laboratory concludes that starting the California ZEV (Zero Emission Vehicle) mandates five years earlier or doubling their intensity increases upfront costs but also increases benefits by a greater amount. Similarly, the study found, delaying the ZEV mandate is estimated to reduce upfront costs, but cause an even greater reduction in the present value of benefits

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Crazy Diamond Performance developing new supercharged CNG engine for Class 6 heavy-duty vehicles

Green Car Congress

'Crazy Diamond Performance (CDP) has expanded its development on Class 6 heavy duty engines to include a 7.4L supercharged CNG engine; the new engine will join the naturally aspirated 6.9L in the CDP Torquemaster family. Both engines have been designed from the ground up for heavy-duty applications up to class 6. Under initial chassis testing, the Torquemaster 6.9L produced more than 375 hp (280 kW) and 500 lb-ft (678 N·m) of torque, with maximum torque generated by 2400 rpm.

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Volkswagen shows new 65 mpg Golf Sportsvan TDI BlueMotion at Geneva show

Green Car Congress

'At the Geneva International Motor Show, Volkswagen is giving the new Golf Sportsvan TDI BlueMotion its debut. The new 5-seater diesel Golf Sportsvan offers combined cycle fuel consumption of 3.6 l/100 km (65 mpg US), equating to CO 2 emissions of 95 g/km (provisional). The good aerodynamics of the 81 kW / 109 hp Golf Sportsvan TDI BlueMotion contributes significantly to the low fuel consumption.

MPG 325
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ADB: Projected cost of Uzbek Oltin Yo’l GTL plant increases by 37% to $5.6B

Green Car Congress

'The projected cost of the Olin Yo’l GTL project in Uzbekistan ( earlier post ) will hit $5.6 billion, according to a project update by Asian Development Bank (ADB), which is supporting the project with a $125-million loan. As originally outlined by founding project partners Sasol, Petronas and Uzbekneftegaz, the project was estimated to cost some $4.1 billion.

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Inside the fuel-efficient 9-speed 9G-TRONIC from Mercedes-Benz

Green Car Congress

'Design of the Mercedes-Benz automatic transmission 9G-TRONIC. Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz’ new 9-speed 9G-TRONIC, the first rear-wheel drive nine-speed automatic transmission with torque converter, is making its debut in the E 350 BlueTEC as the standard transmission paired with the 185 kW (252 hp) V6 diesel. Announced in 2013 ( earlier post ), the 9G-TRONIC represents the seventh automatic transmission generation from Mercedes-Benz.

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Toyota to use landfill gas to generate power for Kentucky plant

Green Car Congress

'Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc. has teamed up with Waste Services of the Bluegrass to generate power from local landfill waste, marking the region’s first business-to-business landfill gas to energy initiative. Toyota estimates the locally-generated landfill gas will supply enough power each year for the production of 10,000 vehicles. As solid waste naturally breaks down in a landfill, it creates biogas.

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New 3rd generation Audi TT diesel offers fuel economy of 56 mpg

Green Car Congress

'3 rd generation Audi TT. Click to enlarge. Audi is unveiling the third-generation of its TT compact sports car at the Geneva Motor Show. (The first generation arrived on the market in 1998.) The new TT and TTS models will be available with three different four-cylinder engines with turbocharging and direct injection. A start-stop system is a standard feature.

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New VW EA288 diesel to debut in 2H 2014 in the MY 2015 Golf, Jetta, Passat and Beetle; MDB comes to the US (updated with diagrams)

Green Car Congress

'Main modules of development of the EA288 diesel. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen of America announced that the new 2.0-liter EA288 diesel engine will power the 2015 Golf, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, and Jetta, all of which are set to arrive in dealer showrooms in the second half of 2014. The EA288 is based on the Volkswagen MDB, its modular diesel engine toolkit (Modularen Diesel Baukasten) ( earlier post ).

Diesel 307
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EPA finalizes Tier 3 fuel and emissions standards

Green Car Congress

'The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its Tier 3 emission standards for gasoline sulfur content; evaporative emissions; and tailpipe emissions from passenger cars, light-duty trucks, medium-duty passenger vehicles, and some heavy-duty vehicles. EPA had issued the proposed standards last March. ( Earlier post.). The Tier 3 standards, which come into effect starting in 2017, consider the vehicle and its fuel as an integrated system.

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Volvo Car and Flybrid vehicle testing showing flywheel KERS can deliver fuel savings up to 25%, with significant performance boost

Green Car Congress

'Rear-axle KERS unit. Click to enlarge. Volvo Car Group and engineering company Flybrid Automotive, part of the Torotrak Group, have been conducting UK tests of lightweight Flybrid flywheel KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) technology. ( Earlier post.) The test car applies flywheel technology to the rear axle, while the combustion engine drives the front wheels.

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Sea-Tac Airport launches major ground support equipment electrification project

Green Car Congress

'The Port of Seattle, along with Alaska Airlines, Western Washington Clean Cities and US Representative Adam Smith unveiled a new project providing nearly 600 electric charging stations throughout the airport for ground support equipment (GSE) such as baggage tugs, bag ramps and pushback vehicles. Converting the GSE from fossil fuel to electric, each year the project is projected to save $2.8 million in airline fuel costs and 10,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions—the equivalent of taking

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Volkswagen to introduce Passat Plug-in hybrid “soon”; Group electrifying more than 40 more models over next few years

Green Car Congress

'In remarks before the opening of the Geneva Motora Show, Volkswagen Group Chairman of the Board of Management Prof. Dr. Winterkorn said that a plug-in hybrid version of the Volkswagen Passat would join the Group’s range of low-CO 2 vehicles “soon.”. In his remarks, Winterkorn noted that Group research and development expenditure rose by 15% last year to the record value of €10.2 billion (US $14 billion), with the “ lion’s share going to green technologies. ” Winterkorn said that the Group was r

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Shell producing base oil from natural gas for motor oils

Green Car Congress

'Shell announced the production of the first clear base oil—the main component of motor oils—made from natural gas using its gas-to-liquids (GTL) PurePlus Technology. Shell PurePlus Technology is now being used to create motor oils for motorists in the United States. Pennzoil Platinum and Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Full Synthetic motor oils are the only ones blended exclusively with these GTL base oils.

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Scientists discover potential way to make graphene superconducting

Green Car Congress

'Adding calcium atoms (orange spheres) between graphene planes (blue honeycomb) creates a superconducting material called CaC 6. A study at SLAC has shown for the first time that graphene is a key player in this superconductivity: Electrons scatter back and forth between the graphene and calcium layers, interact with natural vibrations in the material’s atomic structure and pair up to conduct electricity without resistance.

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Toyota begins public road trials of i-Road 3-wheeled electric personal mobility vehicle

Green Car Congress

'Toyota’s i-Road 3-wheeled electronic personal mobility vehicle (PMV) ( earlier post ) has begun public road trials in Toyota City, Japan as part of “Ha:mo”, Toyota’s optimized urban transport system. i-Roads on the road. Click to enlarge. More i-Roads in Toyota City will be made available to residents at vehicle-sharing stations. Later this year, i-Road vehicles will be part of a vehicle-sharing project in Grenoble, France, that will last until 2017.

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Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 Le Mans prototype makes its debut at Geneva Show

Green Car Congress

'Porsche 919 Hybrid. Click to enlarge. The Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 Le Mans prototype made its premiere at the Geneva Motor Show. The hybrid prototype will be joined by the Porsche 911 RSR at the Porsche exhibition in Geneva as well as at all eight races of the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the season highlight of which will be the 24 hours of Le Mans.

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Toyota revamps 1.0L 3-cylinder engine for new AYGO; up to 60 mpg in ECO version

Green Car Congress

'New AYGO. Click to enlarge. Toyota’s new AYGO, introduced at the Geneva Motor Show, is equipped with an improved version of Toyota’s award-winning 3-cylinder, 1.0-liter VVT-i gasoline engine. Still one of the lightest engines in its class, the unit incorporates numerous revisions that enhance performance and help deliver class-leading fuel efficiency and CO 2 emissions.

MPG 287
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Tesla adding underbody triple shield system to Model S to reduce risk of battery fires caused by impacts

Green Car Congress

'In an effort to reduce further the already low risk of a Model S battery fire resulting from impact with road debris, Tesla Motors is outfitting new Model S cars (as of 6 March) with an underbody triple shield system consisting first of an aluminum bar; then a titanium shield; and finally a shallow angle solid aluminum extrusion. Tesla will also retrofit the system, free of charge, to existing Model S cars upon request or as part of a normally scheduled service, wrote Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk

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Fleet testing shows UPM renewable diesel from wood biomass performs as well as petroleum diesel

Green Car Congress

'The first fleet tests of UPM’s BioVerno renewable diesel have shown that the fuel works in cars just as well as any conventional petroleum diesel. The fleet tests, conducted by the VTT Technical Research Center of Finland, were started in May last year and ran until early 2014. ( Earlier post.). The UPM BioVerno diesel fleet tests focused on investigating UPM’s renewable diesel in terms of fuel functionality in engine and fuel consumption.

Diesel 285
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Audi says traffic light information system production ready; potential for 15% reduction in CO2 emissions

Green Car Congress

'Audi says that its Online traffic light information system, demonstrated in an Audi A6 as part of a technology display at the Consumer Electronics Show in January in Las Vegas, is production ready and could be fitted to every Audi model in the range subject to the necessary government legislation. Audi Online traffic light information uses in-car internet in a new way via Audi connect to establish a link between the car and the traffic light network via the central traffic computer in each town

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