May, 2018

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Exeter team develops low-cost photoelectrode for spontaneous water-splitting using sunlight

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the University of Exeter (UK) have developed a novel p-type LaFeO 3 photoelectrode using an inexpensive and scalable spray pyrolysis method. The nanostructured photoelectrode results in spontaneous hydrogen evolution from water without any external bias applied with a faradaic efficiency of 30% and excellent stability. The researchers believe this new type of photoelectrode is not only cheap to produce, but can also be recreated on a larger scale for mass and worldwide use.

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Japanese automakers team up to solidify next-gen batteries

Green Car Reports

Facing competition from American scientists, Japanese automakers are teaming up to develop solid-state lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, according to a Nikkei report. Some engineers see solid state batteries as the holy grail for cars because they are safer and have higher energy density than today's lithium-ion batteries. That can give.

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Potholes – Britain’s nuisance

Greenways Insurance

They’re a major contributor to axle and suspension failure, causing British motorists £2.8 billion every year and authorities £30 million in compensation; but due to lack of funding, potholes are a common sight on UK roads. The fact is that authorities are underfunded by around £1 billion every year. Even if they had sufficient funding, it would take 12 years to get on top of the backlog.

Legal 52
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Electric Highway comes to Queenstown with opening of first Fast Charger

ChargeNet

A new electric vehicle (EV) fast charger is now open for business in Queenstown, just in time for winter travellers making their way to New Zealand’s most popular tourist destination. The DC fast charger, installed and managed by ChargeNet NZ and supported by EECA through their Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund, is conveniently located at […].

DC 52
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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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Q&A: Lane Kidd Explains the Aims of the Trucking Alliance

Green Fleet Magazine

We spoke at length with Lane Kidd, managing director of the Washington, D.C.-based Alliance for Driver Safety & Security (known as the Trucking Alliance) about which issues the carrier-driven and safety-focused lobbying group is most engaged with this year.

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Everything you need to know about the April 2018 diesel ‘road tax’ changes

Green Cars News

Revised car tax rates came into force on 1 April, meaning that drivers of new diesel vehicles will face higher first-year tax bands.

Tax 48

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Sono Sion solar electric car promises 18 miles of range from solar panels

Green Car Reports

Solar cells have gotten cheap enough to make solar cars practical. At least that's the business model of one electric-car startup in Europe. Sono Motors plans to build a $25,000 electric car covered in solar cells that can provide up to 18 miles of range a day. The company plans to introduce it at the end of 2019. In a video interview with.

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Fuel Prices is the biggest worry for fleet managers

Greenways Insurance

According to a new poll conducted by window company Autoglass, 66% of fleet managers said the price of fuel is their biggest worry last year. Service and maintenance costs followed closely behind at 64%, whilst CO2 emissions came third – which shot up from being in final place in 2014. Given a list of options to rank, the managers polled listed driver satisfaction as least important in 2017, suggesting a shift in priorities from community to cost.

Fleet 52
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CARB approves $423M plan to mitigate harm from Volkswagen defeat devices; significant investments in heavy-duty vehicles and equipment sectors

Green Car Congress

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a plan to mitigate statewide harm from more than 10,000 tons of smog-causing pollutants released in the state due to Volkswagen’s (VW) use of illegal “defeat devices” in diesel passenger cars. The National VW Environmental Trust provides California with $423 million for this purpose. Proposed project allocation distribution.

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Workhorse, Plug Power deliver electric delivery van with fuel cell range extender to Fedex; in standard delivery route

Green Car Congress

Plug Power Inc. and Workhorse Group, Inc. have delivered to FedEx Express its first North American fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) delivery van for on-road use. The Class-5 EGEN delivery van is built by Workhorse Group and charged by a Plug Power ProGen hydrogen fuel cell system (2 x 10 kW). The vehicle is currently in service at the FedEx facility in Menands, NY.

Plug-in 275
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Faurecia and Accenture partner on products and services for connected and autonomous vehicles

Brief

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Groupe PSA selects Punch Powertrain for future electrified transmission systems; 48V configuration up first

Green Car Congress

Groupe PSA has selected transmission provider Punch Powertrain as the supplier of its next-generation e-DCT electrified transmission systems by 2022. Groupe PSA has been actively accelerating its shift to electrified vehicles (Mild-hybrid, MHEV), Electric Vehicles (EV) and Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) with the aim of developing an electrified offering covering 100% of its range by 2025.

Future 268
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Proterra introduces new high power interoperable EV charging technology; J1772- and J3105-compliant, OCPP

Green Car Congress

At the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) Bus & Paratransit Conference, electric bus manufacturer Proterra has introduced high-power charging options to make a 100% electric bus fleet more easily achievable. North American cities, counties and transit agencies are announcing zero-emission fleet goals. The development of universal technology standards will accelerate this transition, and Proterra is actively working to promote interoperability across technology platforms.

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Study associates in-utero exposure to PM2.5 pollution with higher blood pressure in childhood

Green Car Congress

Children who were exposed to higher levels of PM 2.5 air pollution during the third trimester of their mother’s pregnancy had a higher risk of elevated blood pressure in childhood, according to new research by a team led by researchers from Johns Hopkins University in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension. Fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns or less (PM 2.5 ) is a form of air pollution produced by motor vehicles and the burning of oil, coal and biomass, and has been shown to e

Pollution 262
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API reports record US petroleum production in April: 10.543 million b/d; strongest April demand since 2007

Green Car Congress

April saw the US produce a record 10,543,000 barrels per day (MBD) of oil, according to data from the American Petroleum Institute. The first four months of this year also saw US petroleum demand average 750,000 barrels a day above the same period in 2017 despite higher prices. Total petroleum products delivered to the domestic market in April 2018 were 20,308,000 b/d—a seasonal decrease of 1.5% from March but 3.8% above April 2017.

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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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German power-to-gas facility opens green methanation plant; €28M STORE&GO project

Green Car Congress

A methanation plant expansion to the existing power-to-gas (PtG) facility in Falkenhagen, Germany has officially opened as part of the international €28-million (US$33.5-million) STORE&GO research project. Construction on the methanation plant began in July 2017. While the current facility feeds pure hydrogen (“WindGas”) directly into the gas grid, the new methanation plant provides for the generation of “green” methane.

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San Francisco commits to all-electric bus fleet By 2035; MUNI Board approves pilot program

Green Car Congress

San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA), which operates MUNI (the city’s public transit), announced San Francisco’s commitment to have an all-electric bus fleet by 2035. SFMTA will only purchase all-electric buses starting in 2025 to meet the goal for 2035. The SFMTA Board of Directors on Tuesday approved a resolution supporting the commitment towards an all-electric bus fleet along with a pilot program to evaluate and implement battery elec

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2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 offered with new 4-cylinder turbo with Active Fuel Management cylinder deactivation

Green Car Congress

The 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 pickup truck will be offered with an all-new, technologically advanced 2.7L Turbo. Standard on LT and RST trims, the new engine delivers an SAE-certified 310 horsepower and 348 lb-ft (472 N·m) of torque—22% more torque than the 4.3L V-6 it replaces. Developed specifically for truck applications, the new 2.7L Turbo inline four-cylinder engine delivers peak torque from 1,500 to 4,000 rpm. 2.7L Turbo with Active Fuel Management and stop/start technolog

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Volvo Trucks presents second electric truck model in three weeks: Volvo FE Electric

Green Car Congress

Just three weeks after the unveiling of Volvo Trucks’ first all-electric truck, the Volvo FL Electric ( earlier post ), the company is expanding its product range with a second electric truck. The Volvo FE Electric is designed for heavier city distribution and refuse transport operations with gross weights of up to 27 tonnes. Sales will commence in Europe in 2019.

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ION ENergy exits stealth mode with launch of UDYR 48V Li-ion battery for two- and three-wheelers

Green Car Congress

ION Energy, a startup energy storage company, launched UDYR, an intelligent, modular and portable 48V, 32 Ah lithium-ion battery supported by ION’s proprietary battery management system, software platform, and backend analytics. UDYR is built with NMC cells from LG Chem. The battery is natively compatible with most electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers allowing automotive OEMs globally to use UDYR as a drop-in solution and accelerate their speed to market.

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MCI J4500e electric coach prototype reaches highway speed and reliability targets in test runs; on sale in 2020

Green Car Congress

Motor Coach Industries (MCI), the US subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI Group), the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America, announced that its all-electric J4500e prototype—a battery-electric version of J4500 coach—successfully completed its phase one testing. MCI said that the coach ran flawlessly at both low and high speeds up to a sustained 70 mph (113 km/h) on the highway.

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StreetScooter opens second manufacturing facility in Düren; doubles capacity to 20,000 electric vans per year

Green Car Congress

StreetScooter GmbH, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL Group and leading producer of electric delivery vehicles ( earlier post ), has opened its second manufacturing facility. With immediate effect, up to 10,000 electric vans per year will run off the production line at the automotive supplier’s new 78,000 m 2 factory in Düren, corresponding to a daily production rate of 46 vehicles (in single shift operation).

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Geely/Volvo awards Maxwell Technologies with ultracapacitor subsystem design win for 2020 model year platforms; mild- and plug-in hybrids

Green Car Congress

Maxwell Technologies, a leading developer and manufacturer of capacitive energy storage and power delivery solutions, announced a technology partnership with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely), the parent company of leading brands such as Volvo and Geely Auto. The partnership focuses on the integration of state-of-the-art ultracapacitors and advanced power conversion electronics into Geely’s global automotive vehicle lineup in support of their fleet electrification strategy.

Plug-in 236
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Toyota Research Institute constructing automated vehicle test facility in Michigan

Green Car Congress

Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is constructing a closed-course test facility to develop automated vehicle technology. Construction permits were filed this week to transform an approximately 60-acre site at Michigan Technical Resource Park (MITRP) in Ottawa Lake. When it becomes operational this October, the new site will be used exclusively by TRI to safely replicate demanding “edge case” driving scenarios, too dangerous to perform on public roads.

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Maxwell puts lifetime value of ultracap subsystem deal with Geely/Volvo at ~$100M

Green Car Congress

Maxwell Technologies is putting the lifetime value of its recently announced deal to provide ultracapacitor-based subsystems to Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely), the parent company of leading brands such as Volvo and Geely Auto ( earlier post ), at $100 million. Under the deal, Maxwell will provide multi-cell ultracapacitor subsystems with power electronics that will be applied in Geely and Volvo mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

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UPS to deploy 35 ARRIVAL purpose-built lightweight electric delivery vans in London and Paris

Green Car Congress

UPS is working with UK-based technology firm ARRIVAL to develop a pilot fleet of 35 electric delivery vehicles (EVs) to be trialed in London and Paris. These zero tailpipe emission, lightweight composite vehicles have a battery range of more than 150 miles (240 kilometers), which is significantly higher than other EVs currently in service. The vehicles will also come equipped with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that help to improve safety and reduce driver fatigue.

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Revolve Technologies working with Ford for hybrid ECUs

Green Car Congress

Ford has appointed UK-based Revolve Technologies , a specialist powertrain, engineering and development business, as its sole European Quality Calibration Modifier (QCM), giving the company access to Ford engine technical information. As engine designs become ever more complex, optimizing for new applications is an increasing challenge that requires access to complex data sets.

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Key enzyme for production of second-generation ethanol discovered in Brazilian Amazon

Green Car Congress

Researchers have discovered a novel enzyme (a ?-glucosidase) in microorganisms living in the Brazilian Amazon that could boost efficiency of the sugarcane bagasse saccharification process, which accounts for up to 50% of the global costs of cellulosic ethanol production. The team isolated , characterized and reproduced the enzyme, proving it to be compatible with two essential stages of the production of second-generation (cellulosic) ethanol: fermentation and saccharification.

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How crude-oil prices influence gasoline prices

Green Car Congress

by Michael Sivak. Gasoline is one of the products refined from crude oil. Thus, the price of crude oil should have a strong influence on the price of gasoline. However, the retail price of gasoline includes other costs as well. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that in the United States from 2008 to 2017, crude oil represented only 61% of the retail price of gasoline.

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BMW Group 1st international automaker to obtain autonomous driving road test license in China; new R&D center in Beijing

Green Car Congress

On 14 May 2018, BMW Group officially obtained the Shanghai Intelligent Connected Autonomous Driving Test License, issued by the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Road Test Promotion Team—consisting of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau and Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.

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SoftBank to invest $2.25B in GM Cruise; GM to add $1.1B; driving large-scale AV deployment

Green Car Congress

SoftBank Vision Fund will invest $2.25 billion in GM Cruise Holdings LLC (GM Cruise), further strengthening the company’s plans to commercialize autonomous vehicle (AV) technology at large scale. GM will also invest $1.1 billion in GM Cruise upon closing of the transaction. The investments value GM Cruise at $11.5 billion. GM has made significant progress toward realizing the dream of completely automated driving to dramatically reduce fatalities, emissions and congestion.

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Scenario study suggests increased vehicle electrification in Europe increases demand for gas in power sector; limited ability for power-to-gas

Green Car Congress

A study published by the Centre on Regulation in Europe (CERRE) has explored the possible impact of increased electrification of road transportation and domestic heating and cooking on the energy system (electricity and gas), as well as on CO 2 emissions and on GDP. The study is based on a set of scenarios for 2050 of electrification in five European countries: Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), France (FR), Germany (DE) and the Netherlands (NL).

Gas 210
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BNEF: E-buses to surge even faster than EVs; supply of cobalt potential risk to the pace of growth

Green Car Congress

The electrification of road transport will move into top gear in the second half of the 2020s, due to tumbling battery costs and larger-scale manufacturing, with sales of electric cars surging to 28%, and those of electric buses to 84%, of their respective global markets by 2030. The latest long-term forecast from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) shows sales of electric vehicles (EVs) increasing from a record 1.1 million worldwide last year to 11 million in 2025, and then surging to 30 millio

Supplies 210
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US Army, Uber to partner on vertical lift research; stacked co-rotating rotors; Launchpoint for motors

Green Car Congress

Ride-sharing company Uber and US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command, Army Research Laboratory, have entered a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to advance technologies supporting Future Vertical Lift. As part of this agreement, Uber and RDECOM ARL also signed their first joint work statement jointly to fund and to collaborate on research development of rotor technology, which may lead to ground-breaking discoveries to support Army Modernization Priorities.

Motoring 210
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Mercedes-Benz targeting average diesel NOx of ~30mg/km in RDE Stage 2 tests by 2020; approaching 20mg in following years

Green Car Congress

With the market launch of the new A-Class ( earlier post ), the new diesel engines from Mercedes-Benz are now available from the compact class to the luxury class. With these engines, Mercedes-Benz vehicles achieve average NO x emissions of between 40 and 60 mg/km over many thousands of kilometers of driving on the road under the conditions of the Real Driving Emissions (RDE) measuring method.

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