Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2018

At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Achates Power and new development parter Aramco Services ( earlier post ) showcased a Ford F-150 fitted with a 3-cylinder, 2.7-liter Opposed-Piston Gasoline Compression Ignition (OPGCI) engine. ( Earlier post.). Fabien Redon, Vice President, Technology Development at Achates, said they estimate that the OPGCI pickup will achieve 37 mpg (6.35 l/100 km) on the combined cycle—nearly five MPG better than the proposed CAFE 2025 requirements

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F-150 Gasoline MPG Engine 305

Green Car Reports

JANUARY 17, 2018

Vehicle launches at auto shows include a dance between automakers, which only want certain information revealed, and journalists, who want to put specific news items into a bigger and broader context. For the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado pickup unveiling Saturday night, Chevy's executives and engineers stayed ruthlessly on message. The company said.

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Silverado 2019 Chevrolet Auto 139

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2018

Technology developed by Nissan for the battery-electric Nissan LEAF will be used in an electric bus project led by a team from Kumamoto University, that starts testing next month in Japan, with the goal of making zero-emission public transit more widespread and affordable. The bus, named “Yoka ECO Bus,” will feature three batteries, three electric motors and an inverter from the Nissan LEAF.

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Japan Nissan Universal Motor 299

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2018

Shell and ITM Power will build the world’s largest hydrogen electrolysis plant at Rhineland refinery, Germany. ( Earlier post.) With a peak capacity of 10 megawatts, the hydrogen will be used for the processing and upgrading of products at the refinery’s Wesseling site as well as testing the technology and exploring application in other sectors. The European partner consortium of Shell, ITM Power, SINTEF, thinkstep and Element Energy has now secured €10 million (US$12.2 million) in funding from

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Hydrogen Germany Building Power 272

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has analyzed the fuel efficiency of 20 airlines operating nonstop flights between the mainland United States and East Asia and Oceania in 2016. The ICCT team found that the difference in efficiency performance between two co-leaders and the least fuel-efficient carrier, Qantas Airways, was 64%—the widest gap identified in similar ICCT studies of aviation fuel efficiency to date.

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2016 Fuel North America Asia 271

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

EPA recently released the latest edition of its annual report Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends. The report is the authoritative reference for real-world fuel economy, technology trends and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions, for new personal vehicles sold in the US every year since 1975. The report found that fuel economy for the US fleet continues to improve.

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Fuel Economy Economy EPA Fuel 261

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 14, 2018

Chevrolet and Ford each are entering the Detroit Auto Show this week on the heels of major truck introductions: for Chevrolet, the next-generation Silverado full-size pickup; for Ford, the return of the Ranger mid-size pickup. Silverado. The introduction of the next-generation Silverado comes 100 years after the brand delivered its first trucks to customers in January 1918.

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Chevrolet Detroit Silverado Ford 247

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

Five trends are transforming the automotive industry, according to PWC: electrification, autonomy, sharing, connecting and yearly updating, a combination the consultancy is now labeling “eascy”. In a report exploring the impact on the trends on the industry in 2030—“eascy – The five dimensions of automotive transformation”—PwC suggests that as a result of novel sharing concepts, the stock of cars could fall from 280 to 200 million in Europe and 270 to 212 million in the United States

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Europe China Transportation Vehicles 246

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2018

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation has developed what it believes to be the industry’s highest performing automotive camera technology. The technology detects various object types at distances of up to about 100 meters, enabling drivers to receive advanced warning for enhanced driving safety in coming mirrorless cars. The solution, which is based on Mitsubishi Electric’s proprietary Maisart-brand artificial intelligence (AI) technology, is expected to help prevent accidents, especially when drivers

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Mitsubishi Japan Range Cars 244

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

FCA pulled the wraps off the new 2019 Ram 1500 at the Detroit Auto Show. Overall weight for the Ram 1500 has been reduced by 225 pounds (102 kg). As the truck’s backbone, the frame uses advanced materials and engineering to eliminate 100 pounds while increasing stiffness and durability for 12,750 pounds of towing capability and 2,300 pounds of payload.

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2019 Hybrid Fuel Economy Volt 240

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

Achates Power, Inc. and Saudi Aramco’s US-based subsidiary Aramco Services Company (ASC) have signed a joint development agreement providing the framework for the two companies to work together on a series of Opposed-Piston (OP) Engine projects, which will speed the development of new efficient, low-emissions powertrain choices. The joint development agreement formalizes the cooperative relationship between the two companies.

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Gasoline Engine Companies Power 240

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 14, 2018

Bee’ah, the UAE’s fastest growing environmental management company has ordered 50 Tesla Semis—the first and largest fleet of Tesla Semi trucks in the Middle East. The incoming Tesla Semi trucks, which enter production in 2019, will primarily be used for waste collection and transportation, including transportation of materials for recovery. They will also add to Bee’ah’s growing fleet of vehicles, which total more than 1,000 today, and continue upgrading the organization’s transport option

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Fleet Tesla Waste Grid 240

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2018

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has launched two initiatives—High Performance Computing for Mobility (HPC4Mobility) and Big Data Solutions for Mobility—which will utilize the computing capabilities of the national labs to find solutions to real-world transportation energy challenges. The $2-million, multi-lab research initiative will develop new algorithms and big data tools that can model urban-scale transportation networks using real-world, near real-time data.

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Transportation Energy Los Angeles Renewable 230

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2018

Ricardo said that its recent completion of a full EV sports car battery manufacturing concept program by its Performance Products division is a significant milestone in its aim to become the niche battery manufacturer of choice for high performance hybrids and EVs. Ricardo Performance Products has been in niche volume programs for more than 40 years, delivering projects from individual components through to complete powertrain systems in markets as diverse as automotive, defence, aerospace and r

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Manufacturer Hybrid Batteries Battery 218

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2018

Navigant Research has issued a new iteration of its Leaderboard Report on Autonomous Driving (AD), reflecting the new partnerships, strategic investments and acquisitions made since the early version less than one year ago. The Navigant AD Leaderboard assesses which participants are best-equipped to be the Leaders in developing complete automated driving stacks—including perception systems, processing, and control software—and services platforms.

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GM Tesla Chrysler General Motors 207

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2018

Toyota Tsusho, the trading arm of the Toyota Group, has signed a Share Subscription Agreement with Australian lithium miner Orocobre to become a 15% shareholder on a fully diluted basis by private placements and participation in Orocobre’s public accelerated entitlement share offering, announced in conjunction with this investment. The total investment amount will be about A$292 million (US$232 million).

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Toyota Argentina Lithium Ion Carbon 207

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

Toyota unveiled the new fifth-generation Avalon at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Avalon received an all-encompassing makeover by Toyota’s US-based design, engineering, and manufacturing entities at Calty Design Research Inc. (Calty) in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Toyota Motor North America Research and Development (TMNA R&D) in Saline, Michigan; and Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.

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2019 Toyota Hybrid Nickel Metal Hydride 207

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2018

A team of researchers led by scientists at the US Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have designed an active polyelectrolyte binder (PEB) that actively regulates key ion transport processes within a lithium-sulfur battery, and have also shown how it functions on a molecular level. The new polymer binder allows a doubling in capacity compared to a conventional lithium-sulfur battery, even after more than 100 charge cycles at high current densities.

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Lithium Sulfur Polymer Design Li-ion 199

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2018

BMW is making a number of adjustments to its powertrain lineup from spring 2018, including new diesel aftertreatment systems for its smaller diesel models; gasoline particulate filters on more gasoline models; and a new diesel engine for the X3. SCR. BMW ensures maximum effective reduction of diesel NO x emissions from its larger vehicles by using an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system.

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Diesel BMW Standards Engine 199

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 13, 2018

At CES, Cisco and Hyundai Motor Company announced the coming production of a next-generation, hyperconnected car. Hyundai will feature this new in-vehicle network in their premium 2019 vehicles. In 2016, Cisco and Hyundai reported plans to develop a vehicle with a new approach to communication. ( Earlier post.) The companies said they would create a flexible and more secure platform that would offer a path to innovate and build on smart-vehicle solutions.

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Hyundai 2019 Connect Connected 191

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2018

To help accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has launched its new EV Charge Network program. Partnering with business customers and EV charging companies, PG&E will install 7,500 EV chargers at condominiums, apartment buildings and workplaces across Northern and Central California, including at sites in disadvantaged communities.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

Magna unveiled its high-resolution ICON RADAR at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). ICON RADAR incorporates advanced technology used by the US military to provide precise detection, extensive range and high resiliency. With a range of more than 300 meters, Magna’s ICON RADAR continuously scans the environment in four dimensions (distance, height, depth and speed).

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Environment 2019 Range International 186

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

At the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Kia Motors America (KMA) unveiled the third-generation 2019 Forte compact sedan. With a number of improvements, Forte now offers drivers a higher level of comfort, fuel efficiency and advanced driver assistance technologies. Housed underneath the Forte’s longer hood is a second-generation 2.0-liter Nu four-cylinder engine that benefits from Atkinson Cycle technology and a cooled EGR system.

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Kia 2019 Fuel MPG 186

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

Continental is supplying the 48V belt-starter generator with integrated power electronics that is at the heart of the mild-hybrid (MHEV) system that is standard on Audi’s new A8. ( Earlier post.). The system replaces a conventional starter pinion and is driven by a belt connected to the engine crankshaft. Together with a lithium-ion battery the belt-starter generator forms the heart of the electrified drivetrain.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 13, 2018

Ceylon Electricity Board, the prime player in Sri Lanka’s electricity generation, distribution and transmission, has chosen ABB as its preferred supplier to develop the country’s fast charging infrastructure. The Sri Lankan area of Colombo City will benefit from a new fleet of connected, fast electric vehicle (EV) chargers from ABB. The installation of six Terra 53 CJ chargers, which are part of the ABB Ability portfolio of connected mobility solutions, will facilitate more efficient charging of

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Sri Lanka Charging Gasoline-Electric Installation 186

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 19, 2018

The Volkswagen brand has founded “Volkswagen Mobility Solutions Rwanda”, a company based in Rwanda. The objective is to provide modern integrated mobility services in Africa in future. As part of its worldwide regionalization strategy, Volkswagen is planning to expand its business presence significantly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Going forward, the brand will be focusing in particular on new app-based mobility services such as car sharing and ride hailing in Rwanda.

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Rwanda Africa Companies South Africa 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 18, 2018

Dürr is building a fully automatic paint shop for a Anhui Jianghuai Automobile (JAC) plant in China. The plant is designed to handle 100,000 units per year, will commence operation in June 2018, and will produce battery-electric cars on behalf of a local electric car manufacturer. The vehicles will be given a modern two-tone color design in the fully automatic Dürr paint shop.The integration of numerous digital@DÜRR solutions turns the paint shop into a Smart Factory with extensive use of data.

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Electric Vehicles Building China Exhaust 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2018

INFINITI Motor Company will introduce new vehicles with electrified powertrains from 2021, said Nissan Chief Executive Officer Hiroto Saikawa at the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit. INFINITI will offer a mix of pure electric vehicles (EV) and e-POWER series hybrid vehicles ( earlier post ), demonstrating the full range of low-emission vehicle technology available to INFINITI as the premium brand of Nissan Motor Company.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 17, 2018

A low-cost, nanostructured composite material developed by researchers at UC Santa Cruz has shown performance comparable to Pt/C as a catalyst for the electrochemical splitting of water to produce hydrogen. An efficient, low-cost catalyst is essential for realizing the promise of hydrogen as a clean, environmentally friendly fuel. Researchers led by Shaowei Chen, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at UC Santa Cruz, incorporated ruthenium ions into graphitic carbon nitride/reduced graphene o

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Hydrogen Water Low Cost Carbon 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

Infiniti unveiled its Q Inspiration Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Previewing a new generation of Infiniti vehicles, the Q Inspiration Concept proposes how an innovative VC-Turbo variable compression ratio engine powertrain ( earlier post ), next-level autonomous drive technologies, and a unique human-centric interior could enrich the experience of drivers in the mid-size sedan segment.

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Infinity Concept Design Engine 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

The transportation sector used about 27.8 quadrillion Btu (quads) of energy in 2016 with 76% of that used by vehicles on the nation’s roads, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Light vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, pickups, vans and sport utility vehicles, used the most energy, accounting for 55% of the total. Medium and heavy trucks and buses accounted for 21% of the transportation sector’s energy use.

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2016 Transportation Energy Vehicles 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

The German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, DLR) and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) are conducting joint research flights in Germany for the first time. The focus will be on alternative fuel emissions and the characterisation of ice crystals in condensation trails (contrails), using biofuel as an example.

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Alternative Fuels Emissions Fuel DC 170

Green Car Congress

JANUARY 15, 2018

Ford will boost its investment in electrification to $11 billion by 2022, said Executive Chairman Bill Ford, speaking at the Detroit Auto Show. In 2015, Ford had said it would invest an additional $4.5 billion to add 13 electrified vehicles to its portfolio by 2020. ( Earlier post.). At the time, the $4.5 billion was Ford’s largest-ever electrified vehicle investment in a five-year period.

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Green Car Congress

JANUARY 16, 2018

Life-cycle analysis specialist EVEA has estimated that fully renewable ETBE produced by the Global Bioenergies’ IBN-One plant would enable 69% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil gasoline. This figure was calculated for the current design planned for the IBN-One plant using a greenhouse gases emissions calculator based on 2BSVS, compliant with the Renewable Energy Directive.

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