Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

California’s SunLine Transit Agency has put into service a new zero-emission bus that will have the capability to cover any route in its service territory—even with the air conditioner operating at maximum levels in the middle of the summer. With funding from the private sector, the Federal Transit Administration, and the California Energy Commission, SunLine Transit unveiled an electric bus with a fuel cell range extender to support a 250-300-mile daily route.

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Green Car Reports

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

The Toyota Prius hybrid has been its maker's "halo car" and an example of its most advanced technology for two decades. Launched from an early-1990s project to halve the fuel consumption of a small car, its hybrid-electric powertrain pioneered mass electrification of passenger cars. But the sales arc of what has grown to be a family of Prius.

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EV Driver

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

As the EV revolution rolls on and picks up steam (remember that!) in 2018, more and more businesses are looking into what will be required to keep up. As it is clear that hybrids will be the first step for the majority of adventurous drivers, a lot of new hybrids come with the ability to be plugged in. So, you are surely asking yourself, why not use the little EV engine in a hybrid to reduce your CO2 emissions each and every commute to work you do.

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Charging Installation CO2 Plug-in 52

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Ionic Materials has secured $65 million in a Series C financing round from a leading group of financial and strategic investors. The investors include companies from the battery manufacturing, consumer electronic and electric vehicle ecosystem which will be working with the company to speed the development of its solid polymer electrolyte battery material.

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Polymer Battery Batteries Aspen 327

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Norway

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Three of Hyundai Motor Company’s next-generation NEXO fuel-cell-electric vehicles ( earlier post ) have completed a self-driven 118-mile (190 km) journey from Seoul to Pyeongchang. This is the first time that level 4 autonomous driving has been achieved with fuel-cell-electric vehicles. Five Hyundai vehicles completed the journey. Three vehicles are based on Hyundai’s next-generation fuel cell electric SUV NEXO, scheduled to be released in Korea next month, and the other two are Genesis G80 auto

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 3, 2018

In an event in Amsterdam, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its new A-Class compact line. The new fourth-generation A-Class vehicles are larger than their predecessors, and feature the MBUX – Mercedes-Benz User Experience with a number of functions that were previously the preserve of the luxury class. In certain driving situations, the new A-Class compact is able to drive semi-autonomously for the first time, and MULTIBEAM LED headlamps are available on request.

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Mercedes Engine Gasoline-Electric Exhaust 303

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Ozone levels across much of North America and Europe dropped significantly between 2000 and 2014. Even so, during 2010-2014, people in parts of California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, the Midwest and the Middle Atlantic still experienced more than 15 days a year in which ozone levels exceeded the US health-based air quality standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb) averaged over eight hours.

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Ozone Global North America Colorado 255

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

In Q4 2017, Tesla posted its largest quarterly loss yet, even while combined Model S and Model X deliveries in Q4 grew 10% globally compared to the prior record in Q3 and 28% compared to Q4 2016. In Q4, Tesla delivered 28,425 Model S and Model X vehicles and 1,542 Model 3 vehicles, totaling 29,967 deliveries. Telsa reported a GAAP Q4 2017 net loss of $675.35 million, with a full-year loss of $1.961 billion.

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Production Tesla 2017 2018 250

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

New analysis of V2X (vehicle to everything) conducted by ABI Research finds that the cost of implementing DSRC (Dedicated Short-Range Communication) above cellular communications is expected to be $13.50 to $15 lower per Telematics Control Unit than implementing a C-V2X (CellularV2X) solution. The global automotive industry has been extensively comparing DSRC and C-V2X as technology alternatives for enabling V2X in vehicles in order to prevent accidents.

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Connect Connected Cost Of Standards 247

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Ford unveiled the redesigned Transit Connect Wagon at the Chicago Auto Show. The wagon, which comes in 5- or 7-passenger models, offers a choice between a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with direct injection with Auto Start-Stop as standard equipment, or the new 1.5-liter EcoBlue diesel, both paired with a new 8-speed automatic. Ford is targeting the 1.5L EcoBlue diesel to deliver an EPA-estimated fuel economy rating of at least 30 mpg (7.8 l/100 km) highway; final EPA 2019 Transit

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Transit Connect Connect Connected Diesel 247

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Mercedes?Benz unveiled the latest generation of its successful Sprinter model at an event held at a logistics center in the Duisburg, Germany docks. (Duisburg is home to the world’s largest inland port.) As the first fully connected integral system solution, the third generation of the Sprinter demonstrates the development of the division from purely a vehicle manufacturer into a provider of complete transport and mobility solutions, the company said.

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Connected Connect Mercedes 2019 220

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Hyundai unveiled the redesigned 2018 Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models at the Chicago Auto Show. Although the powertrains remain the same, the new Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid feature a comprehensive exterior and interior redesign, safety, suspension and new and improved infotainment and connectivity features. The 2018 Hybrid and Plug-in will be produced in Asan, Korea, with Hybrid availability in the first quarter of 2018 and Plug-in availability in the second quarter of 2018.

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Plug-in 2018 Chicago Hybrid 218

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Lexus is pricing the new 2018 RX 450hL three-row hybrid SUV—announced at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2017—with a starting Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $50,620—$1,550 more than its gasoline-engined RX 350L AWD three-rowed sibling. The RX 450hL is set to go on sale at dealers in April. Lexus introduced the first luxury hybrid—the 2006 RX 400h—and now holds 40% of the US luxury hybrid market.

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Lexus Nickel Metal Hydride Hybrid Price 210

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, released a peer-reviewed study that examines the overall environmental impact of vehicle lightweighting using advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) compared with aluminum. The study, “Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas and Energy Study of Automotive Lightweighting,” found that AHSS-intensive vehicles had lower or equivalent life cycle emissions than aluminum-intensive vehicles for every class of vehicles tested:

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Emissions North America 2016 SUV 207

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

NVIDIA and Continental are partnering to create AI (artificial intelligence) self-driving vehicle systems built on the NVIDIA DRIVE platform, with a planned market introduction starting in 2021 for Level 3 functionality. The partnership will enable the production of AI computer systems that scale from automated Level 2 features through full Level 5 self-driving capabilities, where the vehicle has no steering wheel or pedals.

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com. Oil prices fell back suddenly over the last few trading sessions, dragged down by some forces beyond the oil market. The steady decline of the U.S. dollar has helped drive up crude prices for weeks , but that came to an abrupt halt last week. A rebound for the greenback led to a steep decline in oil prices on Friday.

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Oil Prices Oil Price Market 199

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Ricardo has created a company—Dolphin N2 Ltd—to commercialize its CryoPower cryogenic split-cycle engine technology ( earlier post , earlier post.) The Ricardo CryoPower concept aims to increase the fuel efficiency while reducing operating costs and CO 2 emissions for long haul trucks and other heavy-duty applications. The technology has been the subject of active R&D by Ricardo for approximately ten years and has demonstrated the potential to reduce operating fuel costs and fuel usa

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Commercial Engine Companies Fuel 199

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Start-up ION Energy , a company building high-performance energy storage systems and electric vehicle infrastructure, has acquired the French battery management company, Freemens SAS. As part of the cash-plus-equity transaction, the entire Freemens engineering and sales team willÚ join the core team of ION. Freemens will continue working with their current clients which include Airbus Safran, CarWatt, NTN SNR and 20+ others.

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Companies Energy Battery Batteries 199

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

Exxon Mobil Corporation added 2.7 billion oil-equivalent barrels of proved oil and gas reserves in 2017, replacing 183% of production. ExxonMobil’s proved reserves totaled 21.2 billion oil-equivalent barrels at year-end 2017. Liquids represented 57% of the reserves, up from 53% in 2016. ExxonMobil’s reserves life at current production rates is 14 years.

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2017 Papua New Guinea Oil Guyana 186

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Removing fossil fuel subsidies would have only a small effect on CO 2 emissions and renewable energy use, according to a new study led by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) and published in the journal Nature. Fossil fuel subsidies amount to hundreds of billions of dollars worldwide, and removing them has been held up as a key answer to climate change mitigation.

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Emissions Fuel CO2 Oil 186

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Blockchain—a technology used for verifying and recording digital transactions—could transform the way governments, global industries and science research operate, in addition to providing the foundation for cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Several banks, corporations, governments and scientists have already implemented some form of blockchain to inexpensively, securely and expediently store and share information.

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Davis Norway 2014 Universal 186

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

The UK’s Faraday Institution recently announced up to £42 million (US$58 million) in new government funding to four UK-based consortia to conduct application-inspired research aimed at overcoming battery challenges to accelerate the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The Faraday Institution is the UK’s independent national battery research institute, and was established as part of the government’s £246-million (US$341-million) investment in battery technology through the Industrial Strategy.

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Battery Batteries London Universal 186

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 4, 2018

Researchers at Washington State University, with colleagues at Argonne National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, have combined inexpensive nickel and iron in a very simple, five-minute process to create large amounts of a high-quality catalyst required for water splitting. By in situ reduction of the metal precursors, the researchers synthesized compositionally controlled three-dimensional Ni x Fe y nanofoams (NFs) with high surface area and uniformly distributed bimetallic

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Ni-Li Water Low Cost Hydrogen 186

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

In its new ten-year market outlook to 2027, Roskill, a leading provider of international metals and minerals research, forecasts primary nickel consumption to rise by just under 4% per year between 2017 and 2027, driven by increased consumption by stainless steel producers and by growth in demand in the automotive battery sector. Roskill estimates that the stainless steel sector accounted for nearly 70% of all primary nickel consumption in 2017.

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Indonesia Battery Batteries Nickel Metal Hydride 170

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Marine shipping fuels will get cleaner in 2020 when a regulation by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) requires a decrease in the allowable amount of sulfur in fuel oil from 3.5% to 0.5%—i.e., from 35,000 parts per million (ppm) to 5,000 ppm. This marks the most significant improvement in global fuel standards for the shipping industry in 100 years, and is intended to achieve significant health benefits on a global scale.

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Standards Climate Fuel Mariner 170

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Novozymes has unveiled its new yeast platform for starch-based ethanol, while also introducing the first product, Innova Drive. A completely new yeast strain, the product can reduce fermentation time by up to two hours compared to current yeasts. The new yeast is also tougher, continuing to ferment in adverse conditions such as higher organic acids and temperatures.

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

The US Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory and the sustainable energy NGO Energy Vision released two case studies assessing the results of projects that were among the first to produce Renewable Compressed Natural Gas (R-CNG) vehicle fuel by using anaerobic digesters to capture the biogases from decomposing organic waste. Energy Vision and Argonne produced the studies jointly.

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Renewable Gas Transportation Fuel 170

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

ExxonMobil’s newly released Outlook for Energy: A View to 2040 anticipates that global energy needs will rise about 25% over the period to 2040, led by non-OECD countries. While the mix shifts toward lower-carbon-intensive fuels, the world will need to pursue all economic energy sources, the report says. The Outlook projects that global transportation-related energy demand will increase by close to 30% by 2040.

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Light Oil Fuel Vehicles 170

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Dongfeng Motor Co., Ltd. (DFL)—a 50-50 joint venture between China’s Dongfeng Group and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.— plans to increase annual sales by 1 million vehicles to 2.6 million by 2022 and projects revenue will rise to RMB 300 billion (US$48 billion), under the company’s new midterm plan. The company aims to be among the top three joint venture automakers and the most sustainable brand in China.

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Infinity Motors Motoring Motor 170

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Hyundai will unveil the new battery-electric Kona compact SUV at the Geneva Motor Show. New model combines the two fastest growing automotive trends: SUVs and electrification. The Kona Electric will feature two different powertrain versions with a targeted WLTP range of up to 470 km (292 miles); the electric SUV will be on the market in Europe in summer 2018.

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Hyundai SUV Electrical Electric 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 8, 2018

Trillium CNG, a leading US provider of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle fueling facilities and part of the Love’s Family of Companies, will design, build and maintain hydrogen fueling stations. Trillium’s new services also include electric vehicle charging infrastructure, solar panel installation, and microgrid design and construction. The company will begin construction on its first hydrogen fueling station for fuel cell electric buses this summer for the Orange County Transportation Author

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Hydrogen Fuel Gas-Electric North America 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 7, 2018

Hyundai Mobis will begin mass-producing iMEB (integrated MOBIS Electronic Brake) and RSPA (Remote Smart Parking Assist) systems respectively at its Cheonan plant and Jincheon plant in Korea. Hyundai Mobis is working to elevate its status from a late starter to a global leader in braking and parking assist technologies. The company concentrated its development capabilities on technologies optimized for the era of electronic and autonomous driving. iMEB (integrated MOBIS Electronic Brake).

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Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 6, 2018

Replacing fossil fuels with Neste’s renewable fuels reduced global climate emissions altogether by a 8.3 million metric tons—8.3 billion kilograms—in 2017, according to calculations made by the company. The figure equals removal of 3 million passenger cars from the roads for a full year—more than the amount of cars in the city of London, UK, for example.

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Renewable Climate 2017 Emissions 150

Green Car Congress

FEBRUARY 5, 2018

Porsche plans to invest more than €6 billion (US$7.5 billion) in electromobility by 2022, focusing on both plug-in hybrids and purely electric vehicles. The decision was made by the Porsche AG Supervisory Board at its most recent meeting. The planned spending will double the company’s expenditure on electromobility from around €3 billion, said Oliver Blume, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche AG.

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