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Study finds São Paulo switch from ethanol to gasoline dropped local ozone levels by 20%, increased CO and nitric oxide concentrations

Green Car Congress

A study by a pair of researchers at Northwestern University found that when fuel prices drove residents of São Paulo, Brazil, to switch from ethanol to gasoline in their flexible-fuel vehicles, local ozone levels dropped 20%. Ozone levels are relatively high in São Paulo, with hourly concentrations above 75 and 125 µg m ?3

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Texas study finds PHEV use could increase ozone at night, decrease ozone during the day

Green Car Congress

A study by researchers at the University of Texas found that in general, use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) can lead to an increase in ozone during nighttime hours (due to decreased scavenging from both vehicles and EGU stacks) and a decrease in ozone during daytime hours.

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EPA proposes to include Southern Maine in the Federal Reformulated Gasoline Program

Green Car Congress

EPA is proposing , at the request of the State of Maine, to require the sale of reformulated gasoline ( RFG ) in York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox and Lincoln counties in southern Maine starting in June 2015. About 30% of gasoline sold in the US is reformulated.

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Study finds that environmental impact of corn-ethanol E85 is 23% to 33% higher than that of gasoline; environmental problem-shifting

Green Car Congress

Environmental impacts of gasoline and E85. eutrophication; ET = ecological toxicity; FEC = fossil energy consumption; WU = water use; LO = land occupation; “The rest” includes acidification; smog formation; ozone layer depletion; and human health effects. Process flow diagrams for E85 and gasoline. GW = global warming; Eut.

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Using Ozone-Generated Bubbles to Remove Oil Sheen and Contaminants from Water

Green Car Congress

A University of Utah engineer has developed an inexpensive new method to remove oil sheen by repeatedly pressurizing and depressurizing ozone gas, creating microscopic bubbles that attack the oil so it can be removed by sand filters. The ozone in the bubble attacks certain pollutants because it is a strong oxidant.

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NOAA, partners find about 98% decline in VOCs concentrations in LA Basin over last 50 years despite 3x increase in use of gasoline and diesel

Green Car Congress

In California’s Los Angeles Basin, levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pollutants have decreased by about 98% since the 1960s, even as area residents now burn approximately three times as much gasoline and diesel fuel. This indicates that the main VOC source in the LA basin is likely gasoline vehicle emission.

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Modelling the Impact of PHEVs on Ozone in Denver

Green Car Congress

Researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) modeled the emissions impact had plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) replaced light duty gasoline vehicles in the Denver, Colorado area in summer 2006. Ozone concentration increases were modeled for small areas near central Denver.

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