GM to Introduce Two New Fuel-Efficient Engine Variants in 2009
15 May 2008
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| GM’s new 1.4L direct-injection turbocharged gasoline engine. CLick to enlarge. |
General Motors Corp. will introduce in 2009 two new engines offering fuel efficiency gains for vehicles marketed in Europe and other regions. Both engines are new variants of GM’s existing engine families used globally.
A 1.4-liter direct-injection turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be used in vehicles worldwide starting in 2010. A 1.6-liter Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged 4-cylinder engine will be introduced in the Opel Zafira in 2009.
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Istanbul Orders 50 Trams With GM-Allison Hybrid System
15 May 2008
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| The concept of APTS’ Phileas system. Click to enlarge. |
The Istanbul (Turkey) Transportation Authority has ordered 50 Metrobus trams equipped with the GM-Allison hybrid system. This will be the largest fleet of the hybrids in Europe by next year. The first of the 50 trams, built by Dutch bus company Advance Public Transport Systems BV (APTS), was recently delivered. (Earlier post.) The remainder of the order will be fulfilled this year and in 2009.
The APTS Phileas rubber-tired trams run on a free bus lane which is fitted with magnetic markers for electronic lane assistance and precision docking, offering the advantages of rail transport with the lower costs and flexibility of a bus system. The Phileas has a lightweight body, the hybrid propulsion system from GM-Allison, and a large transport capacity.
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Improved Ion Mobility Is Key to New Hydrogen Storage Compound
15 May 2008
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| The atomic structure of the mix of lithium amide with lightweight metal hydrides shows layers of calcium that the lithium ions can sprint through. This facilitates hydrogen storage and release. Click to enlarge.
Credit: NIST |
A materials scientist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has deciphered the structure of a new class of materials that can store relatively large quantities of hydrogen within its crystal structure for later release. The new analysis may point to a practical hydrogen storage material for automobile fuel cells and similar applications.
Hui Wu, a research associate from the University of Maryland working in
a cooperative research program at the NIST Center for Neutron Research,
has been investigating a new hydrogen storage compound that mixes
lithium amide (LiNH2) with lightweight metal hydrides (CaH2) to create a ternary imide Li2Ca(NH)2.
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ExxonMobil Chemical Introduces Two New Grades of Separator for Lithium-Ion Batteries
14 May 2008
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| Comparison of battery performance using the older generation of monolayer separator and the new co-extruded multi-layer separator. Click to enlarge. |
ExxonMobil Chemical introduced two new grades of its co-extruded separator film for lithium-ion batteries at the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference (AABC) in Tampa, Florida (12-16 May). (Earlier post.)
The two new grades—V20CFD and V20EHD—developed by ExxonMobil Chemical and its Japanese affiliate, Tonen Chemical, join the two grades introduced last year (earlier post) and offer an improved balance of properties, including enhanced permeability, improved strength, reduced heat shrinkage and higher rupture temperature to improve battery safety and performance.
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HTUF Selects Hybra-Drive to Build Three Hydraulic Series Hybrid Trucks for Testing
14 May 2008
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| The hydraulic series hybrid uses the combustion engine to power a hydraulic pump/motor. Click to enlarge. |
The Hybrid Truck Users Forum (HTUF), a government-corporate partnership led by CALSTART, has selected Hybra-Drive Systems LLC (HDS) to build three identical Class 6 hydraulic series hybrid delivery trucks for real-world testing by UPS, FedEx Ground and Purolator.
Under the new agreement, which is being funded by the Department of Energy, Hybra-Drive will build and deliver three hydraulic hybrid trucks over the next 9 to 12 months. UPS, FedEx Ground and Purolator then will each conduct a 6 to 9 month evaluation of the vehicle. Hybra-Drive anticipates that the evaluations will demonstrate up to a 60% cut in fuel use along with an accompanying reduction in emissions.
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The Battery Pack for Mitsubishi’s i MiEV
14 May 2008
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| The battery pack of the i MIEV. Click to enlarge. |
At the Advanced Automotive Battery Conference and Symposium 2008 in Tampa, Florida (12-16 May), Takuha Miyashita from Mitsubishi described the characteristics of the lithium-ion battery pack that Mitsubishi, in partnership with GS Yuasa, developed for the i MiEV (earlier post).
The i MiEV is powered by a compact 47 kW motor that develops 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) of torque and a 330V, 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. Top speed is 130 kph (81 mph), with a range of up to 160 km (100 miles) under Japanese 10-15 cycle driving conditions.
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DuPont and Genencor Form Cellulosic Ethanol Joint Venture
14 May 2008
DuPont and Genencor, a division of Danisco A/S, are forming a 50-50 global joint venture—DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC—to develop and commercialize a low-cost technology solution for the production of cellulosic ethanol.
The partners plan an initial three-year investment of US$140 million, which will initially target corn stover and sugar cane bagasse. Future targets include multiple ligno-cellulosic feedstocks including wheat straw, a variety of energy crops and other biomass sources.
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Minnesota Enacts B20 Mandate for 2015; Begins Work for Mid-Range Ethanol Blends
14 May 2008
Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has signed an omnibus bill, among the provisions of which are an increase in the state’s current 2% biodiesel mandate to 20% by 2015. According to the legislation, the mandate will increase to 5% on 1 May 2009; to 10% on 1 May 2012; and to 20% on 1 May 2015.
The bill also directs the appropriate state agencies to begin work to obtain Federal approval for the use of E20 and additional mid-range blends including, but not limited to, E30 and E50.
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Volvo Introduces New Higher-Powered FlexiFuel Versions of V70 and S80
13 May 2008
The Volvo V70 and S80 are now available with a five-cylinder, 2.5-liter turbocharged E85-capable Flexifuel engine with a power output of 200 hp (147 kW) and 300 Nm (221 lb-ft) of torque. Both the S80 and V70 have been available with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder, naturally aspirated Flexifuel engine since the end of 2007. The 2.0F produces 145 hp (107 kW) and 185 Nm (135 lb-ft) of torque.
Although it was technically feasible to reach a higher power output, the higher power would have required more fuel in the upper rev range, resulting in considerably higher fuel consumption, according to Volvo.
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TNT Orders Another 100 Newton Electric Trucks
13 May 2008
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| The TNT Newton. |
Business-to-business express delivery company TNT has ordered 100 Newton electric delivery trucks manufactured by Smith Electric Vehicles. This order is in addition to the 50 vehicles ordered last year. (Earlier post.) The new fleet of 7.5 tonne trucks—currently the largest zero-emission fleet in the world—will replace diesel equivalents over the next 18 months.
The first tranche of 50 trucks will initially operate from TNT locations in London, Basildon, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Enfield, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Luton, Northampton, Oxford, Paisley, Preston and Wolverhampton. In addition, TNT is also piloting other Smith Electric battery-powered vans and trucks in the Netherlands, with a view to rolling them out across its wider European operations.
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Nissan to Introduce Electric Vehicle in US and Japan in 2010; New Business Plan Focuses on Zero-Emission Vehicle Leadership
13 May 2008
Nissan will introduce an all-electric vehicle in the US and Japan in 2010 and then mass-market vehicles to consumers globally in 2012, according to President and CEO Carlos Ghosn. (Earlier post.) The accelerated introduction of EVs reflects Nissan’s goal of establishing leadership in zero-emission vehicles as part of its new five-year business plan called “Nissan GT 2012” (“G” for growth and “T” for trust), covering the period from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2013.
In addition to establishing zero-emission vehicle leadership, the other main commitments of the GT 2012 plan are to establish quality leadership and to deliver 5% revenue growth on average over five years (FY2008 to FY2012). Nissan will support the revenue growth target by a product plan that will launch 60 all-new models in the next five years and more than 15 new technologies every year from 2009.
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