Twitter headlinesBrief
[Due to the increasing size of the archives, each topic page now contains only the prior 365 days of content. Access to older stories is now solely through the Monthly Archive pages or the site search function.]
Panasonic Providing Batteries for Mazda i-stop Stop/Start System; Moving to Mass Production
July 15, 2009
Panasonic Storage Battery Co. is providing the new lead-acid battery (the N55) used in conjunction with Mazda’s i-stop stop-start system deployed on the Axela and Biante. (Earlier post.)
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Cosan in 3-Year Ethanol Supply Agreement with Mitsubishi
Brazilian ethanol producer Cosan has signed a three-year contract with Mitsubishi to supply ethanol to Japan.
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IMEC Launches New Industrial Affiliation Program on GaN-on-Si Technology for Power Electronics and Lighting
July 14, 2009
IMEC launched a new industrial affiliation program (IIAP) to develop high-voltage, low-loss, high-power switching devices based on large-diameter (up to 200mm) GaN-on-Si (gallium-nitride on silicon ) technology. Potential applications include high-power switching in solar converters, motor drives, hybrid electrical vehicles or switch mode power supplies.
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Corsa Ginetta-Zytek to Race as Hybrid at Lime Rock
Corsa Motorsports’ Ginetta-Zytek 09HS prototype will compete for the first time in hybrid configuration this weekend at Lime Rock Park for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. (Earlier post.)
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Shell Opening First Cluster of Hydrogen Filling Stations in NYC Area
Shell has opened its second hydrogen filling station in the greater New York City area. With a third due to open in the area later this month and one already operating there for more than a year, this is Shell’s first cluster of hydrogen filling stations.
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World’s Coral Reefs Began Decline At 320 ppm Atmospheric CO2
A technical workshop conducted last week by marine scientists and hosted by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO), and the Royal Society concluded that temperature-induced mass coral bleaching began killing many of the world’s coral reefs and their ecosystems when global atmospheric CO2 exceeded 320ppm (parts per million), about 20% below today’s levels.
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DOT Awards for Transit Improvements Include Support for Purchase of 81 Hybrid Buses
The US Department of Transportation (DOT) on 9 July announced that $961.3 million in Recovery Act funds will go to improve state and local transit systems in the United States. The 9 July awards will support the purchase of 81 hybrid transit buses, among other projects:
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Denbury Undertakes Midwest CO2 Pipeline Feasibility Study
Denbury Resources Inc. has initiated a comprehensive feasibility study of a possible long-term CO2 pipeline project which would connect proposed gasification plants in the Midwest to Denbury’s existing CO2 pipeline infrastructure in Mississippi or Louisiana.
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Shell Begins Production at Parque das Conchas Offshore Brazil; Deep Water and Heavy Oil Required New Technologies
July 13, 2009
Shell began production at its multi-field Parque das Conchas (BC-10) project 110 kilometers (68 miles) off Brazil’s south-east coast, where heavy oil resources lie beneath waters nearly two kilometers deep in the Campos Basin. Shell developed and deployed a number of new and advanced technologies to meet the project’s many challenges, among them water depth and oil viscosity.
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Daimler Sells 40% of Its Stake in Tesla Motors to Aabar Investments
Daimler AG has sold 40% of its equity interest in Tesla Motors to its new major shareholder Aabar Investments PJSC (Aabar), of Abu Dhabi, in their first joint strategic project. The investment allows Daimler and Aabar to leverage their shared interest in the development of low-CO2 drive systems, according to a statement issued by Daimler.
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Shrimp Shell Catalyst for Biodiesel
Researchers in China have developed a high-performance and environmentally friendly shrimp shell catalyst for biodiesel production. A report on the work was published online 13 July in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.
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Honda to Begin Sales of CR-Z and Fit Hybrids in Japan in 2010
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. confirmed plans to begin sales in Japan of the CR-Z sporty hybrid model in February 2010 and Fit Hybrid before the end of 2010. The CR-Z concept car made its world debut at the 40th Tokyo Motor Show in 2007.
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AutoAlliance Thailand Inaugurates New Mazda-Ford Passenger Car Plant
Mazda Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company inaugurated their new joint venture manufacturing passenger car plant at AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT).
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El Niño and Indian Dipole Could Combine for Drought Double-Whammy on Eastern Australia
The Australian. Eastern Australia could be slammed by the drought-inducing combination of an El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole (earlier post).
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Report: Lexus HS Hybrid Pulls in 1,500 Preorders in Japan
July 12, 2009
The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. has received about 1,500 preorders for its Lexus HS hybrid car (earlier post) in Japan, roughly three times more than the firm’s monthly sales target.
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USDA Trims Forecast of Corn Use for Ethanol by 100M Bushels
The US Department of Agriculture lowered the forecast for corn for ethanol use by 100 million bushels in its 10 July World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report to 3.65 million—still up from 3.026 million bushels last year, and less than the 4.1 million bushels forecast for next year.
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Study Finds That Forest Fire Prevention Efforts Will Lessen Carbon Sequestration
Widely-sought efforts to reduce forest biomass that increases catastrophic fire in Pacific Northwest forests will be counterproductive to sequestering carbon to help offset global warming, according to a study by forestry researchers at Oregon State University.
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New Chrysler Hangs on to the Dodge Viper
Chrysler Group LLC will continue production of the Dodge Viper SRT10, earlier slated to cease production in December 2009. Chrysler Group is no longer pursuing a sale of the Viper business assets.
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Rhode Island Receiving More Than $24.2M in Recovery Funding for Transit Hybrids
July 11, 2009
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will receive more than $24.2 million to purchase twenty new, 40-foot hybrid buses and to upgrade 10 trolleys to hybrid propulsion.
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Declining Aral Sea
New Envisat images released by the European Space Agency (ESA) highlight the dramatic retreat of the Aral Sea’s shoreline from 2006 to 2009. The Aral Sea in Central Asia was once the world’s fourth-largest inland body of water, but it has been steadily shrinking over the past 50 years since the rivers that fed it were diverted for irrigation projects.
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EPA Awards $56M in Recovery Funding to 10 States to Clean Up Underground Petroleum Leaks
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the distribution of about $56 million to 10 states under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to assess and clean up underground storage tank petroleum leaks.
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EPA Awards $1.7M in Recovery Funding for Diesel Retrofits in Georgia
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $1,713,235 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation to retrofit on-highway diesel vehicles in Georgia.
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USPS Swaps Out 3% of Fleet for More Fuel Efficient or Alternative Fuel Vehicles
The US Postal Service (USPS) will conduct a one-for-one replacement of 6,500 vehicles with 1,000 E-85 ethanol-capable and 900 gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles to its delivery fleet, part of a vehicle purchase by the US General Services Administration (GSA). The balance of the GSA purchase for the Postal Service will be more fuel-efficient, four-cylinder vehicles, which will replace aging vehicles at postal offices and facilities across the country.
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Per-Capita Gasoline Consumption in Pacific Northwest Fell 5% in 2008; Down 15% Since 1999
The states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho cut back their per-capita gasoline consumption by 5% in 2008, according to a new analysis by the Sightline Institute. Total gasoline use fell by 180 million gallons in those Pacific Northwest states.
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Vancouver Requires Charging Stations in New Condominium and Apartment Buildings, and Some Parking Lots
CBC News. The city council of Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada) has unanimously approved new regulations for electric vehicle charging stations.
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Prius Top-Selling Car in Japan for Second Month in a Row with 22,292 Units
July 10, 2009
Toyota’s Prius was the top-selling car in Japan in June for the second month in a row, with sales of 22,292 units—3.58 times June 2008 results of 6,231 units—according to data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association (JADA).
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ARPA-E Receives About 3,500 Submissions for First $150M Funding Opportunity
The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) of the US Department of Energy (DOE) has received approximately 3,500 submissions for the $150 million available as part of its first Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0000065) released 27 April 2009. (Earlier post.)
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Li-ion Maker fortu PowerCell GmbH Considering Michigan Plant
German battery developer fortu PowerCell GmbH will soon begin a search for a west Michigan location, pending approval of state and local incentives, for a battery pack manufacturing facility, according to a statement by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
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New Entry-Level Engines for Audi Q5 and A4 Allroad
Effective immediately, two new entry-level engines are available for the Audi Q5: the 105 kW (143 hp) 2.0 TDI diesel and the 132 kW (180 hp) 2.0-liter TFSI gasoline direct injection engine, both in conjunction with the 6-speed manual transmission. The diesel version is now also available in the A4 allroad quattro.
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Study Finds Ozone, Nitrogen Change the Way Rising CO2 Affects Earth’s Water
Through a recent modeling experiment, a team of NASA-funded researchers have found that future concentrations of carbon dioxide and ozone in the atmosphere and of nitrogen in the soil are likely to have an important but overlooked effect on the cycling of water from sky to land to waterways.
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US Departments of Treasury, Energy Announce More Than $3B in Recovery Act Funds for Direct Payments for Renewable Energy Projects
July 09, 2009
The US Departments of the Treasury and Energy announced the availability of an estimated $3 billion for the development of renewable energy projects around the country. Funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act), the program will provide direct payments in lieu of tax credits in support of an estimated 5,000 biomass, solar, wind, and other types of renewable energy production facilities.
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Survey Finds US Hybrids and Diesels Beat Gasoline Models on Full Cost of Ownership
An IntelliChoice.com survey finds that most 2009 US hybrid and clean diesel cars, trucks and SUVs deliver a lower total cost of ownership compared to gasoline versions of the same (or comparable) vehicles.
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Canadian Pacific Selects GE Transportation’s Trip Optimizer; Locomotive Fuel Savings of 6-10% in Testing
Following operational testing, Canadian Pacific Railway Limited will equip 200 locomotives with GE Transportation’s Trip Optimizer fuel savings system in the product’s first commercial deployment. Trip Optimizer is an advanced energy management system that optimizes fuel consumption based on a specific train’s makeup and the route being traveled.
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Xtrac Will Have Produced Almost 100 Prototype Hybrid and EV Transmissions by End of Year
Transmission technology specialist Xtrac will have produced almost 100 prototype transmissions for hybrid and electric vehicles by the end of the year, according to Xtrac development director Cliff Hawkins in a presentation to Members of the UK’s Parliament.
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Quallion Selects Palmdale, Calif. For New Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing Facility
Quallion LLC, a leading developer of customized lithium ion batteries, has selected Palmdale, Calif., as the location for a new $220 million battery manufacturing plant. (Earlier post.) More than $10.6 million in incentives have been offered to Quallion by the City of Palmdale for the development of the facility.
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Researchers Find That Stratospheric Ozone Depletion Reduces Southern Ocean Carbon Uptake
Researchers in France have found that ozone depletion above Antarctica has significantly reduced the Southern Ocean’s ability to absorb atmospheric CO2 and has also accelerated acidification of southern polar waters, despite lesser CO2 uptake. A paper on their work was published online 20 June in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters.
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Report: Mitsubishi, Peugeot to Extend Partnership to Plug-In Hybrids
The Nikkei reports that Mitsubishi Motors Corp. (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroën Group will expand their EV partnership to develop plug-in hybrid vehicles. In May, MMC and PSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding collaboration on electric vehicles based on the i MiEV electric vehicle currently under development by MMC in Japan. (Earlier post.)
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ION Initiates Next Phase of ArcticSPAN Seismic Data Program
July 08, 2009
ION Geophysical Corporation has initiated the next phase of its ArcticSPAN seismic data program. Recognizing the hydrocarbon potential of the Arctic region, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates could contain 13% of the world’s undiscovered oil and 30% of the world’s undiscovered gas (earlier post), several of the world’s largest energy companies have agreed to underwrite a new, basin-scale imaging project to study the deep crustal architecture offshore Greenland.
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Quantum Signs $10.2 Million Phase III Plug-in Development Contract with Fisker Automotive
Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has signed a $10.2 million contract for Phase III development of plug-in hybrid powertrains for Fisker automobiles. This contract will enable Quantum to manage production validation of the Q-Drive plug-in hybrid system and ready it for volume production in 2010. (Earlier post.)
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Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Restores Hydrogen Research Funding in FY2010 Funding Legislation
The US Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development approved Fiscal Year 2010 funding legislation that, among other elements, would provide $27.398 billion for the Department of Energy—$1.109 billion below the President’s budget request—including $190 million for the continuation of the Hydrogen R&D program, which the administration had terminated.
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Market Forecast Projects Cumulative 1.7M PHEVs Globally by 2015, 36% in the US
A new report from cleantech market intelligence firm Pike Research forecasts that by 2015 a total of 1.7 million plug-in hybrid electric vehicles will be on the road worldwide.
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Enerkem Forming Research Center with City of Edmonton and AERI
Enerkem, a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals technology company, will jointly form an advanced energy research center with the City of Edmonton and the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI).
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US Joins International Renewable Energy Agency
At the end of June, the US signed the Statute of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), thereby increasing the number of countries participating in the organization to 136. IRENA was initially founded on 26 January with 75 member nations, and its membership now includes most of Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, as well as Australia, Greenland, India, Japan, and parts of South America.
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Zipcar Launches Car Sharing Club with Hybrids, PHEV and EV in London
July 07, 2009
Car-sharing operator Zipcar and the Westminster City Council in London have launched a new car sharing club fleet that will initially include 20 hybrid vehicles and will offer members access to the country’s first all-electric car club vehicle, a Citroen c1.
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Volvo Presents Hybrid Double Deck Buses in London
Volvo formally handed over its first six Hybrid Double Deck buses to Arriva London. A total of six Volvo B5L Hybrid Double Deck buses recently entered service on Route 141 in the city.
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EPA, University of Michigan to Research Health Effects of Roadway Pollution on Children
The US Environmental Protection Agency and the University of Michigan will partner in a $1.4 million joint study on the health effects of air pollution on children living near heavily traveled thoroughfares in the US. The study is funded through EPA’s Science to Achieve Results program.
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Cyclone Power Successfully Completes First Stage of RTI EATR Project
Cyclone Power Technologies Inc. has completed the first stage of its project with Robotic Technology Inc. (RTI), of Potomac, MD, to develop a beta biomass engine system for use in a series hybrid subsystem in RTI’s Energetically Autonomous Tactical Robot (EATR). (Earlier post.)
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Report: Polish Power Plant and University to Cooperate on CO2 to Methanol Trial
rp.pl Lublin-Wrotków power plant, the largest producer of carbon dioxide in the Lublin, Poland, and the University of Maria Curie-Sklodowska will sign a letter of intent on cooperation for the production of methanol from carbon dioxide using a technique developed by Prof. Dobieslaw Nazimek at the University.
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Seambiotic USA and NASA Glenn Research Center Collaborating on Large Scale Microalgae Process Optimization for Algae-Derived Aviation Fuel
July 06, 2009
Seambiotic USA, the US subsidiary of Israel-based Seambiotic, has entered into an agreement with NASA Glenn Research Center to develop an on-going collaborative R&D program for optimization of open-pond microalgae growth processes.
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S. Korea Sets Dual Vehicle Efficiency Targets for 2015: Fuel Economy of 17 km/L (40 mpg) or 140 g CO2/km
JoongAng Daily. The South Korean Presidential Committee on Green Growth announced that by 2015, automakers will need to increase average new vehicle fuel economy to 17 km/L (40 mpg US, 5.9 L/100km) or reduce CO2 emissions to an average 140 g/km.
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Mercury Marine Launches New Lower-Emission Outboard Motors with Orbital FlexDI System
Mercury Marine, the largest US outboard manufacturer, recently introduced two new OptiMax outboard models for the northern hemisphere summer. The two new outboards, the 200 Pro XS and the 125 hp, use Orbital FlexDI direct injection fuel systems (earlier post), and are reported as having best in class fuel economy.
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New Material for CO2 Absorption
Researchers at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México have found that the lithium aluminate Li5AlO4 absorbs CO2 over a wide temperature range, and may be an alternative to capturing agents based on heavier elements.
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Fluorescent Probes for Ozone Detection
July 05, 2009
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have developed a fluorescent molecular probe that can selectively detect ozone—in preference to other reactive oxygen species—in both atmospheric and biological samples.
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China Motor Vehicle Parc Rises to More Than 176.5M Units
Xinhua. China’s motor vehicle parc has risen to more than 176.5 million units, and more than 188.8 million Chinese (>14%) of the population has learned to drive, according to the Ministry of Public Security.
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Researchers Find Significant Increase in Freshwater Content of Arctic Ocean
A team of US researchers has found a significant increase in the amount of fresh water in the Arctic Ocean as well as a significant change in the distribution of fresh water, as compared with average winter values. Fresh water flowing into or out of the Arctic Ocean plays an important role in ocean circulation and may be a factor in the response of the world ocean to climate change. The study appears in the current issue of the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters.
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Air Products’ New AP-X LNG Technology Placed On-Stream at World’s Largest LNG Process Train in Qatar
Air Products’ new AP-X liquefaction process technology, which increases single train LNG production capacity over the current generation of LNG process trains by approximately 50%, was successfully placed on-stream at the Qatargas 2 Train 4 expansion project. (Earlier post.)
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Report: Toyota To Start Commercial Production of Plug-In Hybrids In 2012
July 04, 2009
The Nikkei reports that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to begin commercial production in 2012 of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). Output for the first year is estimated at 20,000 to 30,000 units.
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Exxaro Partners With Sasol Mining in JV to Supply Potential Mafutha CTL Plant in South Africa
Exxaro Resources Limited, a South African-based mining group, has entered into a prospecting joint venture agreement with Sasol Mining Proprietary Limited (Sasol Mining) for the development of a new coal mine to supply Sasol’s potential new inland coal-to-liquids (CTL) project.
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Nordic Oil And Gas and Western Warner Oils Exploring Underground Coal Gasification for Canada Project
Nordic Oil and Gas Ltd. and its joint venture partner, Western Warner Oils Ltd. are examining the possibility of using underground coal gasification (UCG) as a means to convert the coal into product gas at its recently acquired Drumheller, Alberta property.
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SAIC Motor to Invest US$1.76B Over 3-5 Years for New Energy Vehicles
July 03, 2009
Shanghai Daily. SAIC Motor, China’s largest automaker, plans to invest 12 billion yuan (US$1.76 billion) in the next three to five years to develop new-energy vehicles.
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Cyclone Power Improves Performance And Durability of Waste Heat Engine
Cyclone Power Technologies has achieved positive results from performance tests recently conducted on its Waste Heat Engine (WHE) (earlier post), and expects the final stage of testing prior to on-site beta installation to begin in July.
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Japan Post Deploying 40 EVs This Fiscal Year
Japan Post Service Co. will deploy 40 electric vehicles this fiscal year, with the first units in operation later this month.
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GE to Create Center of Excellence in Europe for Automated Manufacturing of Carbon Composites
GE Global Research, the technology development arm of the General Electric Company, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a world-class carbon composites manufacturing Center of Excellence on the TUM campus in Garching, near Munich, Germany. The Center of Excellence will focus on automated manufacturing of complex composite structures for use in wind turbines, jet engines, and deep sea oil & gas applications.
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E-One Moli Energy Building New Li-ion Plant in Taiwan
Taiwan-based E-One Moli Energy Corp. (Molicel) is building a new lithium-ion battery plant in Taiwan with a monthly production capacity of 12 million units.
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IAV and TESIS DYNAware Present Second-generation Thermodynamic Engine Simulation Software Package
TESIS DYNAware and IAV Automotive Engineering presented the second generation of the thermodynamic real-time simulation software DYNA4 Engine Themos.
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Researchers Develop Urea Electrolysis for Conversion of Urine and Urea to Hydrogen
Researchers at Ohio University have developed a new technology that accomplishes the direct conversion of urine and urea to pure hydrogen via electrochemical oxidation with an inexpensive nickel catalyst.
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Zeolite Catalyst ZSM-22 Can Convert Methanol to Hydrocarbons; Potential for Gasoline
July 02, 2009
Researchers at the University of Oslo, Norway have found that the zeolite catalyst ZSM-22, previously believed to be inactive in the conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons, yields a unique hydrocarbon product spectrum.
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VW Diesels Represented 26% of Its Total US Sales in June
In June, Volkswagen’s diesels posted their best US sales month since their re-launch with 5,072 units, representing 26% of total Volkswagen new vehicle sales. Overall, VW sales were down 18% by volume in June 2009 to 19,027 units.
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County of Sonoma Installs Coulomb Charging Station Infrastructure
The County of Sonoma, CA has become the fourth Bay Area location to deploy Coulomb ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for electric vehicles. The seven charging stations are now installed throughout the County and will be used for fleet and consumer use.
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EPA Extends Comment Period for Renewable Fuel Standard Program
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period on its proposed rule revising the national Renewable Fuel Standard program, commonly referred to as RFS2, by 60 days. (Earlier post.)
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Hyundai Receives More Than 1,000 Pre-Sale Orders for Avante LPI Hybrid
Yonhap. Hyundai Motor Co. has received more than 1,000 pre-sale orders for its Avante/Elantra LPI hybrid since 17 June. (Earlier post.) The car, the world’s first production hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine, goes on sale in South Korea next Wednesday (8 July).
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DOE to Award Up to $408M to Two CCS Projects at Coal Power Plants; One for Hydrogen-Fired Power Generation
The US Department of Energy has selected projects by Basin Electric Power Cooperative and Hydrogen Energy International LLC—a joint venture between BP and Rio Tinto (earlier post)—for up to $408 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The two projects selected—an existing power plant in North Dakota and a new facility in California—will incorporate advanced technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
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California Regulation for Lower-Sulfur Marine Fuel Now in Effect
All ocean-going vessels within 24 nautical miles of California’s coastline must now use cleaner burning diesel fuel in order to comply with a new state regulation aimed at reducing the emissions of oxides of sulfur and nitrogen and diesel particulate matter, starting 1 July. (Earlier post.)
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Report: Hitachi to Boost Li-Ion Battery Output to Support 700,000 Hybrids/Year by 2015; GM Orders Cells for 100,000 Hybrids
The Nikkei reports that Hitachi Ltd. will spend an estimated ¥20-30 billion (US$207-310 million) to boost production capacity for lithium-ion batteries for hybrid light-duty vehicles, targeting a 70-fold increase by 2015.
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BMW X1 to Come in US in 2011
July 01, 2009
BMW confirmed that it will bring the BMW X1 to the United States in calendar year 2011. The X1 has been conceived with the flexibility to offer traditional rear-wheel drive and xDrive all-wheel drive configurations, as well as a wide variety of gasoline and diesel powertrain choices.
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Global Automotive Survey Finds Nearly Six in Ten People Prefer Green Cars, Even If Money No Object
Market research firm Synovate released new study findings showing that nearly six in ten people would choose to buy a green car over a dream car, even if money was no object. Synovate surveyed more than 13,500 people across 18 markets, including the US, about “green” versus “dream” cars, vehicle ownership, intent to buy in the next year and attitudes towards cars, traffic, public transport and their need-for-speed.
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Hillsboro, Oregon to Install 16 Coulomb Charging Stations
The City of Hillsboro, Oregon plans to deploy 16 Coulomb Technologies ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations for plug-in and electric vehicles. The charging stations will be installed in downtown Hillsboro, including at a new intermodal transit facility to be built in 2009.
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Clean Energy Opens World’s Largest LNG/CNG Truck Fueling Station
Clean Energy Fuels has opened the world’s largest natural gas truck fueling station on a 2.9-acre site adjacent to the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
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B4 Requirement Goes Into Effect in Brazil
Brazil’s requirement for a 4% biodiesel blend (B4) goes into effect today. The country began with a 2% requirement in January 2008, which was subsequently increased to 3%.
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First Firing for the Scuderi Split-Cycle Engine
Engineers successfully fueled (with gasoline) and fired the Scuderi prototype engine for the first time, achieving the split-cycle engine’s concept of firing after top dead center. (Earlier post.) The Scuderi Group had unveiled a cutaway model of the first proof-of-concept prototype for the engine at the SAE World Congress in Detroit in April. (Earlier post.)
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GM China Sales Rise 38.0% in 1H09 to 814,442 Units
General Motors China and its joint ventures sold 814,442 vehicles in China in the first half of 2009. This represented an increase of 38.0% from the first six months of 2008. It was a first half record for both GM China and global automakers in China.
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DOE to Provide Up To $32M to Increase Generation from Existing Hydropower Facilities
June 30, 2009
The US Department of Energy will award up to $32 million in Recovery Act funding to modernize the existing hydropower infrastructure in the US, increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The funding is designed to support the deployment of turbines and control technologies to increase power generation and environmental stewardship at existing non-Federal hydroelectric facilities.
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Solix Biofuels Completes $16.8M Series A Funding
Algal fuels company Solix Biofuels, Inc. completed its $16.8 million Series A funding with the addition of the international investment group, Shanghai Alliance Investment Ltd. (SAIL). Solix will use the additional funding to complete construction and begin operations at its Coyote Gulch Demonstration Facility, which is expected to be in full-scale commercial operation by late summer 2009.
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Opel Introducing Sports Tourer Version of Insignia ecoFLEX
Opel will offer a Sports Tourer version of its Insignia ecoFLEX starting this fall. The station wagon version offers combined cycle fuel consumption of 5.3 liters of diesel per 100 km (44 mpg US) and emits 139 g CO2/km. (The ecoFLEX sedan has fuel consumption of 5.2 L/100 km and 136 g CO2/km).
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“Sulfate Lens” Enhances Climate Warming Properties of Atmospheric Soot
Particulate pollution thought to be holding climate change in check by reflecting sunlight instead enhances warming when combined with airborne soot, according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego. They report on their work in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online the week of June 29.
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China Moving Ahead with Shenhua CTL Project; NuCoal in Canada Focusing on CTL Gasoline Project
Project developers in both China and Canada are moving forward with new coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuel facilities, according to the Coal-to-Liquids Coalition (CTLC).
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GM Exits NUMMI JV with Toyota
General Motors will not retain its ownership stake in its New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint venture with Toyota.
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Toyota and Aston Martin Collaborate on iQ-Based “Cygnet” Luxury Commuter Car
June 29, 2009
Toyota Motor Europe (TME) and Aston Martin are collaborating on the “Cygnet”—a new luxury commuter car based on the iQ platform (earlier post) that will be exclusively built for and sold to Aston Martin owners. The new “Cygnet” would pair Aston Martin’s trademark design flair with the Toyota iQ’s highly compact and low-CO2 city driving package.
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Analysis of Dynamotive Upgraded BioOil Confirms Gasoline, Jet, Diesel and Vacuum Gasoil Fractions
Independent distillation analysis of upgraded BioOil samples from Dynamotive Energy Systems Corporation (earlier post) confirmed gasoline, jet, diesel, and vacuum gasoil fractions, establishing the potential for development of synthetic hydrocarbon mobile fuels, according to the company.
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Citroën Previews Redesigned C3 Supermini; First Production Citroën with Less Than 100 g/km CO2
Citroën has released first details of the new C3, a completely redesigned successor to the popular supermini, which has sold more than 2 million units worldwide.
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High CO2 and Drought Conditions Result in Increase in Toxic Compounds, Decrease in Protein Content and Decreased Yield in Plants
Researchers at Monash University in Victoria, Australia have found an increase in toxic compounds, a decrease in protein content and a decreased yield in plants grown under high CO2 and drought conditions.
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Sanyo To Hike NiMH Battery Output 3.5x in FY09 Due to Hybrid Car Demand
Nikkei. Sanyo Electric Co. will more than triple its production of NiMH batteries for hybrids, citing growing demand for these vehicles.
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China Reclassifies New-Energy Vehicles
June 28, 2009
Caijing.com. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has reclassified “new energy” vehicles into three categories.
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Report: Japan to Issue Solicitiation for Development of Microwave-Based Space Solar Power System
The Nikkei reports that the Japanese government will soon issue a public solicitation for firms to participate in a project to develop technologies for a space solar power system that would beam electricity generated by orbital solar panels and converted into microwaves in space down to the earth.
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Madison Gas and Electric Plans Electric Vehicle Charging Network
June 27, 2009
As part of several technology demonstration projects under study, Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) has purchased six Coulomb Technologies electric vehicle charging stations from Carbon Day Automotive, Chicago, Ill. Electric cars and trucks charged at the stations will have their emissions offset through renewable energy. The project is the first of its kind in the United States.
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ASTM Approves First Standard for Traffic Intersection Movement Data
Being able to compile and interpret data on how traffic turns through an intersection could have an impact on future environmental and safety decisions regarding intersection geometry and traffic control. However, until recently no standard has existed to properly obtain and use this data.
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GM Picks Michigan Plants for Future Small Car
General Motors selected its assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. and stamping facility in Pontiac, Mich., to build its future small car, which will add to the automaker’s growing portfolio of US-built, fuel-efficient cars, including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. Today’s announcement will restore approximately 1,400 jobs in total—1,200 at Orion Assembly and 200 at Pontiac Metal Center, Building # 14.
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House Passes Waxman-Markey Energy / Cap-and-Trade Bill
The US House of Representatives on Friday narrowly passed H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sponsored by Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep. Edward J. Markey, Chairman of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. (Earlier post, earlier post, earlier post, earlier post.) The vote was 219 for, 212 against, with 3 no votes.
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AFC and University of Witwatersrand Sign Exclusive Agreement to Commercialize Fischer-Tropsch Fuels and Chemical Feedstocks in the Americas
June 26, 2009
Alternative Fuels Corporation (AFC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of G4G Resources Ltd. and the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa (Wits) signed an exclusive representation agreement to commercialize the Fischer-Tropsch-based fuel and chemical production process developed by the Centre of Materials and Process Synthesis (COMPS) located at The University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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Chemrec Grant Application for Full-scale Black Liquor to Fuel Plant Passes Hurdle
The Energy R&D Board of the Swedish Energy Agency has selected an investment grant application from Chemrec for further consideration. The SEK 500 million ($64 million, €45 million) grant application is for an industrial scale production plant for renewable automotive fuel from biomass through gasification of black liquor.
