Dynamic Fuels will use Syntroleum’s Bio-Synfining process to hydrotreat the used cooking oil to produce renewable jet. Source: Syntroleum. Click to enlarge. In September, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will launch more than 200 flights being operated on a bio-kerosene (hydroprocessed renewable jet, HRJ) blend between Amsterdam and Paris. The biofuel... Read more →

GreenShift Corporation has licensed its patented technology to Sunoco for extraction of corn oil (earlier post) from a co-product of Sunoco’s corn ethanol manufacturing facility in Fulton, New York. The recovered corn oil is a raw material for use in the manufacturing of biodiesel and other products. GreenShift’s corn oil... Read more →

The US Department of Transportation will award up to $500,000 to a project to investigate how the use of biodiesel in locomotive engines will impact the gaseous and particulate matter emissions of the engines. Only Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is eligible to apply for the grant. The emissions of pre-selected... Read more →

Terminal voltages measured at 750 °C as a function of time for the cells with (blue line) and without (red line) BaO/Ni interfaces operated at a constant current density of 500 mA cm-2 with wet CO (with ~3 v% H2O) as the fuel. Yang et al. Click to enlarge. Using... Read more →

BC Hydro has selected S&C Electric Company, a renewable energy integration company, for a sodium-sulfur (NaS) battery energy storage project intended to improve service reliability for a remote mountain community in British Columbia. The energy storage system, which is funded, in part, by Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Energy Fund, will... Read more →

The carbon capture process at the Scotford oil sands upgrader will capture about 35% of emissions. Click to enlarge. Shell has signed agreements with the Governments of Alberta and Canada to secure C$865 million (US$876 million) in funding for its Quest Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Project in Canada. (Earlier... Read more →

The Nevada legislature passed AB 511, authorizing the use of autonomous (i.e., driverless) vehicles; the bill was approved by the Governor on 16 June and it enters into law. Ryan Calo, Director of the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School observes that this appears to be the... Read more →

The deceleration fuel cutoff (DFCO) technology applied in the Chevrolet Cruze increases the car’s fuel economy by up to 2%, depending upon specific driving conditions and behavior, GM said. With DFCO, while the vehicle is decelerating or slowing down, fuel is automatically shut off to the Cruze’s Ecotec engine. When... Read more →

BMW M GmbH used the M Night Event in the lead-up to the Nürburgring 24-hour race to unveil the BMW M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology). The M3 CRT represents the worldwide debut of a new production process for carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) components in the automotive industry. This process helps... Read more →

The National Science Foundation (NSF) will take the lead with three other federal government agencies to support the administration’s National Robotics Initiative (NRI) and released a solicitation for proposals today. NRI complements the Obama administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Initiative (earlier post) and technology transfer efforts and supports the development and use... Read more →

SAE International will hold the 2011 Vehicle Battery Summit in Shanghai, 14-15 November 2011. Designed to integrate the most recent battery innovations with lessons learned in recent EV/PHEV commercialization efforts, this year’s Summit will build significantly on the knowledge presented at last year’s highly successful (2010) Summit. Last September, nearly... Read more →

US President Barack Obama today launched the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP), a national effort bringing together industry, universities, and the federal government to invest in emerging technologies such as information technology, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. The President’s plan, which leverages existing programs and proposals, will invest more than $500 million to... Read more →

In cooperation with Audi, researchers from Fraunhofer are developing procedures and methods to automate assembly processes to improve the quality of the engines, which are becoming increasingly complex to address fuel consumption, emissions and consumer satisfaction requirements. The use of the latest technologies could help to eliminate uncertainties during engine... Read more →

A national phone survey by the Mineta Transportation Institute (MTI) found that a majority of Americans would support higher taxes for transportation, under certain conditions. The survey results show that very low support levels for a one-time gas-tax increase or a new mileage tax can be raised by modifying how... Read more →

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America is supporting the use of B20 (20% biodiesel blend) in all of its new 2011 and forward model year diesel engines, including its four popular N-Series truck models as well as the new Isuzu Reach. Isuzu Commercial Truck is the first Asian manufacturer to approve... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected eight projects in five states—California, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, and Utah—to receive up to $11.3 million to support the research and development of pioneering geothermal technologies. the projects aim to develop fundamentally new ways of producing electricity from the Earth’s heat. Selected projects... Read more →

GaN (gallium nitride) power electronics provider Transphorm Inc. (earlier post) has completed a $25 million Series D financing round with Quantum Strategic Partners Ltd., a private investment fund managed by Soros Fund Management LLC, and existing investors Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Google Ventures, Foundation Capital and Lux Capital. This... Read more →

Member company representatives and staff of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) participated recently in the first face-to-face meeting for the newly-formed Electric Vehicle Standards Panel (EVSP) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). (Earlier post.) With an initial scope that focuses on the consumer-class of electric vehicles (EVs), the... Read more →

Cellulosic ethanol company Coskata, Inc. has issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Fagen, Inc. for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services for the construction of its commercial cellulosic ethanol facility in Boligee, Alabama, that will be designed around the Coskata technology. Coskata Inc. combines gasification with the biological conversion... Read more →

Despite a strong influx of applications, EAA announced that the $60,000 Electric Flight Prize has been postponed until EAA AirVenture 2012 to allow viable candidates to complete Phase I flight certification according to Federal Aviation Administration regulations. Aircraft designers and innovators submitted nearly a dozen entries into the $60,000 Electric... Read more →

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that the US and its partners in the International Energy Agency will release a total of 60 million barrels of oil onto the world market over the next 30 days to offset the disruption in the oil supply caused by unrest in the... Read more →

The concept of the Ricardo Split-Cycle engine. The recuperated engine uses isothermal compression via cryogenic injection to enable significant exhaust to compressed gas heat transfer. Source: Neville Jackson. Click to enlarge. Ricardo and the University of Brighton will model and evaluate an advanced split-cycle combustion system aimed at substantially reducing... Read more →

Indian Autos Blog. GM India showcased the Chevrolet Beat Electric Vehicle in a demo program in New Delhi. In 2010, the automaker had said that it was establishing battery-electric vehicle demo fleets in different regions around the world using different vehicles. (Earlier post.) The Beat EV is part of the... Read more →

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) will show the GRMN (GAZOO Racing tuned by MN) Sports Hybrid Concept II, a convertible mid-ship gasoline-electric hybrid concept, at the 39th Nürburgring 24-hour endurance race to be held near Nürburg, Germany, from 23–26 June. GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept II. Click to enlarge. (MN stands for... Read more →

Neste Oil is continuing its research into the potential for using algae oil as a feedstock for producing NExBTL renewable diesel by taking part in two research projects starting this summer to test various methods for growing algae in outdoor conditions. The goal of the projects in the Netherlands and... Read more →

Siemens Drive Technologies Division supplied the integrated drive train for the first series-hybrid electric aircraft. Source: Siemens. Click to enlarge. Siemens, Diamond Aircraft and EADS have built an aircraft equipped with a series hybrid electric drive system. The partners are presenting the two-seater motor glider DA36 E-Star at the Paris... Read more →

Chevron’s focus on optimizing the thermal management of the Kern River field has resulted in a steady drop in the steam:oil ratio (barrels steam water per barrel oil), resulting in improved economics of the field even with slowly declining production. Data: California DOGGR. Click to enlarge. Chevron, already the largest... Read more →

Clean energy technology company LanzaTech has been awarded funds from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to perform research focusing on novel, low-cost routes for the production of jet fuel (JP-8) from carbon monoxide (CO) rich sources. The project will focus on technology development to reduce costs for producing... Read more →

The European Commission’s services, in close coordination with Airbus, leading European airlines (Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, & British Airways) and key European biofuel producers (Choren Industries, Neste Oil, Biomass Technology Group and UOP), have launched a new industry-wide initiative to try to speed up the commercialization of aviation biofuels in Europe.... Read more →

Fisker Automotive is posting job openings at the re-commissioned Wilmington, Delaware plant. The plan for 2011 will encompass the hiring of about 120 employees. This initial group will be made up of engineering staff, electro-mechanical technicians, and early teams of production workers as Fisker starts preparing for the launch of... Read more →

Automotive News Europe. EV maker Think Global AS filed for bankruptcy Wednesday in Norway after failed attempts at recapitalization and restructuring. This is the fourth time Think has collapsed financially in its 20-year history. “We needed some additional funding and although we had interested investors they were not able to... Read more →

Rising fuel demand is pushing demand for smaller cars. Source: GfK. Click to enlarge. Responding to high fuel prices, US consumers are increasingly looking for more cost-effective and fuel-efficient vehicles, with compact cars rapidly gaining in demand. However, researchers from GfK Custom Research North America’s Automotive sector found that, while... Read more →

American Airlines will be the launch customer for Boeing’s evolutionary ecoDemonstrator Program, in which a Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 aircraft will be used to flight test and accelerate the market readiness of emerging technologies to help reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and community noise. The American Airlines 737-800, and a twin-aisle... Read more →

Genencor has introduced a new enzyme product—Accellerase TRIO—that it says will enable biofuel producers to more cost-effectively manufacture cellulosic ethanol from a wide range of renewable nonfood feedstocks such as switchgrass, wheat straw and corn stover as well as from municipal solid waste. With Accellerase TRIO, Genencor provides a combined... Read more →

EVO Electric, a developer of advanced electric drive solutions for the automotive sector (earlier post), has formed a joint venture with GKN Driveline, part of GKN plc, to develop, manufacture and sell Axial Flux electric motors and drive systems for use in hybrid and electric vehicles. As part of the... Read more →

Contour Energy Systems has raised a Series C round of financing from Singapore’s leading global fund, EDBI (EDB Investments Pte Ltd.) and previous investors CMEA Capital, Harris & Harris, Schlumberger and US Venture Partners. Contour Energy is a spinoff of the collaboration between CalTech and CNRS focused on developing new... Read more →

GE Aviation, in partnership with GE Global Research, introduced a new line of silicon carbide (SiC) based power conversion products for air, land and sea-based platforms during the Paris Air Show. By using GE-developed SiC technology, we have the potential to reduce the weight on the aircraft by more than... Read more →

EV Connect has entered into an exclusive services agreement with Fisker Automotive, makers of the Karma premium plug-in hybrid. Under the partnership, EV Connect will install and service electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for Fisker Karma owners and 47 Fisker dealerships throughout the United States and Canada, providing electric vehicle... Read more →

Cree, Inc., a leading manufacturer of silicon carbide (SiC) power devices, has introduced a new family of seven 1200V Z-Rec silicon carbide (SiC) Schottky diodes optimized for price and performance and available in a range of amperages and packages. These new devices are suitable as boost diodes and anti-parallel diodes... Read more →

Navistar, Inc. has been awarded a development contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS) under which Navistar will engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for USPS delivery vehicles. Navistar’s re-powered diesel vehicle effort is designed to significantly reduce the escalating service and fuel costs associated with the USPS’s aging fleet.... Read more →

Alstom has taken a 40% equity share in Scottish renewable energy company AWS Ocean Energy, representing Alstom’s entry to the wave energy market. Alstom will be a shareholder alongside Shell Technology Ventures Fund 1 and Scottish Investment Bank, who continue their support of AWS. The move complements the existing activities... Read more →

Propel Fuels launched the US’s first volume rebate program for renewable fuels. The Volume Rebate Program (VRP) offers enrolled fleets a tiered rebate for monthly purchases of 500 gallons or more. Propel has partnered with Wright Express, a provider of fleet management and transaction processing, to provide their customers with... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily increase to an overall level of... Read more →

The Ford Motor Company has selected Toshiba Corporation to supply automotive inverters for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Ford plans to start mass production of new models of both kinds of vehicle in 2012. Toshiba already has a June 2010 contract with Ford under which... Read more →

More than 40% of consumers view fuel economy as “extremely important” when considering a new vehicle purchase today, up 13.5% from a decade ago, according to a 2011 Maritz Research study. Thirty-seven percent of consumers say fuel economy will have the “greatest impact” on their next vehicle purchase. Forty-six percent... Read more →

Researchers from the Universities of Valencia, Huelva and Toulouse, led by Professors Gregorio Asensio, Pedro J. Pérez and Michel Etienne, have developed a methodology for transforming methane into more complex organic molecules. A paper on their work is published in the journal Science. The use of methane, the simplest hydrocarbon... Read more →

Average per capita light-duty vehicle (LDV) transport CO2 emissions (kg CO2 person-1 yr-1) for a global sample of countries (2007) with a wide range of per capita incomes. Per capita transport CO2 emissions are decomposed into the product of two terms: per capita LDV use (horizontal axis, veh-km person-1 yr-1)... Read more →

In 2006, Honda set a goal to reduce global CO2 emissions from use of its motorcycles, automobiles and power products by 10% by the end of 2010 compared to year 2000 levels. In 2010, the goal was attained by all products. Honda has now set a goal to reduce CO2... Read more →

Odyne’s plug-in hybrid system. Click to enlarge. Waukesha based Odyne Systems, LLC, a manufacturer of hybrid systems for medium- and heavy-duty work trucks, introduced its new advanced hybrid propulsion system at the Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) in Williamsburg. The new parallel plug-in hybrid system features a Remy HVH250... Read more →

Addax Bioenergy S.A. , a subsidiary of the Swiss-based energy group, The Addax and Oryx Group Limited (AOG), recently signed a loan agreement with seven European and African development institutions for an integrated renewable energy and agriculture project near Makeni, in Sierra Leone. The investment includes the development of a... Read more →