Ford’s new Fusion Energi—its second plug-in hybrid (PHEV) and its third plug-in electric vehicle on the market—has an EPA-rated total range of up to 620 miles and an all-electric range of 21 miles. In December 2012, the new PHEV received an EPA rating for fuel economy of up to to... Read more →

The IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) is collaborating with DIN (Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V., the German Institute for Standardization), and SAE International in organizing a new event to explore how standards are driving innovation in electric vehicles (EV) and charging infrastructure globally; lessons learned from the field of “electromobility”... Read more →

Williams flywheel unit. Click to enlarge. Williams Hybrid Power, a division of the Williams group of companies that includes the Williams F1 Team, and Alstom Transport have signed an exclusive agreement that will see Williams Hybrid Power’s composite flywheel energy storage technology (earlier post) applied to Alstom’s Citadis trams by... Read more →

Colorado State University will retrofit two internal delivery trucks with fuel-efficient hydraulic hybrid systems, paid for by a grant from the Colorado Energy Office. The vehicles, 2012 GMC trucks, will be put into delivery service on campus. Colorado State has selected Lightning Hybrids LLC (earlier post) to provide the systems.... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) to support longer-term projects to boost significantly the yield per acre cultivation equivalent of algae for use as a feedstock for algal biofuels. Approximately $10-20 million is expected to be available for new awards in FY 2013,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has joined DOE and research partners in launching the Advanced Management and Protection of Energy Storage Devices (AMPED) program (earlier post). Over the next three years, NREL engineers will work with teams led by Utah State University, Washington University,... Read more →

As a result of an in-flight battery incident on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner yesterday in Japan, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) to address a potential battery fire risk in the 787 and to require operators to temporarily cease operations of the aircraft. Before... Read more →

Robert Bosch GmbH and its partners BASF, Wacker Chemie AG, SGL Group, Daimler AG and BMW AG have launched the 3-year, €32.5-million (US$43 million) Alpha-Laion project to develop high-energy traction batteries for electric vehicles. Bosch is the project lead. The aim of the project is to raise the energy density... Read more →

Cabot Corporation, a global specialty chemicals and performance materials company, is introducing three new grades of PBX carbon performance additives that are designed to improve lifetime and performance for advanced lead-acid batteries used in applications such as telecom, electric forklift, e-bike and small micro-hybrid vehicles. Cabot introduced its first PBX... Read more →

Sweetwater Energy, Inc., a cellulosic sugar producer, announced a 15-year commercial agreement with Windsor, Colorado-based Front Range Energy, to generate cellulosic ethanol at Front Range’s current corn-ethanol facility. The agreement, Sweetwater’s second such (earlier post), has a total potential value in excess of $100 million, and requires a minimal capital... Read more →

In 2012, demand for new passenger cars reached the lowest level recorded since 1995, totaling 12,053,904 units. The resulting 8.2% contraction of the EU market (year-on-year) is the most important experienced since the 16.9% downturn in 1993, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA). Click to enlarge. In December... Read more →

Total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8% from 2010, mostly because of decreases in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions, even while total releases of toxic chemicals increased for the second year in a row, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report published... Read more →

The 1.6-liter CDTI Ecotec diesels will replace existing 1.7-liter engines and certain lower powered versions of the 2.0-liter range. Click to enlarge. Opel is introducing a new four-cylinder, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel engine as part of the fundamental renewal of its powertrain portfolio. The second family of new downsized power units to... Read more →

Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. has entered into an agreement with an undisclosed U.S.-based company to assess the feasibility and optimal uses of SES’ gasification technology for the production of valuable green chemicals. The agreement calls for SES to lead an engineering study, commissioned and funded by the undisclosed US company,... Read more →

Verizon has collaborated with electric-vehicle developer and manufacturer VIA Motors to produce an extended-range electric cargo van. VIA developed and built the van, based on Verizon’s direction and fleet concepts, and expects it to achieve 100 miles per gallon with near zero emissions. Verizon will now test and deploy two... Read more →

Electrovaya Inc. has received an initial contract to produce prototypes to deliver complete electric vehicle battery systems for DongFeng Motors’ two electric vehicle platforms. DongFeng Motors (DFM) plans to commercially launch these two electric vehicles by late 2013. The Electrovaya 18 kWh Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery consists of its proprietary... Read more →

Schematic overview of the primary black-carbon emission sources and the processes that control the distribution of black carbon in the atmosphere and determine its role in the climate system. Source: Bond et al. Click to enlarge. Black carbon (BC) is the second largest man-made contributor to global warming and its... Read more →

The globally-averaged temperature for 2012 marked the 10th warmest year since record keeping began in 1880, according to the latest State of the Climate report from NOAA’s National Climactic Data Center. It also marked the 36th consecutive year with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last below-average... Read more →

Fiat Group Automobiles S.p.A., Chrysler Group International LLC. and Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. (GAC Group) have signed a Framework Agreement to expand their cooperation on passenger car manufacturing and sales in China. According to the framework agreement, the joint venture between GAC , Fiat and Chrysler Group International, which... Read more →

Lexus IS F SPORT onstage at the Detroit Auto Show. Click to enlarge. Lexus unveiled the all-new 2014 IS sport sedan at the North American International Auto Show. IS will be available in rear- and all-weather drive versions of the IS 250 and IS 350; in a hybrid version, the... Read more →

2014 Cadillac ELR Click to enlarge. Cadillac unveiled the anticipated 2014 ELR extended range electric (EREV) vehicle (based on the Converj concept, earlier post) at the North American International Auto Show. (Earlier post.) ELR production begins in the US in late 2013 in limited numbers, said Bob Ferguson, Cadillac global... Read more →

The UK public-private partnership Energy Technologies Institute (ETI), Loughborough University, Johnson Matthey and Caterpillar have launched a new £4.5-million (US$7.2-million) technology project to improve the effectiveness of Selective Catalytic Reaction (SCR) aftertreatment systems for NOx reduction in heavy duty vehicles (HDVs). The project aims to help HDV fuel efficiency by... Read more →

BMW Group, TU Chemnitz and Stadtwerke Leipzig are launching an electromobility user study with long-distance commuters and 15 BMW ActiveE EVs in the Leipzig, Germany area. The project is funded as part of the showcase “Electromobility Connects” Bavaria-Saxony by the federal government. Another focus of the project is on the... Read more →

Johnson Controls, Inc., has sold more than 18 million Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) batteries since the technology launched in 2001, topping 4.5 million annually in Europe. AGM is an advanced lead-acid battery and is suited for Start-Stop systems, which help improve fuel economy in vehicles by 5 to 10%. Start-Stop... Read more →

Kyoto Prefecture and four Japanese companies entered into a partnership last September under which the prefectural government can call on the companies to provide free use of their electric vehicles (EVs) and power feeding devices for emergency response and disaster relief operations in times of natural disaster or large-scale power... Read more →

Nissan announced that US pricing for the updated 2013 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (earlier post) will start at an MSRP of $28,800 for the newly-added entry-level S grade—an 18% reduction from the $35,200 MSRP of the 2012 LEAF entry model, the SV. The entry-level 2013 LEAF S becomes the lowest... Read more →

SABIC’s Innovative Plastics business announced that the French automaker has successfully adopted a new post-industrial recycled (PIR) grade of NORYL GTX resin as part of its ongoing drive to comply with the European Union’s end-of-life vehicle (ELV) requirements. The OEM adopted the new SABIC material for the fenders of its... Read more →

At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Lincoln introduced the MKC concept, targeting the small luxury utility segment. Growth in this segment hit nearly 60% in 2012, and more than 200% over the last four years, eclipsing all other luxury segments, Lincoln said. We are reinventing Lincoln by... Read more →

After being selected through a public bidding process, BYD has delivered 500 battery-electric, e6 police vehicles to the Shenzhen Municipal Public Security Bureau this week. The BYD e6 reaches speeds of over 140 km/h (~87 mph) with a range of 300 km (187 miles), making it suited for the demands... Read more →

Honda unveiled its “Urban SUV Concept” vehicle at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The concept hints at the styling direction of an all-new small SUV slated to launch in Japan by the end of 2013, followed by the US market in 2014. Urban SUV Concept.... Read more →

Powertrain of the CrossBlue SUV PHEV concept. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen unveiled the CrossBlue SUV concept at the North American International Auto Show. Developed specifically for US and Canada, the six- to seven-seat midsize crossover CrossBlue is targeted at the rapidly growing mid-size SUV segment, and would sit in the... Read more →

2014 Infiniti Q50. Click to enlarge. Infiniti unveiled the all-new 2014 Infiniti Q50 luxury sports sedan at the 2013 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Q50 will be available at US launch with a choice of a 3.7-liter V6 or new Q50 Hybrid featuring Infiniti’s Direct Response... Read more →

3.0L EcoDiesel. Click to enlarge. Among the many features of the new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee—introduced at the Detroit Auto Show—two in particular contribute to significantly improved fuel economy and driving performance: an optional new 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V-6 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain delivers 30 mpg... Read more →

Technologies and contributions to reduced fuel consumption in Efficient Future Mobility North America. Click to enlarge. Schaeffler presented a new concept vehicle at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Efficient Future Mobility North America vehicle is based on a mid-size SUV and highlights a range of... Read more →

The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., presented the AERO-Y EV concept at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2013. The AERO-Y was designed for the research and development of Yokohama proprietary technologies. In developing the AERO-Y, Yokohama focused on aerodynamic drag reduction as the theme and intensively utilized its latest technologies cultivated at... Read more →

2014 Corvette Stingray. Click to enlarge. GM staged the debut of the all-new, 7th generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray on the eve of the Detroit Auto Show. The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the most powerful standard model ever, with a new LT1 6.2L Small Block V8 delivering an estimated 450 hp... Read more →

China has announced it will join the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). IRENA is mandated by 159 countries and the European Union to promote the sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, and to serve as the global hub for renewable energy cooperation and information exchange. Formally established in... Read more →

Comparison of Hg emissions in 2005 and 2010, by selected sector and region. Unintentional emission sectors: Coal burning, ferrous- and non-ferrous (Au, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) metal production, cement production. Intentional-use sectors: Disposal and incineration of product waste, cremation emissions, chlor-alkali industry. Source: UNEP. Click to enlarge. The fifth and... Read more →

Lincoln introduced the MKC Concept, a vision of how Lincoln will enter the small luxury utility segment, which grew nearly 60% in 2012 and more than 200% in the last four—the fastest growing segment of the luxury market. This segment growth is being driven at both ends of the demographic... Read more →

PwC’s automotive analyst group, Autofacts, expects 2013 global light vehicle assembly will exceed 83 million units, an increase of 5.1% from 2012’s total. Autofacts expects the global market to remain positive overall, while the European Union and Japan will continue to be areas of concern. Megatrends driving the global automotive... Read more →

One in three Europeans would spend more to buy an environmentally friendly car even though 71% say they have reduced overall spending as a result of the economic recession, according to a Ford Motor Company-sponsored poll. The survey also shows 53% consider climate change to be the world’s biggest issue... Read more →

Consumption-based power mixes and NG transmission distances by Chinese province in 2010. Credit: ACS, Huo et al. Click to enlarge. A province-by-province life cycle analysis of natural gas and electric vehicles by a team from Tsinghua University concludes that while, from the perspective of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) and criteria... Read more →

TIAX LLC introduced its lithium-ion battery safety sensor system for detecting and pre-empting short circuits inside a lithium-ion cell. Short circuits can lead to safety events such as explosions and fires. A key component of TIAX’s lithium-ion battery safety sensor system is based on a proven sensing technology that TIAX... Read more →

Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd (GAC Group) is showing the Trumpchi GS5-BEV Pure Electric Vehicle Concept at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The electric SUV concept is based on the conventionally-engined Trumpchi GS5 SUV which was introduced in March of 2012. GAC Trumpchi GS5-BEV. Click to... Read more →

Kinder Morgan announced that the total volume of committed shippers to the Trans Mountain pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to Burnaby, British Columbia is now approximately 700,000 barrels per day (bpd); as a result, the company plans to increase the proposed expansion capacity of the pipeline from from 750,000 bpd... Read more →

Sweden-based White Smoke Shipping, together with Delta Marine and Omega Marine of Turkey as well as Frederiet AB and Crew Chart Ship Management of Sweden, has developed the WS3 project—a vessel designed for the growing LNG bunkering market of the North European ECA (Emission Control Areas) with special focus on... Read more →

Pacific Ethanol, Stockton LLC has entered into an agreement to install Edeniq’s Cellunators to boost ethanol yields and OilPlus corn oil extraction process to increase corn oil recovery at the company’s Stockton, California ethanol plant. (Earlier post.) Edeniq’s Cellunator technology mills corn and other plant materials into particles of feedstock... Read more →

Despite many new-vehicle owners saying their factory-installed navigation system is better than their previous system, navigation system satisfaction has declined from 2011, as owners are frustrated by the complexity of menu systems, voice control commands and inputting destinations, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 US Navigation Usage and... Read more →

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will award some $25 million to four projects to research and development of next-generation renewable energy and high-value biobased products—such as biofuels—from a variety of biomass sources. The projects are funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) through the Biomass Research... Read more →

360-degree surround detection optimally detects the entire vehicle surrounding and helps to safely master complex traffic situations. Source: Continental. Click to enlarge. International automotive supplier Continental has acquired ASL Vision, a provider of embedded video image processing and transmission solutions based in Lewes, England. ASL has developed the ASL360 Surround... Read more →