Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) have identified two compressed air energy storage methods for the temporary storage of the Northwest’s excess wind power and two eastern Washington locations to put them into practice. Compressed air energy storage plants could... Read more →

Honda Cars India Limited (HCIL) recently launched the Honda Amaze for the Indian market, marking Honda’s entry into the diesel segment there. India is the first country to launch the Amaze with Honda’s latest i-DTEC diesel engine technology. The gasoline model of the Amaze will be equipped with an i-VTEC... Read more →

MIT scientists demonstrated two approaches for growing CNTs on carbon fiber without degrading the fiber strength. Credit: ACS, Steiner et al. Click to enlarge. Researchers at MIT have demonstrated two approaches for producing carbon fibers coated in carbon nanotubes without degrading the underlying fiber’s strength. A paper on the work,... Read more →

US fuel ethanol production capacity, 1 January 2013. Source: EIA. Click to enlarge. US fuel ethanol production capacity was 13.852 billion gallons per year (903,000 barrels per day), as of 1 January 2013, according to the latest annual report released by the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The report shows... Read more →

The 2013 Ford Fusion Energi plug-in hybrid (PHEV) earned the highest possible “five-star” Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In its testing, the 2013 C-MAX Energi, Ford’s other PHEV on the market, received a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA. NHTSA has elected to test plug-in... Read more →

Consumption of lithium in rechargeable batteries by end use, 2012-2017, kt LCE. Source: Roskill. Click to enlarge. In a forecast of the Lithium market through 2017, Roskill Information Services estimates that rechargeable batteries will, in the base-case growth scenario, contribute 75% of the growth in forecast lithium demand to 2017,... Read more →

The Nikkei reported that Toyota Motor Corp. plans to increase its output of lithium-ion batteries for the Prius and other models to more than 200,000 units a year. Most of Toyota’s hybrids still rely on NiMH batteries. The Nikkei report said that Toyota hopes to extend the range of its... Read more →

The German Federal Government is hosting an international conference on e-mobility, “Electric Mobility Going Global” later this month (27-28 May) in Berlin; Germany’s chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel is scheduled to give a speech on the first conference day. The conference is conducted in cooperation with the National Electric Mobility Platform... Read more →

The Government of Canada is supporting a three-year project that will result in the construction of a $19-million, demonstration-scale facility in Alberta that will use algae to recycle industrial carbon dioxide emissions from an oil sands facility into commercial products such as biofuels. The Algal Carbon Conversion (ACC) Pilot Project... Read more →

For the 2014 model year, BMW is adding a new inline-6 Advanced Diesel engine for the 5 Series sedan. The enhanced, 2014 BMW 5 Series Sedan and 5 Series Gran Turismo go on sale at Authorized BMW Centers in the US in August, 2013, including the ActiveHybrid 5 model as... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (ARB) 2013 research plan includes a project that will comprehensively characterize the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) market, with the ultimate goal of increasing consumer purchases of ZEVs. The proposed project will investigate the factors that influence sales of ZEVs in California (e.g., price, vehicle range,... Read more →

The Government of Victoria (Australia) is inviting more Victorian car fleets to participate in the Victorian Government’s Electric Vehicle Trial. (Earlier post.)This is the final expression of interest for fleets to take part. The Government is seeking expressions of interest from companies, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies. Applications are accepted... Read more →

At PCIM Europe 2013 in Nuremberg, Infineon Technologies AG launched its new EconoDUAL 3 IGBT modules, which are fully qualified according to automotive standards. The new offering addresses demanding applications in commercial, construction or agricultural vehicles where extended reliability is a key. Automotive qualification means that the modules provide significantly... Read more →

In April, sales of new passenger cars in Europe grew for the first time (+1.7%) since September 2011, according to figures from the European Association of Automobile Manufacturers (ACEA). The region counted on average two more working days compared to the same month last year, which would account for the... Read more →

General Motors is joining the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University (CARS). The Center for Automotive Research at Stanford is a community of faculty and students from a range of disciplines aimed at discovering, building, and deploying critical ideas and innovations for the next generation of cars and drivers.... Read more →

Relative changes in vehicle energy efficiency (VEE) (km/MJ) on ethanol/gasoline blends over those on gasoline for different blending levels. Credit: ACS, Yan et al. Click to enlarge. In a policy analysis in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology, researchers from the Universities of Cambridge, Exeter and Oxford argue that,... Read more →

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have demonstrated a significant improvement in the performance of solar-powered hydrogen generation by employing a metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) photoelectrode architecture that allows for stable and efficient water splitting using narrow bandgap semiconductors. A paper on their work is published in the... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has conditionally authorized Freeport LNG Expansion, L.P. and FLNG Liquefaction, LLC (Freeport) to export domestically produced liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States from the Freeport LNG Terminal on Quintana Island, Texas.... Read more →

NEI Corporation is making Li10SnP2S12 (Lithium-Tin-Phosphorous-Sulfide, LSPS) available for sale in powder form. LSPS belongs to a family of superionic solids which conduct lithium-ions at room temperature. Commercial Lithium-ion batteries usually contain an electrolyte that is dissolved in flammable solvents. The use of a solid state electrolyte, such as LSPS,... Read more →

Renault SAS has signed on as official Technical Partner of Spark Racing Technology (SRT) to supply the Formula E cars to be entered in the FIA Formula E Championship. Spark Racing Technology was founded in November 2012 for the creation and assembly of cars participating in the FIA World Championship... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) will compete in the 2013 edition of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, 25-30 June 25 to June 30, with the MiEV Evolution II all-electric prototype. MMC’s team will consist of two of the new all-electric four-wheel drive (4WD) racecars. The four Meidensha motors (2 front,... Read more →

Electric motorcycle company Zero Motorcycles signed its first eastern Asia distributor, Yuen Ho Trading Company, Ltd. (YHT), based in Hong Kong. In celebration of the occasion, Zero Motorcycles representatives were in Hong Kong presenting the Hong Kong government with 59 MY 2012 Zero S motorcycles as part of Zero’s single... Read more →

Calyx Bio-Ventures Inc. has launched an improved variety of Resonance carinata, an industrial oilseed crop that is proprietary to Calyx’s operating subsidiary, Agrisoma Biosciences Inc. Oil extracted from carinata can be refined into fuels used as 100% petroleum substitutes. Performance trials of this next-generation variety of Resonance carinata, AAC A110,... Read more →

Calculations by the Rice lab of theoretical physicist Boris Yakobson suggest that a layered graphene/boron (C3B) Li-ion battery anode material should have a capacity about twice that of graphite, with comparable power density and small volume variation during discharge/charge cycles. A paper on the work is published in the ACS... Read more →

Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI) announced a new co-funded research agreement with ExxonMobil to develop algae biofuels. The new agreement is a basic science research program that focuses on developing algal strains with significantly improved production characteristics by employing synthetic genomic science and technology. Financial details of the agreement were not... Read more →

The Nissan LEAF has sold more than 25,000 units in the US. The battery-electric car posted its best US sales month yet in March, and a 423.5% year-over-year sales increase in April. Nissan has sold more than 62,000 units worldwide. We’re seeing the adoption curve for EVs accelerate, and there... Read more →

The 918 Spyder. Click to enlarge. Porsche has introduced the 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid sports car, the first of six or more plug-in hybrids coming from the Volkswagen Group. (Earlier post.) Porsche had unveiled the concept version of the 918 Spyder Plug-in Hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show in 2010.... Read more →

BYD announced the launch of Hong Kong’s first all-electric taxi fleet using the BYD e6 electric cross-over sedan. BYD collaborated with Sime Darby Motors Group (Sime Darby), Hong Kong Taxi & Public Light Bus Association Limited, The Link Management Limited, CLP Power Hong Kong Limited and The Hong Kong Electric... Read more →

Toyota Motor Manufacturing France (TMMF) has started production of the Toyota Yaris compact car for export to the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. The model produced is the conventional gasoline-fueled Yaris and annual export volume will be around 25,000 units on a full-year basis. An additional €10 million (US$12.9 million)... Read more →

Volkswagen broke ground on a new vehicle plant in Changsha in the province of Hunan, south-central China. The new plant in Changsha, being built in cooperation with the Chinese joint venture Shanghai-Volkswagen (SVW), is scheduled for completion end of 2015 and will manufacture approximately 300,000 vehicles per year. Volkswagen is... Read more →

Volvo Car Group (Volvo Cars) is ramping up production of the V60 Plug-in Hybrid (earlier post) by 90% to meet demand, especially in Holland, Belgium and Italy. Production at the Torslanda plant in Sweden will be increased continuously from 150 to 282 units per week. All in all, Volvo Cars... Read more →

Axens has entered into a technology alliance with Headwaters Technology Innovation (HTI) to promote the combined use of Axens’ and HTI’s technologies to produce clean liquid fuels from residual heavy oil (“bottom-of-the-barrel”, or what remains of crude oil after gasoline and the distillate fuel oils are extracted). The alliance enables... Read more →

Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX) and Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) introduced legislation—the Domestic Alternative Fuels Act, H.R. 1959—that would allow ethanol produced from domestic natural gas to be included under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and compete with corn-based ethanol. Original co-sponsors include: Rep. Ted Poe (R-TX); Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX);... Read more →

Researchers with the Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) have employed a promising technique for improving the ability of enzymes that break cellulose down into fermentable sugars to operate in temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius. Using this technique, they successfully engineered a high-temperature enzyme variant with greater activity and stability... Read more →

IS 300h. Click to enlarge. Lexus has begun sales of the new IS sports sedan lineup in Japan with the introduction of the redesigned IS 350 and IS 250, and the introduction of the IS 300h hybrid. Monthly sales target for the hybrid model in Japan is 800 units. Lexus... Read more →

New S 400 HYBRID. Click to enlarge. Mercedes-Benz’s new generation flagship S-Class, introduced at an elaborate event at Airbus in Finkenwerder, marks a number of technology firsts in numerous areas from comfort, to driver control, to efficiency. As one example of the last, the new S-Class is the first car... Read more →

Saft has been awarded a contract from Lockheed Martin for delivery of e6T Li-ion battery systems for the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Program. The JLTV program will produce a family of vehicles capable of performing multiple mission roles that will be... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected the US Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) to lead an industry-wide effort to accelerate development of high-efficiency, cost-effective battery technologies for electric vehicles. USABC, managed by Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors, will solicit, fund, and manage cooperative research and development... Read more →

Opel is applying its new 1.6L SIDI Turbo gasoline engine (earlier post) in three Astra variants: Astra five-door hatchback, four-door sedan and Sports Tourer models. The 125 kW/170 hp direct injection engine leads the newly-launched Opel powertrain offensive. This new-generation engine tops the gasoline offer in the Astra family and... Read more →

UQM Technologies, Inc. has introduced the UQM PowerPhase HD 950T which delivers 950 N·m (701 lb-ft) of torque; the electric drive system is designed for heavier commercial trucks and buses that require such higher torque. The 950T is an additional offering to the PowerPhase HD 220 announced last year, giving... Read more →

An analysis by FEV of a modeled automotive scale version of Pinnacle’s 4-stroke, spark-ignited (SI), opposed-piston, sleeve-valve architecture engine (earlier post) concluded that the engine has the potential to deliver significant additional fuel economy benefits of up to 42.6% with application of various advanced technologies over a baseline naturally aspirated... Read more →

A new University at Buffalo (UB) study of crashes involving cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) has found that in head-on collisions between passenger cars and SUVs, drivers in passenger cars were nearly 10 times more likely to die if the SUV involved had a better crash rating. Drivers of... Read more →

A team of researchers from the Chemical Engineering Department at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) have been working on a project called “Microalgae for Biodiesel” since 2010. The project is in collaboration with the Mechanical Engineering Department at UAEU and the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department at University of Auckland,... Read more →

Ford Sollers, the Russian joint venture between Ford Motor and Sollers, is building a $274-million engine plant in Elabuga, Tatarstan. The company will also manufacture and sell the new Ford EcoSport small sports utility vehicle (SUV). Production of the EcoSport small SUV will commence at a Ford Sollers plant in... Read more →

France’s IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) is coordinating a four-year project seeking to understand and to model the physical phenomena involved in transient modes of operation of gasoline direct injection (GDI) powertrains. The specific objective of the ANR (French National Research Agency)-funded ASTRIDE (Aerodynamics and Sprays during TRansients of Gasoline Direct... Read more →

Rosneft signed an agreement with the Volkswagen Group Rus signed an agreement aimed at the development of the compressed natural gas (CNG) market in Russia, as well as the CNG-powered vehicles market. The company also signed an agreement with Russian truck-maker KAMAZ on scientific and technological cooperation to expand use... Read more →

DSM’s Stanyl and EcoPaXX are used in the new SIM-CEL EV prototype. Click to enlarge. The latest prototype electric car from Japan-based SIM-Drive Corporation (earlier post) features parts based on DSM’s Stanyl and EcoPaXX polyamides that make the car lighter and more sustainable. SIM-Drive Corporation, founded by Hiroshi Shimizu and... Read more →

OPX Biotechnologies, Inc. and Evonik Industries AG have entered into an agreement jointly to develop certain bio-based specialty chemicals. The joint-development agreement calls for OPXBIO to use its proprietary EDGE (Efficiency Directed Genome Engineering) technology to develop the bio-processes. According to the agreement, OPXBIO will also be able to market... Read more →

Enerkem Inc., the developer of a thermochemical (gasification and catalytic synthesis) process to produce synthetic fuels with an initial focus on ethanol (earlier post), has launched a new research project with the Government of Canada. The objective of the project is to develop new catalytic processes for the conversion of... Read more →

The University of Michigan announced the establishment of the Michigan Mobility Transformation Center (MTC) as a partnership with government and industry to improve the safety, sustainability and accessibility of the ways that people and goods move from place to place. A key focus of the MTC will be a model... Read more →