Audi’s e-tron quattro battery-electric SUV concept, which made its formal debut at IAA in Frankfurt (earlier post), is a strong indicator of Audi’s series-production electric SUV due in 2018—especially in terms of the powertrain. The e-tron quattro is based on Audi’s MLB evo—the second-generation of the modular longitudinal matrix toolkit... Read more →

Professor John Goodenough, the inventor of the lithium-ion battery, and his team at the University of Texas at Austin have identified a new cathode material made of the nontoxic and inexpensive mineral eldfellite (NaFe(SO4)2), presenting a significant advancement in the quest for a commercially viable sodium-ion battery. (Edfellite was first... Read more →

A research demonstration unveiled at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (DOE ORNL) combines clean energy technologies into a 3D-printed building and a 3D-printed natural gas-powered hybrid vehicle to showcase a new approach to energy use, storage and consumption. The Additive Manufacturing Integrated Energy (AMIE) demonstration, displayed at... Read more →

Testing, which is still ongoing, is showing that Finnish wood-based UPM BioVerno diesel (earlier post) significantly reduces harmful tailpipe emissions. A number of engine and vehicle tests have been carried out across a number of research institutes such as VTT Technical Research Center of Finland Lt;, University of Vaasa in... Read more →

Ford has introduced the new 2017 Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks. Following the lead of the F-150, the new F-Series Super Duty pickup truck and chassis cab feature an all-new, fully boxed frame built with more than 95% high-strength steel and a segment-first, high-strength, military-grade, aluminum-alloy body. Together, the high-strength... Read more →

Researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology have developed a simple method for producing a palladium-based nanomaterial that can spur the breakdown of formic acid (FA) into hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Its efficiency far exceeds that of any other reported heterogeneous catalyst, they say. They also... Read more →

A large coalition of European partners has launched the €63-million (US$70-million) project Hydrogen Mobility Europe (H2ME). H2ME is co-funded with €32 million (US$36 million) from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). The project will support the deployment of 325 Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs), including 125 fuel-cell... Read more →

Amyris, Inc. announced a multi-year Technology Investment Agreement (TIA) worth up to $35 million with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Biological Technologies Office to create new research and development tools and technologies that will significantly reduce the time and cost of bringing new molecules to market. Amyris has... Read more →

Volkswagen Group CEO Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn resigned today, taking upon himself responsibility for the emissions cheating scandal that has quickly engulfed the company. In a statement, the Executive Committee of Volkswagen AG’s Supervisory Board noted that Dr. Winterkorn had no knowledge of the manipulation of emissions data, and thanked... Read more →

Ricardo is one of 19 collaborating commercial and academic partners in the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 Green Vehicle Initiative project HDGAS—a project that aims to develop, demonstrate and optimize advanced powertrain concepts for dual-fuel and pure natural gas-powered heavy duty vehicles. Particular areas of focus for the company will be... Read more →

In a new report, Navigant Research forecasts that global carsharing services revenue will grow from $1.1 billion in 2015 to $6.5 billion in 2024. The Asia Pacific region will take the largest share at 34%. Europe will follow with an estimated 32% of the total. Carsharing services revenue in North... Read more →

The Government of Canada is opening its own investigation into the Volkswagen Group’s use of a software defeat device to circumvent EPA standards for NOx. Canada’s emissions standards are in alignment with EPA’s. With aligned emission standards, Environment Canada works closely with the US EPA to ensure our common environmental... Read more →

The methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process, first developed in the 1970s, converts methanol or dimethyl ether into olefins on acidic zeolites. However, the site and mechanism of formation of the first carbon–carbon bond are still a matter of debate. A team of scientists at ETH Zurich and ENS Lyon now says that... Read more →

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have developed a ternary mixed oxide catalyst composed of copper oxide, cobalt oxide, and ceria (dubbed “CCC”) that outperforms synthesized and commercial platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts for CO oxidation in simulated exhaust streams while showing no signs of inhibition—i.e., the clogging of... Read more →

The automotive market in China is declining faster than expected due to economic uncertainty and government restrictions over vehicle ownership. Although automakers have had to slash prices in an effort to cut full inventory levels in the near term, the future in China may still hold promise if adjustments are... Read more →

US-based algal fuels company based Algenol will partner with South China’s Fujian Zhongyuan New Energy Company, Ltd. (ZYNE) to develop projects throughout Southern China, utilizing carbon emissions to create renewable fuels. The goal is to provide solutions for China’s three biggest challenges: access to clean air, clean water and sustainable... Read more →

In a statement issued this morning, Volkswagen AG said that new vehicles from the Volkswagen Group with EU 6 diesel engines currently available in the European Union comply with legal requirements and environmental standards. The engine control software in those vehicles does not affect handling, consumption or emissions, the company... Read more →

New D-4D diesel. Click to enlarge. Toyota’s Land Cruiser off-road 4WD vehicle in Europe is now available with a new 2.8 liter D-4D turbo-diesel. The engine replaces the current 3.0-liter engine, with a focus on improved driveability with better torque delivery, plus lower fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions. It... Read more →

BASF is expanding its range of engineering plastics for the dynamic market of electric and hybrid vehicles. Tailor-made Ultramid and Ultradur materials are now available globally for equipping vehicle-interior and -exterior high-voltage plug-in connectors with precisely fitting characteristics. The special polyamide and polybutylene terephthalate grades meet the demands on flame... Read more →

Siemens aims to be the world’s first major industrial company to achieve a net-zero carbon footprint by 2030. The company plans to cut its CO2 emissions—which currently total about 2.2 million metric tons a year—in half by as early as 2020. To achieve these goals, Siemens will invest some €100... Read more →

Novozymes has introduced a new enzyme for ethanol producers that will reduce their use of chemicals without sacrificing yield. Liquozyme LpH is an alpha-amylase effective at low pH that thins the mash by breaking down starch into shorter dextrin chains. A more fluid mash ensures more efficient operational performance for... Read more →

A study by a team from the California Air Resources Board (ARB) has found that the collective cancer risk from exposure to seven toxic air contaminant (TACs) has declined 76% during the period from 1990 to 2012, and linked that result from air quality regulations targeting these TACs. The study... Read more →

Researchers at the MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, have fabricated a synthetic protein that not only improves the assembly of the carbon-fixing factory of cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae), but also provides a proof of concept for a device that could potentially improve plant photosynthesis or be... Read more →

BorgWarner supplies Eco-Launch stop/start accumulator technology and multi-segment wet friction plates for the new 8-speed rear-wheel drive automatic transmission (8L45) from General Motors. To enable the transmission’s stop/start functionality, BorgWarner’s Eco-Launch hydraulic accumulator and solenoid valve provide rapid, quiet and smooth engagements during engine restarts. BorgWarner’s advanced friction plate technology... Read more →

Although the timing arguably could have been better, Volkswagen of America proceeded with the planned debut of the restyled 2016 Volkswagen Passat in New York on Monday. The midsize sedan, built in Volkswagen’s LEED Platinum-certified factory in Chattanooga, will offer three engine options—1.8-liter TSI gasoline; 2.0-liter diesel TDI; and 3.6-liter... Read more →

Last Friday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (ARB) charged that Volkswagen (Jetta, Beetle, Golf, Passat) and Audi (A3) passenger cars equipped with 2.0-liter diesels in the US have used a software defeat device to cheat on the results of NOx testing, and thus have... Read more →

To advance research in nanoscale science, engineering and technology, the National Science Foundation (NSF) will provide a total of $81 million over five years to support 16 sites and a coordinating office as part of a new National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure (NNCI). The NNCI sites will provide researchers from academia,... Read more →

ChargePoint’s Home residential plug-in vehicle (PEV) networked charging station is now available for order on Amazon, priced from $499 to $749. The compact, thin Home charger has a footprint of just 11.2" x 7". With the networked station, drivers can: Remote start, scheduling and charging reminders with the ChargePoint mobile... Read more →

Widespread adoption of electric transportation, including electrification in the off-road sector, could lead to substantial reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and could modestly improve air quality, according to a new analysis released by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The report, “Environmental... Read more →

Motor Design Ltd (MDL) announced the official launch of the SEMPEED Consortium (Simulation of Electrical Machines, Power Electronics and Electrical Drives) which is for academic collaborators and industrial members. The consortium is inspired by the legacy of the former SPEED Consortium, to which Dr. David Staton and Dr. Mircea Popescu... Read more →

by Dan Doyle for Oilprice.com Dan Doyle is president of Reliance Well Services, a hydraulic fracturing company based in Pennsylvania. On September 10th, the EIA reported a production decline in the Lower 48—essentially shale production—of 208,000 BOPD (barrels of oil per day). That is a staggeringly enormous number, approximately 10... Read more →

On Friday, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (ARB) charged that, based on ARB testing, Volkswagen and Audi passenger cars equipped with 2.0L diesels have used a software defeat device to cheat on the results of NOx testing, and thus have violated the US Clean... Read more →

Freescale Semiconductor introduced the MC33772 3- to 6-cell lithium-ion battery cell controller, expanding its portfolio of highly integrated and connected solutions for reducing bill of materials (BOM) cost, increasing operating robustness and meeting stringent functional safety requirements for automotive and industrial battery systems. Together with its previously announced MC33771 14-cell... Read more →

Statoil and its partners this week put the first subsea gas compression facility on line at Åsgard in the Norwegian Sea. Subsea compression will add some 306 million barrels of oil equivalent to total output over the field’s life, the partners said. This subsea technology milestone opens new opportunities in... Read more →

EPA has issued a notice of violation (NOV) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) to Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, and Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (collectively referred to here as Volkswagen). The NOV alleges that Volkswagen and Audi cars from model years 2009-2015 equipped with 2.0-liter, four-cylinder diesels include software... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz will invest $1.3 billion to expand SUV production in the US and turn the Mercedes-Benz plant Tuscaloosa into a high-tech location. The Mercedes-Benz plant Tuscaloosa will also assemble the next SUV generations including the hybrid versions. The plant expansion includes a new Body Shop, major enhancements to the SUV... Read more →

UK-based ITM Power signed an agreement with The Centre for Engineering and Manufacturing Excellence (CEME) to deploy a Hydrogen Refueling Station (HRS) at the CEME site in Rainham, UK. ITM Power also just opened the first public access hydrogen refueling station, funded by InnovateUK, at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in... Read more →

Enevate Corporation, the developer of high energy density Li-ion batteries featuring a new Silicon-dominant composite anode material (earlier post), has secured $30 million in extended Series-B funding. The funding was led by Infinite Potential Technologies, Tsing Capital and Mission Ventures with participation by Presidio Ventures—a Sumitomo Corporation company. Enevate has... Read more →

Electronic vehicle systems developer Hyperdrive Innovation Ltd and Li-sulfur battery developer OXIS Energy Ltd are working together on an Ultra-Low Temperature Battery (ULTB) project, supported by Innovate UK’s energy catalyst, to explore the feasibility of a high energy density battery chemistry with innovative packaging and control electronics that will be... Read more →

Drivers of Ford electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles ( Focus Electric, C-MAX Energi and Fusion Energi) can now access their battery charge status, unlock their doors and get a driving score from their last trip with the MyFord Mobile application for smartwatches. The app gives drivers the ability to quickly... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding nearly $55 million for 24 projects to develop and deploy advanced vehicle technologies, supporting the Energy Department’s EV Everywhere Grand Challenge to make plug-in electric vehicles as affordable to own and operate as today’s gasoline-powered vehicles by 2022. Through the Advanced Vehicle... Read more →

The US Department of Energy announced up to $70 million in funding (DE-FOA-0001263) for the next Clean Energy Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which will be focused on smart manufacturing. With this investment, the DOE aims to support research and development advancements that can reduce the cost of deployment for technologies such... Read more →

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) recently signed a memorandum of understanding to partner to help US industry and businesses expand use of high performance computing (HPC). Scientific and engineering software applications capable of running on HPC platforms are a prime area of interest. The... Read more →

by Art Berman for Oilprice.com The party is over for tight oil. Despite brash statements by US producers and misleading analysis by Raymond James, low oil prices are killing tight oil companies. Reports this week from IEA and EIA paint a bleak picture for oil prices as the world production... Read more →

A 1 megawatt (MW)/2 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy system powered by LG Chem batteries has been commissioned for Southern Company and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) at a solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in the Southeastern region of the US. The battery energy storage system (BESS) is installed in the... Read more →

EV Connect, a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, announced the first “EV Charging-as-a-Service” or “EV CaaS”, to cut up-front costs and simplify the process for purchasing and installing EV charging station infrastructure by turning the purchase decision from a capital expenditure to an operating expense. In collaboration with... Read more →

A team led by researchers from the National Research Council Canada has investigated the effect of the use of a gasoline particulate filter on the size and morphology of PM emitted from a light-duty gasoline-direct-injection (GDI) vehicle over the FTP-75 and US06 transient drive cycles. Using transmission-electron-microscope (TEM) image analysis,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $22 million in funding for five projects aimed at merging wide-bandgap (WBG) technology with advancements for large-scale motors to increase energy efficiency in high-energy consuming industries, products and processes, such as the transportation of fossil fuels and industrial-scale compression systems. These projects,... Read more →

At the IAA in Frankfurt, Hyundai Motor is showcasing two new turbocharged gasoline direct injected (T-GDI) engines. Hyundai Motor’s new downsized 1.0 T-GDI and 1.4 T-GDI powerplants are part of a new generation of small turbocharged gasoline engines within the Hyundai engine line-up. Also on show is the new seven-speed... Read more →

If air pollution emissions continue to rise at the current rate, some 6.6 million people could prematurely die annually by 2050, double the current rate of 3.3 million people per year, according to a study carried out by a team led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry... Read more →