The California Energy Commission has awarded Envoy Technologies $1.5 million in funding to develop and implement an Electric Vehicle Shared Mobility Program that will primarily benefit disadvantaged communities in the greater Sacramento Metropolitan and the California Bay Area. Envoy provides shared mobility as an amenity where people live, work and... Read more →

Energy researchers at IHS Markit have completed the first, three-year phase of a massive Permian Basin research project that models and interprets the giant basin’s key geologic characteristics to better estimate its remaining hydrocarbon potential. Initial results indicate the giant basin still holds an estimated 60 billion to 70 billion... Read more →

Cadillac embarked on its first official hands-free drive on freeways from one side of the country to the other, using Super Cruise technology. (Earlier post.) Super Cruise utilizes two advanced technology systems—a driver attention system and precision LiDAR map data. A group of stakeholders and media will put the power... Read more →

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is testing connected trucks in platooning operations on public roads in the US. In truck platooning, connectivity and automated driving improve safety within the vehicle convoys, support drivers and enhance efficiency through closer distances between the connected trucks. Having started with successful trials on Daimler... Read more →

With support from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), BHP and GoodFuels Marine have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on a biofuels pilot project in Singapore, which is expected to be carried out early next year. The LOI was signed during an MPA-organized inaugural closed-door... Read more →

Volvo Cars announced that the next generation of the XC90 large premium SUV will be built in its new manufacturing plant in Charleston, South Carolina from 2021. This takes Volvo Cars’ total investment in its US manufacturing operations to more than US$1.1 billion and will raise the total of new... Read more →

The clean technology company Danish Power Systems (DPS), with partners at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague, Czech Republic, reports the best operating stability for high-temperature polymer fuel cells (HTPEMFC) yet. In a 9,000-hour long test at 160 ˚C under constant... Read more →

Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies has introduced the new Endurant 12-speed automated transmission—the lightest, most efficient 1,850 lb-ft (2,508 N·m) capable heavy-duty transmission. Designed for linehaul applications, Endurant weighs up to 105 pounds less than competitive automated manual transmissions (AMTs). Endurant is the first automated heavy-duty transmission to be introduced... Read more →

Inflexion Private Equity said that funds managed by Inflexion have agreed on the buyout of Xtrac Ltd, a leading designer and manufacturer of high performance transmissions for the motorsport and automotive industry. Xtrac supplies most of the world’s top motorsport teams in both two and four-wheeled formulae across the globe,... Read more →

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT) and Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) have commenced joint research with the aim of promoting the use of partner robots that can help and coexist harmoniously with humans. The research aims to provide support for various situations that occur in daily life utilizing AI technology... Read more →

Teijin Aramid BV, the core company of the Teijin Group’s aramid business, announced that its para-aramid fiber Twaron will be deployed in the solar-powered vehicles being developed by the KU Leuven and University of Michigan http://umich.edu/ teams taking part in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, the world’s biggest solar car... Read more →

Hyundai Motor America recently officially opened its “Charging Century” of more than 100 level-two charging locations to its employee work force. These allow Hyundai’s employees driving Ioniq Electric, Plug-in Hybrid and Sonata Plug-in Hybrid vehicles to recharge their vehicles at Hyundai Motor America’s new gold LEED-certified modern building in Southern... Read more →

A team at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has demonstrated a sustainable process for converting crude extracted algal lipids to renewable diesel fuel via bleaching, deoxygenation, and hydroisomerization. A paper on their study is published in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels. They explored the effects of bleaching (using... Read more →

A group of researchers in Spain—from the Universitat Jaume I de Castelló, the University of Zaragoza and the Institute of Chemical Technology of the Universitat Politècnica de València-CSIC—coordinated by Professor José Antonio Mata of the UJI, have developed and patented a new procedure for the efficient on-demand production, storage and... Read more →

The PROSUME Energy Foundation has developed a blockchain-based platform to exchange electricity from renewable and fossil sources. It connects independent power producers, consumers, utility companies and energy communities in a locally shared market where each peer is free to interact in a multi-tenant ecosystem. The decentralized and self-regulated monitoring system,... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced approximately $36 million in federally-funded financial assistance to advance carbon capture technologies. Under the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office Of Fossil Energy (FE), the Design and Testing of Advanced Carbon Capture Technologies funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001791) will support cost-shared research and development projects... Read more →

GLOBALFOUNDRIES (GF) plans to introduce a new 12nm Leading-Performance (12LP) FinFET (fin field-effect transistor) semiconductor manufacturing process. The technology is expected to deliver better density and a performance boost over GF’s current-generation 14nm FinFET offering, satisfying the processing needs of the most demanding compute-intensive applications from artificial intelligence and virtual... Read more →

A new report by the EU’s Joint Research Center (JRC) explores how connected vehicles and intelligent systems could change transport and the (r)evolution these changes could bring to people’s lives. The report serves as a first input to anticipated policy formulation and also points to the need for further research... Read more →

Transport for London (TfL) has informed Uber London Limited that it will not be issued with a private hire operator licence after the expiration of its current licence on 30 September. TfL said that it has concluded that Uber London Limited is not fit and proper to hold a private... Read more →

According to a new report from Navigant Research (Market Data: EV Geographic Forecasts), 2017 sales of PEVs in North America are on track to be 50% greater than in 2016. Beyond 2017, sales are likely to continue to grow, but the rate of growth will slow. Overall, in North America,... Read more →

During its Capital Markets Day presentations, specialty chemicals company Johnson Matthey said it will invest an initial £200 million (US$270 million) starting in 2018 to build capacity to drive growth in a market which could be more than $30 billion sales when battery electric vehicle penetration increases to around 10%.... Read more →

BorgWarner will be supplying its advanced high-voltage positive temperature coefficient (PTC) cabin heating technology for a new electric vehicle (EV) for a globally known EV automaker. BorgWarner’s technology features more efficient use of energy while providing rapid cabin heating. Limited waste heat impedes heating the cabin. Independent of waste heat,... Read more →

OmniVision Technologies, Inc., a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions, announced the availability of an automotive reference design system (ARDS) that provides a plug-and-play platform for developing automotive imaging systems. The modular approach of OmniVision’s ARDS allows automotive imaging-system and software developers to mix and match image sensors, image... Read more →

Baidu, Inc. announced the release of Apollo 1.5, the latest iteration of the company’s Apollo open-source autonomous driving platform that has gathered 70 strong partners so far. (Earlier post.) The company also announced a 10 billion RMB ($1.5 billion) Apollo Fund to invest in 100 autonomous driving projects in the... Read more →

The Nikkei reports that the Japanese government will ease regulations on hydrogen refueling stations, with the goal of making the refueling points less costly to set up and to operate in the hope of spurring the adoption of fuel cell vehicles. Setting up a hydrogen station costs 400 million yen... Read more →

Studies have shown that air pollution can have negative effects on cardiovascular health and life expectancy. Now new research indicates that it is also harmful to the kidneys. The study, which appears in an open access paper in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), shows that the... Read more →

Growth Energy reports that Magellan Midstream Partners, the Tulsa, Okla.-based transportation, storage, and distribution company, is now offering blending services for E15—a fuel with 15 percent ethanol—throughout their midcontinent terminal system. Magellan owns the longest refined petroleum product pipeline system in the country. Leading retailers including Casey’s, Cenex, Family Express,... Read more →

Mercedes-Benz will set up electric vehicle production in the United States. The company plans to produce EQ-branded SUV models at MBUSI (Mercedes-Benz US International), its Tuscaloosa, Alabama facility. At the time being launched, the EQ models will feature the latest status of automated driving—always under the premise of safety and... Read more →

In 2010, leading global steelmaker ArcelorMittal launched its S-in motion range of lightweight steek solutions. (Earlier post.) Since then, the company has steadily expanded the range of solutions, which now cover many other types of vehicles and vehicle parts, including hybrid and electric vehicles, pick-up trucks, mid-size sedans and SUVs.... Read more →

Researchers at Cornell led by Professor Lyndon Archer, in collaboration with Professor Ravishankar Sundararaman at Rensselaer Polytechnic, have demonstrated a new technique for enabling the use of high-capacity lithium metal anodes in rechargeable batteries. In a paper in the journal Angewandte Chemie the team shows that the indium (In) coatings... Read more →

Stuttgart Airport has started using Neste MY Renewable Diesel to reduce its CO2 emissions and as part of the climate program of Baden-Württemberg’s state airport in Germany. All the ground fleet vehicles which are not electrified, such as the trucks of the airport fire department and winter service equipment, will... Read more →

HRL Laboratories researchers have developed a technique for successfully 3D printing high-strength aluminum alloys—including types Al7075 and Al6061—that opens the door to additive manufacturing of engineering-relevant alloys. These alloys are very desirable for aircraft and automobile parts and have been among thousands that were not amenable to additive manufacturing—a difficulty... Read more →

Members of Tulane University’s Shantz Lab will collaborate with scientists from chemical science company SACHEM to develop next-generation materials to reduce automotive emissions. SACHEM is funding the effort. Under the direction of Daniel Shantz, a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and the Entergy Chair of Clean Energy Engineering, the... Read more →

A chemical engineer from the University of Houston is leading a $2.1-million project to find new catalytic materials that work at lower exhaust temperatures, allowing automakers to build vehicles that operate more efficiently while retaining the ability to clean emissions before they leave the tailpipe. Michael Harold, chairman of the... Read more →

Trucks powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) produce significantly lower CO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, cause virtually no particulate emissions and are significantly quieter than conventional diesel trucks. Hence, Volkswagen Group Logistics, together with Scania, a brand of the Volkswagen Truck & Bus Group, and the forwarders of the... Read more →

The Department of Energy (DOE) has selected eight projects to negotiate for up to $15 million in total DOE funding to optimize integrated biorefineries. These projects will work to solve research and developmental challenges encountered for the successful scale-up and reliable operations of integrated biorefineries (IBRs); decrease capital and operating... Read more →

Delphi Automotive PLC signed a commercial partnership agreement with BlackBerry Limited under which Blackberry will provide the QNX operating system for Delphi’s autonomous driving system. Delphi and BlackBerry QNX will collaborate to bolster software performance and safety in their operating system to advance autonomous driving technology. Delphi’s fully integrated automated... Read more →

The United Engine Corporation (UEC, part of Rostec State Corporation) signed a memorandum with the Chinese company AECC Commercial Aircraft Engine Co., Ltd. (AECC CAE). The Memorandum determines the objectives and main principles of interaction in the joint development of a gas turbine engine for a prospective long range wide-body... Read more →

Navigant Research forecasts that the transportation segment, with hydrogen demand as a catalyst, will jump-start power-to-gas (P2G) demand and further drive down electrolyzer and other infrastructure costs. P2G—the conversion of electrical power into gaseous energy carriers—has been held back from mass adoption by high costs, regulatory hurdles, and difficulties with... Read more →

ABB has received another major order from energy supplier EnBW for the expansion of the charging column network on German highways. By the end of 2017, ABB will have delivered an additional 117 50 kW rapid-charging columns at the locations of service station operator Tank & Rast. The charging stations... Read more →

thyssenkrupp and Tata Steel signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to combine their European steel activities in a 50/50 joint venture. Their aim is to create a leading European flat steel player to be positioned as quality and technology leader. The new entity is set to have pro-forma sales of... Read more →

Hong-Kong-based Sinotruk has made an initial purchase of UQM PowerPhase DT (drivetrain) systems (earlier post) for implementation and evaluation in their commercial vehicles. This is the first step towards the long term strategy of utilizing UQM electric drive products across Sinotruk’s portfolio of commercial vehicles. The UQM PowerPhase DT pairs... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors will unveil a new flagship concept car—the Mitsubishi e-Evolution Concept—at the 45th Tokyo Motor Show 2017 in October. This very high performance automobile will blend Mitsubishi Motors’ signature 4WD and electric powertrain know-how with advanced Artificial Intelligence technology under a low-slung aerodynamic SUV Coupe shape. As part of... Read more →

Audi has launched the Audi on demand+ mobility service in Beijing. Users select the car desired from a range of top models from a high-performance vehicle to an upper class sedan. Customers can use their smartphones to book their preferred models and pay while on the move. A concierge service... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced a new high-performance computing (HPC) initiative to help US industry accelerate the development of new or improved materials for use in severe environments. The High Performance Computing for Materials (HPC4Mtls) program will will initially focus on challenges facing the development of new or... Read more →

Airbus and Arconic, a global technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing company, have achieved a 3D printing first—the installation of a 3D printed titanium bracket on a series production Airbus commercial aircraft, the A350 XWB. Arconic is 3D printing these parts for Airbus’s newest widebody aircraft at Arconic’s additive manufacturing facility... Read more →

Electrovaya Inc. has secured initial purchase orders worth approximately C$4.3 million (US$3.51 million) under a contract with Walmart Canada for its forklift battery systems. The retailer will convert the forklifts in one distribution center from lead acid batteries to Electrovaya’s drop-in lithium ion battery systems. Electrovaya’s lithium-ion forklift battery line,... Read more →

The Alliance of Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi announced their six-year plan—Alliance 2022—which sets a new target to double annual synergies to €10 billion by the end of the plan. To achieve this, said Carlos Ghosn, chairman and chief executive officer of the Alliance, the three automakers will accelerate their collaboration... Read more →

About 80 million vehicles are produced around the world every year, but the logistics for transport from the factory to the end customer are extensive, costly and completely manual. A new vehicle is moved up to 30 times manually before it reaches the end customer. The Swedish research project Born... Read more →

Nikola Motor Company is partnering with Bosch on the development of its hydrogen-fuel-cell range-extended electric Class 8 long-haul truck, unveiled as a prototype in December 2016. (Earlier post.) By 2021, Nikola intends to bring to market the Nikola One and Two, a class 8 hydrogen-electric truck lineup that will deliver... Read more →