Toyota Motor Corporation announced that the total global number of vehicles equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), the Toyota-developed preventive safety package, has reached the 10 million unit mark approximately three and a half years after its March 2015 introduction. Toyota anticipates that within this year, three million vehicles in... Read more →

LME (London Metal Exchange) aluminum inventories fell below 1Mt for the first time since 2008; CRU forecasts a 1.7 Mt world deficit in 2018 and notes that the market will soon need additional supply. Few new smelters are being built outside China, and supply-side reforms are capping Chinese expansions. Capital... Read more →

Researchers from Western University, Canadian Light Source, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences have proposed a novel solid-phase Li-S transformation mechanism that enables high energy Li-S batteries in conventional Li-ion carbonate electrolytes. An open-access paper on their work is published in Nature Communications. Schematic of a lithium sulfur battery in... Read more →

Chevron Corporation announced that the Chevron-operated Big Foot deepwater project, located in the US Gulf of Mexico, has started crude oil and natural gas production. The field is located approximately 225 miles (360 km) south of New Orleans, La., in a water depth of approximately 5,200 feet (1,584 m). The... Read more →

Battery electric cars emit less greenhouse gases and air pollutants over their entire life cycle than petrol and diesel cars, according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) report. Promoting renewable energy and circular economy—including the shared use of vehicles and product design that supports reuse and recycling—will help maximize the... Read more →

CityFreighter Inc.,a developer of medium-duty commercial electric vehicles for the “last mile,” and XPO Sales, a green fleet solution provider with fleet rental/leasing services, have entered a strategic partnership and sign a letter of intent for the purchase of 100 CF1 electric Class 4 Trucks. Both parties agree to pursue... Read more →

ADEME, France’s Environment and Energy Management Agency, carried out a study with IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN) on the dynamics of lithium supply and demand, based on different scenarios for the electrification of the global car fleet by 2050. The lithium market continues to grow; in 2015, the market grew by... Read more →

AVEVAI, a new B2B e-mobility and logistics solutions and technology provider based in Singapore, launched its range of IONA electric light commercial vehicles (e-LCVs) at the 5th Guangzhou International Electric Vehicles Show in China (16-25 November 2018). The electric vehicles—in van and truck configurations—are designed specifically for use by delivery... Read more →

Within the framework of the “Biorefineries Technology Initiative” of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Professor Stefan Mecking from the Department of Chemistry at the University of Konstanz is launching a new project that explores the potential use of microalgae as a feedstock for chemicals. The Konstanz project aims... Read more →

The coming electric vehicle boom will significantly increase the demand for cobalt in the EU and globally. As a result, demand is expected to exceed supply already in 2020 and the EU must take steps to boost supply and curb demand without hindering the growth in electric vehicles, according to... Read more →

The Volkswagen Group is acquiring a 49% stake in diconium, strengthening its digital business capabilities. diconium will be a technology partner for the development of business models and digital added-value services in the nascent Volkswagen Automotive Cloud. The completion of the participation transaction is still subject to approval by the... Read more →

Albemarle Corporation, a leader in the global specialty chemicals industry, signed an Exclusivity Agreement (Agreement) with Mineral Resources Limited in relation to the potential creation of a 50/50 joint venture (JV) to own and operate the Wodgina hard rock lithium mine and ultimately develop an integrated lithium hydroxide operation at... Read more →

In Italy, Eni and Hera signed a partnership agreement with the aim of converting used vegetable oil into renewable diesel for Hera’s waste collection vehicles. The agreement revolves around household waste vegetable oil, such as that used for frying, collected by Hera in around 400 roadside containers and about 120... Read more →

Zhengzhou Yutong Bus Co., Ltd. will deliver 100 full electric buses to Chile. Having sent more than 20,000 vehicles to Latin America over the past 15 years, Yutong has become the leading Chinese bus supplier on the continent. The 100 full electric buses will be used by Buses Vule and... Read more →

In London, Land Rover unveiled the New Range Rover Evoque luxury compact SUV. The new Evoque offers a choice of three- and four-cylinder Ingenium gasoline and diesel engines, a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (MHEV) and a 3-cylinder plug-in hybrid system (PHEV). The compact footprint is almost identical to its predecessor’s at... Read more →

British children with intellectual disabilities are more likely than their peers to live in areas with high outdoor air pollution, according to a new Journal of Intellectual Disability Research study funded by Public Health England. The findings come from an analysis of data extracted from the UK’s Millennium Cohort Study,... Read more →

CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will partner with Fortescue Metals Group (Fortescue) on hydrogen technologies to support the development of new industries, create jobs and pave the way for low emissions export opportunities. The centerpiece of the $20-million partnership is an investment in CSIRO’s metal membrane technology, which enables ammonia... Read more →

MIT researchers have demonstrated that an aircraft with a 5-meter wingspan can sustain steady-level flight using ionic-wind propulsion. The aircraft has no moving parts, does not depend on fossil fuels to fly, and is completely silent. The researchers describe their proof of concept for electroaerodynamic (EAD) airplane propulsion in a... Read more →

Lithium Australia NL reported that its wholly owned subsidiary VSPC Ltd has successfully produced Li-ion battery cathode material, and Li-ion batteries (LIBs), from tri-lithium phosphate produced directly from mine waste using the SiLeach process. SiLeach background. During conventional processing, lithium is recovered only from spodumene concentrates, not lithium micas, which... Read more →

Electrovaya Inc. signed a $3.8-million contract with Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to develop safe and long-lasting lithium ion ceramic batteries for electric buses and commercial vehicles. The initial payment on the contract has now been received and follows the award from SDTC in August 2017. SDTC helps Canadian entrepreneurs... Read more →

Johnson Matthey (JM) has obtained a license from CAMX Power relating to the GEMX platform of nickel-based high energy high power cathode materials (earlier post) for use in lithium-ion batteries especially for electric vehicles (EVs). The GEMX platform is based on a fundamental invention of CAMX for which patents have... Read more →

Fossil fuel-driven particulate air pollution cuts global average life expectancy by 1.8 years per person, according to a new pollution index and accompanying report produced by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC). The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) establishes particulate pollution as the single greatest threat... Read more →

The provincial government has put British Columbia on a path to require the sale of all new light-duty cars and trucks to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) by the year 2040. The government will introduce legislation next spring to phase in targets for the sale of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). This legislation... Read more →

Toyota has introduced the fifth-generation 2019 Toyota RAV4. Gasoline models arrive next month, and RAV4 Hybrid models follow in late March 2019. 2019 RAV4 Hybrid Much has changed in the 22 years since the US market introduction of the first RAV4 compact crossover SUV. Compact crossover SUVs have grown in... Read more →

Drax, operator of the UK’s largest power station, is partnering with the Smart Green Shipping Alliance (SSGA), leading dry bulk cargo transporter Ultrabulk, and Humphreys Yacht Design to tackle the mounting issue of CO2 emissions from the shipping industry. A £100,000-, 12-month feasibility study funded by InnovateUK, the Institution of... Read more →

SAKOR Technologies, Inc., a leader in the area of high-performance dynamometer systems, has designed and provided a dynamometer testing system to a major original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for testing starter/alternators for hybrid/electric vehicle (H/EV) applications. The dynamometer test system consists of a 42 kW AccuDyne AC motoring dynamometer and features... Read more →

Volvo Trucks has signed a landmark agreement with Brønnøy Kalk AS in Norway to provide its first commercial autonomous solution transporting limestone from an open pit mine to a nearby port. The solution for Brønnøy Kalk AS consists of limestone being transported by six autonomous Volvo FH trucks on a... Read more →

King County Metro, the public transit authority of King County, Washington, which includes the city of Seattle, will soon begin testing long-range battery-powered buses that can travel more than 140 miles on a single charge, the latest milestone toward a zero-emission fleet. The latest models can travel nearly six times... Read more →

Daimler Buses has delivered the first Mercedes-Benz Citaro buses as part of the largest order ever to Germany’s biggest bus fleet. A Citaro solo bus and a Citaro G articulated bus are the pioneers; as many as 948 Citaros are to follow, 20 of which will be delivered this year.... Read more →

FedEx Corp. will add 1,000 Chanje V8100 electric delivery vehicles to its fleet. (Earlier post.) FedEx is purchasing 100 of the vehicles from Chanje Energy Inc and leasing 900 from Ryder System, Inc. The purpose-built electric vehicles will be operated by FedEx Express for commercial and residential pick-up and delivery... Read more →

The Volkswagen brand has sold 30 million vehicles in China; the jubilee model is a Touareg. The brand’s product portfolio was strengthened with no less than 9 new models in 2018. Volkswagen’s product offensive will continue with introduction of 5 new models in 2019 alone; its NEV offerings will double.... Read more →

SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, the largest auto company on China’s A-share market, recently signed an agreement with China Mobile Communications Corporation to explore future studies and applications of multiple areas such as a 5G communications network, internet-based smart vehicles, an intelligent transportation system (ITS), an in-vehicle entertainment system, overseas resource... Read more →

Volkswagen Group of America has joined the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) Quantum Computing Nomenclature Working Group. Volkswagen Group of America is the only automaker to join the organization so far. The group will be responsible for developing technical standards and providing advice on the social impact of this new technology.... Read more →

New York State announced a series of broad-scale initiatives to encourage the purchase and to increase the convenience and accessibility of electric vehicles (EV). EVolve NY to Install Charging Stations along Major Corridors and JFK Airport. In the initial roll-out of its $250-million EVolve NY initiative, NYPA will deploy up... Read more →

Audi and Chinese partner First Automotive Works will expand their local portfolio to more than ten models by 2022 and launch their first all-electric cars. The first electric car tailored for Chinese customers, the Audi Q2 L e-tron, will be launched in 2019. Local production of the Audi e-tron will... Read more →

Subaru Corporation is introducing its first plug-in hybrid vehicle, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid, in the US. Offering real all-wheel capability in a hybrid package, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid Hybrid features the new Subaru StarDrive Technology that uniquely integrates electric motors, a 2.0-liter direct-injection SUBARU BOXER engine, Subaru Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive,... Read more →

The share of petroleum net imports to US petroleum consumption in 2017 was 18.9%—the lowest level since 1967, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). Net imports are calculated as total imports minus exports. The share of total petroleum imports relative to all US petroleum consumption in 2017 was... Read more →

The Swiss battery system manufacturer ecovolta has developed a standardized Li-ion traction battery which can significantly reduce the time and expense needed to bring electric vehicles to the serial production stage. Manufacturers can rapidly convert even smaller or pre-existing vehicle series to run on electricity, creating prototypes within just a... Read more →

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has updated the tools accompanying its Architecture Reference for Cooperative and Intelligent Transportation (ARC-IT) software: the Regional Architecture Development for Intelligent Transportation (RAD-IT) and the Systems Engineering Tool for Intelligent Transportation (SET-IT). The architecture tool set has been upgraded with new features and performance... Read more →

BASF and the Research and Development Center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co. Ltd. (GAC R&D Center) introduced three co-developed electric concept cars at Auto Guangzhou 2018, featuring futuristic designs that address the diverse needs of China’s drivers. The three two-seat concept electric cars are designed by GAC R&D Center, with... Read more →

Mercedes‑Benz delivered the first series production model of the eCitaro (earlier post)—an urban bus with a fully-electric drive system—to the public transport company Hochbahn AG in Hamburg. It is part of an order for 20 eCitaro buses. The order for 20 eCitaro buses is the biggest ever single order for... Read more →

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a new solicitation under the High Performance Computing for Energy Innovation (HPC4EI) Initiative. The new funding opportunity will be a joint solicitation between the High Performance Computing for Materials (HPC4Mtls) Program and the High Performance Computing for Manufacturing (HPC4Mfg) Program. It will... Read more →

GKN Powder Metallurgy, a leading materials and parts producer in the powder metal industry, announced a strategic partnership with EOS, a leading technology supplier in the field of industrial 3D printing of metals and polymers. Together, the companies have designed a new, high-productivity process for Laser metal 3D Printing which... Read more →

A team at Imperial College London has examined the relative costs of carbon mitigation from a lifecycle perspective for 12 different hydrogen production techniques using fossil fuels, nuclear energy and renewable sources. An open-access paper on their work is published the RSC journal Energy & Environmental Science. As with all... Read more →

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have invented a roll-to-roll process to coat electrically conductive carbon fibers with semiconducting silicon carbide nanoparticles. This nanomaterial-embedded composite is stronger than other fiber-reinforced composites and imbued with a new capability—the ability to monitor its own structural health. Carbon fiber composites consist of... Read more →

The University of Bath and SAIC Motor UK Technical Centre are collaborating on a project to identify the most efficient conditions for the optimum performance of gasoline particulate filters (GPFs), to help minimize vehicle impact on the environment. The ‘GPF Burn rate and Low Temperature Reactivity’ project will last 14... Read more →

Epiroc, a leading productivity partner for the mining, infrastructure and natural resources industries, launched its second generation of battery-operated machines that will lower mining customers’ costs and promote a healthier work environment. The Scooptram ST14 Battery, Boomer E2 Battery and Minetruck MT42 Battery are part of Epiroc’s new generation of... Read more →

Rosenbauer Deutschland, a company of the Rosenbauer Group, and the Berlin Fire Department plan jointly to develop a hybrid electric fire engine in the next two years. The two have formed an “innovation partnership” which will be responsible for carrying out the project “eLHF” (German equivalent for “eRFF”/ electric rescue... Read more →

An IIHS study of General Motors vehicles with optional front crash prevention systems found that GM vehicles with autobrake and forward collision warning had 43% fewer police-reported front-to-rear crashes of all severities and 64% fewer front-to-rear crashes with injuries than the same vehicles without any front crash prevention technology. For... Read more →

The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) approved new low emission vehicle (LEV) standards for new light-duty and medium-duty motor vehicles sold in Colorado beginning in the 2022 model year. (Earlier post.) The new standards are estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 2 million tons annually by 2030.... Read more →