The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Fuel Cell Technologies Office (FCTO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) aiming to enhance collaboration on hydrogen and fuel cell research and development (R&D) with the state of Michigan to promote private investment and domestic job... Read more →

Daphne Technology SA, an innovator in emissions mitigation technology for the shipping industry, closed a series A financing round led by Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures (SAEV), the corporate venturing subsidiary of Aramco, and joined by The Innovation Fund, a Belgian fund active in the fields of chemistry and life sciences.... Read more →

Ford revealed the enhanced Mondeo—including a new Hybrid Wagon variant for the first time—at the Brussels Motor Show in Belgium. Further significant Mondeo powertrain upgrades include: Ford’s advanced 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine introduced to Mondeo, for superior long-distance cruising; Ford’s new intelligent eight-speed automatic transmission introduced to Mondeo, which adapts... Read more →

The long-term expansion of the BMW Brilliance Automotive Ltd. (BBA) Joint Venture has achieved a significant milestone: a Special General Meeting of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd. (CBA) in Hongkong has approved the sale of a 25% shareholding in BBA to the BMW Group. Around 63% of the represented shareholders... Read more →

China will drive the majority of growth in the crude oil refining industry in Asia between 2018 and 2023, contributing 44% of Asia’s crude oil refining capacity in 2023, according to GlobalData. The company’s report: ‘China Crude Oil Refinery Outlook to 2023’ finds that the total refining capacity of China... Read more →

Hyundai Mobis and KT Corp. have launched 5G communication in the Hyundai Mobis proving ground in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do, and have begun to collaborate to develop connected vehicle technology by actively utilizing this network. Source: Hyundai Mobis KT built the infrastructure in the Seosan proving ground; Hyundai Mobis is the first... Read more →

In a new study published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, researchers from the University of Washington, Harvard University and Columbia University report a link between obstructive sleep apnea and increases in two of the most common air pollutants: fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a... Read more →

As levels of ozone and fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) rise, more patients end up in the ER with breathing problems, according to the largest US study of air pollution and respiratory emergency room visits of patients of all ages. The study was published online in the American Thoracic Society’s American... Read more →

British Airways has introduced an electric cab service at its Heathrow home. The taxis will join British Airways’ fleet of chauffeur-driven executive vehicles, to drive premium customers at risk of missing their connecting flight to meet their next aircraft. Customers are met by the driver at the aircraft side and... Read more →

On Thursday, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order outlining a suite of initiatives and strategies aimed at supporting a transition to zero-emission vehicles in the state. Colorado has already taken steps to encourage the transition to electrified transportation for passenger cars and heavy-duty vehicles such as buses. The... Read more →

UK-based AFC Energy, a company commercializing an alkaline fuel cell system, has demonstrated CH2ARGE, an electric vehicle charger based on hydrogen fuel-cell technology. The demonstration of AFC Energy’s CH2ARGE system took place at Dunsfold Aerodrome, with a BMW i8 as the first car to be recharged with power generated by... Read more →

The US Department of Energy DOE intends to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement (DE-FOA-0002022) to advance the H2@Scale concept. The focus of H2@Scale is to enable affordable and reliable large-scale hydrogen generation, transport, storage, and utilization in the United States across multiple sectors. (Earlier post.) The US produces more than... Read more →

RONN Motor Group, Inc. (RMG) signed two JV Strategic Partnerships in November 2018 leading to a definitive 3-way Joint Venture to co-develop its all-electric, zero-emission, hydrogen fuel-cell/battery automobiles and trucks and buses. While all specifics won’t be released until all agreements are completed before January 31, 2019, RONN will retain... Read more →

Energy Secretary Rick Perry announced the launch of a Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize and the establishment of an associated Battery Recycling R&D Center. These efforts aim to reclaim and recycle critical materials (e.g., cobalt and lithium) from lithium-based battery technology used in consumer electronics, defense, energy storage, and transportation applications.... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced $11 million in funding for 7 projects in the fourth and fifth cohorts of the agency’s OPEN+ program: Energy-Water Technologies and Sensors for Bioenergy and Agriculture. Energy-Water cohort teams will develop new, energy-efficient processing technologies for industrial (particularly oil... Read more →

Eaton’s eMobility business has developed compact power-dense automotive inverters capable of increasing the range of electric vehicles. The inverters, which draw electricity from the battery and control how it is applied to the motor to manage power and torque, will be tested by a global automaker in first quarter 2019.... Read more →

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed an artificial enzymatic pathway for synthesizing isoprenoids, or terpenes, in E. coli. This shorter, more efficient, cost-effective and customizable pathway transforms the bacterium into a factory that can produce terpenes for use in everything from cancer drugs to biofuels. A paper on... Read more →

In an industry-first move, Volvo Construction Equipment (Volvo CE) has announced that in 2020 it will start the launch of an electric range of Volvo-branded compact wheel loaders and compact excavators. By mid-2020, Volvo CE will begin to launch a range of electric compact excavators (EC15 to EC27) and wheel... Read more →

More than 100 years after the introduction of the Haber–Bosch process, scientists continue to search for alternative ammonia production routes that are less energy-demanding. A team from the South China University of Technology in Guangzhou has now discovered that black phosphorus is an excellent catalyst for the electroreduction of nitrogen... Read more →

Foretellix, an Israel-based start-up automating the verification and measurable safety of autonomous vehicles, has closed $14 million of series-A funding. Led by 83North, Jump Capital, and Nextgear Ventures, the investment will accelerate Foretellix’s development, customer programs and deployment of its coverage-driven verification solution. The company has now raised more than... Read more →

Continental’s liquid-cooled 48-volt Eco Drive—a belt-driven starter generator with integrated inverter—supports FCA US’ eTorque mild-hybrid technology in the new Jeep Wrangler. (Earlier post.) Continental’s compact 48-volt Eco Drive with integrated power electronics contributes to the benefits eTorque technology offers, including better fuel economy, improved auto-start response, overall start-stop functionality and... Read more →

Stop & Shop is partnering with Robomart to launch driverless grocery vehicle service in the Greater Boston area beginning in Spring 2019. The vehicles will bring a selection of Stop & Shop produce as well as meal kits and convenience items directly to consumers. Stop & Shop customers in the... Read more →

Carbon, a leading Silicon Valley-based digital manufacturing company, showed the first digitally manufactured polymer parts in production for Ford Motor Company. The parts include Ford Focus HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Cooling) Lever Arm Service Parts, Ford F-150 Raptor Auxiliary Plugs for a niche market, and Ford Mustang GT500 Electric Parking... Read more →

The Khronos Group has created an Exploratory Group to gauge industry interest for a potential new open standard for high performance embedded computing (HPEC) applications. Khronos is seeking feedback from automotive, robotics, aerospace, industrial, medical and IoT developers, all target users that wish to focus on algorithm development—not communication intricacies—but... Read more →

Agility Fuel Solutions, a leading global provider of clean fuel solutions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, announced that its 488LPI 8.0L V-8 propane engine has received EPA approval for sale through 31 December 2019. The 488LPI engine uses Agility’s patented liquid propane injection (LPI) technology and is assembled in... Read more →

BMW’s new 7 Series features a number of powertrain changes, including a plug-in hybrid drive system with a new design offering an increased electric range, enhanced performance and lower consumption. The new BMW 7 Series is also available with gasoline and diesel engines using six, eight and twelve cylinders. The... Read more →

Evergrande Group in China has acquired 51% of the shares in NEVS AB in Sweden, a global new energy smart car group. Evergrande Group is a well-known company included in the Fortune Global 500 list, with its businesses covering, real estate, health and hi-tech industries and cultural tourism. NEVS AB... Read more →

BloombergNEF (BNEF) expects 2.6 million electric vehicles to be sold globally in 2019. This will represent around a 40% growth rate, down from the 70% growth rate in 2018. BNEF said that it expects China will continue to lead, with some 1.5 million units—around 57% of the global market. China’s... Read more →

Sunfire GmbH reports the successful start-up and test run (> 500 hours) of a high-temperature co-electrolysis system at its Dresden site, beginning in November 2018. SUNFIRE-SYNLINK—a co-electrolyzer based on solid oxide cell (SOC) technology—enables the highly efficient production (a projected ~80% efficiency on an industrial scale) of synthesis gas in... Read more →

Ford Motor Company, Huayou Cobalt, IBM, LG Chem and RCS Global will use blockchain technology to trace and validate ethically sourced minerals in an effort to support human rights and environmental protection while helping infuse more transparency into global mineral supply chains. The group, which includes participants at each major... Read more →

British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) is expanding its product line, adding a double-decker model powered by a fuel cell drive. This new model is also equipped with ZF’s AxTrax AVE electric drive axle. ZF also provides additional hardware and software solutions for optimum performance. An initial prototype is... Read more →

Mcity at the University of Michigan has outlined a test track-based concept for evaluating the safety of highly automated vehicles before they’re tested on public roads that could emerge as a model for a voluntary standard for safety testing. The project comes after two highly publicized fatalities last year stoked... Read more →

Volvo Group Venture Capital AB, a subsidiary of the Volvo Group, has invested in Momentum Dynamics Inc., a developer of high power wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles. Momentum Dynamics is commercializing high-power inductive charging for the automotive and transportation industries, especially suitable for commercial electric, autonomous and connected vehicles.... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) staff will host a public workshop on 11 February to discuss ideas and strategies to reduce in-use emissions from heavy-duty diesel vehicles operating in the State of California. The objective of the workshop is to solicit stakeholder ideas and comments about potential strategies to... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced up to $6.0 million in federal funding for research and development (R&D) under the funding opportunity announcement (FOA) DE-FOA-0001993, University Turbine Systems Research (UTSR). The FOA seeks to solicit and competitively award university-based R&D projects that address and... Read more →

Sales of diesel light-duty vehicles (Class 1-3) in the US in 2018 reached their highest annual level, coming in at more than 500,000 units—just over 3% of total vehicle sales—according to figures by Baum & Associates provided by the Diesel Technology Forum. The light-duty diesel segment is led by three... Read more →

The DOE Office of Fossil Energy has awarded $2.9 million to GTI and CCS-US, the US subsidiary of Carbon Clean Solutions Limited (CCSL), to develop and to test a potentially transformational carbon capture technology. GTI and CCS-US will design, build, and test a prototype demonstration unit at GTI’s Des Plaines,... Read more →

Alternative fuel engine company Westport Fuel Systems Inc. has appointed David Johnson as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Johnson most recently was the CEO of opposed-piston engine company Achates Power. Nancy S. Gougarty has decided to retire as Westport’s Chief Executive Officer and is stepping down from the Board of... Read more →

Meritor, Inc. has 22 electrification programs with global OEMs that the company expects to put at least 130 fully electric medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks on the road through 2020. These emission-free solutions offered under Meritor’s Blue Horizon technology brand have the potential to transform the industry by meeting the... Read more →

Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and Onboard Dynamics, Inc. (ObDI) announced the field demonstration of new mobile compressor technology that provides on-site backup and supplemental compression at natural gas fueling stations. The new compressor—the GoFlo CNG80—is now being demonstrated at the Antelope Valley School Transportation Agency in Lancaster, California, where... Read more →

Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Company announced the first formal agreements in a global alliance. Volkswagen CEO Dr. Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett confirmed that the companies intend to develop commercial vans and medium-sized pickups for global markets beginning as early as 2022. The alliance will drive significant... Read more →

At NAIAS 2019, Cummins Inc. unveiled its next generation 6.7L turbo diesel engine featuring a first-in-class 1,000 pound-feet (1,356 N·m) of torque. In addition to an increase in torque, the engine also has a higher horsepower output, taking the 2500 and 3500 heavy-duty RAM pickup truck customers to the next... Read more →

At NAIAS 2019, INFINITI unveiled the QX Inspiration midsize SUV concept, previewing the brand’s first fully electric vehicle. This design study previews the brand’s plan to launch a range of high-performance electrified vehicles; the INFINITI lineup of the future will consist of a range of electric, e-POWER and performance hybrid... Read more →

Iteris, Inc., a global provider of applied informatics for transportation and agriculture, announced a strategic partnership with Cisco that will promote Cisco’s Connected Roadway solution through several initiatives between the two companies. Iteris and Cisco have deployed an edge-processing internet-of-things (IoT) solution with the City of Las Vegas that will... Read more →

Nissan unveiled its Nissan IMs electric all-wheel drive concept vehicle with full autonomous drive capability at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). The IMs concept features new proportions and stretched interior space—including a unique “Premier Seat” 2 + 1 + 2 seating architecture—designed to create a new vehicle... Read more →

As part of a comprehensive reorganization, Ford Europe announced that every Ford nameplate from the all-new Ford Focus onwards will include an electrified option. This includes new nameplates and new versions of existing vehicles. From Fiesta to Transit, either a mild-hybrid, full-hybrid, plug-in hybrid or full battery-electric option will be... Read more →

China-based GAC Motor introduced the ENTRANZE EV concept vehicle at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The versatile 7-person ENTRANZE EV represents the first concept vehicle from the new California-based GAC Design Studio. GAC’s approach started by envisioning the ENTRANZE as the ultimate road-trip car: a... Read more →

Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. will supply 3 electric buses to the Polish city of Włocławek. The contract is to be performed by the end of this year. The order is worth nearly PLN 8.5 million (US$2.275 million). The Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses commissioned by the Włocławek City Hall... Read more →

In model year 2011, there were just three different models of all-electric vehicles (AEV) available and their ranges on a full charge (according to the Environmental Protection Agency) spanned from 63 to 94 miles. By model year 2018, the number of AEV models increased to 14 and the available ranges... Read more →

Baidu, Inc. has introduced Apollo 3.5, the newest and most powerful release of the open, reliable and secure software platform for the development of autonomous driving systems through on-vehicle and hardware platforms. Apollo 3.5 is the first open source autonomous driving platform that can perform in complex urban and suburban... Read more →