Scottish Enterprise, Transport Scotland and the Hydrogen Accelerator, based at the University of St Andrews, have appointed Arcola Energy and a consortium of industry leaders in hydrogen fuel cell integration, rail engineering and functional safety to deliver Scotland’s first hydrogen powered train. A key objective of the project is to... Read more →
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Mullen Technologies Inc., an emerging EV manufacturer, has executed a non-binding Letter of Intent with Unlimited Electrical Contractors Corp (UEC) to enter definitive agreements for the purchase of up to 10,000 MX-05 electric vehicles. (Earlier post.) UEC is an electrical contractor based in Pompano Beach, Florida, specializing in commercial and... Read more →
ABI: 2021 will be the year EVs begin entry into the automotive mainstream
31 December 2020
2021 will kickstart a decade of growing Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption, which will see EV sales move from a rounding error of total new vehicle shipments to more than a quarter of new vehicles shipping in 2030, according to global tech market advisory firm ABI Research. In its new whitepaper,... Read more →
The MAHEPA consortium announced that technology developed as part of the project has been successfully proven in flight on board the Hy4 fuel cell hybrid electric aircraft (earlier post). The sixth-generation of hydrogen propulsion has been completely revised from 2016 to 2020, according to aviation requirements. As part of the... Read more →
California ARB setting goal of 800 zero-emission drayage truck orders in 2021
31 December 2020
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is launching an initiative—Project 800—to support the deployment of zero-emission trucks serving California ports by setting a goal of 800 zero-emission drayage truck orders in 2021. These 800 trucks represent a pathway toward jump-starting the sector and paving the way for more zero-emission trucks... Read more →
Qatar invests $125M in energy storage company Fluence
31 December 2020
Fluence, the global energy storage solutions joint venture between Siemens and AES, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) pursuant to which QIA will commit to invest $125 million in Fluence through a private placement transaction. Consummation of the transaction is subject... Read more →
NY to award $18.9M to increase number of electric buses in state
30 December 2020
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a series of initiatives to increase the number of electric buses in New York. Specifically, this effort includes $16.4 million in incentives for the expansion of electric bus usage amongst public transportation authorities, as well as $2.5 million for school bus operators to acquire... Read more →
Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have developed a new machine-learning-based tool to help urban transportation analysts relieve bottlenecks and chokepoints that routinely snarl city traffic. The tool—Transportation State Estimation Capability (TranSEC)—was developed to help urban traffic engineers get access to actionable information about traffic patterns in their cities.... Read more →
The Volkswagen brand is significantly expanding the charging infrastructure at its German sites. Some 750 new charging points are planned for next year, including the first High Power Charging stations with up to 300 kW power. Some 2,000 charging points in total are expected to be in operation by the... Read more →
Hino halting vehicle production in N America until Q4 2021 over engine certification challenges
30 December 2020
Hino will suspend vehicle production at its plants in its consolidated subsidiaries in North America; the West Virginia plant at Hino Motors Manufacturing USA, Ltd. and the Woodstock plant at Hino Motors Canada, Ltd., until the end of September 2021. The production pause comes following challenges in the required US... Read more →
Solaris has completed the delivery of 90 Urbino 12 electric buses for Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). This was one of the biggest contracts for battery-powered buses in Europe and the largest one for the manufacturer in Germany so far. Berlin now has a total of 123 electric Solaris buses in its... Read more →
NIST awards nearly $4M to support metals-based additive manufacturing
30 December 2020
The US Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has awarded nearly $4 million in grants to help accelerate the adoption of new measurement methods and standards to advance US competitiveness in metals-based additive manufacturing (AM). Additive manufacturing typically creates parts and components by building them layer... Read more →
A fast, green and one-step method for producing porous carbon spheres—a component for carbon capture technology and for new ways of storing renewable energy—has been developed by Swansea University researchers. Carbon spheres range in size from nanometers to micrometers. storage and conversion, catalysis, gas adsorption and storage, drug and enzyme... Read more →
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin have shed new light on the formation mechanisms of a rare earth-bearing mineral that is in increasingly high demand across the globe for its use in the green energy and tech industries. Their discovery has important economic implications because there are no substitute alternatives to... Read more →
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for airplanes used in commercial aviation and large business jets. This action will align US standards with the international carbon dioxide emissions standards already set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). In its technical support document for... Read more →
Volkswagen Group Components provided the first glimpse of the prototypes of its mobile charging robot. This is one of the visionary charging concepts that Volkswagen hopes will expand the charging infrastructure over the next few years. The robot’s task is the fully autonomous charging of vehicles in restricted parking areas,... Read more →
Bosch has now won orders worth several billion euros for its vehicle computers—€2.5 billion worth since this past summer alone. Vehicle computers have huge business potential for Bosch. Even now, our high-performance computers mean that automakers view us as one of their leading engineering and technology partners. —Harald Kroeger, Member... Read more →
DOE intends to award $4M for projects to optimize safe, secure, and verifiable carbon storage
29 December 2020
The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced its intention to make $4 million in federal funding available for cost-shared research and development of tools and methods to optimize safe, secure, and verifiable carbon dioxide storage. (DE-FOA-0002401) DOE’s Carbon Storage Program focuses on developing, testing, and... Read more →
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a method to convert CO2 directly into aviation fuel using a novel, inexpensive iron-based catalyst. The catalyst shows a carbon dioxide conversion through hydrogenation to hydrocarbons in the aviation jet fuel range of 38.2%, with a yield of 17.2%, and a selectivity... Read more →
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have used neutron diffraction to provide noninvasive measurement of lattice strains inside components of a firing engine, thereby enabling the operando study of complex load states and thermal gradients throughout the solid materials. Their results are published in an open-access paper in Proceedings... Read more →
Earlier this month, Achates Power announced that its innovative 3-cylinder, 10.6L opposed-piston (OP) heavy-duty diesel engine achieved Ultralow NOx (ULNOx) performance results. (Earlier post.) A key element of the achievement is the low engine-out NOx from the opposed-piston engine, which reduced the requirements for the aftertreatment system (ATS). The original... Read more →
The American Bus Association (ABA) has released motorcoach industry closure data gathered from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The data collected by FMCSA shows a surge in losses of authority for motorcoach operators in 2020, which means these companies are no longer providing transportation—in some... Read more →
ABB has been chosen to supply its patented ArcSave electromagnetic stirrers as part of a substantial refit at leading Chinese iron and steel producer Guangdong Nanfang Donghai’s steelmaking plant in Guangdong Province, southern China. The order comprises two ArcSave systems for use with two new electric arc furnaces (EAF). ArcSave... Read more →
Equinor Energy & Mitsubishi Heavy to collaborate on low-carbon technology to reduce carbon footprint of oil & gas operations
28 December 2020
Norway-based energy company Equinor Energy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a low-carbon technology collaboration. The non-exclusive cooperation agreement will see both companies develop and use technology to reduce the carbon footprint of oil & gas operations. In particular, the companies will look at... Read more →
Clean Energy and Total to create JV to develop carbon-negative RNG and infrastructure in US; $50M from bp
27 December 2020
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. and its largest shareholder, Total S.E., will create a 50/50 joint venture to develop carbon-negative renewable natural gas (RNG) production facilities in the United States, as well as credit support to build additional downstream RNG fueling infrastructure. Total will provide $50 million and Clean Energy $30... Read more →
Less traffic on the roads during the first COVID-19 lockdown in the UK led to a reduction in air pollution but may have caused potentially damaging surface ozone levels to rise, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of York. The open-access study, published in the... Read more →
Gevo options SD site for expansion project; 45M gallons per year renewable jet fuel and gasoline
27 December 2020
Bio-isobutanol producer Gevo, Inc. has optioned the right to purchase approximately 239 acres of land near Lake Preston, SD, and has met the initial milestone to secure control of a site by the end of this year that meets the conditions required by the contract that Trafigura Trading LLC and... Read more →
New study puts air-pollution related deaths in India in 2019 at 1.67 million
27 December 2020
Air pollution in India resulted 1.67 million deaths in 2019—the largest pollution-related death toll in any country in the world—and also accounted for $36.8 billion (US) in economic losses, according to a new study led by researchers from the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College, the Indian... Read more →
Continental Mobility Study 2020 shows global trend toward own cars; slump in sharing
27 December 2020
The coronavirus pandemic is having a lasting impact on people’s mobility habits all over the world, according to the findings of the Continental Mobility Study 2020. Private car use has seen strong growth, while sharing and hailing services, which have been booming in recent years, are suffering a significant slump.... Read more →
Fuel cells based on methanol oxidation have potential for the motor and technical industries. A group of researchers from Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, and the UK has developed a new metallic glass that is 85% more efficient in oxidizing methanol than its platinum-based analogs. Moreover, because... Read more →
Utah-based Energy Fuels to enter commercial rare earth business in Q1-2021
26 December 2020
Energy Fuels Inc. entered into a three-year supply agreement with The Chemours Company to acquire a minimum of 2,500 tons per year of natural monazite sands, one of the highest-grade rare earth element (REE) minerals in the world. Energy Fuels expects to process this monazite at its 100%-owned White Mesa... Read more →
Toyota Motor Corporation announced a limited launch of the C+pod ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (BEV) to corporate users, local governments and other organizations that have been exploring new options to drive the popularization of BEVs. Toyota plans to further promote the establishment of systems for popularizing BEVs, including development of... Read more →
ABB leads electrification and automation innovation as part of Sustainable Underground Mining future mine project
26 December 2020
ABB electrification and automation knowledge and solutions have been employed in a pioneering mine of the future project, which has ultimate ambitions to demonstrate zero carbon dioxide emissions and productivity increases of 50%. ABB has provided electrification, connected control and operations management systems, high-visualization and mobile operator workplaces as part... Read more →
ABB, AFC Energy to develop high power EV charging solution for grid-constrained locations; fuel cells
25 December 2020
ABB and AFC Energy are partnering to create the next generation of high power sustainable electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions for grid-constrained locations. Utilizing ABB’s energy storage solution and DC EV fast chargers along with AFC Energy’s zero-emission, high-efficiency hydrogen fuel cell, the strategic collaboration will deliver a fully autonomous,... Read more →
Battery anode company Talga Group Ltd completed an A$25-million (US$19-million) placement to fund the Electric Vehicle Anode (EVA) pilot plant as part of the development of the Vittangi Anode Project located in northern Sweden. Combining a scalable battery anode production facility with integrated graphite mining operations, the project will be... Read more →
Nuro has become the first company to receive a permit to deploy autonomous vehicles on public streets from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. This permit will allow Nuro vehicles to operate commercially on California roads in two counties near Nuro headquarters in the Bay Area. Nuro said that it... Read more →
FREYR and 24M sign licensing and services agreement for mass production of Li-ion battery cells; Glencore for raw materials
25 December 2020
FREYR AS and 24M Technologies signed a definitive License and Services Agreement to use 24M’s SemiSolid lithium-ion battery platform technology (earlier post) in FREYR’s planned facilities in Mo i Rana, Norway. FREYR is targeting the development of more than 40 GWh of scalable, modular battery cell production capacity via a... Read more →
Nikola Corporation and Republic Services have discontinued their collaboration on refuse truck development (earlier post). The goal of the collaboration was to design and build an industry-first fully integrated refuse truck based on a zero-emissions battery-electric drive platform and body while also integrating multiple new systems into a new state-of-the-art... Read more →
Toshiba Corporation has developed a new magnetic material with characteristics that deliver major improvements in motor efficiency at minimum cost, and with the potential to win significant reductions in power consumption. The company says the material is suitable for train drive systems, automobiles, robots and other applications requiring high reliability.... Read more →
DOE Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program awards $30M in initial funding for risk reduction projects
24 December 2020
The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $30 million in initial funding to five teams for projects under one of three programs—Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration—in the new Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP). The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry, and companies were chosen through a funding opportunity announcement... Read more →
Nissan launched the all-new Note e-POWER AWD compact car, with dual electric motors that give the driver enhanced control and acceleration. The car comes exclusively with Nissan’s e-POWER electrified powertrain—a non-plug-in series hybrid configuration (earlier post)—and is scheduled to go on sale in Japan in early 2021. The introduction of... Read more →
Yibin Tianyi Lithium—a joint venture of Canmax, CATL and Tianyuan Group established in 2018—has formally commissioned a 20ktpy lithium hydroxide plant in Yibin, Sichuan province. The company plans to construct 45ktpy of lithium hydroxide capacity in two phases and targets a total capacity of 100ktpy by 2025. The start-up of... Read more →
Since forming in 2013, Argent Materials, a San Francisco Bay Area recycler of concrete and asphalt, and supplier of aggregate such as crushed rock, entry, cutback, sand, backfill and base rock for construction projects, has diverted more than a billion pounds of waste from local landfills. As a result, Argent... Read more →
The last e-Golf has rolled off the production line at the Transparent Factory in Dresden. A total of 50,401 vehicles have been manufactured in Dresden since March 2017. At the beginning of the new year 2021, the production area of the Transparent Factory will be reconstructed for three weeks before... Read more →
LG Electronics and Magna enter JV agreement to expand in powertrain electrification market
23 December 2020
LG Electronics and Magna International announced a joint venture (JV) to manufacture e-motors, inverters and on board chargers and, for certain automakers, related e-drive systems to support the growing global shift toward vehicle electrification. The new company, tentatively called LG Magna e-Powertrain, combines Magna’s strength in electric powertrain systems and... Read more →
Middleware—a computing concept that has been around since the late 1960s, but that especially gained traction in the 1980s—is software that provides common services and capabilities to applications beyond what is offered by an operating system. Middleware serves, in effect, as a mediator between an operating system and software applications,... Read more →
Van Hool, an independent Belgian manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, has shipped the first CX45E, a 100% battery electric coach, to the US. After an intense period of development and testing, the CX45E is now being commercially launched by Van Hool’s North American exclusive distributor ABC Bus Companies... Read more →
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin’s and TOTAL have designed, synthesized and tested new additives that increase fuel efficiency. Led by Professor Stephen Dooley in Trinity’s School of Physics, the Trinity researchers undertook the project as a result of an open competition by TOTAL, where their proposal welcomed several applications from... Read more →
Toyota Motor Corporation is introducing an operations management system to support the providing of services that will enable practical use of the e-Palette, a battery-electric vehicle for autonomous mobility as a service (Autono-MaaS) applications. In collaboration with a range of partners, it is also planning to operate the vehicles in... Read more →
Daimler and Infosys partner on hybrid cloud-powered innovation & IT infrastructure transformation in automotive
23 December 2020
Daimler AG and Infosys announced a long-term strategic partnership for a technology-driven IT infrastructure transformation. After the receipt of all regulatory approvals, Daimler AG will transform its IT operating model and infrastructure landscape across workplace services, service desk, data center, networks and SAP Basis together with Infosys. The partnership will... Read more →