ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC (EMCL) has licensed its advanced fluid bed Methanol-to-Gasoline (MTG) technology to Aramco for a demonstration-scale unit to be located in NEOM’s Hydrogen Innovation and Development Center. Aramco plans to use the ExxonMobil technology to convert renewable methanol into renewable synthetic gasoline. Renewable synthetic gasoline has... Read more →

The greenhouse gas intensity of western Canadian condensate—which averaged 35 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per barrel (kgCO2e/bbl) in 2021—is expected to decline in the coming years as domestic supply from unconventional production in western Canada, as well as recycling, increases, according to a new analysis by S&P Global Commodity... Read more →

A leading supplier of components and sealing systems for the electric vehicle industry, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has added a battery testing laboratory to its R&D laboratories at its North American headquarters in Plymouth, Mich. The multi-million-dollar investment will facilitate in-house battery and battery component testing, including simulated thermal runaway, and... Read more →

Hyzon Motors, a hydrogen fuel cell technology developer and global supplier of zero-emission heavy-duty fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), announced the commercial trial deployment of its first Heavy Rigid fuel cell electric waste collection truck to Remondis Australia, one of the world’s largest recycling, service, and water companies. The commercial... Read more →

Mitsubishi Motors announced its investment in Ampere, an EV and software company to be established by the Renault Group. (Earlier post.) For Mitsubishi Motors, the investment comes as a step forward in its mid-term management plan announced in March 2023, in which Mitsubishi Motors committed to the development of electric... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently reached settlement agreements with several companies for violations of the Aftermarket Parts Regulation as part of its robust and ongoing enforcement efforts to uphold California’s air quality rules. The cases included a settlement agreement with Meyer Distributing Inc. of Jasper, Ind. for $564,250.... Read more →

Stellantis unveiled a full range of renewed and electrified compact, mid-size and large commercial vans—12 vehicles in all—for the Citroën, FIAT Professional, Opel, Peugeot and Vauxhall brands as part of the Pro One strategic offensive for the Stellantis Commercial Vehicles Business. (Earlier post.) Stellantis and its brands are leveraging a... Read more →

Nineteen leading innovators in the automotive, bicycle and technology sectors have launched the Coalition for Cyclist Safety to work towards advancing and deploying connected transportation solutions to help reduce the risks facing cyclists and e-bike riders on North American roads. According to the US Centers for Disease Control, bicycles constitute... Read more →

The California Air Resources Board CARB) released a report showing that truck manufacturers are exceeding targeted sales of zero-emissions vehicles and are now two years ahead of schedule. The annual report tracks how manufacturers are achieving CARB’s regulation that established a phased-in transition toward the sale of 100% zero-emissions medium-... Read more →

With the new Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 HYBRID, available as an SUV or Coupe, the performance and sports car brand is expanding its model portfolio with a new plug-in hybrid featuring a high level of practicality and electric range for everyday use. With the GLE 53 HYBRID as an SUV and... Read more →

Historically, there has been somewhat of an inverse relationship between vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and gasoline prices, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). In the past, a rise in gasoline prices was typically followed by a decrease in discretionary travel, leading to a decrease in VMT. This set... Read more →

Chevron Corporation entered into a definitive agreement with Hess Corporation to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Hess in an all-stock transaction valued at $53 billion, or $171 per share based on Chevron’s closing price on 20 October 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Hess shareholders will receive... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a ban on all uses of trichloroethylene (TCE), a chemical known to cause serious health risks including cancer, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. TCE is a solvent used in cleaning and furniture care products, degreasers, and for automotive care such as tire repair... Read more →

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO) announced renewed funding for the Rapid Advancement in Process Intensification Deployment (RAPID) Institute—one of DOE’s seven Manufacturing USA Institutes. The 5-year, $40-million investment will propel research, development, and demonstrations (RD&D) of advanced process technologies to enable more resilient,... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of the 2023 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for new and innovative green chemistry technologies. An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute formally judged the 2023 submissions and made recommendations to EPA. The 2023... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), Air Products Qudra (APQ) and the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) to establish and develop an ecosystem for hydrogen-based mobility in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The parties have agreed to cooperate in establishing a... Read more →

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), in partnership with Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, is operating and demonstrating the hydrogen-powered Coradia iLint train (earlier post) in Riyadh in October. This demonstration marks the first introduction of a hydrogen-powered train in the Middle East and Africa. The collaboration between... Read more →

With its new high-voltage NiMH battery repair set, Bosch is offering a solution for selected hybrid models made by Toyota and Lexus that is simple, reasonably priced, and above all conserves resources. Over the course of time, the performance of high-voltage batteries in electric and hybrid vehicles decreases as their... Read more →

Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company and the leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced the availability of the Enphase IQ EV Charger in the United States and Canada. The IQ EV Charger is Wi-Fi-enabled and includes smart control and monitoring capabilities. The charger can also seamlessly... Read more →

OmniOn Power, formerly ABB Power Conversion, acquired by AcBel in July, has introduced new 30 kW rectifiers for the EV charging market: the EV100H3NK and the EV101H3N1K. The rectifiers convert commercial AC power to the highly efficient DC power used in the latest fast DC chargers being developed today. While... Read more →

The all-electric MINI Countryman SE ALL4 (earlier post) will offer ALL4 all-wheel drive, extended driving assistance functions, partially automated Level 2 driving and an electric range of up to 433 kilometers (269 miles) according to the WLTP test cycle. The all-rounder has grown significantly and now measures 4,433 mm in... Read more →

New research out of IBM Research’s lab in Almaden, California, nearly two decades in the making, has the potential to drastically shift how we can efficiently scale up powerful AI hardware systems. Since the birth of the semiconductor industry, computer chips have primarily followed the same basic structure, in which... Read more →

KOITO Manufacturing and DENSO Corporation are collaborating to develop a system to improve the object recognition rate of vehicle image sensors by coordinating lamps and image sensors, with the aim of improving driving safety at night. KOITO has been contributing to safety by improving nighttime visibility with high-function, high-performance lighting... Read more →

Scientists from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and ETH Zurich in Switzerland have converted chicken feathers into a clean and sustainable material to build zero-waste fuel cells. By extracting the protein keratin from feathers, then processing it into ultra-fine fibers known as amyloid fibrils, the researchers created a thin... Read more →

Germany-based bus operator West Verkehr has ordered a fleet of 12 Wrightbus Kite Hydroliners after a Europe-wide tender process. The single-deck hydrogen buses will be rolled out across the town of Geilenkirchen. The Kite has a range of up to 640 miles and can carry up to 90 passengers. The... Read more →

Volkswagen Group of America (VWGoA) signed a new Master Research Agreement with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) to continue the research partnership at the Volkswagen Innovation Hub in Knoxville through 2028. The partnership currently supports 27 active research projects and has already produced 15 publications and multiple pending patents.... Read more →

Brazil-based Raízen, an integrated energy company with a broad portfolio of renewable products, and Wärtsilä, a global leader in technologies for the maritime and energy markets, signed a Decarbonization Agreement to advance the reduction of emissions from the maritime sector. By studying the application of ethanol as a marine fuel,... Read more →

Sonangol and China National Chemical Engineering Company (CNCEC) signed a contract for the construction of the Lobito Refinery in Angola. The final agreement, which provides for construction, technical support and supervision, follows the Memorandum of Understanding between the two parties, signed four months ago in Beijing. The refinery is to... Read more →

A team of researchers from the US and Canada have developed a new lithium-based solid-state electrolyte (SSE) material (Li9N2Cl3) that demonstrates excellent lithium compatibility and atmospheric stability and that enables high–areal capacity, long-lasting all–solid-state lithium metal batteries. An open-access paper on the work is published in Science Advances. The Li9N2Cl3... Read more →

Among the mobility vehicles and technologies that Toyota will exhibit at the Japan Mobility Show 2023 will be the Land Cruiser Se, an electric version of the Land Cruiser; and the EPU, a midsize all-electric pickup truck. Land Cruiser Se The concept Land Cruiser Se features a monocoque body and... Read more →

Sumitomo Heavy Industries (SHI) successfully produced FT synthetic fuel from synthesis gas with an admixture of 20% CO2. Sumitomo envisions producing liquid fuel using CO2 emitted from power plants, factories, and other sources as a raw material. In most conventional cases of FT synthesis (Gas-To-Liquids process), the raw material has... Read more →

China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) announced that it will impose export controls on certain kinds of graphite, effective on 1 December. China is the world’s largest producer and exporter of graphite, which is, among other applications, pervasively used in the anodes of Li-ion batteries. According to the US Geological Survey... Read more →

The Swedish public transport operator Nobina Stockholm has ordered 55 Urbino 15 LE electric buses. The vehicles will be put into operation on suburban routes in the Stockholm region. Deliveries are scheduled for 2024. The Urbino 15 LE electric buses are low-entry, tri-axle electric vehicles that can be used both... Read more →

ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked solutions for charging electric vehicles (EVs), is now rolling out NACS connector support for its AC and DC charging solutions, with much of the lineup to be delivered over the coming month. Cable conversion kits for existing DC fast chargers will be delivered to... Read more →

Consumers are not comfortable with the testing and deployment of robotaxis—defined as a fully automated, self-driving vehicle used exclusively for ride-hailing service—on their city streets, according to the inaugural J.D. Power U.S. Robotaxi Experience Study. The study provides the first consumer feedback from robotaxi riders and those who have interacted... Read more →

Volvo Cars opened a new, state-of-the-art software testing center in Gothenburg, Sweden that amplifies our capacity for integrated software testing at all levels. At a size of around 22,000 square meters and representing an initial investment of around SEK 300 million (US$27.3 million), the new software testing center is the... Read more →

Toyota Motor North America, Inc. (TMNA) reached an agreement with Tesla, Inc. to adopt Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) on TMNA battery electric vehicles (BEVs) beginning in 2025. In line with Toyota’s vehicle electrification strategy that offers a plethora of options for electrified powertrains, Toyota and Lexus customers will... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) is set to develop a growth strategy for Africa by establishing specialized units for dialogue and research with the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) at the University of London. SOAS University of London is one of the 17 colleges within the university and... Read more →

Elcora Advanced Materials and Mincape SARL are partnering to establish manganese mining operations in Morocco and West Africa. This collaboration aims to support the ever-expanding EVbattery market and secure a sustainable source of high-quality manganese ore. Manganese can play a pivotal role in enhancing the energy storage capabilities and overall... Read more →

BYD introduced two new eBus innovations at Busworld 2023 held at Brussels Expo, Belgium. The BYD 40-foot B12 eBus brings a new generation of integrated chassis technology to public transport operators in Europe. In addition, and making its world premiere at the BYD stand, is the 45-foot customizable pure-electric intercity... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Justice announced a modification to a 2015 consent decree today between the United States and state of Michigan and the Cleveland-Cliffs Steel Corporation (formerly AK Steel) to resolve Clean Air Act violations at the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, steel manufacturing... Read more →

2025 Civic hybrid production will start with the sedan in Canada, followed by the hatchback in Indiana; two-motor hybrid electric system made in Ohio Civic hybrid expected to represent over 40% of model sales in North America Over 11 million Civics have been built in North America since 1988 Honda... Read more →

Cruise, General Motors and Honda have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding aiming to establish a joint venture which will begin a driverless ridehail service in Japan in early 2026. The three companies aim to establish this new company in the first half of 2024 pending regulatory approvals. With this... Read more →

Stellantis introduced Pro One today, the enhanced strategic offensive of the company’s commercial vehicles business, encompassing the professional offerings of six iconic Stellantis brands: Citroën, FIAT, Opel, Peugeot, Ram and Vauxhall. The commercial vehicles business today accounts for one-third of Stellantis net revenues with 1.6 million sales annually. Stellantis Pro... Read more →

MIT engineers have designed a new train-like system of reactors driven solely by the sun to produce green hydrogen by water-splitting. In a study published in Solar Energy Journal, the engineers lay out the conceptual design for a system that can efficiently produce solar thermochemical hydrogen. Solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH)... Read more →

Supernal, Hyundai Motor Group’s (HMG) Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company, Hyundai WIA, a global automotive and aerospace parts manufacturer and Mecaer Aviation Group, an Italy-based global aeronautical company, announced a partnership to design and manufacture landing gear systems for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. Hyundai WIA specializes in... Read more →

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation signed a strategic partnership with Infineon Technologies AG to secure power semiconductors in support of the growing electric vehicle demand worldwide. Under the agreement, Hyundai and Kia will purchase core power semiconductors of automotives, including diode, insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) and silicon carbide (SiC)... Read more →

CEA-Leti, a technology research institute at France’s CEA, announced a new R&D initiative to contribute to a higher level of vehicle automation and cooperation by expanding the latest developments in vehicular wireless communications that improve reaction time, pedestrian detection and overall vehicle performance. Combining learnings from its participation in three... Read more →

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its final determination that emissions of lead from aircraft that operate on leaded fuel cause or contribute to air pollution which may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act. This final endangerment finding does not ban... Read more →

Rolls-Royce announced the successful completion of a series of tests with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) on its latest generation of business aviation engines, the Pearl 15 and the Pearl 10X. The Pearl 15, the first member of the Pearl engine family, powers Bombardier’s Global 5500 and 6500 aircraft, while... Read more →