In federal court in Brooklyn, the US. Department of Justice, on behalf of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a complaint against eBay Inc. for unlawfully selling, offering for sale, causing the sale of, and distributing hundreds of thousands of products in violation of the Clean Air Act (CAA);... Read more →
A new Rolls-Royce small gas turbine that has been specifically developed to power hybrid-electric flight has successfully completed its first fuel burn. (Earlier post.) The engine has been designed using novel combustion technology to produce ultra-low emissions; this significant achievement confirms the effectiveness of the compact, power-dense turbine that will... Read more →
Rolls-Royce has achieved a key milestone in its hydrogen combustion engine research project. Both Rolls-Royce and its partner easyJet are committed to being at the forefront of the development of hydrogen combustion engine technology capable of powering a range of aircraft, including those in the narrow-body market segment, from the... Read more →
Logistics company Rheinkraft International (RKI) has taken delivery of a hydrogen-engined 18-tonne truck from KEYOU (earlier post). RKI’s end customer is one of the world’s largest steel producers. We want to boldly and actively shape the necessary change in road freight transport. In addition to their own sustainability efforts, our... Read more →
Heading into the fall boating season and preparing for the 2023 International BoatBuilders Exhibition & Conference (IBEX), Honda Marine announced the launch of the all-new BF350 outboard, the first Honda V8 motor to be available commercially. Honda Marine, an operating unit of Honda Power Sports & Products (a business unit... Read more →
Swiss marine power company WinGD has signed a memorandum of understanding with KSS Line to explore X‑DF‑A engines for future newbuild projects. The companies will focus on 52cm- and 62cm-bore versions of the dual-fuel ammonia engines, suitable for midsize and very large gas carriers (VLGC). The agreement is the latest... Read more →
Volvo Cars will end of production of all diesel-powered Volvo Car models by early 2024. In a few months from now, the last diesel-powered Volvo car will have been built, making Volvo Cars one of the first legacy car makers to take this step. This milestone follows the company’s decision... Read more →
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) reached a settlement agreement with American Honda Motor Corp., Inc. of Torrance for $7.9 million for violations of CARB’s small off-road engine (SORE) air quality regulations. This is the third SORE enforcement action against Honda in the past four years. Previously, CARB settled cases... Read more →
by Alec Shkolnik, co-founder & CEO of LiquidPiston Months before stepping down as CEO of Toyota, Akio Toyoda zigged at a time when the rest of the automotive industry zagged: he argued for an electrified future powered by both EVs and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). I couldn’t agree more. New... Read more →
A joint research team led by Principal Researcher Young Choi of the Department of Mobility Power Research of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), an institute under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and ICT, and Researcher Hong-gil Baek of the Zero-Carbon Engine Research Lab of Hyundai-Kia... Read more →
Swiss marine power company WinGD and shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have agreed to cooperate on future fuel vessel applications with ammonia-fueled engines. The memorandum of understanding, signed during the Gastech conference in Singapore this week, indicates a strong intention on the part of SHI to install WinGD’s X-DF-A dual-fuel... Read more →
Stellantis has concluded that 24 engine families in European vehicles sold since 2014, representing 28 million vehicles on the road, are ready to use advanced drop-in eFuel without any powertrain modification, following months of testing at its technical centers across Europe. The tests were conducted using surrogate eFuels provided by... Read more →
Volkswagen will unveil the new Passat Variant at the upcoming IAA Mobility in Munich. With more than 34 million units sold worldwide across its lifetime, the Passat is the top-selling Volkswagen of all time after the Golf and ahead of the Beetle. The range of two new plug-in hybrid drives,... Read more →
Cummins announced approval of its entire line of diesel high horsepower engines across all ratings for use with unblended paraffinic fuels (EN15940), often referred to as renewable diesel, including hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). Utilizing renewable diesels such as HVO are shown to reduce net greenhouse gas (GHG) emission by up... Read more →
GKN Aerospace, Marshall, and Parker Aerospace will collaborate under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore liquid hydrogen fuel system solutions for the next generation of zero-emission aircraft. Hydrogen propulsion, whether through fuel cells or combustion, is a pathway for the aviation industry to achieve its ambitious goal of net-zero... Read more →
Rheinmetall has won a new order in the internal combustion engine sector, a result the company says indicates its “last man standing” strategy. Placed by an alliance of two globally active, well-known automakers, the order encompasses several hundred thousand engines blocks worth a figure in the mid-double-digit million-euro range. The... Read more →
Eaton has renamed its Vehicle Group and eMobility businesses to the Mobility Group. The Mobility Group represents the company’s focus on providing solutions across the propulsion spectrum and meeting the evolving needs of its customers from internal combustion to electrified or a combination of both. Our new name, Mobility Group,... Read more →
A team from Empa - Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology and FPT Motorenforschung reports in an open-access paper in the journal Fuel on the performance and emission characteristics of an 11-liter heavy-duty compression ignition engine which was optimized specifically for DME (dimethyl ether) combustion. The DME engine... Read more →
Cummins and Taylor Machine Works, a leading US manufacturer of heavy industrial lift equipment, signed a letter of intent with plans to integrate the Cummins 6.7-liter and 15-liter hydrogen engines into the Taylor product line. This collaboration will help realize the decarbonization goals of industrial steel, wood products, concrete, oil... Read more →
Cummins and Chevron USA, a subsidiary of Chevron Corporation announced a memorandum of understanding to leverage complementary positioning in hydrogen, natural gas, and other lower carbon fuel value chains. The announcement expands the two companies’ previous strategic collaboration on hydrogen and renewable natural gas and is expected to encompass other... Read more →
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development and integration of alternative fuel technologies aimed at reducing the marine engine’s reliance on fossil fuels. FMD will incorporate the... Read more →
The Department of Defense (DoD) has issued a solicitation for a Tactical Range Extender Enhancer for future electric vehicles. The US military engages in operations far from the US, making expansive—and expensive—logistics tails necessary in order to operate effectively. The US Department of Defense expects that in the future it... Read more →
Wärtsilä will supply methanol-fueled auxiliary engines for the French shipping company CMA CGM. The engines have been ordered for six 15,000 TEU container vessels which are being built at the Dalian Shipbuilding yard in China. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q2 2023. The six container vessels will be... Read more →
Toyota Motor Corporation will enter the ENEOS Super Taikyu Series 2023 Supported by Bridgestone Round 4 Super Taikyu Race (5h x 1 race), to be held from 29-30 July at the Autopolis international racing course in Oita Prefecture, with the #32 ORC ROOKIE GR Corolla H2 Concept, which runs on... Read more →
Lockheed Martin won a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop and demonstrate a nuclear-powered spacecraft under a project called Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO). The project will represent a rapid advancement in propulsion technology to benefit exploration and national defense. Cislunar refers to... Read more →
LiquidPiston, a developer of efficient engine technology and hybrid power systems, has been awarded an $8.3-million contract by Parsons Corporation to integrate its recently launched high-performance rotary X-Engine, the XTS-210 (earlier post), into a lightweight, compact 10 kW generator set to be field-tested by the Army, delivering unmatched power flexibility... Read more →
Continental, a subsidiary of Continental Aerospace Technologies Holding Limited, is finalizing testing of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) as a sustainable fuel option in its CD-100 series of engines. This research and development investment signifies Continental’s commitment to fostering a more sustainable general aviation industry aimed at reducing carbon emissions and... Read more →
A new study by researchers from Washington State University and SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory has found that a catalyst using a single or just a few palladium atoms removed 90% of unburned methane from natural gas engine exhaust at low temperatures. The work is published in the journal Nature Catalysis.... Read more →
Volvo Group and Westport Fuel Systems signed a non-binding letter of intent (LOI) to establish a joint venture to accelerate the commercialization and global adoption of Westport’s HPDI (High Pressure Direct Injection) fuel system technology for long-haul and off-road applications. Westport’s HPDI fuel system is a high-performance solution supporting significant... Read more →
MAN Energy Solutions will begin developing methanol retrofit solutions for medium-speed marine engines as part of a research association including WTZ Roßlau gGmbh and TU-Darmstadt. The three-year research project, ‘CliNeR-ECo’, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) with initial work having already commenced... Read more →
Swiss marine power company WinGD says it is on track to deliver its first X-DF-A dual-fuel ammonia engines by the first quarter of 2025, with the first X-DF-A powered vessels in service from 2026. The confirmation, which follows combustion tests at WinGD research facilities in December 2022, is backed by... Read more →
Nissan’s Yokohama Plant produced its 40 millionth engine in June. The Yokohama Plant commenced operations in 1935, two years after Nissan’s founding. It built its 10 millionth engine in 1976, its 20 millionth in 1986 and its 30 millionth in 1997. A number of engines made by the Yokohama Plant... Read more →
NYK will install a variable compression ratio system (VCR system) on two large LNG-fueled coal carriers to be built at Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2025. This will be the first time for VCR systems to be installed on vessels,... Read more →
The first LNG carrier in a series currently under construction by Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in Korea has completed gas trials. Originally ordered in Q2 2021 and scheduled for delivery in July 2023, the ship is powered by MAN B&W ME-GA dual-fuel engines capable of running on fuel oil and... Read more →
Lamborghini Squadra Corse launched its first hybrid endurance racing prototype, the SC63, at Goodwood Festival of Speed. The SC63, which will begin testing within weeks, is set to compete in the Hypercar class of the 2024 FIA World Endurance Championship, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and in the... Read more →
MAN Energy Solutions announced that the first ME-GA engine has completed gas trials aboard an LNG carrier built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) for Norwegian shipping company, Knutsen OAS Shipping. The new engine is an Otto-cycle variant of the company’s successful ME-GI engine. As its pre-mixed combustion results in... Read more →
PLANA, a developer of hybrid advanced air mobility (AAM) eVTOL aircraft, signed a letter of intent (LOI) and a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hi-Air, a South Korean commercial air carrier, to supply 30 AAM aircraft. Under the LOI, PLANA will supply its hybrid-electric AAM aircraft, CP-01, to Hi-Air from... Read more →
Brazil-based metals and mining multinational Vale announced a partnership with Wabtec Corporation to advance the decarbonization of Vale’s rail operations. The deal includes an order for three of Wabtec’s FLXdrive battery locomotives and a collaboration to test ammonia as a potential clean, alternative fuel to replace diesel. The three 100%... Read more →
MAN Energy Solutions announced the successful first running of a test engine on ammonia at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC). The company reports that the successful combustion was performed on a MAN B&W two-stroke 4T50ME-X type and produced positive results with particularly promising data regarding pilot-oil amount and combustion stability.... Read more →
Following the framework agreement announced in November 2022 (earlier post), Geely Holding Group, Geely Automobile Holdings Limited and Renault Group have signed a binding 50/50 joint venture agreement to launch a new powertrain technology company that aims to become the global leader in developing, manufacturing, and supplying best-in-class hybrid powertrains... Read more →
A power generator demo unit genset, relying on a first use of FuelAdaptive engine technologies patented by ClearFlame Engine Technologies, has successfully progressed through phase one trials. The trial was conducted by Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) in partnership with ClearFlame and Duke Energy. In addition to a series of... Read more →
MAHLE has received a series order from engine manufacturer DEUTZ for the development and supply of components for hydrogen engines. These are power cell units—i.e., units consisting of the piston, the piston ring pack and the piston pin—which DEUTZ plans to use in stationary hydrogen engines for the first time... Read more →
Ricardo is working in collaboration with Achates Power to develop the next generation of opposed-piston (OP) gasoline compression ignition (GCI) engines for light duty vehicles in a multi-phased project (BERYL), funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). (Earlier post.) Achates first received ARPA-E funding... Read more →
Analysis of a study by S&P Global Mobility shows the number of new near-zero emission diesel trucks on the road in the US increased 10.2% between 2021 and 2022, according to the Diesel Technology Forum (DTF). Near-zero emission trucks are advanced diesel technology manufactured in the 2010 and later model... Read more →
Mitsubishi Motors will use a newly developed ladder frame, chassis and clean diesel engine in the all-new Triton one-ton pickup truck. The launch of the all-new Triton (sold as the L200 in some markets) is scheduled for 26 July in Bangkok, Thailand. The newly developed clean diesel turbo engine improves... Read more →
MAN Energy Solutions has signed a Conversion Commitment Agreement with Seaspan Corporation (Seaspan), a global leader in containership ownership and management in collaboration with Hapag-Lloyd, one of the leading global liner shipping companies. Under the terms of the agreement, MAN PrimeServ, MAN Energy Solutions’ after-sales division, will deliver 15 engine... Read more →
KOTUG Canada selected Türkiye’s Sanmar Shipyards to build two RAsalvor 4400-DFM dual fuel methanol escort tugs—Robert Allan Ltd. design—to service the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMEP). These tugs will escort tankers from the harbor limits of the Port of Vancouver to the open Pacific Ocean through the commercial shipping lanes... Read more →
The California Air Resources Board announced a Clean Truck Partnership today with the US’ leading truck manufacturers and the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association that advances the development of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) for the commercial trucking industry, which includes flexibility for manufacturers to meet emissions requirements while still reaching the... Read more →
Rolls-Royce has approved its mtu Kinetic PowerPacks, based on the mtu Series 4000 and 1600 diesel engines, for use with renewable diesel (HVO/Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) and the other synthetic diesel fuels of the EN15940 standard. With HVO the CO2 footprint of the mtu systems for dynamic uninterruptible power supply (DUPS)... Read more →
The Volkswagen brand aims to make significant gains in South America with a major product offensive. By 2027, the company plans to grow by 40% in Brazil, the region’s largest market. For example, 15 new electric and flex-fuel vehicle models are being launched by 2025 alone. Hybrid vehicles will also... Read more →