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Disposing waste is good. If it contributes to replacing petroleum, even to a small degree, all the better.
Fulcrum to build second waste-to-fuels plant in Gary, Indiana
Fulcrum BioEnergy has selected Gary, Indiana as the location of its Centerpoint BioFuels Plant, which will convert municipal solid waste (MSW) into low-carbon, renewable transportation fuel. Fulcrum has developed and demonstrated a proprietary thermochemical process that converts MSW feedstoc...
It is easier to hire someone at a stationary site to unload than to hire a driver who does that.
Mercedes-Benz Vans unveils Vision URBANETIC; self-driving EV with switchable bodies
Mercedes-Benz Vans unveiled its Vision URBANETIC mobility concept. Vision URBANETIC eliminates the separation between people moving and goods transport. It enables on-demand, sustainable and efficient movement of people and goods and applies an innovative approach to fulfil the needs of cities,...
At some point we will reach a tipping point where no one will invest $10 billion dollars for 40 years in a refinery for gasoline -- too much risk of stranded assets as is now happening with coal power plants in some parts of the world. I don't know when that will be, but when it does happen, gas prices (not necessarily oil) will go sky high and no one will buy a gasser.
CAP report estimates US will need 14M new PEVs and >330k new public charging outlets by 2025 to meet Paris targets
A new report by the progressive policy institute Center for American Progress estimates that the US needs to add 14 million new PEVs and more than 330,000 new public charging outlets by the end of 2025 in order to meet its Paris Agreement targets. The report, which focuses specifically on ...
@SJC: We don't see many three-piece suits in Denver. And most people have a computer case strapped across their shoulder, if anything, but not many briefcases. :-)
Forsee Power to supply NMC Li-ion batteries for Alstom Aptis electric bus
Alstom has selected French battery manufacturer Forsee Power to provide Li-ion batteries for Alstom Aptis electric bus (earlier post), scheduled for series delivery from 2019 onwards. The vehicles will be equipped with NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) Li-ion battery technology as a standard f...
Ride sharing usually refers to privately owned vehicles being shared for a ride. But it could equally apply to a small van or bus, which then becomes part of a public transportation system. With a good system you don't need to own. I don't own my internet, nor my cell phone access. Although I do own a toothbrush -- maybe two. :-)
How Self-Driving Cars Will Accelerate Electric Vehicle Adoption
By Haden Kirkpatrick. Over the last two decades, fully electric cars have had, let’s say, a slow start. In 1997, the Toyota Prius was released as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid. And while hybrid technology has taken off, drivers have been hesitant to accept fully battery-powered tech ...
We are seeing "dockless" electric scooters being trialed in Denver, along with other cities. I believe we will see scooters, bikes, car sharing, and limited-route self-driving buses tested as last-mile alternatives. Some solution will emerge.
Forsee Power to supply NMC Li-ion batteries for Alstom Aptis electric bus
Alstom has selected French battery manufacturer Forsee Power to provide Li-ion batteries for Alstom Aptis electric bus (earlier post), scheduled for series delivery from 2019 onwards. The vehicles will be equipped with NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) Li-ion battery technology as a standard f...
It should not contribute to rush hour traffic. People have to be home to receive the delivery.
Kroger and Nuro partner to pilot autonomous delivery
The Kroger Co. and startup Nuro are parterning to pilot an on-road, fully autonomous delivery experience. Through this partnership, customers will be able to place same-day delivery orders through Kroger’s ClickList ordering system and Nuro’s app. During the test, orders will be delivered by Nur...
I think this is the future for the grid. Balancing will come from private companies, primarily using fuel cell power generation.
BMW Group plants stepping up activities in balancing-power market to contribute to grid stability
The energy control stations at BMW Group Plants Dingolfing and Landshut are stepping up their activities in the balancing-power market in Germany. Together with other highly-flexible controllable systems in the BMW Group production network, they will contribute to the stability of the public gr...
No. The tariffs will be too high.
Magna and BAIC to form two JVs to engineer and build premium EVs for customers in China; first production in 2020
Magna intends to form two new joint ventures with Beijing Electric Vehicle Co. Ltd (BJEV)—a subsidiary of the BAIC Group for electric cars—for the engineering and complete vehicle manufacturing of electric vehicles. Over the coming months, Magna and BJEV will work with authorities to implement l...
@SJC: Agree. More frequency means more ridership. Maybe autonomous vehicles will make it possible.
Lion Electric unveils eLionM electric midi/minibus at Movin’On
At the Movin’On 2018 mobility summit in Montreal, Québec-based Lion Electric unveiled its 100% electric midi/minibus, the eLionM. The low-floor vehicle will be able to travel up to 75 miles (120 km) (one 80 kWh pack) or 150 miles (240 km) (two 80 kWh packs) per charge. The eLionM features a...
Most car salesmen work for the nearest paycheck. They may not be at the dealership by the time the car comes in for service. This is strictly ignorance of the product. I know a fellow who sells cars. He drove over to my house and showed me a Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid. He was amazed at the gas mileage. I knew more about the car, and hybrid terminology than he did. He said a woman came to the lot and bought the car, full price, no questions asked because she know about it. He still has not learned anything about them because he is busy selling gassers to uninformed buyers. That is what he knows.
Study finds car dealerships pose significant barrier to EV adoption
A new study by a team from Aarhus University in Denmark has found that car dealerships pose a significant barrier to electric vehicle adoption at the point of sale due to a perceived lack of business case viability in relation to gasoline and diesel vehicles. Their study is published in the jour...
$5.00 gas will overtake Trump.
NREL develops EVI-Pro Lite tool for EV infrastructure planning
Recent predictions are that cheaper batteries and the falling cost of manufacturing will accelerate market adoption of plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) to up to 35% of the global auto fleet within the next two decades. To assist state and local governments anticipating this type of growth in PEV...
Trump thinks the US still matters. California and other states will tie this up in court for years. Meanwhile, China and Europe will drive the standards. No point in producing a cheap, high emissions car for US when you have to build a cheap, low emissions car for China.
EPA: GHG emissions standards for cars and light trucks should be revised; joint process with NHTSA (updated with more reactions)
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the completion of the Midterm Evaluation (MTE) process for the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars and light trucks for model years 2022-2025, and his final determination that the current standards a...
DOE should add another $40 million to subsidize the purchase of all electric school buses. This will save more in health costs over the long run than the initial investment.
Efficient Drivetrains selected to participate in $4.4M DOE program for electrification of school buses
Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. announced that it has been selected as the electric drivetrain provider for a $4.4-million program implemented by the United States Department of Energy in efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced and alternative fuel vehicles. (Earlier post.) Combined with mat...
sd: Or SOFC fuel cells would take over.
New MIT metal-mesh membrane could solve longstanding problems with liquid metal displacement batteries; inexpensive grid power storage
A new metal mesh membrane developed by researchers at MIT could advance the use of the Na–NiCl2 displacement battery, which has eluded widespread adoption owing to the fragility of the β"-Al2O3 membrane. A battery, based on electrodes made of sodium and nickel chloride and using thea new type o...
This all seems to point to a need for energy storage. With intermittent generation and intermittent demand, we can no longer look to the grid and expect to produce exactly what is demanded at any time.
NREL study finds that uncoordinated plug-in vehicle charging could prove challenging to the grid
An influx of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) charging without coordination could prove challenging to the nation’s electric grid, according to research conducted by the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Dr. Matteo Muratori, a transportation and energy sys...
Watch for a rapid shift to SOFCs from turbines. Electricity can be produced with natural gas, but it is clean, can be distributed and is rapidly dispatched. Corporations will do the investing -- Apple, Amazon, Walmart, and many other large installations. They will become the energy providers.
EIA forecasts natural gas to remain primary energy source for electricity generation in US over next two years
The US Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) January 2018 Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) forecasts that natural gas will remain the primary source of US electricity generation for at least the next two years. The share of total electricity supplied by natural gas-fired power plants is e...
Noise restrictions could kill Harley sales, and good riddance.
Evoke Electric Motorcycles reduce weight with lighter, more energy dense battery cells
Beijing-based Evoke Electric Motorcycles is now using lighter, more energy dense batteries cells in its Evoke Urban Series lineup, enhancing the performance and overall feel of their motorcycles. Additionally, Evoke Electric Motorcycles has improved the battery management system (BMS) of the mo...
Roger P: and the product can be stored for seasonal needs, not just short-term load balancing.
Two-stage catalytic fast hydropyrolysis of biomass produces biofuel with heating value, aromaticity close to gasoline
A team at the University of Connecticut Storrs reports on a two-stage catalytic fast hydropyrolysis process (CFHP) that produces a drop-oin biofuel with heating value and aromaticity close to that of gasoline. Their paper is published in the journal Fuel. The two-stage CFHP followed by hydropro...
Someone please explain how generating heat from nuclear or otherwise in the atmosphere would or would not add to global warming. After all, that heat will still be trapped in the atmosphere by greenhouse gasses, not radiated into space any more than fossil fuel heat.
DOE to award up to $30-60M for advanced nuclear energy technology in FY 2018; $400M over 5 years
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a funding opportunity announcement (DE-FOA-0001817) to support development of advanced nuclear energy technology. DOE expects to make up to approximately $30 million to $60 million—contingent upon the availability of funds appropriated by Congress—...
Yes, and the US Government is trying to dump the dirty gassers on the US market. Talk about fighting the last war.
BYTON opens North American HQ; next-gen smart EVs for shared mobility and autonomous driving; iPhone on wheels
BYTON, a China-headquartered automotive brand owned by Future Mobility Corporation, inaugurated its North American headquarters in Santa Clara, California last week, marking further progress in the company’s strategic effort to establish a global presence. BYTON aspires to build “affordable” pr...
Build the customer base while working on the technology. If you wait for Automated vehicles, someone else will already own the market.
Volkswagen’s MOIA introduces electric ridesharing car for up to 6 passengers; 300km range
MOIA, the mobility startup from the Volkswagen Group (earlier post), is introducing its electric ride pooling concept van just one year after its inception. MOIA is presenting the electric van and its ride pooling ecosystem with the mission “One Million Cars off the Road” at TechCrunch in Berli...
What he said. Except, I can see BEV's used for household leveling for those who have solar panels on the roof.
Parker Project demonstrates cross-brand V2G in Denmark; more tests of grid services slated
The Parker Project has used a fleet of four vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, PSA Groupe and Nissan to demonstrate that vehicles from different car brands can contribute to supporting the electricity grid with vehicle to grid (V2G) services. The aim of the Parker project is to vali...
mahonj is probably correct. Even this article focuses on fatalities. The real payoff is in reduced injuries (including traumatic brain), lower hospital costs, dramatically reduced auto repair costs, etc. But the benefits don't have to wait for fully autonomous cars. Full implementation of currently available safety features across all vehicles can move us in this direction with less publicity around fatal errors.
RAND study finds introducing autonomous vehicles sooner could save hundreds of thousands of lives
Autonomous vehicles should only have to be moderately better than human drivers before being widely used in the United States, an approach that could save thousands of lives annually even before the technology is perfected, according to a new RAND Corporation report. Allowing wide use of auto...
According to this, a virtual train in China can recharge fully in 10 minutes for. While it has only 15 kilometer range, it carries 300 passengers. So how does that translate to distance for a car? And more to the point, what kind of batteries are they using?
Enevate introduces its silicon-dominant Li-ion technology for EVs; extreme fast charging and high capacity
Enevate Corporation, developer of a silicon-dominant composite anode material and high energy density batteries (earlier post), has introduced HD-Energy Technology for Electric Vehicles (EVs); the high energy-density cells support extreme fast-charging. Enevate’s silicon Li-ion battery technolo...
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