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@ mahonj - Hopefully a decline in meat consumption along with the rise of plant-based alternatives will mean that the number of animals slaughtered is lessened over time. If this product turns out to be a winner, then plant-based leathers could fill the gap in 'leather' demand left by the lesser number of animals being slaughtered for meat.
Australia also gets the wrong end of the pineapple in leather interior colours, all we mostly get is black as well. Not the greatest colour for a hot Aussie summer.
BMW i Ventures invests in Natural Fiber Welding; plant-based leathers, yarns and foams
BMW i Ventures has invested in Natural Fiber Welding, Inc. (NFW), a creator of all-natural, plastic-free alternatives to animal- or petrochemical-based materials such as leathers, foams, and textiles. The financing round will enable the company to scale from the batch processing of materials to...
Energy security is a huge advantage that never seems to be touched on. Here in Australia, after the closure of most local refineries we now source much of our fuel from refineries in East Asia. We have very limited reserves of most fuels, which means if anything disrupts our northern shipping lanes (such as a belligerent China), we are in imminent trouble. China is beginning to push back on trade with Australia given the increasing frictions over issues such as disallowing Chinese firms to build our 5G networks, so it's no stretch to imagine some negative future scenarios.
With a large proportion of PHEVs/EVs, we would be much less susceptible to aggressive neighbours. You'd think this issue would be a natural fit for the right-of-centre parties, but they're too busy bashing anything with a green tinge, while most of the population are only interested in our national obsession, the housing market, and the current fall in house prices and hence debt-fuelled wealth.
Volvo Cars introducing range of new electrified powertrains; plug-in options for every model; mild-hybrid rollout
Volvo Cars is releasing upgraded and newly-developed electrified powertrain options to be made available across its entire model range going forward. The company has upgraded its existing T8 and T6 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid powertrains, while at the same time confirming that plug-in options wi...
They're beginning to crack down on this in Australia as well, and it's long overdue. The problem is that this activity is almost ubiquitous now - every time I drive, I see multiple occurrences of people fiddling with their phones. The problem has worsened with increasing traffic in cities. When you are crawling along at low speed, with frequent stopping, people seem unable to resist looking at their phone to fill that 30 sec space when they're stuck at lights or traffic is backed up.
I think we'll get to that point where technology will be built into the phone or car that will prevent their full use whilst in the vehicle. Sadly, there is a new menace in the vehicle, the multiple touchscreens that are becoming common. Using these on the move is just as hazardous.
IIHS study finds drivers fiddling with cellphones up 57% from last survey; contributing factor in > 800 crash deaths in US
Manipulating a cellphone was a contributing factor in more than 800 crash deaths on US roads during 2017 amid a marked increase in the percentage of drivers observed interacting with cellphones, new IIHS research indicates. The estimated number of deaths, however, still represents a fraction of ...
DaveD, I quite look forward to these stories now and your latest satirical musings on the pollution industry!
It does seem rather obvious that forcing your way through a toxic cloud every day is not a good thing to do health-wise. Being an Aussie, I've been to Tasmania a few times, which supposedly has the cleanest air in the inhabited world, but you shouldn't have to go that far to find unpolluted air to breathe.
PM2.5 pollution linked to blood vessel damage in healthy young non-smoking adults
Fine particulate matter air pollution (PM2.5) may be associated with blood vessel damage and inflammation among young, healthy adults, according to new research in Circulation Research, an American Heart Association journal. Air pollution is known to contribute to cardiovascular disease and r...
Nice one Harvey! I have to agree though, stopping at highway food/fuel areas has never been pleasant, in my experience. This is the only downside (for me) to long-range EV charging at present. The food, for want of a better term, is of the variety that will send cholesterol levels soaring, and with the screaming kids and adults jabbering into their phones, you're pretty happy when you can get the hell out of there.
Hopefully the rise of dedicated EV charging facilities will prompt an upgrade in the ancillary services offered around them as your car gets juiced. When travelling long distance here in Australia, I personally prefer to stop as least as possible, but that may be due to our ridiculous 110 km/h which places you squarely in the 'drone zone' on the very tedious Sydney-Melbourne Hume Highway. Like a bad movie, you want it over as quickly as possible.
Chevy Bolt offers EPA-estimated 238 miles of electric range (updated with Opel e-Ampera)
When the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV goes on sale later this year, it will be with an EPA-estimated range of 238 miles (383 km). Bolt will have an expected MSRP below $37,500 and before available federal tax credit of up to $7,500. Plenty of range, cargo space, technology and safety features make the B...
Lol ... spot on Dave. As the insidious effects of the less-obvious pollutants such as ultrafines becomes obvious, we may well come to regard this period in a similar way to the notorious London pea soup fogs ie outright killers.
Air pollution exposure found to be risk factor for type 2 diabetes
Exposure to air pollution increases the risk of developing insulin resistance as a pre-diabetic state of type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by scientists of Helmholtz Zentrum München, in collaboration with colleagues of the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD). The researchers repor...
EDIT - that should be 'takeup' not 'makeup' - there's no camouflaging diesel's polluted image!
German report on VW diesel scandal finds large gap between lab and real-world NOx emissions for German automakers; 630K vehicles in voluntary recall
A German inquiry launched as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has [found](http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2016/051-dobrindt-bericht-untersuchungskommission-volkswagen.html?linkToOverview=DE%2FPresse%2FPressemitteilungen%2Fpressemitteilungen_node.html%23id207...
Do we know whether any of the vehicles tested had AdBlue systems? AFAIK, that is a sure way to combat NOx, although I accept that the effectiveness can vary across the driving cycle and engine load.
The sooner we move to mild (and stronger) petrol hybridisation the better. Couple this with vehicle lightweighting and we can have an effective short-term panacea for the worst of vehicle emissions until battery technology improves. I hope the EU goes hard on this, they can do this type of legislation better than America. They subsidised diesel makeup in the name of green outcomes, so start pushing PHEVs harder.
German report on VW diesel scandal finds large gap between lab and real-world NOx emissions for German automakers; 630K vehicles in voluntary recall
A German inquiry launched as a result of the Volkswagen diesel emission scandal has [found](http://www.bmvi.de/SharedDocs/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2016/051-dobrindt-bericht-untersuchungskommission-volkswagen.html?linkToOverview=DE%2FPresse%2FPressemitteilungen%2Fpressemitteilungen_node.html%23id207...
Harvey is the eternal optimist and if more people were like him the world would be a better place.
Larzen - given that FCVs use electric motors as well as BEVs and PHEVs, why would rare earth consumption be lower with the former rather than the latter two? Tesla state that the Model S doesn't use rare earths so it should be possible to go the BEV route and not worry that China has a tight grip over supply.
Here in Australia we also have significant RE deposits that can add to supply if needed. Australians may typically now be lazy, feckless and anti-innovation but by god can we dig stuff out of the ground!
Honda begins sales of Clarity Fuel Cell in Japan; targeting 200 units first year
On 10 March, Honda Motor Co. began sales in Japan of its all-new fuel cell vehicle (FCV), the Clarity Fuel Cell. (Earlier post.) Honda is targeting sales of approximately 200 units in the first year, with a focus on lease sales mainly to local government bodies or businesses Honda has already b...
@Roger,
Thanks for the trip down memory lane and a good laugh. I can remember sliding around on those bench seats when I was a nipper, and then realising as a teenager that flat seats had a whole other purpose.
Here in Australia the pinnacle of automotive utility (in its broadest sense) was achieved with the legendary Holden Sandman of the 1970s (aka the 'shaggin' wagon'). Nothing said quality quite like one of these, especially with a lurid mural on the side that usually took the form of a muscled, sword-wielding barbarian figure with a scantily-clad lady(?) draped around his legs. For those interested in further reading, paragraph 5 is a classic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panel_van_(Australia)
First look at all-new Voltec propulsion system for 2G Volt; “the only thing in common is a shipping cap”
Cutaway of the new power electronics unit, which is much smaller than in gen 1, and which is now integrated into the drive unit housing. The power electronics and the motors use separate cooling: water for the PE and ol for the motor unit. Click to enlarge. The second-generation Volt, which ...
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Isn't that the point of what Roger is trying to say? If the engine doesn't run most of the time, then of all the design parameters, tradeoffs and characteristics of an engine you would want to tilt the balance in favour of lightness, perhaps ahead of other considerations than if the engine was for a standard ICE vehicle. The driveability of the new small displacement and turbocharged three and four cylinder engines from the likes of VW and Fiat is quite amazing. I can remember the days when a turbo was akin to a light switch but now they just produce a solid wave of torque from low in the RPM range. As you say, GM do have a new range of engines that includes a turbo triple and it would have been nice to see that used as the weight saving and more efficient packaging would have a small ripple effect on the rest of the car. I guess they have their reasons, and cost may be one of them.
First look at all-new Voltec propulsion system for 2G Volt; “the only thing in common is a shipping cap”
Cutaway of the new power electronics unit, which is much smaller than in gen 1, and which is now integrated into the drive unit housing. The power electronics and the motors use separate cooling: water for the PE and ol for the motor unit. Click to enlarge. The second-generation Volt, which ...
This from Autocar re the Audi A3 e-tron:
"The petrol engine can instantly be engaged via the kickdown button, or by using a centre console-mounted rocker switch to toggle to hybrid operation. Because kickdown can demand maximum effort from a cold engine, Audi has reworked this TFSI’s piston rings and liners for wear-protection, and included a sensor to measure oil quality."
I'm guessing the VW engineers would pursue a similar strategy?
Promised VW Passat plug-in hybrid to debut at Paris show; both sedan and wagon
Passat GTE sedan. Click to enlarge. In his remarks before the opening of the Geneva Motora Show in March 2014, Volkswagen Group Chairman of the Board of Management Prof. Dr. Winterkorn said that a plug-in hybrid version of the Volkswagen Passat would join the Group’s range of low-CO2 vehicle...
Given the price of fuel in Europe is already high, it's doubtful that adding further taxes is going to significantly drop demand. Europe is the ideal test-bed for large-scale vehicle electrification and hybridisation - relatively short distances, dense infrastructure, multiple other transport options - and such a policy should be a key focus for the EU. Reducing the dependency on Russia and its resources would be a fillip for the environment and for the economies of Europe.
OPIS: Russia’s shipments of diesel to Europe surged 55% in first eight months of 2014
Satellite tracking of oil cargoes by market reporting group OPIS shows that Europe’s dependence on Russia for road fuels in the 28 member countries has deepened significantly. Diesel imports from Russia are at a record in the first eight months of 2014, with Germany the most reliant, followed b...
Amen, SJC. I've done a 180 degree turn on nuclear energy in recent years and everything going on in the world today is helping to confirm that. IMO, what we need is concentrated CO2-free energy and lots of it. Renewables have a big role to play but I think they complement nuclear energy very well. We need to replace our fossil-fuel based liquid fuels with things like syngas, hydrogen etc as well as producing an excess of electricity for EVs. It scares the heck out of me that we are so dependent on the Middle East and (for Europe) Russia for oil and gas. The sooner foreign policy separates from energy policy the better. Maybe then we can make decisions based on what's right rather than what we need to keep our economies running.
Hitachi begins joint research with MIT, U Michigan and UC Berkeley on next-gen nuclear reactors that use radioactive waste as fuel
Hitachi, Ltd. has begun joint research with MIT, the University of Michigan, and the University of California, Berkeley aimed at using Transuranium Elements (TRUs) as fuel, and the development of Resource-renewable Boiling Water Reactors (RBWRs) to use that fuel. TRUs are contained in the radio...
lol, no worries Dave! Many a Down Under prefrontal cortex has been neutered after excess alcohol bathing but there you go. On a more serious note, the malaise in Western democracies seems rooted, at least in part, in our politicians being drawn from an increasingly limited pool (genetic?) that precludes science literacy and is more concerned with the acquisition and retention of power and control. I guess Max Weber was right. Many of the issues confronting us now including AGW are global rather than national and seem to have exceeded the intelligence capabilities of those running the show.
Japan to offer ~$20K in subsidies per fuel cell vehicle
The Nikkei reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed plans to provide at least ¥2 million (US$19,722) in subsidies for every purchase of a fuel cell vehicle. In a 2013 speech at Japan Akademeia on his “Abenomics”, shortly after his inauguration, the Prime Minster had emphasized th...
Here in Australia, I'd be happy to elect anyone with a working prefrontal cortex.
Japan to offer ~$20K in subsidies per fuel cell vehicle
The Nikkei reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe revealed plans to provide at least ¥2 million (US$19,722) in subsidies for every purchase of a fuel cell vehicle. In a 2013 speech at Japan Akademeia on his “Abenomics”, shortly after his inauguration, the Prime Minster had emphasized th...
There will always be a market for larger cars, and if those cars are extremely fuel efficient for their size then I imagine they will sell well in those countries where filling up the car requires an overdraft clearance from the bank manager.
I'm an avid reader of car reviews and especially real world fuel consumption figures. What I have noticed is that, regardless of the engine size or tech, if the output falls under a certain threshold for the weight of the vehicle then the fuel consumption skyrockets as you have to flog it to get anywhere in decent time. I know they're cutting the weight on this new model but given the size it won't be a petite ballerina on the scales, so having more herbs under the bonnet is better, imo.
Patrick, I always enjoy reading your despairing odes to the lack of hybrid battery range. I guess we just need better batteries? In the interim, would a small bank of supercaps enable battery buffering and perhaps extend the E range out to 50-60 km? Still not great, but better.
Volvo XC90 SUV PHEV to offer up to 400 hp and low GHG emissions of around 60 g/km
Powertrain of the Volvo XC90 Twin Engine PHEV. A two-liter, four-cylinder supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E gasoline engine powers the front wheels and an 80 hp (60 kW) electric motor drives the rear wheels. The battery pack is located in the center of the vehicle. Click to enlarge. Vol...
Good to see three different storage systems going head-to-head - flywheels, supercaps and batteries. I like the simplicity of caps and hopefully this type of competition will spur some new technology in the HEV segment.
Audi takes one-two win at Le Mans with its diesel hybrids, Toyota third; 13th success for Audi in 16 runs
Audi takes first and second at the 2014 Le Mans. Click to enlarge. In front of nearly 300,000 spectators at the 82nd running of the Le Mans 24 Hours, Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F) and Lucas di Grassi/Marc Gené/Tom Kristensen (BR/E/DK) secured a one-two Audi victory ...
Is there any technical reason preventing supercaps being integrated with lithium-based batteries, as the CSIRO did with lead-acid + supercaps in the Ultrabattery?
Hyundai Motor researchers report improved Li-sulfur battery performance with new sulfone-based electrolyte
Researchers from Hyundai Motor have found that the use of a new sulfone-based electrolyte greatly improved the capacity and reversible capacity retention of a Li-sulfur battery compared to the performance of ether-based electrolytes. In a paper presented at the SAE 2104 World Congress in Detroi...
Given this is from Australia, The Land that Innovation Forgot, don't hold your breath waiting for commercialisation anytime soon.
High-capacity tungsten disulfide/graphene nanocomposite anodes for Na-ion batteries
A team from the University of Wollongong (Australia) and the University of Technology, Sydney reported the successful synthesis by a simple hydrothermal approach of high-capacity WS2 (tungsten disulfide)@graphene nanocomposite anodes for sodium-ion batteries. Their paper is published in the RSC...
Agreed, that would be a good thing and cut down on drag considerably. Plus lending that all-important 'futuristic' look to your vehicle :)
Side mirrors are pretty exxy to replace now that they're all electric and most have integrated turn signals, so getting rid of them could save some dollars in the event of a minor bingle.
Nissan introducing smart rearview mirror combining LCD monitor and conventional mirror
Smart rearview mirror. Click to enlarge. Nissan Motor Company, Ltd., has developed what it is calling a “smart” rearview mirror—an LCD monitor that not only provides clear rearward visibility under various conditions, but also allows the driver the ability to switch between the LCD monitor ...
Long-term familiarity with the ease of liquid fueling (or gas) has certainly raised the bar for what is considered acceptable in how long it takes to recharge. Given current battery chemistries, what are the actual limits to faster charging? Is it the battery itself or the electrical capacity required at the charging point? If you cooled a battery as you charged it, would it be able to accept a larger charge more quickly?
Tesla expands Supercharger network in Europe
Tesla is opening new Supercharger locations connecting the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. As of today, 81 Supercharger locations are energized worldwide, with 14 locations in Europe. The accelerated energizing of Superchargers in Germany (Wilnsdorf, Bad Rappenau, Aichstetten a...
Well, the only way to get long range ATM is via lots of battery, which is expensive, heavy and requires a lot of space. Until some of these fancy anode technologies make it to market it seems we're stuck with around 120 km range for the average BEV. I do like that this car has a similar weight to the ICE version and also looks like the standard car. Some people seem to resent the fact that current EVs like the Leaf are a little funky-looking.
What I would like to see is a REX in the form of a compact trailer that you can rent from your local VW/Audi/Skoda dealer. You would avoid the complex engineering to integrate a small REX as in the i3 and only a limited number of units would be needed. There could perhaps be two versions - a compact REX-only version that doesn't impinge too heavily on a semi-sporty driving style, and a larger version that adds extra storage capacity for holiday gear. Or just design the car with the appropriate connections and allow the market to come up with a vendor solution.
VW provides details on e-Golf prior to launch at LA Auto Show
e-Golf. Click to enlarge. Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced details of the e-Golf, its first fully electric vehicle to go on sale in the US, prior to its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Volkswagen earlier this year introduced the production version of the e-Golf and e-up! at the Fra...
Given the size, performance and range of the i3 (REX version) this could be all the car that many people need, especially singles or couples without kids. If BMW are still going to offer the loaner program for a standard ICE vehicle for those few occasions a year when you crave a bigger car for holidays etc then even better.
The range extender doesn't seem to be the most efficient unit going around and that's a little disappointing. At least it's an off-the-shelf solution that is cleverly integrated at the design stage.
That colour is rather nice, BTW.
BMW i3 on sale in US 2Q 2014, base MSRP $41,350 for BEV; $45,300 with range extender
BMW i3. Click to enlarge. The BMW i3 (earlier post, earlier post) will go on sale in the US market in the second quarter of 2014. The battery electric model will have a base MSRP of $41,350, before any federal or state incentives, and before destination and handling fee (currently $925). Th...
That's good to hear (pun intended) but it won't do much for aviation emissions. There will be more pressure to relax flight curfews as planes get quieter. Here in Sydney there's already huge pressure to extend flight hours at Kingsford-Smith, which is only a few suburbs away from the CBD and with flight paths across heavy residential areas (including me!). Recent research from MIT indicated that flights to/from NZ & Australia across the Pacific are the worst for climate sensitivity.
Pratt & Whitney PurePower Engine powers Bombardier CSeries first flight; geared turbofan
Pratt & Whitney’s PurePower engine successfully powered Bombardier’s new CSeries airplane on its maiden flight on Monday. The PW1500G engine, which achieved engine certification from Transport Canada in February, is the first of six new engine programs using Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan ar...
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