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WillyG
Tampa
EE
Interests: computers, audio, test gear
Recent Activity
I wonder how practical the scale up of this process will be. It sounds like it might be a big step forward for RE fuels. Nice!
Multicomponent catalytic system efficiently converts carbon dioxide to methanol
Inspired by naturally occurring processes, a team of Boston College chemists used a multi-catalyst system to convert carbon dioxide to methanol at the lowest temperatures reported with high activity and selectivity. A paper on the work is published in the journal Chem. Methanol is a promising r...
Are Chinese cars really any cheaper than fully robotized American manufacturing, or is it unionized workers that make Chinese cars cheaper/easier? It seems like transportation cost for distribution across the ocean would cancel some of the cost benefit, if any.
Buick launches VELITE 7 EV and VELITE 6 PHEV in China
Buick has strengthened its commitment to electrification in China with the launch of the VELITE 7 electric vehicle and VELITE 6 plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). The VELITE 7 is the first all-electric SUV in Buick’s new energy vehicle portfolio, offering 500 kilometers (311 miles) of r...
I am not yet a hydrogen believer, but this amplifies the idea that a low power fuel cell can operate at a continuous low power to maintain a battery charge for the variable power needs of the average auto usage. The normal driving routines need extra power for acceleration and hills on occasion and very little for coasting and down hill/braking/regen needs. Interesting dynamics, but hydrogen distribution, refill, and storage still have practical issues to overcome.
BMW to pilot second-generation hydrogen fuel cell drives in small series from 2022
The BMW Group will pilot the second generation of hydrogen fuel cell drives in a small series in the BMW i Hydrogen NEXT based on the current BMW X5 from 2022. The fuel cell stack and the overall system are original developments of the BMW Group; individual cells of the fuel cell will come from...
I have been told by folks who do the pipeline inspection and repair work that some alarming percent of the NG delivery pipelines in my previous NY city were made of some form of coated/wrapped WOOD that has started to need significant repair or replacement. This does not speak well of the state of our NG infrastructure, and this development doesn't seem to help this particular problem. I was aghast when I heard this and pushed hard to verify the voracity of the claim. I can't believe this is that uncommon in north east cities.
ARPA-E program to award $38.5M to develop technology to rehabilitate natural gas distribution pipelines
The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced up to $38.5 million in funding for a new Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, Rapid Encapsulation of Pipelines Avoiding Intensive Replacement (REPAIR). (DE-FOA-0002289) The program will sponsor new technologies to rehabilitate cas...
Does the cost of H2 transport from Africa make financial sense compared to local renewables?
Germany working on hydrogen partnership with West Africa; importing green hydrogen
German Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek and her Nigerian counterpart and chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Competence Center for Climate Change and Adapted Land Use, Yahouza Sadissou, have agreed on a package of measures to expand the strategic partnership between Germany and W...
@Davemart - This looks like a rather local economy for hydrogen, but it is the first time I heard that 'the performance envelope for range and payload is far better than can be done with batteries'. I gather the weight and volume needed in a truck is similar, but the power capacity is different. Please explain.
Hyundai partners with Yeosu Gwangyang Port Corporation to commercialize hydrogen fuel-cell trucks
Hyundai Motor Company and Yeosu Gwangyang Port Corporation are partnering to commercialize hydrogen fuel-cell trucks. An MOU between the two includes the development and demonstration of hydrogen fuel-cell trucks for logistics transportation and the establishment of a hydrogen fueling station. ...
So we are not an oil/energy independent nation yet. Are we an oil/energy independent continent yet? We import a lot of oil from Canada!
68% of primary energy imports to US in 2018 was crude oil; 48% of US energy exports were petroleum products
The majority (69%) of primary energy imported into the United States in 2018 was crude oil, with petroleum products and natural gas also having significant shares, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Small amounts of biofuels, electricity, and coal were also imported. ...
I often wonder how a battery gigafactory adapts to the advances in chemistry and new uses that we see here. High volume production and QC systems don't easily accommodate changes.
Also, the standard small cells for tools aren't efficient storage for e-car or utility storage systems.
Germany’s AgiloBat project seeks flexible battery production in terms of format, material, quantities
Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), together with partners at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) are developing an agile production system for batteries. The German Minist...
Obviously the nuclear generation provides base load and the wind/solar provides peak load, but then there are the dead times that require other peak load fill ins. Seems like we still need other short term storage systems like water/gravity schemes. Pump water uphill with excess, and let it down for peak fill when needed. Then there are the efficiencies involved in electric distribution systems which are aging.
UK awards £28M for 5 demonstration-phase low-carbon hydrogen production projects
As part of a larger £90 million (US$117 million) package of awards to cut carbon emissions in industry and homes, the UK is awarding £28 million (US$36.5 million) to five demonstration phase projects for low-carbon hydrogen production. The Dolphyn project showcases a floating semi-submersible...
This still has system efficiency and distribution problems. Wind power to grid and localized power to hydrogen seems better, but then scale affects efficiency.
Gigastack renewable hydrogen from offshore wind project advances to next phase; 100MW electrolyzer system
The UK has awarded £7.5 million for the next phase of Gigastack, a new renewable hydrogen project, as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Hydrogen Supply Competition. (Earlier post.) The Gigastack project, led by ITM Power, Ørsted, Phillips 66 Limited a...
The production of CO2 is not a positive result!
HyPER project using sorbent-enhanced steam reforming for low-carbon production of H2 from natural gas
An international collaboration led by Cranfield University will examine the potential for the low-carbon production of hydrogen from natural gas. The HyPER project (Bulk Hydrogen Production by Sorbent Enhanced Steam Reforming) will construct a 1.5 MWth pilot plant at Cranfield University to test...
Good news, but no indication of increase in efficiency.
Tokyo Tech team demonstrates visible-light photoelectrochemical water-splitting with cobalt-enhanced TiO2
Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have demonstrated the first visible-light photoelectrochemical system for water splitting using TiO2 enhanced with cobalt. The proposed approach is simple and represents a stepping stone in the quest to achieve affordable water splitting ...
It seems there will always be a que of cars sitting at the red traffic lights until the majority of cars are equipped with this capability. This will foil the system advantages until then. There needs to be a universal installation in different brands and older cars to make this practical. Good idea though. It is difficult to do this manually unless you have synchronized traffic lights on a route you regularly travel.
Audi networks with traffic lights in Düsseldorf; “Green wave”
Audi is moving ahead with networked traffic lights in Düsseldorf. After Ingolstadt, the city on the Rhine is the second in Europe in which Audi is introducing its Traffic Light Information service. At the end of January, Audi drivers will see information from around 150 traffic lights in their ...
Most UPS delivery trucks I see look to be in good shape. Does it make sense to retrofit them with some form of electric propulsion? How expensive is the replacement process for recycling the older vehicles? Is it cost effective?
UPS invests in Arrival, orders 10,000 electric delivery vehicles
UPS’ venture capital arm, UPS Ventures, has completed a minority investment in Arrival, which makes electric vehicle (EV) platforms and purpose-built vehicles. Along with the investment in Arrival, UPS also announced a commitment to purchase 10,000 electric vehicles to be built for UPS with prio...
I was amazed at the difference in car longevity when I moved from NY to FLA. My former vehicles graduated from mechanical wear out to skin cancer death via salted roads above 150k miles or so. When I check under our first FLA purchased car I was floored by the difference - it looked like new after 150k miles. Wow! Material science etc. has increased the life of ball and cv joints and seals etc. significantly. Now battery life really is more important.
OXIS Energy Li-S cells close to achieving 500Wh/kg; targeting 600Wh/kg with solid-state Li-S technology
OXIS Energy has successfully tested its Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery cell prototypes at 471Wh/kg and is confident of achieving 500Wh/kg in the next 12 months. Consistently shipping cells at 400Wh/kg to its clients in Europe, the US and Japan, OXIS is collaborating with major European chemica...
What efficiency levels are we talking about here? I recall e-motors were upward of 90% efficient to start with. I don't see an efficiency number here.
BMW i Ventures invests in Software Motor Company; high rotor pole switched reluctance motor system
BMW i Ventures has invested in Software Motor Company (SMC), a Silicon Valley-based company developing reliable, efficient and intelligent motor systems. SMC’s electric motor system is based on switched reluctance technology, managed by advanced cloud software. The Smart Motor system partners a ...
It seems like most new electric vehicles are expensive luxury models that start above $35k and quickly get up to $60k and way more. Ouch!
I often wonder just how much all the sensors and high power computers and networks in today's cars add to the cost of a new car. It doesn't surprise me that new car sales are a bit slow.
J.D. Power survey finds consumers continue to lack confidence in future mobility technologies
Consumers continue to lack confidence in the future mobility technologies that automakers are eager to bring to market, according to the J.D. Power 2019 Q4 Mobility Confidence Index Study fueled by SurveyMonkey Audience. The Mobility Confidence Index remains 36 (on a 100-point scale) for self-d...
Another no win situation? Except for electric drive which switches the problem to the coal etc. electric utilities - oops! Then there is hydrogen which transfers the problem to production and distribution issues - and cost! Ouch $! Now we need more sidewalks and bicycle paths in our infrastructure! $$
I still hope for final approvals of the newest safer nuclear electricity generation technology. $$$ Hmmm . . .
UGA study finds black carbon aerosols from GDI engines will worsen public health, climate; need for GPFs
The gasoline direct injection (GDI) engine is one of the most prominent technologies car manufacturers adopted to achieve the fuel economy and carbon dioxide emission goals established in 2012 by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The market share of GDI-equipped vehicles increased from 2....
Seems like good news, however our NG infrastructure in the US is in bad condition. I was told by folks that repair the gas leaks that some cities up north still have old wood piping in the underground delivery system. Extra Hydrogen in the gas mix will surely find more leaks in these systems.
GTI launching a hydrogen technology center
GTI, a research, development and training organization focused on natural gas and energy markets, is launching a hydrogen technology center. GTI focuses its R&D efforts on the generation of clean hydrogen using hydrocarbon fuels that incorporate carbon capture and/or carbon sequestration in a co...
I think the choice in Germany to decommission the nuclear plants without newer nuclear replacements is a mistake regardless of all the solar they have. There are newer and much safer nuclear reactor systems now that can actually run on the previous spent fuel, and that are actually even getting approved in the strict USA by the (AEC?). Coal is not a good alternative!
Researchers calculate social cost of German nuclear phase-out at $12B/year; 70% from increased mortality risk
In a working paper for the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a team from UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) calculates that the social cost of the phase out of nuclear electricity production in Germany is approximately $12 billion per year. More than 7...
I believe the extra battery weight is offset by the lack of any transmission in their electric drive train since ~2014. The 2 electric motors and clutches do the work until highway speeds when the engine is clutched directly to the wheels. No tranny is lighter than any tranny. Driving reports seem positive too.
2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid now available
The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid began arriving at dealerships in the US last week. New for the 2020 model year is an updated Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) that functions whenever the car is operating at low speeds on electric power only (unless in Park), enhancing awareness for pede...
I too was in strong opposition to hydrogen as a fuel until recently when I considered that most gas stations could use the water they already have supplied, and solar power w/cheap night electric, to create and store the hydrogen for distribution. Using the existing refueling/distribution infrastructure along highways that pump gas/diesel is the only practical way I have seen to refill the vehicles without a very heavy infrastructure investment. I was skeptical of the requirements of high pressure storage for the station and in the cars too, but more sensible ways of creating and storing H2 are showing up. It isn't quite practical yet, but this site keeps showing advances that chip away at the problems to the point where It just might be practical in the not too distant future.
I would buy a PHEV if I were to buy something now, but that could easily change in less than a decade at the rate that advances are showing up. You have to allow for progress and keep the faith.
Lifecycle CO2 balance of Mercedes-Benz EQC as low as 17.1t CO2 with hydropower
The lifecycle CO2 balance of the Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 4MATIC is as low as 17.1 tonnes of CO2 when the electricity is produced by hydropower; 16.4 tonnes of that is from the production of the vehicle itself. On the average EU electricity mix, the lifecycle CO2 balance almost doubles to 32.4 t...
Back in the days the standard for safety was 42v. Now it appears to be 48v system (relative to ground!) which is more practical. My EE background wonders why we can't use 2 phase (+,-) 48v to yield a 96v operating system where current is not as heavy!
Anyone please!
Audi’s mighty diesel: SQ8 TDI SUV coupé; 48V MHEV
Audi’s sporty top model of the Q family, the SQ8 TDI SUV coupé, features a biturbo V8 TDI diesel that delivers 435 metric hp, 900 NN·mm (663.8 lb-ft) of torque, and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 4.8 seconds. 4.0-liter V8 TDI Biturbo engine with electric powered compressor (EP...
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