Green Car Congress

DuPont and BSES Limited Partner on Improving Sugarcane

2009-11-14T08:20:41-08:00

DuPont and BSES Limited, the principal provider of research, development and extension to the Australian sugar industry, have formed a research, development and commercialization alliance to improve productivity and use of sugarcane varieties.

The agreement brings together DuPont’s extensive plant biotechnology expertise with BSES’ knowledge of sugarcane breeding, production and processing. The alliance will focus on the development and delivery of technologies to improve current planting technology and agronomic practices to enable productivity growth and reduced cost of production. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Sugarcane is one of the most efficient biofuel feedstocks used commercially today. DuPont invests more than $1 billion in research and development annually to address emerging global trends, one of which is reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

DuPont is an excellent fit for BSES. Biotechnology is the next major science-based advance for the sugarcane industry, and together, we’ll deliver its benefits to the advantage of BSES Limited members and stakeholders.
—BSES Chair Paul Wright

Dutch Cabinet Approves Mileage Tax; In Effect in 2012 if Approved by Parliament

2009-11-14T08:05:31-08:00

The Dutch Cabinet on Friday approved a new road tax bill that would eliminate the current motor vehicle tax and purchase tax and replace them with a charge per kilometer driven, starting in 2012 and increasing through 2018. The measure needs to be approved by the Dutch Parliament before becoming law.

The Dutch Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management cited research showing that the number of vehicle kilometers driven will decrease by about 15% under such a mechanism. The Ministry also suggested that motorists seeking alternatives such as public transport will increase by 6%, while traffic fatalities are expected to decrease by about 7%. Emissions of CO₂ and particulate matter are expected to decrease by more than 10%.

Different vehicle types will have different base rates, determined by CO₂ emissions or weight. The average rate for a car is expected to be:

Dutch Mileage Tax
	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
€/km	0.03	0.035	0.04	0.046	0.053	0.061	0.067
US$/mi	0.072	0.084	0.097	0.111	0.127	0.146	0.161

Each vehicle would have a GPS device that records driving data, which would be sent to a collection agency that will issue the bills. The Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management said in a statement that motorists will be able to choose a provider that provides additional services, such as route navigation.

Vehicles for the disabled vehicles, agricultural tractors, motor vehicles with a limited speed, taxis, classic cars and buses would be exempt. An alternative payment system will be devised for foreign vehicles using Dutch roads.

Proceeds from the mileage tax will not exceed the combined cost of the older taxes, which can be about 25% of the cost of a new car. The proceeds will go directly to the Infrastructure Fund, which supports the building of roads, railways and other infrastructure.

The Ministry said that the government sees mobility as a prerequisite for economic growth and as an achievement which gives people the opportunity to develop themselves and relax. Since the sixties, the number of car kilometers has increased tenfold. The government expects mobility to grow by another 40% by 2020.

(A hat-tip to Stefan!)

US Navy Researchers Synthesize Renewable High-Density Fuel With Properties Similar to JP-10 (Missile Fuel)

2009-11-14T06:38:00-08:00

US Navy researchers have synthesized high-density fuel candidates in up to 90% yield from ß-pinene, a renewable compound derived from wood and plant sources. Pinenes (C₁₀H₁₆) are important constituents of pine resin; they are also found in the resins of other conifers, and more widely in other plants. A paper on their work was published online 13 November in the ACS journal Energy & Fuels.

The synthesized fuels have a density of 0.94 g/cm³ and a net volumetric heating value of 39.5 MJ/L (141,745 BTU/gallon). These values are nearly identical to those for the tactical fuel JP-10 (primarily composed of exotetrahydrodicyclopentadiene). JP-10 is commonly used in cruise missiles and other air-breathing missle systems.

Although “impressive progress” has been made in developing renewable replacement fuels for widely used transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel, the researchers noted, high-density, petroleum-based, tactical fuels such as JP-10 and RJ-5 are difficult to replace given their high densities of 0.94 and 1.08 g/mL.

Bulk agricultural waste products, such as cellulose and lignin, are often targeted as feedstocks for the production of renewable fuels. However, even branched chain saturated hydrocarbon fuels, which can be derived from cellulosic butanol (Biojet), only have a density of 0.78 g/mL, while saturated linear fuels produced from syngas have a density of 0.75 g/mL. Although these alternative fuels compare favorably to high flashpoint jet fuels, such as JP-5, their low densities are reflected in their relatively poor volumetric heating values, with renewable Biojet capable of producing only 34.3 MJ/L compared to JP-10 at 39.6 MJ/L and RJ-5 at 44.9 MJ/L.
—Harvey et al.

To meet the requirements of a tactical fuel replacement, then, abundant, specialized, and renewable feedstocks will be necessary, the Navy researchers note. One promising technological route for addressing this challenge would be to bioengineer plants and microbes to selectively produce specific organic molecules in a continuous process, they suggest.

In effect, this approach would result in the upgrading of low-value feedstocks, such as CO₂, glucose, and cellulose, to custom organic molecules and high-value fuels that lie along an established biosynthetic pathway. Potential targets for this bioengineering approach are α- and β-pinene. These molecules are versatile natural products that are produced by a wide variety of trees and other plant life...Because of their compact structures and reactive olefin functionalities, these molecules have significant potential as feedstocks for high-density renewable fuels.
—Harvey et al.

The volumetric heat of combustion of the pinenes can further be improved by dimerization (the process of combining two molecules with the same chemical composition into a polymer). To selectively produce dimers mixtures using environmentally friendly catalysts, the authors tried the acidic heterogeneous catalysts Montmorillonite K10 (MMT-K10), Amberlyst-15, and Nafion.

Of the three, Nafion performed the best, and was capable of producing dimers in up to 90% yield primarily through isomerization followed by dimerization under moderate conditions (100 °C and atmospheric pressure). The dimer mixtures were upgraded through hydrogenation over PtO₂ and fractional distillation.

The density of the hydrogenated dimer mixture prepared with Nafion was 0.938 g/cm³, similar to JP-10 at 0.94 g/cm³, while the net heat of combustion of the dimer mixture was 141,745 BTU/gallon, virtually identical to JP-10 (142 000 BTU/gallon). However, the pour point of the renewable high density fuel was measured to be -30 °C, substantially higher than JP-10, which has a freezing point of -79 °C.

Clearly, fuels made solely from pinene dimers by an acid-catalyzed process are not yet suitable for high altitude applications given current engine configurations. Of course specialty fuels based on norbornadiene dimers, which have high melting points, have been considered as rocket fuel components in combination with a low freezing component. In a similar manner, one could envision pinene dimer/JP-10 blends as a partially renewable fuel or pinene dimer/monomer mixtures as a fully renewable replacement for petroleum-based, high-density fuels.
—Harvey et al.

Resources

Benjamin G. Harvey, Michael E. Wright and Roxanne L. Quintana (2009) High-Density Renewable Fuels Based on the Selective Dimerization of Pinenes. Energy Fuels, Article ASAP doi: 10.1021/ef900799c
Thermochemical and Thermophysical Properties of JP-10 (NISTIR 6640, June 2006)

Hyundai-Kia Developed Its First CVT for the LPI Hybrids

2009-11-14T05:24:00-08:00

Hyundai-Kia developed the CVT applied in the Elantra and Forte LPI Hybrids. Source: Hyundai. Click to enlarge.

Hyundai-Kia developed its first, independent Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) for application in the Hyundai Elantra LPI Hybrid (earlier post) and the Kia Forte LPI Hybrid (earlier post). The work on the CVT, which took three years, as well as other components of the hybrids, was carried out at the Namyang Research and Development facility in South Korea.

The LPI Hybrid is a mild hybrid powered by a 1.6-liter Liquefied Petroleum Injection Gamma engine; a 15 kW /105 N·m pancake type Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor; the CVT; and a 180V, 5.3 Ah lithium-ion polymer battery (LIPB) pack (with cells from LG Chem) with forced air cooling. The Elantra LPI HEV emits 99 g/km of CO₂ and 90% fewer emissions than an equivalent standard gasoline-powered Elantra. It qualifies as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).

The Elantra LPI Hybrid has a fuel economy rating of 17.7 km/l (5.7 L/100km or 42 mpg US); gasoline-equivalent fuel economy is 22.7 km/l (4.4 L/100km, 53 mpg US). This represents a 47% improvement over a conventional 1.6L Elantra.

As we developed the Kia Forte LPI Hybrid it was clear that to maximize fuel efficiency we needed to use a CVT because its infinite number of gear ratios allowed us to optimize fuel consumption according to driving conditions.

And because of packaging issues a traditional transmission would have increased the overall length of the powertrain. Using the CVT allowed us to delete the torque converter of a traditional automatic transmission because we were able to utilise a starter clutch with a direct control solenoid valve to allow precise pressure control. All of this contributes additional reduction in fuel consumption.
—Soo-Jin Hong of Hyundai-Kia’s Research and Development Planning Team

In general, use of a CVT contributes approximately a 7% fuel efficiency gain compared to standard four-speed automatics, and the calibration of the CVT allows for a smoother shift feel.

Hyundai-Kia engineers used a single-mass flywheel and one clutch—rather than the more normal dual-mass flywheel and two clutches—in order to reduce cost, length and weight. The additional benefit was that by careful tuning of the set-up the engineers were able to deliver a better response and performance.

Although Hyundai and Kia may consider applying the new CVT in other vehicles, modifications to the system would be required.

In the hybrid vehicle we have an additional electric motor available and that means we can use the starter clutch without changes to the final drive ratio. To use the CVT in non-hybrid vehicles we would have to add a torque converter in order to deliver acceptable uphill and start-up performance. But this development means that as our range of hybrid vehicles continues to develop we already have our own independent technology that we can apply to those future models.
—Soo-Jin Hong

Hyundai plans to launch a full-hybrid version of the Sonata in the US in 2010, equipped with its Blue Drive hybrid system, which uses a 6-speed automatic transmission. (Earlier post.)

Diversified Energy Hits Gasifier Development Milestones in DOE-Sponsored Program

2009-11-14T05:10:00-08:00

Diversified Energy Corporation has successfully completed several key milestones in an advanced gasification development program being sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL). The 24-month, $945,000 grant is focused on the design and demonstration of a one ton per day OmniGas gasifier to process biomass, coal, and blends thereof. (Earlier post.)

OmniGas uses a patent-pending molten slag approach to produce syngas that can be used by more than 14,000 US industrial consumers of large volumes of natural gas. According to the company, the gasifier will provide a number of benefits to the industrial marketplace, including: a) the capability to gasify a broad range of hydrocarbon inputs (biomass, municipal solid waste, petroleum coke, and coals with varying moisture, sulfur, and heating value content), b) the production of syngas that is relatively free of tars and oils and therefore requires less downstream clean-up equipment, and c) a design that is economical and reliable for industrial scale process heating applications.

Diversified Energy completed a detailed design of the demonstration reactor based on results and lessons from previous testing. This activity includes the creation of more than 50 engineering drawings, firm quotes from hardware vendors for every component of the gasifier, and the establishment of a formal configuration control board. The team is now beginning the fabrication phase of the program, which includes the procurement and manufacture of components and the assembly and integration of the reactor.

The fabrication activities will occur during the winter in Diversified Energy’s laboratories in Gilbert, Arizona. The reactor will then be transported to the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, North Dakota for integration with upstream and downstream processing equipment, before proceeding into testing next summer.

ARPA-E. Separately, Diversified Energy Corporation and North Carolina State University, as part of a team led by Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, received one of the 37 ARPA-E awards. (Earlier post.) The 24-month, $5.2M project is focused on utilizing sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to cultivate fatty acids from cyanobacteria, which are then processed by Centia to produce fuels similar to petroleum-derived gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. (Earlier post.)

Record High Temperatures Far Outpace Record Lows Across US Over Last Decade

2009-11-14T04:34:00-08:00

Daily record high temperatures occurred twice as often as record lows over the last decade across the continental United States, new research shows. Results of the research, by authors at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colo., Climate Central, The Weather Channel, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has been accepted for publication in the American Geophysical Union journal Geophysical Research Letters.

Climate change is making itself felt in terms of day-to-day weather in the United States. The ways these records are being broken show how our climate is already shifting.
—NCAR scientist Gerald Meehl, the lead author

The ratio of record daily highs to lows from 1950-2009 at 1,800 US weather stations. Credit: NCAR. Click to enlarge.

The research was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), NCAR’s sponsor, the US Department of Energy, and Climate Central.

If temperatures were not warming, the number of record daily highs and lows being set each year would be approximately even. Instead, for the period from 1 January 2000, to 30 September 2009, the continental United States set 291,237 record highs and 142,420 record lows, as the country experienced unusually mild winter weather and intense summer heat waves.

“One of the messages of this study is, you still get cold days. Winter still comes. Even in a much warmer climate, we’re setting record low minimum temperatures on a few days each year. But the odds are shifting so there’s a much better chance of daily record highs instead of lows. ”

—Gerald Meehl

A record daily high means that temperatures were warmer on a given day than on that same date throughout a weather station’s history.

The authors used a quality control process to ensure the reliability of data from thousands of weather stations across the country, while looking at data over the past six decades to capture longer-term trends.

This decade’s warming was more pronounced in the western United States, where the ratio was more than two to one, than in the eastern United States, where the ratio was about one-and-a-half to one. The study also found that the two-to-one ratio across the country as a whole could be attributed more to a comparatively small number of record lows than to a large number of record highs.

This indicates that much of the nation’s warming is occurring at night, when temperatures are dipping less often to record lows. This finding is consistent with years of climate model research showing that higher overnight lows should be expected with climate change.

In addition to surveying actual temperatures in recent decades, Meehl and his co-authors turned to a computer model of global climate to determine how record high and low temperatures are likely to change during the course of this century. The modeling results indicate that, if nations continue to increase their emissions of greenhouse gases in a business as usual scenario, the US ratio of daily record high to record low temperatures would increase to about 20-to-1 by mid-century and 50-to-1 by 2100.

The mid-century ratio could be much higher if emissions rose at an even greater pace, or it could be about 8-to-1 if emissions were reduced significantly, the model showed.

The authors caution that such predictions are, by their nature, inexact. Climate models are not designed to capture record daily highs and lows with precision, and it remains impossible to know future human actions that will determine the level of future greenhouse gas emissions.

The model used for the study, the NCAR-based Community Climate System Model, correctly captured the trend toward warmer average temperatures and the greater warming in the West, but overstated the ratio of record highs to record lows in recent years.

However, the model results are important because they show that, in all likely scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions, record daily highs should increasingly outpace record lows over time.

If the climate weren’t changing, you would expect the number of temperature records to diminish significantly over time. As you measure the high and low daily temperatures each year, it normally becomes more difficult to break a record after a number of years. But as the average temperatures continue to rise this century, we will keep setting more record highs.
—Claudia Tebaldi, a statistician with Climate Central and co-author

The study team focused on weather stations that have been operating since 1950. They found that the ratio of record daily high to record daily low temperatures slightly exceeded one to one in the 1950s, dipped below that level in the 1960s and 1970s, and has risen since the 1980s. The results reflect changes in US average temperatures, which rose in the 1950s, stabilized in the 1960s, and then began a warming trend in the late 1970s.

Even in the first nine months of this year, when the United States cooled somewhat after a string of unusually warm years, the ratio of record daily high to record daily low temperatures was more than three to two.

Despite the increasing number of record highs, there will still be occasional periods of record cold, Meehl notes.

The study team analyzed several million daily high and low temperature readings taken over the span of six decades at about 1,800 weather stations across the country, thereby ensuring ample data for statistically significant results.

The readings, collected at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center, undergo a quality control process at the data center that looks for such potential problems as missing data as well as inconsistent readings caused by changes in thermometers, station locations, or other factors.

Meehl and his colleagues then used temperature simulations from the Community Climate System Model to compute daily record highs and lows under current and future atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Resources

Gerald A. Meehl, Claudia Tebaldi, Guy Walton, David Easterling, and Larry McDaniel. “The relative increase of record high maximum temperatures compared to record low minimum temperatures in the US”. Geophysical Research Letters (in press)

Nissan and Reliant Energy Partner on EVs

2009-11-13T11:39:30-08:00

Nissan and Reliant Energy of Houston, Texas, one of the major competitive electricity providers in the nation, are collaborating to advance electric mobility in the United States. Reliant is a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc. one of the largest electricity generators in the United States.

Nissan President and CEO Carlos Ghosn announced the agreement today at the kickoff of the Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, marking the first North American appearance of Nissan LEAF.

As part of the agreement, Nissan and Reliant Energy will develop plans to promote a charging infrastructure for electric cars that encourages home and workplace charging, as well as a public charging infrastructure. The companies will work to coordinate the establishment of policies and help streamline charging infrastructure deployment. Nissan also has agreed to make available a supply of electric vehicles to Reliant and in its areas of operation.

The Los Angeles debut marked the first stop on a nationwide tour of LEAF. The Nissan LEAF Zero-Emission Tour will make stops in 22 cities, in 11 states, the District of Columbia, and Vancouver, Canada, offering the opportunity for interested drivers, media, civic partners, businesses and university students to learn more about Nissan LEAF and the benefits of zero-emission driving. Los Angeles-area stops also include Santa Monica, Glendale and the University of Southern California campus. Details can be found at www.nissanusa.com/leaf-electric-car.

Mercedes-Benz to Launch ML450 HYBRID 4MATIC in US on 16 November

2009-11-13T11:22:02-08:00

Mercedes-Benz will launch the ML450 HYBRID (earlier post) in the US on 16 November. Mercedes-Benz will offer the two-mode ML450 HYBRID as part of a special lease only option (no purchase) for a monthly lease price of $659 per month for 36 months and $549 per month for 60 months.

The new Mercedes-Benz ML450 HYBRID uses a 3.5-liter V6 gasoline engine, optimized via the Atkinson cycle, and the two-mode hybrid system to produce 46% better fuel economy than a comparable V8-powered ML550 model. EPA rating is 21 mpg city, 24 mpg highway.

Integrated within the modified automatic transmission, each of the two electric motors serves a specific purpose. Dedicated to pulling away under electric power, the motor on the transmission output shaft generates 80 hp (60 kW) and 192 lb-ft (260 N·m) of torque. Located closer to the gasoline engine, the second electric motor is set up specifically for acceleration and is rated at 83 hp (62 kW) and 173 lb-ft (235 N·m) of torque. Working with both electric motors when full power is needed, the ML450 HYBRID has a total system performance of 335 hp (250 kW) and 381 lb-ft (517 N·m) of torque.

The electric motors are powered by a liquid-cooled, 2.4 kWh 288-volt NiMH pack that’s enclosed under the rear cargo floor.

During parking and low-speed operation, the ML450 HYBRID runs on the electric drive only. The ML450 HYBRID can drive solely on electric power up to a maximum speed of 34 mph.

Sanyo to Begin Mass Production of Li-ion Systems for Power Storage and Light Electric Vehicle Applications

2009-11-13T10:59:48-08:00

Sanyo Li-ion systems for power storage (left) and light electric vehicle (right) applications. Click to enlarge.

Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. has developed two new lithium-ion battery systems and will begin mass production of the new products in March 2010. Initial monthly production for each system will be 500 units.

The Standard Battery System for Electric Motors (EVB-101) can be used to power light electric vehicles that are in the R&D or small-scale mass production stages. The rack-mountable Standard Battery System for Energy Storage (DCB-101) can be easily incorporated into existing systems as part of hybrid schemes using solar cells, to store electricity generated by wind power, or for electrical output stabilization. It can also be used as a back-up power source for servers or mobile phone base stations.

Both systems are based on 18650-size cylindrical lithium-ion batteries (18 mm in diameter x 65 mm in height). Sanyo has developed parallel and series battery control technologies for the basic components of the new products, based on its experience with laptop battery packs. The company has also added more of its own technologies to ensure additional reliability and thermal management.

The voltage and capacity of the products can be customized, as multiple units are connected in parallel and series, according to the application.

Sanyo Li-ion Systems
	Standard Battery System for Electric Motors EVB-101	Standard Battery System for Power Storage DCB-101
Format	14 in series, 6 in parallel, 18650-type	13 in series, 24 in parallel, 18650-type
Output voltage	50.4 V (42.0 V to 57.4 V)	Average 48V (39V to 52V)
Battery capacity	10.8 Ah	33.6Ah
Charging voltage (max)	57.4 V (4.1 V / cell)	52V
Power generation	544 Wh	1,613 Wh
Max. output	5.2 kW (peak) / 1.5 kW (continuous)	Approx. 1.5kW
Max. discharge current	120 A (peak) / 35 A (continuous)	30A
Size	366 × 213 × 66 mm (approx. 5.2 L)	438 × 386 × 80 mm (approx. 13.5 L)
Weight	Approx. 7 kg	Approx. 19 kg

Panasonic Corp. launched its tender offer for Sanyo Electric Co. on 4 November—which the Sanyo board supported. Three major shareholders—US-based Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the Daiwa Securities SMBC Co. group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp.—have already agreed to sell a combined 50.13% stake in Sanyo, so the tender offer is effectively a done deal. Sanyo is likely to become a Panasonic unit as early as mid-December.

Saft Confirms Location for Li-ion Battery Factory in Jacksonville, Florida

2009-11-13T10:15:28-08:00

Following receipt of a $95 million grant from the US Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and successful negotiations between Saft, the state of Florida, and the city of Jacksonville, construction will soon begin in Jacksonville for a lithium-ion battery factory.

The total estimated cost of the project is around $200 million.

To be located at Cecil Commerce Center, Saft’s new facility will be a high-volume manufacturing plant building advanced Li-ion cells and systems for military hybrid vehicles, aviation, smart grid support, broadband back-up power and energy storage for renewable energy.

Construction is scheduled to commence within the next few months and be completed before the end of 2010.

Peugeot Begins Sales of its First Electrically-Assisted Bicycle

2009-11-13T07:32:36-08:00

Peugeot teamed up with Ultra Motor on the development of its first electrically-assisted bicycle, now available through its European dealership network.

Peugeot e-Bike. Click to enlarge.

Ultra Motor is the provider of the A2B Metro electric bike.

The Peugeot hybrid bicycle is fitted with a Li-ion 36V removable battery and a 250W electrical motor, providing range of up to 70 kilometers (44 miles). The Peugeot electrically assisted bicycle’s three assistance levels and torque sensor make cycling so much easier, even on the steepest climbs.

The front and back disk brakes, separate automatic lighting and the suspension all contribute to user comfort and safety. Recommended retail price is €2,290 (US$3,400) including VAT.

SKF and Ricardo Cooperate in the Development of Future Automotive Energy-Efficient Solutions; SKF Provides Bearings to Ginetta-Zytek Hybrid

2009-11-13T06:38:07-08:00

SKF and Ricardo have signed an agreement to develop energy efficient solutions to better serve the increasing customer demand from the automotive industry for increased fuel economy and reduced CO₂.

SKF is a global supplier in the areas of bearings, seals, mechatronics, services and lubrication systems. Through the cooperation both companies will be able to offer their common customer base a partner providing research, product and application development and cost-efficient manufacturing and supply.

The cooperation is based on a number of identified areas covering long-term research projects, application and product development as well as customer specific solution development. The initial focus will be on increasing the efficiency of today’s transmission and engine technology based on contacts with automotive OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).

Separately, SKF announced that it has been chosen by Zytek Engineering to supply customized and standard deep groove ball bearings to the electric motor generator unit and the intermediate shaft of the new Ginetta-Zytek GZ09HS racing car. (Earlier post.)

The car, manufactured by Zytek Engineering and managed by Corsa Motorsport, is the first racing car to feature an advanced alternative-fuelled hybrid propulsion system. It has the ability to run on either one or both of two propulsion systems: a normally aspirated V8 (gasoline) engine and a 35 kW electric motor, powered by a lithium-ion battery, which can be recharged using a kinetic energy recovery system.

Zytek is a British engineering company with a substantial automotive engineering experience, capable of providing major vehicle manufacturers with advanced power train and chassis control systems. The company has lately been involved in the design, development and manufacturing of innovative hybrid and electric drive trains.

SKF continues to provide engineering services to Zytek and the two companies are now ready to work on the development of the next generation of electric motors, which represents a novel energy efficient power source in the field of motor sport.

Renault to Produce Electric Fluence in Bursa, Turkey

2009-11-13T06:25:14-08:00

Renault will produce the electric version of Fluence (earlier post) at the OYAK-Renault Bursa plant in Turkey. Production will start in the first half of 2011.

Renault has now revealed the four production sites for its future EV range. (Earlier post.) The city car previewed by Zoé Z.E. Concept and the electric Kangoo will both be produced in France, at Flins and Maubeuge respectively. The vehicle based on Twizy Z.E. Concept will be built in Valladolid, Spain.

Unveiled as Fluence Z.E. Concept, the electric vehicle (EV) will be produced on the same production line as the conventionally-powered versions of Fluence. As at Maubeuge, where the Group will produce electric, petrol and diesel Kangoos, this option will limit the entry price of the program and ensure an industrial fast start, while ensuring top-level quality.

Producing the future EV at Bursa allows Renault to benefit from the site’s performance on quality, cost and lead times, along with local sourcing. As a result, the Group says it will be able to market the zero-emission sedan at the same attractive price as internal combustion models.

Owners of the electric model will have three battery charge options: standard charge, rapid charge and QuickDrop battery exchange. Renault will launch the Fluence EV first in Israel and Denmark, followed by other countries, from the first half of 2011.

GM Reveals 2011 Buick Regal for US; Two Gasoline Direct-Injection I-4s for Sport Sedan

2009-11-13T04:27:00-08:00

GM is revealing the 2011 Buick Regal sport sedan to customers in the Los Angeles area today. The new Regal, drawing on work on the award-winning Opel Insignia, will offer two gasoline direct-injection engines and is directly targeted at competitors such as the Acura TSX and Volvo S60.

The 2011 Buick Regal. Click to enlarge.

The Regal has already gone on sale in China in December 2008 and more than 64,000 Regals have been sold there.

Regal will initially be offered in premium CXL trim only, with additional trim levels to be offered in the 2012 model year. The Regal CXL includes the following as standard or available equipment:

Standard 2.4L Ecotec direct injected engine rated at an estimated 182 horsepower (136 kW)
Available 2.0L Ecotec turbocharged and direct injected engine rated at an estimated 220 horsepower (164 kW) – available late-summer 2010
Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission standard with driver-shifting control
Estimated 30 mpg US (7.8 L/100km) on the highway with the 2.4L and 29 mpg US (8.1 L/100km) highway with the 2.0L turbo engine.

Both the standard 2.4L engine and the available 2.0L turbo use direct injection technology to optimize performance, reduce emissions and maximize fuel efficiency. The 2.4L is the same engine offered in the Buick LaCrosse, but in the smaller, lighter Regal, it delivers more agile performance.

The 2.0L turbo offers on-demand power comparable to a V-6, but the inherent efficiency of a four-cylinder. To ensure responsive power across the rpm range, the 2.0L turbo uses a twin-scroll turbocharger that builds power quickly at lower rpm.

Distinct, uniquely calibrated six-speed automatic transmissions are paired with each engine. Both offer driver shift control that enhances the sporty driving feel of the Regal.

EADS-Led EU Project Focusing on Two Novel Reforming Technologies to Produce Hydrogen from Kerosene for Aviation Applications

2009-11-13T03:13:00-08:00

EADS Deutschland GmbH is coordinating the recently-launched EU GreenAir project—an investigation of the production of hydrogen for aviation applications via efficient and low-emissions new technologies.

The three-year, €7.8 million (US$11.6 million) project launched in September.

Fuel cells for power generation and additional purposes aboard aircraft have a potential to contribute to making aircraft greener. GreenAir is addressing one of the key problems for fuel cell application aboard an aircraft—the generation of hydrogen from jet fuel (kerosene) which will be the aeronautic fuel for the next decades.

While mainstream fuel processors (e.g. autothermal reforming) have been intensely investigated already, GreenAir is focusing on two novel and unconventional methods to overcome some hurdles of mainstream reforming technologies:

Microwave plasma assisted reforming (PAF), goal: development from TRL 3 to TRL 5.
Partial Dehydrogenation fuel processing (PDh), goal: development from TRL 2 to TRL 4. The process would employ a catalyst that reacts under relatively low temperature and pressure conditions. Residual hydrocarbons would be used directly for combustion or returned to the kerosene tank.
In addition, the project will investigate kerosene fractionation to extract fractions favorable for reforming to facilitate the PAF and the PDh processes.

The TRL (Technology Readiness Level) scale is a nine-level systematic metric/measurement system that supports assessments of the maturity of a particular technology and the consistent comparison of maturity between different types of technology starting with the concept (TRL 1) and ending with mature product (TRL 9).

GreenAir will elaborate the physical and chemical fundamentals of these new methods, and develop concepts for aircraft integration and safety. For both methods, the project will build breadboard fuel processor systems and test them for proof of concept under standard and simulated flight conditions.

GreenAir combines 13 beneficiaries from 7 European countries which are from aircraft and fuel cell related industry as well as institutes and SMEs excelling in fuel cell and catalysis R&D. It will establish links to the JTIs (CLEANSKY and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen) to maximize synergies.

Exelus Selected for Up to $1.2M DOE Award to Further Biomass-to-Gasoline Work

2009-11-13T02:45:00-08:00

The basic Exelus BTG process. Source; Exelus. Click to enlarge.

The US Department of Energy has selected Exelus, Inc. for an award of up to $1,200,000 to further its development of Biomass-to-Gasoline (BTG) technology—a novel thermochemical process that converts biomass into a clean, high-octane gasoline-compatible fuel. (Earlier post.)

The BTG process applies a series of moderate-temperature, catalyzed reactions to convert lignocellulosic biomass into gasoline-range alcohols. The BioGasoline produced by BTG has a high octane rating (greater than 105 using the (R+M)/2 method), and lower blending vapor pressure (RVP) and higher energy density than conventional ethanol.

The process consists of three steps: liquid-phase decomposition of a biomass slurry with lignin rejection; stabilization in a fixed bed reactor; and deoxygenation in another fixed bed reactor. The finished BioGasoline is then separated from the water, which can be recycled.

BTG stabilizes the biomass deconstruction products to prevent them from reacting further to yield undesirable compounds such as organic acids and insoluble furan-based polymers. The BTG stabilized products are not susceptible to further dehydration and are preserved in high yield. This unique approach greatly enhances selectivity in an energy-efficient way, according to the company.

These stabilized products then undergo selective hydrogenation to reduce the oxygen content and increase the energy density and gasoline-compatibility of the product fuel. This final processing step uses a novel catalyst developed by Exelus that achieves the conversion rapidly and at high selectivity, without generating low-value light alkanes like methane or ethane. The product is the high-octane blend of gasoline-compatible alcohols.

The BTG process can utilize many types of lignocellulosic feedstocks such as wood, grass, agricultural waste, or other forms of solid waste. The process simplifications enabled by the high-performance catalysts and chemistry of the BTG process reduce the capital requirements of this technology relative to both biological and gasification-based routes, according to the company. High conversion efficiency maximizes product yield to reduce feedstock consumption, and energy-efficient process design keeps operating costs low.

The process can also be designed to be self-sustaining, producing all of the required reactants, such as hydrogen and water, internally.

Engineered Catalysts. The core of Exelus’ new process technologies is a new class of reactive systems that incorporate many characteristics associated with a reactor within the catalyst structure. These “Engineered Catalysts” are essentially multifunctional catalysts, which have controlled structure at scales ranging from the nano- (pore level) to the macro-scale (reactor level). This higher level of control creates an ideal reaction “atmosphere” at the catalyst surface, which leads to higher productivity.

By combining elements of micro-reactor technology with advanced catalytic materials, Exelus says that it can create a new generation of “green” process technologies, which reduce the scale of raw material usage over current technologies—decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by an order of magnitude while simultaneously increasing profitability of oil refiners and petrochemical producers worldwide.

In addition to the BTG process, Exelus offers ExSact, a unique solid acid catalyzed isoparaffin alkylation technology that overcomes the environmental concerns, safety hazards and rising costs associated with conventional liquid acid technologies. It also has developed ExSyM, a new low-cost styrene monomer production technology based on new chemistry.

ARPA-E Award. Exelus, in partnership with Zeolyst International and Linde Process Plants, also received one of the 37 first-round ARPA-E awards. (Earlier post.)

Small percentage refining inefficiencies equate to massive real losses of potential fuel and unnecessarily emitted greenhouse gases because of the scale of refining in the US. One such source of loss is the olefin content of refinery off-gas (ROG) generated from fluid catalytic cracking. The $1 million APRA-E grant is to support the development of a technology based on a novel catalyst that will enable dilute olefins from ROG to be converted to high-octane alkylate, resulting in recovery of up to 45 million barrels per year of gasoline.

Renault-Nissan Alliance Signs EV Partnership with Miyazaki Prefecture

2009-11-13T02:17:00-08:00

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Miyazaki Prefecture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to initiate a joint-study to implement all the necessary conditions for the mass introduction of electric vehicles, primarily focused on the following areas:

Educational program
Promote EVs in the Business Sector
Promote mass adoption of EVs
Impact Assessment Study

Mass adoption of electric cars is key to creating a sustainable low-carbon society, and it is essential for us to work with public and private stakeholders to achieve success. Miyazaki Prefecture, a popular tourist destination known for its beautiful natural attractions, is ideally suited for the promotion of all-electric, zero-emission vehicles.
—Toshiyuki Shiga, Nissan Chief Operating Officer

To date, the Alliance has signed zero-emission partnerships with more than 30 governments, municipalities and companies worldwide. Nissan will introduce the LEAF electric car in Japan, the United States and Europe in 2010 followed by global mass marketing in 2012.

DOE and USDA Select Projects for More Than $24M in Biomass Research and Development Grants

2009-11-13T02:11:00-08:00

The US Departments of Agriculture and Energy selected projects for more than $24 million in grants to research and develop technologies to produce biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products. Of the $24.4 million announced today, DOE plans to invest up to $4.9 million with USDA contributing up to $19.5 million. Advanced biofuels produced through this funding are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% compared to fossil fuels.

Projects selected must contribute a minimum of 20% of matching funds for research and development projects and 50% of matching funds for demonstration projects. Funding is provided through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and DOE’s Biomass Program.

Selected projects are aimed at increasing the availability of alternative fuels and biobased products that are produced from a diverse group of renewable sources of biomass. Projects selected for award include:

BIOFUELS AND BIOBASED PRODUCTS

USDA Awards

GE Global Research (Irvine, CA) up to $1,597,544: to develop detailed and simplified kinetic models of biomass gasification. A fundamental modeling capability will enable the widespread design of feedstock-flexible biomass gasifiers that are cost-effective and scaled to match the regional distribution of biomass feedstocks.
Gevo, Inc. (Englewood, CO) up to $1,780,862: to develop a yeast fermentation organism that can cost-effectively convert cellulosic-derived sugars into isobutanol, a second-generation biofuel/biobased product. As an advanced biofuel, isobutanol strikes a unique balance between high octane content and low vapor pressure, it can be converted into hydrocarbons, and as a biobased product it can be used as a chemical precursor for numerous high-value products such as isobutylene and PET plastic products.
Itaconix ( Hampton Falls, NH) up to $1,861,488: to develop production of polyitaconic acid from northeast hardwood biomass, using an integrated extraction-fermentation-polymerization process. Polyitaconic acid is a water-soluble polymer with a 2 million metric ton per year market potential as a replacement for petrochemical dispersants, detergents, and super-absorbents.
Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation (Columbus, OH) up to $1,800,000: to demonstrate, at scale, the operation of a dry fermentation system that uses pre- and post-consumer food wastes from supermarkets and restaurants, waste sawdust, grass, leaves, stumps and other forms of wood waste to produce biogas, heat, and electrical power. Yenkin-Majestic will use these products to demonstrate a distributed stand-alone system for the operation of a large industrial facility.
Velocys, Inc. (Plain City, OH) up to $2,651,612: to improve biorefinery economics through microchannel hydroprocessing. This project will explore the unique capabilities of heat and mass transfer inherent in microchannel reactor technology with advanced catalysts to intensify chemical processes, resulting in more efficient conversion of cellulosic residues to liquid transportation fuels.

DOE Awards

Exelus, Inc. (Livingston, NJ) up to $1,200,000: to develop a Biomass-to-Gasoline (BTG) technology that represents a fundamental shift in process chemistry and overall approach to creating biofuels. The technology uses unique, engineered catalysts that facilitate new reaction pathways to liquid motor fuels from biomass. The BTG process replaces conventional high-temperature processes like gasification and pyrolysis with a series of mild, low-temperature reactions. The self-contained process uses minimal water and no acids or chemical additives.

BIOFUELS DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS

USDA Awards

Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN) up to $933,883: to develop an analysis of the global impacts of second generation biofuels in the context of other energy technologies and alternative economic and climate change policy options. This project will modify, extend and link established modeling frameworks to capture the strengths of each framework in a hybrid, multidisciplinary system.
University of Minnesota (St. Paul, MN) up to, $2,715,007: to assess the environmental sustainability and capacity of forest-based biofuel feedstocks within the Lake States region. This project will address key uncertainties about expanding feedstock harvests in the northern Lake States, including environmental impacts, economic feasibility and avoided fossil-fuel CO₂ emissions.

DOE Awards

Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials (Washington, Idaho, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee) up to $1,430,535: to compare the life cycle environmental and economic impacts for collecting forest residuals, short rotation crops, mixed waste, and biomass from fire risk reduction activities on federal lands for conversion to fuels via biochemical, pyrolysis and gasification systems. National estimates of biofuel production will be based on stratified biomass collection and processing implementation scenarios that can be evaluated against the Renewable Fuel Standard greenhouse gas emission objectives.

FEEDSTOCK DEVELOPMENT

USDA Awards

Agrivida (Medford, MA) up to $1,953,128: to develop new crop traits that eliminate the need for both expensive pretreatment equipment and enzymes. Transgenic switchgrass will be engineered with cell wall-degrading proenzymes that are dormant when the plant is in the field, but activated after harvest, under processing conditions with specific temperature and pH.
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK) up to $4,212,845: to develop best practices and technologies necessary to ensure efficient, sustainable and profitable production of cellulosic ethanol feedstocks. Utilizing large-scale feedstock production research, the economic and environmental sustainability of switchgrass, mixed-species perennial grasses and annual biomass cropping systems will be evaluated, and the synergy between bioenergy and livestock production will be explored.

DOE Awards

The University of Tennessee (Knoxville,TN) up to $2,345,290: to compare three varieties of switchgrass using various management practices, harvesting equipment and harvesting timelines in Eastern Tennessee. This 2,000-acre demonstration-scale project will use field plots ranging in size from 10 – 50 acres that incorporate different varieties of switchgrass seed: the current Alamo variety, the Ceres EG 1101 improved Alamo variety, and the Ceres EG 1102 Kanlow variety.

Berkeley Lab and Peking University To Collaborate on Carbon Capture and Storage Research

2009-11-13T01:31:00-08:00

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and China’s Peking University agreed on 12 November to jointly pursue the development of safe and effective carbon capture and storage techniques.

The collaboration was cemented at the US-China Workshop on Carbon Capture & Storage, a two-day event sponsored by the Philomathia Foundation through a grant to UC Berkeley. The workshop, held at Peking University, brought together scientists from Berkeley Lab, Stanford University, and several Chinese research institutions.

The US and China together are responsible for 40% of the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide.

In order for carbon capture and storage to have a significant impact on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, advances are needed in both the capture technology and in the understanding of subsurface processes related to carbon dioxide injection, trapping, and monitoring.

Future projects facilitated by the memorandum of understanding could include joint carbon capture and storage tests, research on identifying the best storage sites, and the development of computer models of storage site performance, to cite a few examples.

Earlier this year, Berkeley Lab became home to the Center for Nanoscale Control of Geologic CO₂, one of 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers established by the Department of Energy. Scientists at the Center probe the fundamental chemical, physical, and biological processes that control the movement of carbon dioxide fluids in the Earth.

Another Energy Frontier Research Center, which focuses on capturing CO₂ from power plants and natural gas emissions, is located at the University of California, Berkeley.

Dow and HPL Sign Li-ion Technology Transfer Agreement; Dow Kokam JV Acquires Assets of Kokam America

2009-11-12T15:02:43-08:00

The Dow Chemical Company announced the transfer to Dow of collective assets from HPL (High Power Lithium). HPL was spun out from Professor Graetzel’s laboratory at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Switzerland) in 2003 and is focused on the development of nano-structured metal oxide energy storage materials and novel electrolytes for use in next generation lithium ion batteries.

HPL is financed by the founders, Draper Fisher Jurvetson ePlanet Ventures, Initiative Capital Romandie (managed by DEFI-Gestion), Bankinvest New Energy Solutions and private investors.

HPL has made critical strides in developing next generation metal phosphate electrode materials and electrolyte system technology. HPL’s exciting phosphate technology brings a combination of safety and increased energy density that when applied to Dow’s Energy Storage Solutions business will significantly enhance Dow’s offering of component materials to the lithium ion battery markets.
—Bill Banholzer, CTO and executive vice president for Dow

HPL brings synthesis and development of novel nano-materials, the ability to process and optimize nano-materials for use in battery electrodes and cells, comprehensive physical and electrochemical characterization facilities and screening and development of novel electrolytes and systems.

At the Advanced Automotive Batteries Conference in Long Beach, California earlier this year, HPL presented the current status of its work with nanostructured lithium manganese phosphate (LiMnPO₄, LMPO) materials and cells for automotive applications.

A prototype HPL 18650 LMPO cell using HPL’s Gen 2.1 LMPO material supports a voltage range of 4.25V - 2V. Capacity at 1C is 900 mAh. In essence, HPL’s cathode material combines the benefits of a phosphate (low cost; over- and under-charge resilience; structural stability; good cycle life; thermal stability) with the higher voltage benefits of an oxide material. Higher voltage means fewer cells in series and less electronics cost, according to HPL.

Dow Kokam. Separately, Dow Kokam LLC acquired substantially all of the assets of Kokam America Inc., a leader in the lithium rechargeable battery market and source of Dow Kokam’s superior lithium polymer battery technology.

Kokam America, a Lee’s Summit, Missouri-based corporation formed in October 2005, has supplied battery sustainment to the US Department of Defense with advanced battery products developed, designed and patented by Kokam Co., Ltd. in South Korea.

Kokam Co. Ltd. is the primary patent holder of the Superior Lithium Polymer Battery (SLPB) technology. Through the acquisition of Kokam America's assets, Dow Kokam has the equipment and the capacity to manufacture the widest range of lithium polymer cells in production today and to extend its offering to the electric mobility industry.

Dow Kokam, a joint venture between The Dow Chemical Company and TK Advanced Battery LLC, was established in 2009 to develop and manufacture advanced energy storage technologies for the transportation and other industries.

In September, Groupe Industriel Marcel Dassault (Dassault) and Dow Kokam LLC signed an agreement that outlines the intention to combine the business activities of Dassault’s Société de Vehicles Electriques (SVE) unit with Dow Kokam, making Dassault a minority owner of Dow Kokam. The companies said that the agreement will enable them to address early electric vehicle customer needs by leveraging Dassault’s capabilities and experience in advanced battery systems with Dow Kokam’s cell technology. (Earlier post.)

Ho Chi Minh City Testing Congestion Charge System

2009-11-12T10:45:07-08:00

Sustainable-mobility.org. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) will test an electronic congestion charge system in the heavy traffic areas of the town center for six months.

The plan, which will only apply during rush hour, comprises three main elements, installing radio beacons at the major trouble spots, a transponder in vehicles, and a control network with cameras and computers.

...But let there be no mistake, the reasons behind this plan are not at all environmental… they’re economic! “Traffic jams have a negative influence on the socio-economic development of the city”, explains Lê Hoàng Quân, President of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

Sion Power Receives $800K DOE Grant to Enhance Lithium Sulfur Batteries

2009-11-12T08:06:29-08:00

A lithium-sulfur cell. Source: Sion Power. Click to enlarge.

Sion Power Corporation has received a three-year, $800,000 research grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to support Sion’s ongoing work to develop a new class of electrolytes used in lithium sulfur (Li-S) batteries for electric vehicle (EV) applications. Sion Power will provide matching funds for this three-year effort.

The project objective is to increase performance of very-high-energy lithium metal anodes used in rechargeable battery systems. Sion Power will complete development of its unique electrolyte system employing multiple components. While improving lithium conductivity, one component will be optimized to enhance metallic lithium anode performance; another will enhance cathode functionality.

Ragone plot of current Sion Power cells and other chemistries. Sion believes that its current development work will push the specific energy to 550 Wh/kg. Source: Sion Power. Click to enlarge.

The multi-component electrolyte system will enable Sion Power to improve chemical stability leading to improved safety and abuse tolerance.

In May Sion Power and BASF SE signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to accelerate the commercialization of Sion Power’s proprietary Li-S battery technology for the electric vehicle (EV) market and other high-energy applications. (Earlier post.)

Lithium-sulfur batteries. Lithium Sulfur batteries (LSBs) use a lithium metal anode and a soluble polysulfide cathode. Lithium ions are stripped from the anode during discharge and form lithium polysulfides in the cathode. Li₂S in the cathode is the result of complete discharge. On recharge, the lithium ions are plated back onto the anode as the lithium polysulfides in the cathode move towards S₈. High order Li-polysulfides (Li₂S₃ to Li₂S₈) are soluble in the electrolyte and migrate to the anode, scrubbing off any dendrite growth.

The theoretical specific energy of a lithium-sulfur battery chemistry is in excess of 2,500 Wh/kg with a theoretical energy density of 2,600 Wh/L.

Current status of Li-S development compared to USABC baselines. Source: Sion Power. Click to enlarge.

However, LSBs have a number of issues, including cycle life and operation at higher temperatures. Among the limiting mechanisms, according to Sion, are the rough lithium surface on the anode during cycling and Li/electrolyte depletion. Lithium roughness leads to generation of porous “mossy” Li deposits, absorption of electrolyte by porous deposits and premature Li anode disintegration. Li/electrolyte depletion leads to loss of the solvent necessary for proper functioning of the cathode. The products of these Li-solvent reactions also increase cell impedance and the rate of capacity fade.

Sion’s collaboration with BASF is pursuing solutions to those issues, including a proprietary anode design to reduce lithium roughness; development of structurally sable cathodes; and new materials for multi-functional membrane assemblies for the physical protection of lithium.

Sion Power’s Li-S technology already provides rechargeable cells with a specific energy of more than 350 Wh/kg, which is 50% greater than the currently commercially available rechargeable battery technologies.

The reduction of lithium surface roughness with new anode design, and better cathode structure demonstrate shows a substantially increased sulfur utilization to more than 1.45 Ah/g of specific capacity. With this improved specific capacity and reduced cell mass (resulting from the utilization of thin membrane protection) and, with improved cell design, Sion believes that the energy density of the Li-S cell can be increased from the present value of 350 Wh/kg to 550 Wh/kg.

The new approach is also resulting in a recharge time reduced to less than 3 hours, and a substantial cycle life increase. It is also eliminating the potential for thermal runaway, according to Sion.

Resources

High Energy Rechargeable Li-S Cells for EV Application. Status, Challenges and Solutions. (Sion Power presentation at ECS)
High Energy Rechargeable Li-S Cells for EV Application. Status, Remaining Problems and Solutions. (Abstract)
V. S. Kolosnitsyn and E. V. Karaseva (2008) Lithium-sulfur batteries: Problems and solutions. Russian Journal of Electrochemistry Volume 44, Number 5, pp 506-509 doi: 10.1134/S1023193508050029

Synthesis Energy Systems Launches U-GAS Technology Sub-Licensing Business

2009-11-12T07:16:00-08:00

Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (SES) has executed a revised license agreement with the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) for its U-GAS technology rights. The revised agreement expands the rights and further defines the terms for SES to sub-license U-GAS to third parties for coal, coal and biomass mixtures, or 100% biomass projects.

Under the revised agreement, SES maintains its exclusive world-wide rights to the U-GAS technology for all types of coals and coal/biomass mixtures with coal content exceeding 60%, and non-exclusive rights to biomass and coal/biomass blends exceeding 40% biomass.

With the reliable operations of SES’ 95%-owned Hai Hua plant in China this year (earlier post), and its success gasifying difficult fuels such as high-ash coal washing wastes, a high-ash sub-bituminous coal and most recently a lignite coal, SES says it is seeing significant interest from companies in the US, China, India and Australia for licenses to use the technology for both biomass and coal applications.

Under the previous agreement with GTI, SES had limited rights to sublicense U-GAS to independent third parties. The revised agreement enables SES to move forward quickly with establishing a licensing business. As part of its third-party licensing business, SES also plans to provide key technology components and engineering services.

Peugeot Begins Pre-Bookings for i0n EV

2009-11-12T06:18:56-08:00

Peugeot has begun pre-bookings for the i0n, its i-MiEV-derived electric car developed in partnership with Mitsubishi. (Earlier post.) The company says that it has already signed letters of intent with nine companies and administrations projects for car sharing and large fleets in Europe.

For individual customers, pre-bookings are open on the websites of Peugeot Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France and Italy.

With four doors and four seats, a length of 3.48 m and a turning circle of 4.50 m, the i0n will develop a maximum power output of 47 kW (64 bhp) and a torque of 180 N·m, with a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). The lithium-ion battery pack supports a range of 130 km (81 miles) on the European cycle, and is rechargeable in six hours using a conventional 220 V socket or to 80% capacity within thirty minutes with a 50 kW quick charge.

In September, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) and PSA Peugeot Citroën signed a cooperative agreement on the development of EVs, one point of which was the development of an EV for the European market based on MMC’s Japanese i-MiEV model. The vehicle is to be sold in Europe, with both Peugeot and Citroën versions. (Earlier post.)

Peugeot introduced the i0n at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September; Citroën announced its version of the i-MiEV (the C-ZERO) earlier this week. (Earlier post.)

Northern Lights Energy and Reva Electric Car Company Sign Agreement to Develop the Electric Vehicle Market in Iceland

2009-11-12T06:05:04-08:00

The REVA NXR. Click to enlarge.

Northern Lights Energy (NLE), the initiator of the 2012 charging infrastructure project and provider of infrastructure and services for electric vehicles (EV) based in Iceland, has signed an agreement with Reva Electric Car Company to jointly develop the electric vehicle market in Iceland.

NLE will have exclusive distribution rights for the NXR, the new model premiered by Reva at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, and consequent follow-up models, such as the sports coupé NXG, which will be launched in 2011. The sales and marketing of the car will commence in the second half of 2010 and customer deliveries at the end of 2010.

In September, Reva announced a joint venture with General Motors India to provide the electric powertrain and energy management systems for the new Chevrolet Spark and a new 30,000 unit Reva assembly plant is under construction in India. (Earlier post.) Iceland is also being considered by Reva as a possible site for a European assembly plant.

The REVA NXR is a four-seat, three-door hatchback family car suitable for urban driving. Top speed is 104 km/h (65 mph) with a range of 160 km (99 miles) per charge. If using the 90-minute fast charge (normal charging is eight hours), the REVA NXR offers an effective range of 320 km (199 miles) a day. A fast charge for 15 minutes will provide a 40 km (25 mile) range.

NLE is also working on developing a charging infrastructure system for electric vehicles and vehicle exchange service to support the adoption of electric vehicles in Iceland. In addition to importing new EV models to Iceland, NLE is also working on developing systems to convert the current internal combustion engine (ICE) car fleet into electric cars.

We are working with a number of parties in Denmark and Finland to enable the conversion process of the current cars running in Iceland to support a swift development of the electric vehicle market. The mission is to place Iceland in the forefront of countries that uses sustainable energy sources for its personal vehicle fleet, moving away from fossil fuels, saving billions of ISKs for the society and reducing the 680,000 tons of carbon dioxide that is annually being emitted by the personal vehicle fleet in Iceland. This is what the Project 2012 is all about.
—Sighvatur Lárusson, the Chief Operating Officer of NLE

Northern Lights Energy is an Icelandic investment company, targeting environmental friendly projects, leading in the field of environmental and renewable energy solutions. Project 2012 is an initiative of Northern Lights Energy which has committed to build in Iceland, the first nationwide charging infrastructure in the world, before the yearend 2012. Importing and distributing EVs in Iceland is a key factor in reaching the goal.

REVA is the brand of the Reva Electric Car Company, a Bangalore, India-based company formed as a joint venture between Maini Group of India and AEV LLC of California and backed by US investors Global Environment Fund and Draper Fisher Jurvetson. Today, REVA is selling, or being test marketed, in 24 countries worldwide and has the largest deployed fleet of electric cars on the market with more than 3,000 EVs on the road and more than 85 million km (53 million miles) of on-road data.

REVA’s business model includes: electric vehicle design, development and manufacture, electric vehicle technology licensing and electric vehicle manufacturing franchising. REVA develops all key technologies including energy management, fast-charge and telematics systems in-house.

European distribution is in the following countries: Norway, UK, Spain, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Hungary, Portugal, Cyprus and Greece with other distributors being appointed over the next few months.

Government of Canada to Invest Up to C$77.75M in Saskatchewan Ethanol Plant

2009-11-12T04:12:00-08:00

The Government of Canada will invest up to C$77.75 million (US$74.5 million) over seven years in Terra Grain Fuels’s (TGF) wheat ethanol facility to support the production of ethanol in Saskatchewan, sustain job creation and help stimulate the economy.

The Terra Grain Fuels ethanol plant, near Belle Plaine, Saskatchewan, has a design capacity of approximately 150 million liters (40 million gallons US) of ethanol annually and 163,800 tonnes of dried distillers grains annually. At that capacity, the plant will purchase and consume more than 15 million bushels of locally grown wheat per year. With these volumes the TGF Plant will be the largest wheat ethanol plant in North America.

The investment is part of the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY for Biofuels program, which will invest up to C$1.5 billion (US$1.4 billion) over nine years. (Earlier post.)

Compared with gasoline, grain-based ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 40% on a life-cycle basis, according to natural resources Canada (NRC). For biodiesel, the emissions reduction can be as much as 60%.

Prickly Pears and Tree Tobacco for Ethanol Production in Semi-Arid Regions

2009-11-12T03:45:00-08:00

The TBF (Technology-based Firm) Almeria Albaida Recursos Naturales y Medioambiente, S.A. (Spain), and the Cajamar Foundation are testing the feasibility of two crops adapted to extreme environmental conditions—prickly-pears and tree tobacco—for the production of bio-ethanol in semiarid areas where there is no competition for the use of raw materials for food purposes or for farmland.

The work is part of the national project for Research and Development of Ethanol for Automotive Applications (I+DEA).

In particular, the tasks of the Almeria scientists are embodied in the sub-project of Energy crops for use in current technologies for bio-ethanol production, focusing on research of bio-ethanol production alternatives in semiarid areas. Prickly-pear (Opuntia ficus indica) and the tobacco tree (Nicotiana glauca) are adapted to conditions of extreme water shortage; at the same time these plants have high energy biomass due to the fermentation process of their organic matter.

Experimental plantations of tree tobacco and two eco-types of prickly-pears—one from the Andarax Valley and the other from Cabo de Gata—are being subjected to three water regimes. Natural farming—which only uses rainwater—and two other systems (medium to high water supply) to analyze the variation in its growth and biomass production as regards to the available water.

The Department of Plant Production at the Polytechnic School of Madrid, directed by Jesus Fernandez, is responsible for the adjustment of the bio-ethanol extraction process from sugars, occurring in the fruits and the plants of these two species.

the CDIT (Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology) macro-project Research and Development of Ethanol for Automotive Applications (I+DEA) brings together 25 companies and 27 national research centERs, which aim to promote the introduction of bio-ethanol in the Spanish fuel market while it positions the Spanish industry as a leader in the technologic sector and the production and use of bio-ethanol as fuel.

The scope of the project covers the complete cycle of bio-fuels.

Dana Battery Cooling Technology for Electric Vehicles Debuts on Tesla Roadster Sport

2009-11-12T03:07:00-08:00

Dana Holding Corporation has developed a Long heat exchanger designed to extend battery life in hybrid and electric vehicles. The technology recently made its debut on Tesla Motors’ 2010 all-electric Roadster Sport.

Lithium-ion battery life is dependent on maintaining optimum operating temperatures. Dana’s heat-exchange technology cools the Roadster’s battery by transferring heat generated within the battery to the vehicle’s climate-control system. In addition, a temperature sensor mount provides continuous feedback to the climate-control system. This interface helps to maintain the battery’s ideal temperature during operation, thus helping to extend battery life.

Dana engineers constructed the heat exchanger using a patented aluminum brazing process, ensuring cleanliness of both the climate control and battery coolant fluids. The use of high-strength aluminum alloys provides greater material strength and contributes to weight savings.

Additionally, the chiller’s compact design also provides significant space savings—critical for helping engineers accommodate the Roadster’s 6,800-cell battery pack.

Dana developed and is manufacturing the heat exchanger at its advanced engineering center in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

DPG and EPEC Biofuels Holdings LLC Form JV to Finance Sorghum Ethanol and Other Biofuels Projects; Up To $376M for Sorghum Ethanol Project Financing

2009-11-12T03:00:00-08:00

DPG Investments, LLC has entered into a joint venture with EPEC Biofuels Holdings, Inc., a sweet sorghum ethanol company, to form a platform finance company which will provide project financing for EPEC and select financing initiatives in the biofuels and renewable energy sectors.

According to the joint venture agreement between the parties, DPG and EPEC have created EPEC Finance, LLC which has been granted the exclusive rights to fund up to $376 million of project financing for EPEC. These funds will be utilized by EPEC for the manufacture and deployment of EPEC’s proprietary Ethanol Production Units (EPUs) on select sweet sorghum farms throughout the country.

In addition, the new finance joint venture will also serve as a specialty finance and investment company that will seek to provide financing for various strategic acquisitions, partnerships and investments in the renewable energy and biofuel sectors on a global basis.

EPEC Finance jointly with EPEC Biofuels will seek to identify such biofuel and alternative energy initiatives that can provide a steady and predictable return on capital investments.

EPEC seeks to become one of the world’s largest producers of ethanol by operating a network of proprietary farm-based ethanol production facilities. In addition, EPEC seeks to become a global leader in manufacturing and servicing modular ethanol production equipment. EPEC says that its focus on sweet sorghum, rather than corn, combined with its intellectual property and model for farm-integrated ethanol production allows it to be the lowest cost producer.

Sweet sorghum can grow on marginal land unsuitable for corn, needs substantially less water and fertilizer, is more drought tolerant, and grows to maturity in less than four months. Since sweet sorghum is a sugar rich plant, it requires less energy to produce ethanol, resulting in a net yield of 8 energy units of output for every energy unit input according to EPEC. (Earlier post.)

DPG Investments, LLC is a diverse merchant banking, alternative investment, and advisory firm based in the Western US.

NTT Group Retrofitting Fleet Vehicles with Stop-Start Device

2009-11-12T02:15:00-08:00

The Nikkei reports that NTT Group companies have begun retrofitting their service vehicles with a stop-start device.

NTT will install the idling-stop devices in around 800 of its group firms’ vehicles by the end of the current fiscal year ending in March. It will also place the mechanism in more than 20,000 of the non-hybrid vehicles used by NTT group firms.

The company has begun installation of the device in cooperation with Nippon Car Solutions Co. [an NTT Group company], which leases commercial vehicles to NTT group firms, a process which costs 70,000-80,000 yen per vehicle. The initial cost will be borne by Nippon Car Solutions, which will recoup the expense through lease fees it charges each group firm.

Trials of the device in Tokyo indicated an improvement in mileage of between 10-25%.