Green Car Congress

Targray to distribute L&F Material NCM, LMO and LCO cathode materials in Europe and North America (AABC)

2012-02-07T11:13:16-08:00

Targray Technology International has entered into an agreement with L&F Material Co. Ltd., for the distribution of its cathode materials in Europe and North America. L&F Material supplies three cathode active materials: Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NCM); Spinel-based lithium-ion: LiMn2O4 (LMO); and Cobalt-based lithium-ion: LiCoO2 (LCO).

It is currently the largest supplier of NMC to two of the three top cell makers in the world and ranks amongst the top three suppliers in the world based on combined sales volume of NMC and LCO.

L&F is one of only two companies that has been granted a 3M patent license to bring their product into the US, which speaks volumes about their battery cathode NMC technology. They’ve also sold over 20,000 metric tons in the past five years and have been consistently rated number one by some of the top cell makers in the world. We’re very excited to bring these quality materials to the European and North American markets.
—Pradip Sheth, Director of the Battery Division at Targray

Nikkei: Renesas, Fujitsu, Panasonic in discussions to merge system chip operations with backing from government-funded INCJ

2012-02-07T11:06:14-08:00

The Nikkei reports that Renesas Electronics Corp., Fujitsu Ltd. and Panasonic Corp. are in discussions toward integrating their system chip operations.

As a first step, the three will spin off their system chip design and development divisions to create a new company. By combining the trio’s expertise in image processing, telecommunications and other technologies, the new firm will develop system chips for smartphones, automobiles and other products. It will receive several dozen billion yen from government-backed investment fund Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, or INCJ.

...The move is aimed at ensuring the survival of the Japanese chip industry by creating a globally competitive system chip company. It will leave Toshiba Corp. as the only other Japanese company still making system chips, which serve as the brain for electronic devices and automobiles.

...Renesas, Fujitsu, Panasonic and INCJ aim to reach a basic agreement by the end of March, with the goal of integrating operations by the end of fiscal 2012. Because the system chip business mainly deals with small-lot orders for a wide variety of chips, Japanese chipmakers have been piling up losses in this market, unable to recoup the massive investment needed to produce advanced chips.

US DOT holding public meeting on enabling a secure environment for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure transactions

2012-02-07T10:33:50-08:00

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office (ITS JPO) will hold a free Policy Research Workshop on Enabling a Secure Environment for Vehicle-to-Vehicle and Vehicle-to-Infrastructure Transactions on 19-20 April in Washington, DC.

This two-day workshop will give participants an opportunity to learn about and provide input into research being conducted on potential organizational and business models for supporting security and data transaction needs for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure crash avoidance and other applications. The workshop takes place mid-point for two related research efforts and will be structured primarily around breakout sessions for discussing critical issues and obtaining participant feedback.

Final results of this research will be presented in August 2012 during the annual Connected Vehicle Safety public meeting and via other publicly available forums and on the ITS JPO website.

Establishing a secure trust environment among vehicles and other legitimate equipment is a key challenge for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure crash avoidance and other applications. Currently a public key infrastructure approach to security involving the exchange of digital certificates among legitimate trusted vehicles and/or equipment is being analyzed and tested. US DOT’s Connected Vehicle Policy Research Program is concerned with defining requirements to implement such a system on a national scale, including such questions as:

What are the functional requirements for certificate exchange and other processes?
What communications links and networks could support these requirements?
What are the organizational requirements for supporting back end processes?
What are estimated costs for supporting these requirements?
What are potential business models for supporting such a network, to attract users and revenue to finance such a system?
What do different approaches imply, in terms of potential levels of security protection?
What do different ownership options imply?
How could the certificate management system be rolled out across the nation over time?
Are there opportunities to integrate needed functions into existing systems or organizations?

FEV increases electric motor design, testing and integration capabilities

2012-02-07T10:20:55-08:00

FEV GmbH (FEV) is adapting its global resources to support the increased investment by automakers around the world in hybrid and electric vehicles. Similar to its conventional powertrain design, testing, and integration services, FEV now offers facilities and capabilities to support its customers as they develop new e-mobility products.

Energy is derived from many sources, and automakers are exploring all possibilities to incorporate these sources into automobiles. Different markets will have different needs, but it is clear that in most global markets, the electric and electric hybrid vehicle has taken root and will soon become mainstream.
—Prof. Stefan Pischinger, president and CEO of FEV GmbH

In addition to its battery development competence, FEV has now announced that it is offering complete electric motor design, testing and integration support to its global customer base.

FEV says it now offers all of the capabilities necessary to perform complete design and development of electric drivetrains. This includes CAE-supported optimization of the electric motor, with a focus not only on the functional aspects, but also the NVH considerations that are necessary to minimize the noise excitation and radiation of the harmonic orders. FEV’s traditional transmission design and development teams work closely with the newly established e-motor teams to develop complete electric drivetrains.

FEV also offers dedicated e-motor test cells that enable rapid electric motor and drivetrain functional testing. These specialized test cells accommodate the complete e-powertrain, allowing FEV’s engineers to accurately measure performance and efficiency of e-motors, or the entire e-powertrain thanks to high accuracy electric power and speed / torque measurement devices. E-motor control algorithm design, development and calibration are accomplished with automated testing and a battery emulation system.

The new e-motor design, development and testing facilities allow:

Controls development
Functional testing
Calibration development
Performance testing
Efficiency testing
Thermal evaluation
Durability testing
Characteristic parameter measurement
NVH optimization

In addition to its design and testing capabilities, FEV has also developed an entire suite of e-powertrain integration capabilities. FEV engineers now offer all of the integration services that are necessary to support an OEM as they bring an e-motor or e-powertrain product into production, including packaging engineering, vehicle simulations to define the component specifications, thermal management, NVH and calibrations for drivability and performance.

FEV offers capabilities related to the management and build-up of prototype fleets including instrumentation of fleets for remote data acquisition and performance monitoring. FEV has conducted numerous projects to design, develop, integrate, and validate a group of prototype vehicles for use in closed fleets at customer locations.

The company also offers e-powertrain target setting support to its customers.

Mitsui OSK Lines testing DPF on ocean-going vessel

2012-02-07T09:52:14-08:00

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. has begun a demonstration test of a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system installed on the diesel engine used for power generation on an MOL Group-operated ocean-going vessel. This is the first application of the self-cleaning DPF on an ocean-going ship.

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) system for marine diesel engines that use C heavy oil. Click to enlarge.

With research support from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), MOL and Akasaka Diesels Ltd. have jointly developed a DPF system for marine diesel engines, which run on C heavy oil. The initiative is part of ClassNK’s program to support joint research and development with industry and academia. MOL conducted a DPF demonstration test in 2010 using the main engine of a ferry serving coastal areas in Japan.

This system incorporates a filter that relies on silicon carbide ceramic fibers. The filter collects particulate matter (PM) when exhaust gas goes through it. It can collect more than 80% of PM produced by the engine, significantly reducing black smoke emissions. It is also a self-cleaning system that automatically combusts and eliminates PM buildup in the filter. This allows for continual operation without clogging of the filter, and requires no maintenance by seafarers.

The test is scheduled for about one year (operating time: about 4,000 hours) to verify the system’s PM collection performance. After that, its durability will be assessed. The test started in November 2011, and the DPF system has already operated smoothly for more than 500 hours.

Intelligent Energy and Suzuki Motor Corporation establish joint venture company to develop and manufacture fuel cell systems

2012-02-07T07:35:51-08:00

Intelligent Energy and the Suzuki Motor Corporation have created a joint venture company called SMILE FC System Corporation to develop and manufacture air-cooled fuel cell systems for a range of industry sectors. The joint venture also includes a non-exclusive license agreement that gives Suzuki access to Intelligent Energy’s fuel cell technology for its next generation of fuel cell vehicles.

Under the terms of the contract, both companies will take a 50% stake in the joint venture. SMILE FC System Corporation will be led by Osamu Honda, Executive Vice President and representative director for Suzuki Motor Corporation, who will become President of the JV. SMILE FC System Corporation will be headquartered in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka, with operations initially based in Yokohama.

Suzuki Motor Corporation has been developing fuel cell vehicles with Intelligent Energy since 2006, and this successful relationship has led to the formation of SMILE FC System Corporation. I believe that we can accelerate the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles through this joint venture with Intelligent Energy.
—Osamu Honda

The agreement enables Suzuki cost-effective access to Intelligent Energy’s advanced fuel cell technology through partnering and licensing, thereby avoiding the higher costs associated with in-house development. Intelligent Energy will benefit from Suzuki’s production expertise and the emerging Japanese supply chain to jointly develop the next generation of automotive standard air-cooled fuel cell systems.

This joint venture is the latest exciting development in the successful relationship between Intelligent Energy and Suzuki, which has previously resulted in the Crosscage motorcycle and the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter. It is a big step towards the mass production of automotive fuel cell systems.
—Phil Caldwell, newly appointed Board Member of SMILE FC System Corporation and Business Development Director at Intelligent Energy

Equipped with Intelligent Energy’s air-cooled fuel cells, the Crosscage and Burgman motorcycles were exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, and in 2011, the Fuel Cell Burgman Scooter became the world’s first fuel cell vehicle to achieve European Union Whole Vehicle Type Approval (WVTA). (Earlier post.)

GM makes eAssist standard on the 2013 Buick Regal; new SAE paper coming at World Congress

2012-02-07T06:57:17-08:00

GM is continuing the deployment of the eAssist light electrification system (earlier post) as a standard across its platforms. Starting with the arrival of 2013 models, eAssist will be standard on the Regal with the discontinuation of the 2.4L base model. Both the Regal Turbo and Regal GS models will remain available.

For the 2012 model year, eAssist became standard for the larger Buick LaCrosse luxury sedan. The system has also jumped across brands to the Chevrolet line-up with its application in the new Malibu. The latest version of the eAssist system, as applied in the new Malibu, consists of:

A 32-cell, 115V, 0.5-kW Li-ion battery pack (15 kW peak power) using cylindrical power-optimized cells from Hitachi. The power electronics and the pack are packaged in the “eAssist power pack” which includes the batteries (2 parallel 16-cell modules) and the power electronics, both of which are air-cooled.
An electric motor-generator that provides 15 kW of maximum generating power @ 1570-3180 rpm; 110 lb-ft (150 N·m) maximum electric motor torque (cranking); 79 lb-ft (107 N·m) maximum electric motor torque @ 1,000 rpm (electric assist); and 15 hp (11.2 kW) @ 1,000-2,200 rpm maximum electric motor power (electric assist). The motor generator is liquid-cooled.

The eAssist system is matched to a 2.4-liter gasoline engine. The system provides an electrical boost to aid the engine at low speeds and on inclines where fuel efficiency can suffer most. The Regal with eAssist achieves an EPA-estimated 36 highway mpg (6.5 L/100 km).

Pricing and an on-sale date for the 2013 Regal with eAssist will be announced later this year.

GM engineers will present a new paper on the development of the eAssist system at the upcoming SAE 2012 World Congress & Exhibition in Detroit in April. eAssist is also one of the finalists for the SAE Environmental Excellence in Transportation (E2T) Award, to be announced at the World Congress. (The Chevrolet Volt is also a finalist.)

Regal GS. GM is offering a six-speed automatic with Driver Shift Control as a no-cost option instead of the existing six-speed manual for the 270 hp (201 kW) 2.0L turbocharged Ecotec in the Regal GS.

The new Aisin AF40 automatic is calibrated specifically for the GS. With the car’s Interactive Drive Control System set to “GS” mode, the transmission delivers firmer shifts, aiding performance. Acceleration matches the manual with an estimated 0-60 mph time of 6.7 seconds.

Resources

Development of General Motors’ eAssist Powertrain (SAE 2012-04-16)
Power Modules and Inverter Evaluation for GM Electrification Architectures (SAE 2012-04-16)

Nissan introducing new B-segment concept at Geneva Show; previews next-gen compact car due in 2013

2012-02-07T03:00:00-08:00

Nissan will introduce a new B-segment concept, the Invitation, at the upcoming Geneva International Motor Show in March. The hatchback concept previews the company’s next-generation compact car due to launched in Europe from 2013, a mainstream B-segment contender to be sold alongside the Micra city car and Juke B-segment crossover. Nissan will also unveil another, as yet unspecified, concept at the show.

Nissan Invitation. Click to enlarge.

Nissan is aiming for a CO₂ emission target of less than 100g/km for the most efficient model, with all versions being eligible to wear Nissan’s Pure Drive badge.

The concept packs advanced technology to ensure the car is also as safe as possible. Among the features is Nissan’s advanced Around View Monitor (AVM) safety technology—seen for the first time on a B segment car. In addition, Invitation also incorporates the Nissan Safety Shield System, which interacts with the driving environment keeping the driver aware of what is happening around the car.

US DOT soliciting proposals for more than $826M to modernize and repair US transit buses and facilities, promote cleaner fuels

2012-02-07T02:40:00-08:00

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the availability of $826.5 million in Fiscal Year 2012 discretionary funds to modernize and repair transit vehicles and facilities around the country and promote the widespread use of sustainable clean fuel.

The notice of funding availability (NOFA), published in the Federal Register, invites competitive proposals for three of the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) top policy priorities through the discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities and Clean Fuels grant programs, all subject to funding availability, as follows:

State of Good Repair. Approximately $650 million available in FY2012 discretionary funds will bring the three-year total to $1.5 billion for more than 300 projects aimed at replacing or rehabilitating transit infrastructure and for transit asset management. As transit ridership continues to increase putting even greater demand on our transit systems, FTA will also consider maintenance facility and equipment expansion requests to help address ongoing capacity constraints that limit a transit agency’s ability to maintain vehicles and equipment in a state of good repair.
Livability. Approximately $125 million is available for projects that will improve the quality of life through expanded transportation choices, new and better intermodal connections, reduced congestion, and/or services aimed at economically disadvantaged populations, including senior citizens and people with disabilities.
Clean Fuels. Approximately $51.5 million is available to help communities meet national air quality standards that do not do so now. The program also supports the development and marketing of emerging clean fuel and advanced propulsion technologies for transit buses. This year, as in years past, FTA will consider expanding the eligible applicant pool by drawing upon additional discretionary Bus and Bus Facilities Program funds.

These discretionary funds are made available through FTA’s Bus and Bus Facilities and Clean Fuels Programs. The public announcement of recipients receiving funds will be likely be made in July 2012.

Government of Québec to invest $27M in Enerkem/Greenfield Ethanol waste-to-biofuels plant

2012-02-07T02:14:00-08:00

The Government of Québec plans to inject C$27 million in Québec’s first full-scale commercial cellulosic ethanol plant through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and Investissement Québec. This facility will be built and operated by a joint venture partnership formed by Enerkem, a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals company, and GreenField Ethanol, Canada’s largest ethanol company.

The future plant will be located in Varennes, Québec and will use Enerkem’s proprietary technology to convert non-recyclable municipal solid waste into biofuels. With a full-scale waste-to-biofuels facility under construction in Edmonton, Alberta, and another one under development in Mississippi, the Varennes facility represents Enerkem’s third full-scale commercial project.

In 2010, the Government of Canada announced it would provide up to C$79.75 million in funding over seven years to GreenField’s corn ethanol facility in Varennes through the ecoENERGY for Biofuels program. (Earlier post.)

By producing liquid transportation fuel from non-recyclable waste, this facility opens the door to the emergence of a new energy sector and will allow for local sustainable management of our waste materials. Located on the site of Ethanol GreenField’s current plant, this project will represent one of the first integrations between an existing, first generation ethanol plant and a new cellulosic ethanol plant.
—Vincent Chornet, Enerkem President and CEO

This waste-to-biofuels production facility will help reduce greenhouse emissions, fossil fuel imports and landfilled volumes. The non-recyclable waste will come from institutional, commercial and industrial sectors, and from construction and demolition debris. The anticipated annual production capacity of this plant is approximately 38 million liters (10 million gallons US).

The $27 million contribution from the Government of Québec includes $18 million in financial assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife and a $9 million loan from Investissement Québec.

Last week, Enerkem filed a registration statement on Form F-1 with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and a preliminary prospectus with securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, relating to a proposed initial public offering of its common shares in the United States and in Canada. The company expects to raise up to $125 million in its IPO.

LG Siltron selects Veeco MOCVD for GaN-on-Silicon wafer production for power electronics

2012-02-07T02:05:00-08:00

LG Siltron, a South Korean epi wafer (a wafer of semiconducting material made by epitaxial growth) manufacturer recently selected Veeco Instruments Inc.’s TurboDisc K465i gallium nitride (GaN) Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) System for production of gallium nitride on silicon (GaN-on-Si) wafers for power electronics and LED devices.

As traditional silicon-based power transistors approach their limits, materials such as GaN are gaining popularity to speed energy conversion at lower costs. A wide range of industries, including many in the green-tech space such as wind, solar, smart grid, and hybrid electric vehicles, are driving demand for energy-efficient GaN-based power electronics. GaN-on-Si may also offer an alternative approach to LED manufacturing.

We are pleased to have chosen the TurboDisc K465i MOCVD System as our first GaN-on-Si production system. It offers unparalleled throughput advantages, and its TurboDisc technology provides superior uniformity and low particle count, which is critical for producing GaN-on-Si wafers. We appreciate the strong support we have received from Veeco, and look forward to this and future collaborations.
—Dr. Hee Bog Kang, General Manager of LG Siltron R&D

LG Siltron is a major electronics materials manufacturer located in South Korea. Their products include epitaxial wafers in 150mm, 200mm and 300mm, and also solar substrates.

Volvo receives order for 25 hybrid buses for Göteborg

2012-02-07T01:50:00-08:00

Volvo Buses has received an order for 25 Volvo 7700 hybrid buses (earlier post) from Göteborgs Spårvägar (Gothenburg Tramways), which operates public transport services on behalf of Västtrafik, the agency responsible for public transport services in Gothenburg. Volvo has now sold 100 hybrid buses in the Nordic countries.

The 25 Volvo 7700 hybrid buses are powered by a small diesel engine and an electric motor. Fuel consumption is reduced by the use of regenerative braking to recover the energy generated when the vehicle’s brakes are applied. The diesel engine is shut off at bus stops, enabling the bus to operate silently and emission-free on electricity. However, emissions from diesel operation are also low since the bus is fueled by biodiesel. According to Volvo Buses, hybrid buses running on biodiesel have a distinctly lower environmental impact than other, comparable alternatives.

The hybrid buses are an important element of our program of converting to fossil-free bus traffic while reducing fuel consumption. Their combination of low emissions, lower noise level, high capacity and low energy utilization is very attractive.
—Leif Blomqvist, chairman of the board of Västtrafik

Sendyne and the University Of Toronto enter research agreement for battery systems technology to accelerate EV and grid storage applications

2012-02-06T12:27:12-08:00

Sendyne Corp., a New York-based semiconductor developer, and the University of Toronto have entered into a research agreement to develop systems and electronics with the goal of accelerating the adoption of large scale battery storage for Electric Vehicles (EV) and utility-scale battery packs.

This research project will implement silicon designs to significantly improve the cost and performance of such battery storage systems.

Sendyne has been developing semiconductors, systems and technology specifically targeted for battery management systems. Sendyne is providing its patented technology as well as access to intellectual property, development tools and scientific expertise. The University of Toronto has developed significant technology on power supplies and power management systems which will be utilized for this project.

Leading the project team is Professor Aleksandar Prodic, from the Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department of the University of Toronto and the founder of the Laboratory for Power Management and Integrated SMPS, where the development will take place. Dr. Prodic, a recipient of several IEEE awards and distinctions, is an expert in power system design.

F-City H2 fuel cell range extended electric city vehicle homologated in France, pending homologation in Switzerland

2012-02-06T12:14:25-08:00

Challenge Bibendum. The F-City H2—a battery-electric vehicle with a fuel cell range extender—has become the first urban electric vehicle with such an energy pack to be homologated in France.

The F-City H2. Click to enlarge.

The F-City H2 is the result of a partnership between the Michelin Research and Innovation Center, the French automotive producer FAM Automobiles, EVE Systems, FC LAB and the Institut Pierre Vernier. Fifteen of these vehicles have already been assembled by FAM Automobiles and will be tested in 2012.

The fuel cell range extender has an energy capacity of 15 kWh and works in a power pack alongside a 2.4 kWh lithium ion battery. The fuel cell energy pack weighs 120 kg—half the weight of the pack in the original F-City prototype. Michelin’s Energy Pack containing battery and fuel cell range extender offers a significantly improved performance over the original NiMH battery with overall energy density almost quadrupled. Range of the F-City H2 is 150 km (93 miles).

The F-City H2 is currently in the process of homologation in the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the first models could be on sale by 2014.

Solvay commissions 1 MW PEM fuel cell at SolVin’s Antwerp plant

2012-02-06T11:44:38-08:00

Solvay has successfully commissioned its 1 MegaWatt (MW) industrial demonstration Fuel Cell at the SolVin plant in Lillo, Antwerp, Belgium. This Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell converts co-produced hydrogen in the plant into electricity and is now producing for weeks at a steady rate. The Fuel Cell has generated more than 500 MWh in about 800 hours of operation, which amounts to the electricity consumption of 1,370 families during the same time frame.

This successful industrial scale-up project features Solvay’s specialty polymers and SolviCore’s membrane electrode assemblies; the fuel cell also increases SolVin’s brine electrolysis’ energy efficiency.

The PEM Fuel Cell consists of a large number of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) made out of Solvay’s specialty polymer Aquivion PFSA membrane and ionomer and Umicore’s elyst catalyst. The MEAs were manufactured by SolviCore, a 50-50 joint venture of Solvay and Umicore, in its plant in Hanau, Germany. Dutch companies NedStack and MTSA have built the fuel cell using SolviCore’s assemblies.

The technology was realized in cooperation with WaterstofNet, the coordinator of the Project Hydrogen Region Flanders-South Netherlands. This project aims at developing know-how and projects about hydrogen applications in the region with a clear focus on sustainable hydrogen and early market applications, such as maritime, logistical and interurban applications, with maximum use of European technology.

The Project Hydrogen Region, with a total budget of €14 million (US$18 million), was approved by the Interreg IV Program and is financed by the EU, the Flemish government, the Dutch government and the industry. Hydrogen Region financed Solvay’s project budget of more than €5 million (US$6.6 million) by €1.5 million (US$2 million). The 1 MW PEM Fuel Cell is the first milestone in the Project Hydrogen Region Flanders - South Netherlands and it is also used by WaterstofNet for research and test programs to endorse implementation of Fuel Cell technology in the region.

SolVin is a joint venture of Solvay (75%) and BASF (25%). It is a leader on the Vinyls (PVC) market in Europe and on the PVDC market worldwide.

Solvay is an international chemical group; its recent acquisition of specialty chemicals company Rhodia created a much larger player, which is realizing more than 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders.

Transphorm introduces first qualified 600V Gallium Nitride product and demonstrates 99+% efficient DC-DC boost converter

2012-02-06T11:23:22-08:00

GaN (gallium nitride) power electronics provider Transphorm Inc. (earlier post) announced the qualification of its first products, power diodes based on its EZ-GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology, at the Applied Power Electronics Conference (APEC):

TPS2010PK – 600 V, 6 A, GaN diode in the industry standard TO-220 package
TPS2011PK – 600 V, 4 A, GaN diode in the industry standard TO-220 package
TPS2012PK – 600 V, 2 A, GaN diode in the industry standard TO-220 package

These products are now qualified and available for sale through the Transphorm web site to approved customers.

Transphorm’s solutions cut energy waste by 20% today and simplify the design and manufacturing of a wide variety of electrical systems and devices, including motor drives, power supplies and inverters for solar panels and electric vehicles, according to the company. To demonstrate the performance advantage of the GaN-based technology, Transphorm will showcase at the APEC exhibition a EZ-GaN-based, DC-to-DC Boost Converter running at more than 99% efficiency.

Transphorm is the first to provide a qualified 600 volt GaN solution to inefficient power conversion. The GaN products come in industry-standard packages and are designed for optimum high-frequency switching. Transphorm’s proprietary EZ-GaN platform can reduce power system size, increase energy density and deliver high efficiencies for a range of power electronics applications.

ITM Power launching electrolyzer stack designs for MW-scale plant

2012-02-06T11:07:39-08:00

ITM Power will launch its new high pressure and high volume stack designs that form the basis of its Megawatt Scale energy storage plant at the Hannover Messe on 23-27 April and All-Energy in Aberdeen on 23-24 May.

The hydrogen production plant is packaged in a single 20ft standard ISO container and is a 1MW load that can be demand side managed by power companies with a response time of one second for both turn on and turn off. The hydrogen produced can be used for both vehicle refueling and direct injection of hydrogen into the gas grid. Injecting hydrogen into the gas grid is a simple and pragmatic form of energy storage that also de-carbonizes the gas grid.

The new electrolyzer stack is self-pressurizing to 80 bar which means it can be used to inject hydrogen directly into the high or low pressure gas grid without the need for additional compression plant. If the hydrogen production unit is used for vehicle refueling, the amount of energy required for compression is reduced. If 350 bar refueling is being used then the high pressure electrolysis removes the need for one stage of mechanical compression which reduces cost.

The 1MW container produces approximately 400 kg/day of hydrogen if run continuously. The design is a modular system which can be used to build larger energy storage facilities. ITM Power now has a portfolio of modular refueling products in the range from 5kg/day to 400kg/day.

Goldfish 23 all-electric eFUSION boat wins 2012 Boat of the Year Innovation Award at the Dusseldorf Boat Show

2012-02-06T10:31:04-08:00

The Goldfish 23 eFUSION, powered by a UQM PowerPhase Select 145 electric propulsion system, won the innovation award category of the 2012 European Powerboat of the Year award at the Dusseldorf Boat Show. The Goldfish 23 foot eFUSION tender recently achieved a top speed of 47 knots (which it achieves in 10 seconds) during testing in Norway. UQM worked with ReGen Nautic, Inc., based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, on the program.

Goldfish 23 eFUSION. Click to enlarge.

The eFusion 23 uses an electric outboard; Goldfish plans to deploy up to 10 additional eFUSION boats this year. Future plans include higher volume production of a jet drive propulsion system using UQM’s new PowerPhase Pro 135.

Goldfish Boat is a private corporation owned by the founders and located in Norway near the Oslo fjord. Goldfish is developing and manufacturing fast motorboats for both the leisure market and military industry in a growing number of countries. The impetus within Goldfish is to improve the existing designs and to push new ideas into the marketplace without diluting the distinctive character of its boats.

ReGen Nautic USA is a private corporation located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company has developed hybrid electric propulsion systems for yachts, trawlers, and sailboats over 50 feet. It manufactures high voltage (HV) boxes and licenses the software for integration and safety systems. ReGen Nautic has pending patents that protect its intellectual property related to integrating, optimizing and combining components of marine hybrid systems.

U of Western Ontario researchers find nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheet cathodes significantly increase performance of Li-oxygen batteries; 11,660 mAh g-1 at 75 mA g-1

2012-02-06T10:07:37-08:00

Voltage profiles of GNS and N-GNS electrodes at various current densities. Yi et al. Click to enlarge.

Researchers at the University of Western Ontario (Canada) report that using nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets as cathode materials significantly increases the performance of a non-aqueous lithium-oxygen battery, even compared to the use of the high-performance pristine graphene nanosheets they had developed earlier. (Earlier post.)

In a paper accepted for publication in the journal Electrochemistry Communications, Yongliang Li and his colleagues found that their nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheet (N-GNS) cathode materials delivered a discharge capacity of up to 11,660 mAh g^-1; the pristine graphene nanosheets (GNSs) had shown a capacity of up to 8,706 mAh g^-1—at that time, the highest capacity of any carbon-based materials in lithium-oxygen batteries reported, according to the team.

In their new study, they found that the electrocatalytic activity of N-GNSs for oxygen reduction in the non-aqueous electrolyte is 2.5 times that of GNSs. They attributed the excellent electrochemical performance of N-GNSs to the defects and functional groups as active sites introduced by nitrogen doping.

Recent studies reported that nitrogen-doped carbon powder and carbon nanotubes showed higher discharge capacities than the pristine counterparts, however, there is no report on nitrogen-doped graphene nanosheets (N-GNSs) as cathode materials for lithium-oxygen batteries. In this study, for the first time, N-GNSs were employed in lithium-oxygen batteries, and it was found that they show excellent electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction, therefore, increasing about 40% of the discharge capacity compared to GNSs. This finding not only shows that N-GNSs are promising electrode materials, but also gives a rational direction to modify other carbon materials for application in lithium-oxygen batteries.
—Yi et al.

In the current study, Yi et al. prepared both GNS and N-GNS cathodes; findings included:

The initial discharge capacity of the GNS electrode was 8,530 mAh g^-1 at a current density of 75 mA g^-1, while the N-GNS electrode delivered 11,660 mAh g^-1 for N-GNSs—about 37% higher.
As current densities increased, the discharge capacities of both samples decreased: 5,333 and 3,090 mAh g^-1 for GNS and 6,640 and 3,960 mAh g^-1 for N-GNS at current densities of 150 and 300 mA g^-1, respectively.

The research was supported by Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Canada Research Chair Program, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Early Researcher Award and the University of Western Ontario.

Resources

Yongliang Li, Jiajun Wang, Xifei Li, Dongsheng Geng, Mohammad N. Banis, Ruying Li, Xueliang Sun (2012) Nitrogen-doped Graphene Nanosheets as Cathode Materials with Excellent Electrocatalytic Activity for High Capacity Lithium-oxygen Batteries. Electrochem. Commun. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2012.01.023

Honda to showcase new 1.6L Earth Dreams diesel at Geneva show

2012-02-06T08:55:04-08:00

Honda will display the first engine from its new Earth Dreams Technology initiative (earlier post) at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March. The 1.6-liter diesel is the first in a new generation of engines being introduced over the next three years. Lining up next to the engine display will be the NSX Concept, EV-STER and a prototype of the European C.

The new 1.6 liter diesel will be the first engine from this series and it will be introduced to the new Civic in late 2012. It will be the lightest engine in its class, according to Honda, and will deliver sub-100g/km CO₂ levels and a class-leading balance of fuel economy and performance. Honda will display a cut engine display of the new 1.6 liter diesel on the Honda stand.

Initial specifications for the engine:

Displacement: 1596cc
Max Power: 88kw (118 hp) @ 4000rpm
Max Torque: 300 N·m (221 lb-ft) @2000rpm

Pike Research ranks LG Chem and Johnson Controls highest in new assessment of electric and hybrid vehicle Li-ion battery manufacturers

2012-02-06T06:53:03-08:00

Pike Pulse grid for automotive Li-ion manufacturers. Click to enlarge.

A new Pike Research report, the “Pike Pulse Report: Electric Vehicle Batteries” evaluates 10 of the leading electric and hybrid vehicle battery manufacturers and rates them on 10 criteria for strategy and execution, including vision; go-to-market strategy; partners; product strategy and roadmap; geographic reach; market share; sales and marketing; product quality; and reliability, product portfolio, and staying power.

The report concludes that the manufacturers best positioned to take advantage of shifts in the market are LG Chem and Johnson Controls.

Lithium ion batteries currently dominate the nascent market for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and are slowly becoming selected for use in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and stop-start vehicles (SSVs), the report notes. As these vehicle segments grow to hundreds of thousands and then millions of vehicles sold per year, Li-ion production will enter volume production, lowering their cost and making the technology cost-competitive with alternative technologies such as Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries.

Japanese and Korean companies that originally produced cells for the consumer electronics and computing markets currently lead the automotive market. These companies are being challenged by companies mostly from China and North America that are slowly gaining customers, mostly in their domestic markets, Pike says. The Li-ion automotive market is entering a phase in which some smaller companies will fail or be acquired due to an inability to reach volume production. The market will likely see volatility during 2012 as some supplier agreements change hands, the report suggests.

Despite significant investment in battery production and technology development in the United States during the past three years, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese companies currently lead in global sales of electric vehicle batteries, and they are likely to continue doing so in the near term.

The market will likely see volatility during 2012 as some supplier agreements change hands, and some smaller companies will likely fail or be acquired due to an inability to reach volume production.
—research director John Gartner

Pike ranked LG Chem highest in both the Strategy and Execution categories in this Pike Pulse. The company has a diversified customer base of international automotive OEMs that are expected to be among the most successful sellers of hybrid and plug-in electric vehicles. This customer base will likely give LG Chem the largest market share for EV batteries in 2012, Pike suggests. In addition, the company has outlined a clear and consistent vision for developing and marketing its technology and has established manufacturing centers in proximity to its major customers.

Ranking second in both Strategy and Execution is Johnson Controls Inc., which sells Li-ion batteries to makers of both hybrid electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in all three of the major regions offering EVs: North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. The company’s diverse product portfolio and its development of energy storage technologies have created a positive reputation for quality within the automotive industry, but it must still translate its automotive relationships into a more significant market share to be considered a leader, according to Pike.

Pike’s Top 10
1	LG Chem
2	Johnson Controls
3	GS Yuasa
4	AESC
5	A123 Systems
6	Panasonic Group
7	SB LiMotive
8	Hitachi Vehicle Energy
9	BYD
10	Electrovaya

Teijin commercializing new high-performance Li-ion separators with flourine-based coating; output improved up to 20%

2012-02-06T02:08:00-08:00

Teijin Limited is introducing Lielsort separators for lithium-ion secondary batteries (LIBs) featuring the world’s first coating made of a fluorine-based compound. Teijin will offer two types of separators under the Lielsort brand, including a highly heat-resistant separator the company developed in 2007.

The highly heat-resistant separator coated with Teijinconex meta-aramid fibers maintains its shape even at 250°C. In spot heating tests, Teijin has verified that the separator does not break down even at 350°C.

The new separator is designed for use in laminated-type LIBs. Such LIBs, which feature a gel polymer electrolyte, are used in tablets and smartphones. The new separator readily adheres to the polymer electrolyte and is highly resistant to oxidation, resulting in LIBs that offer greater safety, higher output and longer lifespans. Also, due to the separator’s superior resistance to oxidation, it enables high capacity and energy density for liquid-electrolyte cylindrical LIBs used in products including PCs and vehicles. These LIBs also achieve higher levels of safety and longer lifespans than conventional LIBs.

Lielsort, in addition to improving output by about 20% compared to conventional LIBs, also can be combined with a high-potential positive electrode to extend the battery’s lifespan by several times longer than batteries with existing separators, according to the company.

High-power, high-capacity, high-energy-density LIBs have potential for numerous applications, including tablets and vehicles, the two main uses that are propelling the current LIB separator market. Teijin’s sales target for its separator business is ¥20 billion (US$260 million) by the year 2020.

Teijin has used its expertise in polymeric chemistry to develop the first technology for simultaneously coating both sides of the separator. It also developed a high-speed coating technology that is five times faster than conventional coating. Both technologies enable more efficient production.

To support full-scale commercialization, Teijin has established a separator manufacturing company in Asan, South Korea called Teijin CNF Korea Co., Ltd. The company, a joint venture with CNF, a major film processor, will begin production in June. Teijin also established a wholly owned subsidiary called Teijin Electronics Korea Co., Ltd. to sell both separators. The Seoul-based company began operating in January.

This production and sales network, which has close connections to South Korean companies, world leaders in LIB production, also will provide Teijin with a secure foothold for penetrating the Chinese market.

Teijin’s Lielsort separators, which have already been approved by leading battery manufacturers, are now ready for initial shipments.

Teijin is a global technology-driven group operating in eight main fields: aramid fibers; carbon fibers & composites; polyester fibers; plastics; films; medical & pharmaceuticals; fiber products marketing; and IT businesses. Teijin Limited, the holding company for the Teijin Group, is listed on the Tokyo and Osaka stock exchanges. The group, comprising 150 companies and 17,542 employees worldwide, had consolidated sales of ¥815.7 billion (US$10.6 billion) and total assets of ¥761.5 billion (US$9.9 billion) in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2011.

Sermatec Zanini and GeoSynFuels form strategic alliance for commercialization of cellulosic ethanol technology in Latin America

2012-02-06T02:00:00-08:00

Sermatec Zanini, one of the largest EPC companies in Brazil specializing in sugar cane processing, and GeoSynFuels, LLC (GSF) recently formed a strategic alliance for the development and commercialization of GSF’s proprietary cellulosic ethanol technology. The strategic alliance allows Sermatec Zanini to earn an equity position in GeoSynFuels in exchange for engineering services and a future role in the sales and marketing of the technology in Latin America.

The initial focus of the strategic alliance will be the construction and operation of a demonstration plant adjacent to a Brazilian sugar cane mill to treat sugar cane bagasse. This activity will set the stage for the commercialization of the technology in Brazil’s well-established sugar cane milling industry. The global annual ethanol potential of the technology is approximately 10 billion gallons with 4.5 billion gallons of that being centrally located in Brazil, according to the partners.

GSF is a private, US-based company that has developed an economic method for the production of biofuels and biochemicals (including cellulosic ethanol and acetic acid). This technology “bolts-on” to existing sugar cane processing facilities (or other biomass facilities) and enables the production of significant incremental ethanol at low cost, according to GSF.

Biochemical and biofuel pathways. The 5CS pathway is represented at the bottom. Source: GSF. Click to enlarge.

The 5CS Technology provides a plug-and-play ethanol package to existing biomass aggregators such as sugar cane processors and pulp mills. The process has the potential to provide new coproduct ethanol revenues to both industries. Additionally, the 5CS process has the potential to be applied to the front-end of biomass-to-energy facilities including applications such as cogeneration and pellet plants.

The 5CS process extracts only the hemicellulose from the sugar cane residue (bagasse) or wood for conversion into ethanol while leaving the feedstock relatively unaltered and suitable for its original usage, combustion or paper making. The foundation of the technology is the ability to economically extract and convert the hemicellulose-based sugars.

The new venture will be managed through GSF’s wholly owned Brazilian subsidiary, TenX Biofuels Participações Ltda (TXB), which has been granted a royalty-free exclusive license to the 5CS Technology.

2nd Law analysis of LTC diesel engine

2012-02-05T07:46:46-08:00

Dr. Jerald Caton and PhD candidate Junnian Zheng of Texas A&M University report on their use of an engine cycle simulation to evaluate the energy and exergy distribution of various processes in a low temperature combustion (LTC) diesel engine in a paper published in the journal Energy.

Low temperature combustion regimes with high levels of EGR and late injection are of interest because of the potential reduction of both NO_x and PM emissions. However, they note, there are few detailed thermodynamic evaluations including second law analysis of the LTC engine.

They first validated their model with experimental data at eight operating conditions including four different EGR levels and two different injection timings. They then used the model to evaluate the effect of EGR level and injection timing on the first and second law parameters.

As EGR was increased, intake temperature and equivalence ratio increased. Results showed that for the case at 0% EGR level with conventional injection timing, about 30% of the fuel exergy was destructed during combustion processes, and as EGR level increased to 45% (intake temperature and equivalence ratio also increased), the combustion destructed exergy decreased to 20% of the fuel exergy. This was largely due to the related combustion temperature increase.

For both conventional (−6.5° aTDC) and late (1.5° aTDC) injection timings, the percentage of exergy transfer through flows increases as EGR increases, which is attributed to the retarded ignition by increasing EGR. Other parameters such as energy and exergy transfer due to heat transfer, blow-by, and unburned fuel also were determined as a function of EGR level and injection timing.

Resources

Junnian Zheng, Jerald A. Caton (2012) Second law analysis of a low temperature combustion diesel engine: Effect of injection timing and exhaust gas recirculation, Energy, Volume 38, Issue 1, Pages 78-84 doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2011.12.034

Honda begins installation of solar power generation systems at automobile dealership locations in Japan

2012-02-05T05:13:00-08:00

Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has installed a 9 kW-capacity solar power generation system at the Adachi Odai location of the Honda Cars Tokyo Chuo dealer network. The installation is the kick-off of a project to install Honda Soltec solar power generation systems with a total capacity of 1 MW at Honda automobile dealership locations in Japan by 31 March 2014.

Honda has been installing solar power generation systems at Honda operations in Japan. The combined capacity of solar power generation systems installed to date has reached 3.3 megawatts, the largest in Japan among all automakers operating. Honda has been already installing solar power generation systems at some Honda automobile dealership locations; however, in order to further extend the effort to reduce CO₂ emissions in the area of sales, Honda made a decision to pursue this large-scale installation of solar power generation systems that includes the installation of a display monitor which shows current power generating situation of solar panels to customers who visit the dealership location.

Furthermore, Honda is planning to install a 2.6-megawatt Honda Soltec solar power generation system to the new Yorii Plant, which is scheduled to become operational in 2013. This will be the largest solar power generation system installed at an automobile production plant in Japan.

Honda Soltec’s CIGS (copper, indium, gallium and selenium) thin-film solar cells require significantly less energy during the manufacturing process and generate more electricity even during cloudy weather or morning and evening hours compared to crystalline silicon solar cells. The CO₂ reduction effect of the planned installation of 1 megawatt of solar power generation system to dealership locations is estimated to be approximately 310 tons.

GS Yuasa will triple Li-ion battery supply to Honda

2012-02-05T04:03:00-08:00

Nikkei. GS Yuasa Corp. plans to boost lithium-ion battery output for Honda Motor Co.'s hybrid vehicles threefold to 15 million cells by fall 2012.

The production hike will be achieved by expanding and strengthening facilities at a Kyoto plant of Blue Energy Co., a joint venture with Honda, at a total cost of about 10 billion yen.

The plant currently produces 5 million cells a year for the Civic Hybrid sold in North America. Its output capacity will be increased to also supply batteries for a plug-in hybrid that Honda plans to launch in Japan and the US later this year. The capacity hike will give the plant the ability to supply enough lithium ion batteries for 200,000 to 300,000 hybrids and plug-in hybrids a year.

US BLM issues draft PEIS for oil shale and oil sands; significantly scales back public land available for commercial leasing

2012-02-04T10:26:02-08:00

The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has published the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) and Possible Land Use Amendments for Allocation of Oil Shale and Tar Sands Resources on Lands Administered by the BLM in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The publication opens a 90-day public review and comment period.

Any new land allocation decisions made on the basis of the Final PEIS would replace the land allocation decisions made in 2008 that proposed making up to 2 million acres of public lands available for commercial oil shale leasing in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming and 431,000 acres available for oil sands leasing in Utah.

The Draft PEIS analyzes several alternatives for land allocation and resource management. If the BLM decides to adopt the Preferred Alternative, 461,965 acres would be available for research and development of oil shale, a kerogen-rich rock (35,308 acres in Colorado; 252,181 acres in Utah; and 174,476 acres in Wyoming). In addition, 91,045 acres in eastern Utah would be available for activities related to oil sands.

Oil shale is a term used to describe a wide range of fine-grained, sedimentary rocks that contain solid bituminous materials called kerogen. It should not be confused with “shale oil,” which is not addressed by the draft PEIS. Kerogen, which is organic matter derived mainly from aquatic organisms, releases petroleum-like liquids when subjected to high temperatures. Developers have been trying to produce oil from this rock in an economically-viable way for more than a century. The majority of US oil shale (and the world’s largest oil shale deposit) is found in the Green River Formation in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

Oil sands (tar sands) are sedimentary rocks containing a heavy hydrocarbon compound called bitumen. They can be mined and processed to extract the oil-rich bitumen, which is then refined into oil. However, unlike the oil sands deposits in Canada, oil is not currently produced from oil sands on a significant commercial level in the United States. Additionally, the US tar sands are hydrocarbon-wet (“oil-wet”), whereas the Canadian oil sands are water-wet. This difference means that US tar sands will require different processing techniques.

Because there are still many unanswered questions about the technology, water use, and impacts of potential commercial-scale oil shale development, we are proposing a prudent and orderly approach that could facilitate significant improvements to technology needed for commercial-scale activity. If oil shale is to be viable on a commercial scale, we must take a common-sense approach that encourages research and development first.
—BLM Director Bob Abbey

To date, technological and economic conditions have not combined to support a sustained commercial oil shale industry in the United States, and there is currently no commercial development of oil shale in the areas under review in the draft PEIS. Lands that would be open to oil shale development under the Preferred Alternative would be available for Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) leases. The BLM could issue a commercial lease after a lessee satisfies the conditions of its RD&D lease and meets all federal regulations for conversion to a commercial lease.

Additionally, following the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office—which determined that several fundamental questions about oil shale technologies remain unanswered, including critical questions about water demands—the United States Geological Survey (USGS) is undertaking an analysis of baseline water resources conditions to improve the understanding of groundwater and surface water systems that could be affected by commercial-scale oil shale development.

A 90-day public review and comment period began on 3 February 2012 and is scheduled to end on 4 May 2012. Public meetings on the Draft PEIS will also be held in Rifle, CO; Rock Springs, WY; Salt Lake City; and Vernal, UT.

Background. In September 2008, BLM issued a Proposed Plan Amendments/Final Oil Shale and Tar Sands (OSTS) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) analyzing the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of amending land use plans in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to designate public lands administered by the BLM as available for commercial leasing for oil shale or oil sands development.

The November 17, 2008, Record of Decision (ROD) that followed this PEIS adopted the proposed land use amendments reflecting the allocation decisions analyzed in the OSTS PEIS. These land allocation decisions, which are currently in effect, were challenged in a lawsuit brought by a coalition of environmental organizations in January 2009. As part of a settlement agreement entered into by the United States to resolve the lawsuit, the BLM is reexamining the land allocations and is considering excluding certain lands from future leasing of oil shale and tar sands resources.

The BLM proposes to amend 10 land use plans in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to describe those areas that will be open and those that will be closed to application for commercial leasing, exploration, and development of oil shale and tar sands resources. The analyses in the current PEIS have been developed to evaluate the effects of this proposed action and its alternatives.

The alternatives considered by the BLM in the current PEIS include:

Alternative 1, No Action Alternative, No Change to 2008 Decision, Oil Shale. Lands available for lease under the 2008 land use plan would remain available for future leasing consideration.
Alternative 1, No Action Alternative, No Change to 2008 Decision, Tar Sands.
Alternative 2, Oil Shale Conservation Focus Alternative (2a), and with RD&D First Requirement (2b), Oil Shale. Under this alternative, 10 land use plans in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming would be amended to designate less than 830,000 acres as available for future commercial leasing. The 2b variant maintains the lands open for future leasing consideration as the same as those in Alternative 2(a), but only for RD&D leases.
Alternative 2, Conservation Focus Alternative, Tar Sands. Under this alternative, six land use plans in Utah would be amended to designate less 18 than 229,000 acres as 19 available for future commercial oil sands leasing.
Alternative 3, Oil Shale Research Lands Focus (RD&D with PRLA only), Oil Shale. Under this alternative, 10 land use plans would be amended such that public lands for commercial leasing would be available only where there were existing RD&D leases at the time the ROD for the 2012 Final OSTS PEIS is signed. The six current RD&D leases contain terms and conditions that could allow commercial development of the original leases and the associated preference right lease area (PRLA) totaling 30,720 acres. Another three potential RD&D leases (two in Colorado and one in Utah) are currently undergoing NEPA analysis.

Maximum acreage of these three leases, if approved, would be 1,920 acres, bringing the total acreage to 32,640 acres as available for potential oil shale leasing under this alternative.
Alternative 3, Pending Commercial Lease, Tar Sands. Because there is no specific “RD&D” program for oil sands, this alternative would also analyze foregoing the leasing of tar sands for the commercial development of fluid mineral resources, entirely, except for one tar sands lease currently under consideration.
Alternative 4, 2008 Moderate Development Alternative (2008 OSTS PEIS ROD minus Adobe Town and ACECs) (4a), and with RD&D First Requirement (4b), Oil Shale. Under Alternative 4, the BLM would amend 10 land use plans in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to designate acreage less than 2,017,714 acres as available for future consideration for leasing for commercial oil shale leasing and less than 430,686 acres as available for application for commercial tar sands leasing.
Alternative 4, Tar Sands Moderate Development Alternative (2008 OSTS PEIS ROD minus Adobe Town and ACECs), Tar Sands. Under Alternative 4, the BLM would amend four land use plans in Utah to designate acreage less than 430,686 acres as available for application for commercial tar sands leasing.

Preferred Alternative. The BLM has chosen Alternative 2(b) as the preferred alternative for oil shale, and Alternative 2 as the preferred alternative for tar sands. With respect to oil shale, the BLM would like to maintain focus on RD&D projects, so as to obtain more information about the technological requirements for development of this resource, as well as the environmental implications, before committing to broad-scale commercial development. For instance, the BLM looks forward to gaining a clearer understanding of the implications of development of oil shale for water quality and quantity.

Water-wet vs. oil-wet. The term oil sands or tar sands describes sandstones or friable sand (quartz) laden with a viscous, extra-heavy crude oil known as bitumen. Significant amounts of fine material, usually largely or completely clay, are also present. The degree of porosity—which varies from deposit to deposit—is an important characteristic in terms of recovery processes.

In the PEIS, BLM notes that the properties and composition of the oil sands and the bitumen significantly influence the selection of recovery and treatment processes and vary among deposits. In water-wet sands such as in the Canadian Athabasca deposit, a layer of water surrounds the sand grain, and the bitumen partially fills the voids between the wet grains.

By contrast, oil sands in Utah lack the water layer. The bitumen is directly in contact with the sand grains without any intervening water and are referred to as “oil-wet.”

Utah deposits range from largely consolidated sands with low porosity and permeability to, in some cases, unconsolidated sands. High concentrations of heteroatoms tend to increase viscosity, increase the bonding of bitumen with minerals, reduce yields, and make processing more difficult, according to the PEIS.

Resources

2012 Oil Shale and Tar Sands Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement

SPX and Aker Wade partner to develop new low-cost fast chargers for EVs

2012-02-04T07:39:40-08:00

SPX Service Solutions, a business unit of SPX Corporation (earlier post), and Aker Wade Power Technologies, LLC, a designer and manufacturer of advanced fast charging systems (earlier post), signed a letter of intent jointly to develop a new family of practical electric vehicle (EV) fast chargers for the global vehicle market.

These new charge stations will utilize an all-in-one connector from SAE that provides Level 1, 2, and DC Fast Charging for any EV, with a power level that permits fast charging. (Earlier post.) A typical 100-mile range EV with a 25 kWh battery pack can add an additional 50 miles in less than 20 minutes, and deliver a full charge of 100 miles in approximately 40 minutes. The first product, a 30 kW dealership-based unit, will be available in North America and Europe and meet SAE and IEC standards.

The new charge station is designed to be a low-cost, wall-mounted indoor unit aimed initially at vehicle dealerships. It features an ergonomically designed connector handle for easy and safe operation and utilizes high frequency power conversion technology for efficient power delivery. Future products leveraging the same technology will be launched to accommodate outdoor applications such as retail and public locations and other global charging standards/protocols.

DC fast charge infrastructure will reduce range anxiety, which will encourage the more widespread adoption of EVs. With SPX’s global presence and Aker Wade’s expertise in fast charging, we can offer a solution that will allow dealer networks to play an active role in EV sales and customer service.
—Tanvir Arfi, president of SPX Service Solutions

The letter of intent signed by SPX Service Solutions and Aker Wade outlines parameters for a partnership that is expected to be formally established in Q2 2012. Details will be released at that time, along with details of the fast charger expected to be available by early 2013.

SPX Service Solutions is a leading global developer and manufacturer of advanced diagnostic systems and service solutions for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), their dealer networks, and retail and aftermarket channels. The business also provides consulting, strategy and technical information for vehicle servicing and maintenance, as well as for charging and the servicing of electric vehicles. The company is working with GM and Daimler for charging stations and installation services for the Chevy Volt and smart fortwo electric drive and Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL, respectively.

Imperial Oil approves $2B in situ oil sands expansion project

2012-02-04T04:30:00-08:00

Imperial Oil Limited has approved a $2 billion expansion of the company’s Cold Lake in situ oil sands operation in northeastern Alberta. The expansion, called Nabiye, will bring on additional commercial bitumen production of more than 40,000 barrels per day at Cold Lake.

The project will access 280 million barrels of recoverable reserves and is expected to start-up by year-end 2014.

The Nabiye expansion will include development of a new steam generation and bitumen-processing plant, field production pads and associated facilities. As with any large and long-life asset, sustaining capital to support the continued operation will be required over the asset life.

Imperial received original regulatory approvals for Nabiye in 2004. Amended regulatory approvals were obtained in 2010 to improve the environmental performance of the Nabiye expansion. The improvements include a 170-MW cogeneration facility to enhance the plant’s energy efficiency and a reduced land footprint for field production pads.

Imperial’s Cold Lake facility is the largest and longest-running in situ oil sands operation in Canada, and includes four steam generation and bitumen production plants. The operation produced an average of 160,000 barrels of bitumen per day in 2011.

USDA announces $50M funding for two renewable energy programs; renewable biomass and biofuels

2012-02-04T04:00:00-08:00

US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the availability of funds for Fiscal Year 2012 for two key programs to encourage the use of renewable biomass and production of advanced biofuels. About $25 million will be made available through each program.

Up to $25 million will be available to advanced biofuels producers who expect to produce eligible advanced biofuels at any time during Fiscal Year 2012. To be eligible for these funds, an advanced biofuels producers must have enrolled in the program by 31 October 2011, even if the producer has an existing contract with the Agency.

Payments will be made to producers of advanced biofuels derived from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel starch. These include cellulose, sugar and starch, crop residue, vegetative waste material, animal waste, food and yard waste, vegetable oil, animal fat, and biogas. Contract payments will be made quarterly.

The Repowering Assistance Program provides approximately $25 million in funding to biorefineries that have been in existence on or before June 18, 2008. The purpose of the program is to provide a financial incentive to biorefineries to use renewable biomass in place of fossil fuels used to produce heat or power. By providing this assistance, USDA is helping these facilities install new systems that use renewable biomass.

The amount of the payment will be based on (1) the cost effectiveness of the renewable biomass system; and (2) the percentage reduction in fossil fuels used by that biorefinery. The maximum amount an individual biorefinery can receive under the Notice is 50% of total eligible project costs up to a maximum of $10 million.