Gevo Produces Isobutanol, Hydrocarbons and Renewable Jet Fuel from Cellulosic Biomass (Green Car Congress, 1280422200|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Gevo’s production process. Click to enlarge. Gevo, a privately held renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels company (earlier post), has successfully produced isobutanol from fermentable sugars derived from cellulosic biomass. The company also successfully converted the cellulosic isobutanol into isobutylene and...

Clean Cities Autogas Vehicle Conversion Program Rolls Out First of 1,189 LPG Cars in Virginia (Green Car Congress, 1280419320|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
The first vehicle converted to propane Autogas under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is on the road, with thirty more program vehicles slated to be running on Autogas by the end of August. Administered by Virginia Clean Cities at...

Ford Anticipates 10-25% Of Its Global Fleet to Be Electrified by 2020 (Green Car Congress, 1280416800|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Ford anticipates that electrified vehicles—hybrids (HEV), plug-in hybrids (PHEV), and battery-electric vehicles (BEV)—will represent 2-5% of its global fleet by 2015, and then increase rapidly to 10-25% of its global fleet by 2020, said Nancy Gioia, Ford’s Director of Global...

Porsche Developing Trio of Hybrid-Electric Cars (EVWorldwire, 1280416500|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
In addition to 911 GT3 hybrid race car, Porsche has given go ahead for development of plug-in hybrid version of 918 Spyder

North East England Electric Car Scheme Gathers Momentum (EVWorldwire, 1280416500|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Twelve 50kW quick charging stations will join the 1,300 to be installed by 2013.

FRA to Award Up To $25M to RD Projects Supporting the Development of High Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail Service (Green Car Congress, 1280412240|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
The US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA-2010-1) soliciting a variety of basic and applied technology research proposals to advance the state of the art in the high-speed rail and intercity passenger service area. Estimated...

Ocean Power Technologies Wins £1.5 Million Award in UK To Spur Development of Higher Output PowerBuoy (Green Car Congress, 1280410440|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. UK-based subsidiary, Ocean Power Technologies, Ltd, has been awarded a £1.5 million (approximately $2.3 million) grant from the South West of England Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) for the development of its next-generation 500kW PowerBuoy wave power...

TRW Forecasts Electric Park Brakes on 1 in 5 European Passenger Cars by 2015 (Green Car Congress, 1280408700|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. is forecasting—based on vehicle manufacturer data—that Electric Park Brake (EPB) technology will be standard on one in five of all European-built vehicles by 2015. Its projections also show that approximately half of the mid- to larger-sized...

Capstone to Demonstrate Heavy-Duty Hybrid Electric Drive System with Major US Truck OEM (Green Car Congress, 1280396400|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Capstone HEV truck solution. Source: Capstone. Click to enlarge. Capstone Turbine Corporation has initiated a demonstration project with a major US manufacturer of Class 5 through Class 8 heavy duty trucks that will utilize a Capstone 65 kW microturbine as...

New Nexteer Polyamide Rack Bearing Improves Feel and Noise of EPS Systems (Green Car Congress, 1280394900|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Nexteer’s eccentric rack bearing reduces EPS systems’ noise and friction, important factors in a vehicle’s perceived quality. Click to enlarge. Electric power steering specialist Nexteer Automotive has developed a polyamide eccentric rack bearing that has superior NVH (noise, vibration and...

CORE BioFuel Engages RECAT Technologies to Pilot Biomass-to-Gasoline Production Reactors (Green Car Congress, 1280394780|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
CORE BioFuel Inc., a Canadian biofuel company that is commercializing an advanced biomass-to-gasoline production process (earlier post), has engaged RECAT Technologies to complete a pilot of gasoline production reactors. The MKS process is a thermochemical process combining gasification and catalysts...

Study Finds Controlling Soot May Be Fastest Method to Reduce Arctic Ice Loss and Global Warming; Second-Leading Cause of Global Warming After CO2 (Green Car Congress, 1280393100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Controlling soot from fossil fuels and solid biofuels may be a faster method of reducing Arctic ice loss and global warming than other options, including controlling CH4 or CO2, although all controls are needed, according to a new study by...

City of Ann Arbor Receives Four Hydraulic Hybrid Recycling Trucks; 30% Reduction in Fuel Consumption and Emissions (Green Car Congress, 1280360460|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Eaton Corporation and the City of Ann Arbor announced the first deployment in Michigan of recycling trucks that utilize Eaton’s Hydraulic Launch Assist (HLA) hybrid power system. (Earlier post.) The four trucks, based on the Peterbilt Model 320 Hybrid with...

Senate Energy Bill Contains $3.8B for Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion and Purchasing, $400M for Plug-in Vehicle Deployment (Green Car Congress, 1280340660|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
On Tuesday, US Senate Majority leader Harry Reid released the “Clean Energy Jobs 5 and Oil Company Accountability Act of 2010”—the latest version of the energy bill to emerge from the Senate. Division B of the bill outlines two major...

Nissan Releases Warranty Details on Electric LEAF Powertrain (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Warranty is for 8 years or 100,000 miles.

Clean Jobs Bill Includes Provisions to Bolster Electric Cars (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Bill would appropriate $2 billion for Electric Vehicle Deployment Communities.

Shanghai to Submit New Alt-Energy Vehicle Subsidy Plan (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
City could double existing subsidy worth equivalent of $885.

British Gov't Spares Electric Car Grants (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Anyone who buys an electric plug-in car from next year will get a 25% discount up to a maximum of 5,000.

GM Announces Electric, Plug-In Vehicle Demos in China (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
In addition to vehicles like the Volt, battery-electric cars will also be trialed.

PSA to Build Plug-In Hybrid in China Before 2015 (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Vehicle to be build in partnership with Dongfeng.

How CMU Is Rebuilding the Electric Car (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Goal is to make Pittsburgh the affordable electric car conversion capital of America.

ECOtality Introduces Two New Electric Car Chargers (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Currently be tested by UL, both Level 2 units are connected to 240V AC circuits for full charges in 2 to 6 hours.

Duel of the Electric Car Strategies (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
General Motors and Nissan are pursuing different strategies in their development of electric-drive cars; the question is, which will consumer's accept?

Why We Fight for Oil (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
So we can have the oil we need to fight.

China Considers Requiring All Private Cars Be Micro Hybrids (EVWorldwire, 1280330100|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Proposed policy mplementation could come as soon as 2012.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Sprout at Plug-in 2010 (Green Car Congress, 1280329260|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Blink residential unit. Source: Ecotality. Click to enlarge. With the market increasingly focusing on infrastructure to support the anticipated surge of plug-in vehicles produced and planned, electric vehicle supply equipment (charging stations)—including a new inductive charging system—appeared prominently on the...

Nissans US Roll-Out Plan for the LEAF (Green Car Congress, 1280324760|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Nissan’s LEAF EV first will be available to consumers in December, in California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona and Tennessee. These areas are home to The EV Project—the largest electric vehicle and infrastructure deployment yet undertaken. The EV Project is a result...

UK Consumers to Receive Up To £5,000 Towards Purchase of Ultra-Low Carbon Car (Green Car Congress, 1280324220|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
UK Transport Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed today that motorists will receive up to £5,000 (US$7,800) towards purchase of an ultra-low carbon car from January 2011. The consumer grant will reduce the up-front cost of eligible vehicles by 25%, capped at...

Mitsubishi Fuso Introduces Double-Clutch Transmission for Truck (Green Car Congress, 1280322720|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Mitsubishi Fuso has introduced a double-clutch transmission in commercial vehicles. Known as the "Duonic", this double-clutch transmission combines automated driving with the advantages of a manual transmission. The new double-clutch transmission for commercial vehicles drives like an automatic transmission, but...

US Departments of Energy and Defense Partner to Accelerate Energy Innovation (Green Car Congress, 1280321700|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
The US Departments of Energy (DOE) and Defense (DOD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to accelerate clean energy innovation and enhance national energy security. The MOU covers efforts in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water efficiency,...

9 Teams Advancing to Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE Validation Stage (Green Car Congress, 1280313000|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Nine Finalist teams in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE have made it through on-track testing at Michigan International Speedway (MIS) and now move into a Validation stage before prize money will be awarded this September. What began as a...

Algae Technology Company OriginOil Announces Revenue from First Customer (Green Car Congress, 1280310300|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
OriginOil, Inc. recently notified Australia-based MBD Energy Limited that it is ready to ship a Quantum Fracturing System for algae, the first unit in a multi-phase commercialization program. (Earlier post.) The notification triggers a payment under a purchase order from...

RheTech Introduces Biocomposite for Automotive, Consumer and Construction Applications (Green Car Congress, 1280307720|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
RheTech, Inc., a thermoplastics compounder, has launched a new product line of biocomposite materials. Called RheVision, the proprietary product is a sustainable alternative to traditional mineral- or glass-reinforced polypropylene. RheVision uses bio-fibers from waste materials (initially wood fiber, rice hulls...

ClipperCreek and Silver Spring Join PGE and EPRI in EV Smart Charging Pilot (Green Car Congress, 1280306940|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
ClipperCreek, Inc., a producer of plug-in electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and partner Silver Spring Networks, a provider of smart grid solutions, are participating in a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) pilot program sponsored by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E)...

Dresser Wayne Blender Pumps Receive Final UL Safety Certification (Green Car Congress, 1280268780|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Growth Energy, the coalition of US ethanol supporters, along with Dresser Wayne announced that Underwriters Laboratory (UL) has issued certification to the dual hose ethanol blender available in Dresser Wayne Ovation eco fuel dispensers. This certification will help fuel retailers...

DOE Selects Four Advanced Coal or Coal/Biomass Gasification Projects for Up To $5.9M in Funding to Test Membrane Separation Technology (Green Car Congress, 1280263500|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has selected four advanced coal gasification projects for funding of up to $5.9 million, with an addition $1.7 million of non-Federal cost sharing funds. The projects will test membrane technology to separate hydrogen and...

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to Begin Offering Electric Vehicles in US (Green Car Congress, 1280259240|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Enterprise Rent-A-Car will begin a phased introduction of electric vehicles (EVs) at select offices throughout its neighborhood network of more than 5,000 US locations. Delivery of 500 Nissan LEAFs will begin in January 2011 and will continue throughout the year....

Liquid Phase Methanol Process Licensed to Biofuel Producer (Green Car Congress, 1280248740|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
The Liquid Phase Methanol (LPMEOH) Process, funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and developed in collaboration with Air Products and Chemicals Inc., has been licensed to Woodland Biofuel Inc., which intends to use the technology to develop a...

Buick Sells 100,000th LaCrosse in China (Green Car Congress, 1280247000|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Less than a year after its launch in China, sales of the new Buick LaCrosse have reached 100,000 units. The LaCrosse is the fastest-growing member of China’s premium upper-medium sedan segment. In the first six months of 2010, the LaCrosse...

Nissan to Warranty LEAF Battery for 8 Years, 100,000 Miles (Green Car Congress, 1280246520|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
Nissan will warranty the battery pack in its LEAF EV for 8 years and 100,000 miles, according to Carlos Tavares, executive vice president and a member of the Board of Directors of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., in his talk at...

Chevrolet Volt MSRP Starts at $41,000, $33,500 Net of Full Federal Credit; 3-year Lease Program with Option to Buy (Green Car Congress, 1280246460|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
GM will introduce the Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle with a starting MSRP of $41,000; after applying the Federal income tax credit of $7,500, the price drops to $33,500. Chevrolet will also offer a lease program on the Volt...

Strong Global Sales for Chevrolet Cruze Prior to US Introduction; More Details on Its New Small-Displacement Engines (Green Car Congress, 1280245380|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
2011 Ecotec 1.4L I-4 VVT Turbo (LUJ) for Chevrolet Cruze. Click to enlarge. Internationally, customers have purchased 140,000 Chevrolet Cruze in the first six months of 2010 and a total of 270,000 since Cruze launched in the spring of 2009...

PGE First to Receive Two Raser EREV Fleet Trucks by End of 2010 (Green Car Congress, 1280236500|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover)
PG&E will receive two EREV (extended range electric vehicle) fleet trucks modified with Raser’s E-REV powertrain for initial testing and demonstration before the end of 2010. (Earlier post.) The extended range electric pick-up truck features a 40-mile all-electric range, with...