Shell develops new concept synthetic lubricant for engines; up to 6.5% fuel economy benefit on urban cycle
A collaboration between research teams at Shell and Gordon Murray Design (GMD) recently led to the development of an innovative concept engine lubricant capable of achieving a 6.5% improvement in fuel efficiency on an urban cycle, and a 4.6% benefit on…
ICCT report highlights importance of California ZEV mandate for EV policies worldwide, recommends steps forward
California’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate (earlier post) remains an indispensable driver of electric vehicle policies worldwide, unique in its ability to foster technology-neutral research and development, according to a new report by the Inte…
The largest U.S. railroads will spend an estimated $12 billion on…
The largest U.S. railroads will spend an estimated $12 billion on capital improvements this year, easily outpacing the record capital expenditures of $10.7 billion they made in 2010.
Higher Gas Tax Means Lower Economic Vulnerability
Proposing a higher gas tax is pretty much political suicide, and nobody wants to pay more for gas. A new study suggests that a higher gas tax could actually lower America’s vulnerability to gas price spikes.
The United States has the lowest gas taxe…
DOE finalizes $50M loan for Vehicle Production Group for wheelchair-accessible natural gas vehicle
The US Department of Energy (DOE) finalized a nearly $50 million loan to The Vehicle Production Group LLC; the loan will support the development of the six-passenger MV-1, a purpose-built wheelchair accessible vehicle that will run on compressed natura…
No Subaru hybrid until late 2013
The Subaru Tourer hybrid concept
Bigger cars the interim focus
While hybrid cars and Subaru seem a marriage made in heaven, the car angels won’t bestow such a gift upon Subaru fans until late 2013 according to the latest Subaru plans.
Instead, in a bit…
Continental to begin series production of fuel pump with integrated electronics; reduced consumption
Demand regulated fuel pump with integrated electronic reduces fuel consumption. Click to enlarge.
Continental will begin series production of its demand-regulated fuel pump technology with integrated electronics. From 2013, a major European vehicl…
TCP: Just Another Cycle, or New Beginning for Trucking?
“Not since deregulation in 1981 has the trucking industry faced the degree of growing demand coupled with unbridled opportunity, over-written with the degree of uncertainty of new regulations, rising costs and an economy emerging from a recession,” beg…
GS Yuasa Lithium Power introduces LIM50E series of Li-ion battery modules for industrial and grid-storage markets
GS Yuasa Lithium Power, Inc. has introduced two new lithium-ion battery modules—LIM50E-7G and LIM50E-8G—targeted at applications including utility grid ancillary support, community energy storage, industrial electric vehicles, telecommunications ba…
How to bring down the costs of lithium-ion battery technologies
Is lithium or some other battery technology the key to mainstreaming plug-ins.
Making hybrids and plug-ins cheaper
One of the keys to hybrid and plug-in vehicle success is obviously cheaper costs, and that basically boils down to cheaper batteries. So,…