Transportation News

A sustainable campus is built from 22 recycled shipping containers

Sep 20, 2018: The International Sustainable Development Studies Institute in Thailand is taking their own teachings to heart with the development of a 17-shipping-container sustainable architectural design for their campus. The multi-unit complex includes classrooms, a library, gym, conference rooms, office, restrooms, kitchen, and outdoor spaces. Another container houses a cafe.  As an institution aimed at teaching others about sustainability, the ISDSI made every effort to minimize...

Worlds largest Victorian glasshouse receives a glorious restoration

Sep 20, 2018: After five years of restoration work, the iconic Temperate House recently reopened to the public, bringing with it an astounding 10,000 plants—many of which are rare and threatened. Designed by Decimus Burston and completed in 1899, the Temperate House is the world’s largest Victorian glasshouse and iconic landmark of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. To restore the building back to its full glory, Donald Insall Associates was called upon to sensitively renovate the greenhouse and insert modern...

Harvest your own produce at this solar-powered wellness retreat

Sep 20, 2018: The Inn at Moonlight Beach puts a fresh spin on wellness retreats. The inn, located near San Diego, California, was built with the WELL Building Standards in mind, a practice that uses the nearby environment to improve the well-being of its guests. Here’s a look at how the inn, built by architect Shangwen Kennedy, is a perfect destination for your next wellness vacation. Biodynamic Gardens The gardens do more than just grace the perimeter of the inn, lending a lush backdrop to view the ocean....

Columbia University engineers make breakthrough in understanding electroreduction of CO2 for conversion to electrofuels

Sep 20, 2018: Electrocatalysis and photocatalysis (artificial photosynthesis) are among the most promising ways to achieve effective storage for renewable energy. CO2 electroreduction has been capturing the imagination of researchers for more than 150 years because of its similarity to photosynthesis. Recent research in electrocatalytic CO2 conversion points the way to using CO2...

MAN exhibiting eTGE 4.140 electric van at IAA 2018; production starts in July 2019

Sep 20, 2018: The battery-electric MAN eTGE 4.140 van is celebrating its world première at the IAA 2018 Commercial Vehicles in Hanover. The MAN plant in Września will start production in July 2019. With a range of around 160 kilometers and a payload of 1 t–1.75 t (depending on type approval), it is...

MAN introduces practical 26-tonne electric truck based on TGM at IAA 2018

Sep 20, 2018: During the IAA 2018 from 20th to 27th September 2018 in Hanover, MAN will present a fully electric eTruck solo distributor chassis with a swap body frame and a 6x2 axle configuration. The 26-tonne truck, based on the MAN TGM, incorporates batteries that can be installed under the cab and...

MAN Truck & Bus presents electric delivery truck CitE at IAA 2018

Sep 20, 2018: At the IAA 2018, MAN Truck & Bus is presenting the MAN CitE 15-tonne electric truck concept, designed specifically for city cargo traffic. MAN engineers developed the concept in 18 months, leveraging the concepts of the short product development cycles of the software industry. A cross-functional team was drafted on...

MAN Engines showcasing D3876 diesel engine for EU Stage V locomotives without exhaust after-treatment systems

Sep 20, 2018: At InnoTrans 2018, the International Trade Fair for Transport Technology, MAN Engines is exhibiting the D3876 LE63x for locomotives, which produces 471 kW (632 hp) at 1,800 rpm. One of its outstanding features is the in-line six, which meets the EU Stage V emission standard for locomotives without the need...

Italy to start electric road trials; Scania and Siemens; zero-impact eHighway

Sep 20, 2018: The A35 Brebemi autostrada in northern Italy will become the latest location for road electrification technology, and Scania trucks fitted with Siemens pantographs and power connections are in line to carry out the initial trials. The trucks receive electricity from a pantograph power collector that is mounted on the frame...

SAIC showcases battery-electric Maxus EV80 van range at IAA

Sep 20, 2018: Maxus is presenting a range of zero emission EV80 battery electric vans at the 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover. The light commercial vehicle manufacturer, a subsidiary of China’s largest vehicle manufacturer SAIC Motor, is also announcing LeasePlan as its exclusive partner in Europe, as it prepares for its...

Researchers take first 3D images of microscopic hydrogen-embrittled cracks in metal

Sep 20, 2018: Microfractures in metal alloys, though impossible to see with the naked eye, can easily spread when exposed to water or hydrogen and lead to major problems in structures such as bridges, electrochemical and nuclear plants and hydrogen storage containers, leading to failures and expensive repairs. In a recent study involving...

LEED-targeted condos bring Scandinavian design to a Quebec forest

Sep 19, 2018: Montreal-based real estate developer KnightsBridge has recently unveiled Arborescence, an eco-friendly condominium project on Quebec’s Bromont Mountain that will likely be the latest addition to their line of LEED-certified properties. Quebec design practice ABCP Architecture designed the residential development, which will comprise approximately 260 units all for four-season use. The gabled structures are inspired heavily by Scandinavian design both inside and out and will embrace the outdoors...

Sustainable desert home has a small water footprint in Nevada

Sep 19, 2018: Las Vegas-based Hoogland Architecture designed the Arroyo House, a forever home for a couple with a penchant for the outdoors and sustainable design. Located in the tiny town of Blue Diamond just outside Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, the Arroyo House enjoys panoramic views of the landscape with nary a neighbor in sight. The 3,875-square-foot dwelling takes advantage of the views with full-height glazing that’s protected from the sun by large overhangs, while the water conservation and recycling...

Frank Gehry tops Facebook HQ expansion with a 3.6-acre rooftop park

Sep 19, 2018: Facebook recently unveiled a peek inside MPK 21, their newest campus building designed by Frank Gehry that was built in less than 18 months. Created as an extension to their headquarters in Menlo Park, California, this striking addition blurs the distinction between the indoors and outdoors with its massive walls of glass, expansive 3.6-acre rooftop garden, and sheltered courtyard—named The Town Square—planted with 40-foot-tall redwood trees. In addition to its abundance of plant life, the building...

Coop launches fragrance that smells of old milk to combat food waste

Sep 19, 2018: Food waste is a major issue all across the world but one Swedish-based company is doing something about it. A Swedish chain named Coop officially launched an old milk fragrance to urge citizens to use their sense of taste and smell before throwing away outdated food. A study by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency shows that 30 percent of food waste in Sweden is still edible. To combat wasting this amount of food, Coop, a popular grocery chain in the country, developed a spray that smells...

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles unveils 5 battery-electric and fuel cell vehicles; I.D. BUZZ CARGO

Sep 19, 2018: At the 69th IAA Commercial Vehicles show, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is unveiling five new zero-emission vehicles:the I.D. BUZZ CARGO, ABT e-Transporter, ABT e-Caddy, the Cargo e-Bike and the Crafter HyMotion which is equipped with a hydrogen fuel cell drive system. I.D. BUZZ CARGO. One month ago, Volkswagen introduced the first...

Fight food waste with these 11 ways to use leftover greens before they spoil

Sep 19, 2018: Salads are one of the healthiest foods out there. While they are chalked full of nutrients, salads usually do not make good leftovers. Luckily, there are other uses for these tasty foods that won’t make you feel like you’ve wasted money. Here are 10 different ways you can use leftover greens before they spoil. Sautéed Greens Certain types of greens, like arugula, kale, chard and spinach, are ideal for making stir fries and sautés. You add these greens with shallots, peppers, and garlic,...

Daimler invests in electric bus company Proterra; exploring electrification of Daimler’s Thomas Built school buses

Sep 19, 2018: Daimler Trucks & Buses is investing in the US company Proterra Inc. Martin Daum, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG with responsibility for Daimler Trucks & Buses, made the announcement at the 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover. Proterra was founded in 2004 with headquarters in California...

Cummins debuts PowerDrive plug-in-hybrid system; both series and parallel capabilities

Sep 19, 2018: Cummins Inc. unveiled PowerDrive, a suite of plug-in hybrid electric powertrain solutions spanning light-, medium- and heavy-duty applications, at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicle Show. The Cummins PowerDrive offers both parallel and series capabilities. The PowerDrive replaces the conventional transmission and switches in real time between two hybrid and two...

USC study finds particulate matter in air pollution affects thyroid development in fetuses

Sep 19, 2018: In a cohort study of a subset of 2050 newborns from the Children’s Health Study in southern California, researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) found that an increase of 2 standard deviations in prenatal exposure to particulate matter in air pollution was associated with higher newborn total thyroxine...

Ford reveals production version of Transit Custom PHEV at IAA Commercial Vehicles

Sep 19, 2018: Ford revealed the production version of the new Transit Custom plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) at IAA Commercial Vehicle show in Hannover, Germany. The Transit Custom PHEV targets an all-electric driving range of 50 kilometers (31 miles), and uses the multi-award-winning Ford 1.0-liter EcoBoost gasoline engine as a range extender...

TRATON Group announces two strategic partnerships: Solera and Sinotruk

Sep 19, 2018: TRATON AG, formerly Volkswagen Truck & Bus AG, announced two strategic partnerships. The first is with Solera, to develop smart and secure solutions to answer challenges of transport and logistics customers. The second is an expansion of TRATON’s long-term partnership with Sinotruk to establish a joint venture to localize a...

NY launches first EV charging station installation rebate initiative for public and private locations; $5M available

Sep 19, 2018: New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that $5 million is available as part of the first rebate designed specifically for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations at workplaces, office buildings, multi-family apartment buildings, and public locations such as theaters, malls, parks and retail locations. Administered by the New...

Stefano Boeri Architettis iridescent tower breaks ground in Tirana

Sep 18, 2018: Stefano Boeri Architetti, the Italian architecture firm behind the vertical forest towers, has unveiled designs for the Blloku Cube, a mixed-use high-rise marked by its distinctive energy-efficient cladding. Located in the heart of Albania’s capital of Tirana, the Blloku Cube is a multifunctional center instrumental in the Tirana 2030 master plan—also designed by Stefano Boeri Architetti—that aims to breathe new life into one of the most prestigious districts in the city. Construction on the...

Germany premieres the first hydrogen-powered train in the world

Sep 18, 2018: At last, the world’s first hydrogen powered trains have made their global debut in the northern countryside of Germany. As of Monday, two Coradia iLint locomotives have been transporting passengers back and forth between the towns of Cuxhaven, Bremerhaven, Bremervoerde and Buxtehude found just west of the majoring Hamburg. The eco-efficient models were produced by French transportation engineers at Alstom, the same manufacturers who amazed the world in the early 1980s with their world record setting...

This 1970s Airstream is an off-grid oasis for a family of six

Sep 18, 2018: Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker Related: Couple restores an old Airstream into a chic tiny home on wheels + Tiny Shiny Home Via Dwell Tiny Shiny Home, Airstream Renovation, Jonathan and Ashley Longnecker, airstream renovation into home, tiny home on wheels, living in an airstream, airstream design, tiny home design, tiny home DIY, interior design, tiny home interior design,…

DOE to renew JCESR for advanced battery research; $120M over 5 years

Sep 18, 2018: The US Department of Energy (DOE) will renew the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub led by Argonne National Laboratory and focused on advancing battery science and technology (earlier post). DOE plans annual funding for JCESR of $24 million, for a total of $120...

Cities around the world lay the groundwork for a zero-waste future

Sep 18, 2018: Cities around the world are pledging to reduce waste over the next 12 years in an effort to curb global warming. During the Global Climate Action Summit, the C40 announced a new initiative that encourages cities to eliminate waste production and end the practice of waste burning. So far, 23 cities have agreed to become zero waste and will work towards that goal by the year 2030. Each city has agreed to cut down on waste that ends up in landfills by half over the next decade. The cities – which...

We love electric scooters but is the Bird trend actually bad for the environment?

Sep 18, 2018: The debut of city electric scooter programs within cities such as Austin, Washington D.C. and San Diego has been making headlines with promises of cleaner air and greener pastures, but is this really the case? Between LimeBike, Waybots, Spin, and Bird which has been newly introduced to the Los Angeles area, there are a plethora of companies jumping on the trend of promoting eco-friendly scooters to city planners and residents. As of late, however, urbanites have been asking why the craze? With public...

Audi e-tron premium electric SUV debuts; starting at $74,800 in US; delivery Q2 2019; reservations open

Sep 18, 2018: Audi unveiled its all-electric Audi e-tron mid-size SUV—its first fully electric production model—in an event in San Francisco. The Audi e-tron is a premium electric SUV designed for sport, family and leisure, and will enter the US market with a suggested retail price of $74,800, with initial arrival in the...

Mercedes-Benz HD electric truck eActros entering practical customer trials; Hermes first of 20

Sep 18, 2018: Mercedes-Benz Trucks is starting practical trials for its all-electric heavy-duty eActros truck. The retail and logistics service provider Hermes is the first of 20 customers in different sectors who will integrate the electric truck into their fleets. Each customer will use a near-series 18 or 25-tonner in their normal operations...

Audi launches electrification offensive; 12 EVs by 2025; 4 e-platforms

Sep 18, 2018: With the world premiere of the Audi e-tron Monday night in San Francisco, Audi also marked the launch of its electrification offensive. By 2025 Audi will offer twelve automobiles with all-electric drive in the most important markets worldwide and achieve roughly one-third of its sales with electrified models. The SUVs...

SoCalGas to offer renewable natural gas at its fueling stations for the first time

Sep 18, 2018: Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) will soon begin using renewable natural gas for the first time at the 25 utility-owned natural gas vehicle fueling stations across its service territory, as well as at six fueling stations in the San Diego area. Last month, the utility received approval from the California...

California plans to launch its own satellite to monitor air pollution

Sep 17, 2018: California is planning to launch its own satellite to track air pollution. Governor Jerry Brown announced the major initiative amid President Donald Trump’s bid to decrease NASA’s part in monitoring climate change. Brown has not announced when the state will launch the satellite or how much it will cost taxpayers. Brown has long stood in opposition to Trump’s conservative administration, which has fought California’s tough emissions standards. With Trump cutting NASA funding for climate...

France moves to reshape infrastructure and promote bicycle transportation

Sep 17, 2018: France plans to launch a major endeavor in order to triple the amount of cyclists on its streets within the next five years. The action will include building better bike lanes, providing financial incentives for commuters to switch to bicycle transportation, and cracking down on bike theft. The plan was announced by the French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at a speech in Nantes, revealing that cycling accounts for only 3% of transportation in the European nation. Related: How to make American...

Passive House-inspired home ushers in spectacular Grand Tetons views

Sep 17, 2018: The sublime beauty of the Grand Tetons are fully embraced in the stunning House of Fir, a forever home that boasts sustainable and durable elements throughout. Designed by Wyoming-based architecture firm kt814 for a pair of retirees who actively volunteer for the National Park Service, this Jackson Hole abode was crafted to prioritize low-maintenance comfort with passive house design principles and universal design for aging in place. In fact, the home’s energy-efficient construction was put to...

TRATON AG and Hino to join forces in e-mobility, plan to establish procurement JV

Sep 17, 2018: TRATON AG—formerly Volkswagen Truck & Bus—and Hino Motors Ltd. announced new details on their strategic partnership, announced earlier this year (earlier post). Both partners have agreed on two strategic initiatives: to join forces in e-mobility and the plan to establish a procurement joint venture. In e-mobility, TRATON and Hino plan...

An off-grid cabin on a remote island is inspired by Japanese design

Sep 17, 2018: Related: This tiny off-grid cabin in the UK is clad with reclaimed slate tiles + Maguire + Devine Architects Via Dwell Maguire + Devine Architects, Bruny Island Cabin, tiny cabin design,…

SLAC, Berkeley Lab X-rays uncover a hidden property that leads to failure in lithium iron phosphate

Sep 17, 2018: X-ray experiments at the Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have revealed that the pathways lithium ions take through lithium iron phosphate are more complex than previously thought. The results correct more than two decades worth of assumptions about the material and will help...

New method from EPFL more than doubles sugar production from plants

Sep 17, 2018: Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a method that can significantly increase the yield of sugars from plants, improving the production of renewable fuels, chemicals, and materials. Producing fuels and chemicals from biomass (wood, grasses, etc.) involves breaking down (deconstructing), plants to produce single carbohydrates, mostly...

Get ready for an adventure with this ultimate checklist of backpacking essentials

Sep 17, 2018: Lace up your hiking boots and trod into places inaccessible via horse, quad, or car. Backpacking allows you to explore the outdoors while enjoying a little distance from the crowds squished together at the state campgrounds. There’s just something about planning for, and carrying in, all the supplies you need for backwoods camping that is empowering and exciting. Once you’ve decided to give backpacking a try, make sure you’ve got the essentials covered. You will find that you can survive with...

Volkswagen launches “Electric for All” campaign, demos rolling chassis of MEB

Sep 17, 2018: Volkswagen is launching its “Electric for All” campaign—a strategic effort to put attractive electric vehicles at affordable prices on the road, paving the way for the breakthrough of electric vehicles. Volkswagen’s electric offensive is based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB), a technology platform developed specifically for electric vehicles....

Ford S-MAX and Galaxy now feature advanced EcoBlue diesel engines; new eight-speed automatic gearbox for ACC with Stop & Go

Sep 17, 2018: In Europe, Ford has enhanced the S-MAX sports activity vehicle and Galaxy people mover to deliver more fuel efficiency, performance and refinement. The Ford S-MAX and Galaxy models are now offered for the first time with Ford’s 2.0-liter EcoBlue diesel engine featuring power outputs from 120 PS to 240 PS...

U Hawaii team studies characteristics and stability of drop-in NERF biofuel replacements for NATO marine diesel

Sep 17, 2018: A variety of drop-in replacement biofuels—catalytic hydrothermal conversion diesel (CHCD-76), synthesized isoparaffin (SIP-76), and hydroprocessed renewable diesel (HRD-76)—have been produced in sufficient quantity and supplied to the US Navy for blending with the traditional naval diesel NATO F-76. Now, Jinxia Fu and Scott Q. Turn at the University of Hawaii...

Two Alstom hydrogen trains enter passenger service in Lower Saxony; 14 more ordered

Sep 17, 2018: Alstom held a world premiere event on Sunday celebrating its Coradia iLint hydrogen fuel cell train (earlier post) rolling into service in Lower Saxony, Germany. From today onwards, two such trains will enter commercial service according to a fixed timetable. Travellers in the Eisenbahnen und Verkehrsbetriebe Elbe-Weser (EVB) network can...

Geely Auto’s flagship Bo Rui GE hybrid selected as part of China’s diplomatic fleet; 48V MHEV or PHEV

Sep 16, 2018: Geely Auto’s flagship B-segment hybrid sedan Bo Rui GE has been selected as an official diplomatic concierge vehicle by the Beijing Service Bureau for Diplomatic Missions. The Bo Rui GE comes in either a MHEV 48V mild hybrid or full PHEV plug-in hybrid version. The Bo Rui GE MHEV is...

BMW iNEXT concept

Sep 16, 2018: At the BMW AG Annual General Meeting in May 2018, Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management at the BMW Group, said that the iNext would provide its building blocks for the future, from which the entire company and all of its brands are set to benefit. BMW is...

Daimler and Bosch jointly premiere Automated Valet Parking in China

Sep 15, 2018: Daimler and Bosch announced the successful premiere of their joint Automated Valet Parking pilot in Beijing. The infrastructure-supported driverless parking technology, which made its debut in the parking garage at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart in 2017 (earlier post), marks the first pilot of its kind in China. Automated Valet...

Passenger service Gett launches carbon-free travel in the UK

Sep 14, 2018: The black car transportation service, Gett, which is used as an alternative to Lyft and Uber in the United Kingdom is embarking on a new endeavor - implementing carbon free and carbon positive rides for all of its passengers. The company, recognized by Forbes as one of the "top 15 explosively growing companies" has raised over $700 million in funding overall, including contributions for its various carbon offset programs that will achieve this new mission. The company's Sept 13 announcement featured...

DIY fall decor using upcycled items from thrift stores

Sep 14, 2018: Fall is a great time to bust out new decorations, but you don’t have to break the budget to make your house stand out. Making your own fall decorations is a great way to save money and help the environment at the same time. From floating shelves to fall clothing accessories, here are 8 fall decorations you can make from common thrift store items. Cake Stand Display Nothing says fall like fresh pumpkins. You can proudly display these fall staples using an old cake stand, or build your own from...