Transportation News

New USGS methodology identifies 23 mineral commodities the supply of which poses greatest risk to manufacturing

Feb 23, 2020: Researchers at the US Geological Survey (USGS) and its partners have developed a new methodology to identify which mineral commodities important to US manufacturing are at greatest risk to supply disruption. The risk tool identified 23 mineral commodities posing the greatest risk. The methodology evaluated the global supply of and...

ORNL researchers use stop-light cameras to reduce fuel consumption of less-efficient vehicles via traffic management

Feb 23, 2020: Approximately 6 billion gallons of fuel are wasted in the US each year as vehicles wait at stop lights or sit in dense traffic with engines idling, according to US Department of Energy estimates. The least efficient of these vehicles are the large, heavy trucks used for hauling goods—they burn...

Porsche opens Europe’s most powerful rapid-charging park in Leipzig; 7MW, all renewable energy

Feb 23, 2020: Porsche Leipzig is expanding the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in central Germany with a new charging park called Porsche Turbo Charging. The total capacity of the facility, which includes six internal quick charging points, is 7 MW. Porsche Leipzig currently has Europe’s most powerful rapid-charging park, which is operated...

Eurasian Resources Group plans NCM material plant for EV batteries

Feb 22, 2020: Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources group, is assessing the construction of a battery material plant to produce nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) precursor materials for batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The Group is evaluating technical solutions offered by engineering firms BGRIMM Technology Group from China and Outotec from Finland,...

AXYARD, Lab1886 and Daimler Trucks automate the operation of commercial vehicles

Feb 22, 2020: The automated snow removal by two self-driving Mercedes-Benz Arocs in Immendingen shows a successful application for automated commercial vehicles in closed areas. The joint project of Lab1886, the innovation unit for new business models within Mercedes-Benz AG, and Daimler Truck AG has now become a product that can be used...

Glowing rabbit made of 3D-printed polycarbonate pops up in a Dutch pond

Feb 21, 2020: The 3D-printed rabbit was an artist's gift to Heemskerk.

Greenpeace finds most 'recyclable' plastics are sent to landfills

Feb 21, 2020: Study findings have revealed several alarming results, including that many plastics labeled as recyclable are not actually recyclable.

Adorable baby gorilla wants you to recycle your phone

Feb 21, 2020: The first lowland gorilla born in the Los Angeles Zoo in 20 years is building her fan base while raising awareness about the connection between cell phone manufacturing and critically endangered gorilla populations.

Volvo 48V MHEV powertrain now available on all models

Feb 21, 2020: In a broad portfolio upgrade, Volvo Cars announced that its 48-volt mild-hybrid powertrain options are now available on every Volvo model, further boosting the company’s electrified offerings. Introduced on the XC90 and XC60 SUVs last year, the mild hybrids are now also available on all other 90- and 60-series cars,...

MVRDV to revive complex with BREEAM-certified groundscraper

Feb 21, 2020: MVRDV has unveiled designs for a BREEAM Excellent-certified office building in Amsterdam as part of a redevelopment plan for the Tripolis office complex, a project by celebrated Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck long considered a commercial failure. In addition to the renovation of the old buildings and the addition of a park, the Tripolis Park project will feature a new 11-story “groundscraper” office block that will stretch along the site’s south boundary to unite the campus while protecting...

What do Americans think about fake meat products?

Feb 21, 2020: The results show an overwhelming interest in the products and an underwhelming satisfaction.

USDA Ag Innovation Agenda targets biofuel blend rates of 15% in 2030, 30% in 2050

Feb 21, 2020: US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands. Specifically, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stimulate innovation so that American agriculture can achieve the goal of increasing...

Researchers develop organic semiconductor photocatalyst with enhanced hydrogen evolution

Feb 21, 2020: Currently, most hydrogen evolution photocatalysts (HEPs) are made from single-component inorganic semiconductors. These can only absorb light at ultraviolet wavelengths—constituting less than 5% of the solar spectrum—which limits their efficiency. However, photocatalysts formed from a single organic semiconductor typically suffer from inefficient intrinsic charge generation, which leads to low photocatalytic...

Si-dominant Li-ion company Enevate targeting power tool market

Feb 21, 2020: Enevate, a pioneer in advanced silicon-dominant lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology capable of high energy density and fast charging for electric vehicles (EV), is applying its battery solutions to advanced power cells for the power tool market and other high power applications. For example, in a 21700 cylindrical power cell, 5.9Ah...

Plug Power partners with Lightning Systems on hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Class 6 trucks for logistics industry; “middle-mile” solution

Feb 21, 2020: Plug Power Inc. is partnering with Colorado-based Lightning Systems, a global developer of zero-emission drivetrains. This collaboration enables both companies to offer the first electric, fuel-cell-powered Class 6 trucks (up to 12.5 tons) capable of supporting middle-mile delivery logistics between warehouses and distribution centers. The electric commercial trucks produced by...

Chevrolet launches Menlo EV in China

Feb 21, 2020: Chevrolet has launched the Menlo, the brand’s first fully electric vehicle in China. (Earlier post.) Initially being offered in Beijing, the Chevrolet Menlo is available in four variants priced from RMB 159,900 (US$22,800) to RMB 179,900 (US$25,600) after national subsidies for new energy vehicles. The Chevrolet Menlo incorporates GM’s class-leading...

GM enhancing Energy Assist app for EVs

Feb 21, 2020: General Motors is making enhancements to Energy Assist, a standard feature available in the myChevrolet mobile app for Bolt EV owners. Energy Assist, first available for customers in 2017, currently enables Bolt EV owners to plan and manage their routes more effectively, locate available charging stations both along their route...

Why the mystifying axolotl must be saved from extinction

Feb 20, 2020: Today’s axolotls are experiencing extirpation, but scientists and pet enthusiasts are saving them from true extinction. Why?

Check out Glasir, the tree-shaped urban farming solution

Feb 20, 2020: In a bid to revolutionize agriculture, New York City and Bergen-based innovation studio Framlab has proposed Glasir, a community-based system for urban farming that combines the flexibility of modularity with aeroponics to vastly reduce the environmental footprint for growing food.

Marc Thorpe designs live/work buildings built from earth bricks

Feb 20, 2020: New York-based architecture studio Marc Thorpe Design has unveiled renderings for the Dakar Houses, a series of live/work spaces located on the outskirts of Senegalese capital for the artisans of furniture brand Moroso. Designed with compressed earth blocks, a common building material in western Senegal, the multipurpose units take inspiration from the local architectural vernacular. The economical earth bricks also have the advantage of thermal mass to provide comfortable indoor temperatures without...

Home on a sloped ravine uses natural materials to blend into the landscape

Feb 20, 2020: Working directly with the nature-loving homeowners, the architects strategically focused on blending the minimalist home, which was built with natural materials, into the idyllic surroundings while reducing its impact as much as possible.

CLT gives a sustainable community center in Copenhagen a welcoming feel

Feb 20, 2020: In the Copenhagen suburb of Brønshøj, local architectural practice NORD Architects has completed the Parish Center, a contemporary community center and place of worship that’s primarily built of cross-laminated timber to reduce the project’s carbon footprint. Selected for its renewable and durable features, cross-laminated timber has also been purposefully left exposed throughout the multifunctional building to lend a sense of welcoming and warmth to the interior. The project serves as a new...

Workhorse Group to unveil new C650 electric step van at NTEA Work Truck Show

Feb 20, 2020: Workhorse Group will display its newly-designed C650 all-electric step van at the NTEA Work Truck Show, 4-6 March in Indianapolis, Indiana. The company‘s new C650 and C1000 step vans will are 650 ft3 and 1000 ft3 vehicles both weighing approximately 12,500 lbs (5,670 kg) when fully loaded. Through a lightweight,...

Toyota and Toyota Industries announce new battery for hybrid electric vehicles

Feb 20, 2020: Toyota Motor Corporation and Toyota Industries Corporation announced that they have jointly developed a new battery for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) in anticipation of the further development and market introduction of HEVs, which are forecasted to expand rapidly in the future. The companies said they will release information such as...

Study finds cobalt supply can meet demand for EVs and electronics batteries through 2030

Feb 20, 2020: A study by a team from MIT, with colleagues from Alfred University, UC Berkeley, and RIT, has found that supplies of cobalt—a critical material in some battery chemistries—is adequate in the short-term (up to 2030), but that the industry needs to invest in additional efficient refining and recycling capacity, so...

New machine learning method from Stanford, with Toyota researchers, could accelerate battery development for EVs

Feb 20, 2020: At every stage of the battery development process, new technologies must be tested for months or even years to determine how long they will last. Now, a team led by Stanford professors Stefano Ermon and William Chueh has developed a machine learning-based method that slashes these testing times by 98%....

US DOE to award up to $100M over five years for solar fuels research

Feb 20, 2020: The US Department of Energy (DOE) plans to provide up to $100 million over five years for research on artificial photosynthesis for the production of fuels from sunlight. (DE-FOA-0002254) The funding will support the establishment of one large or possibly two smaller DOE Energy Innovation Hubs: integrated multidisciplinary, multi-institutional research...

GPSC to build plant for 24M semi-solid batteries in Thailand; 30 MWh to start, 100 MWh in 2021

Feb 20, 2020: Global Power Synergy PLC (GPSC) is building a battery manufacturing facility in Thailand using 24M’s novel SemiSolid lithium-ion technology (earlier post). GPSC is the main power and utility company of PTT Group. GPSC is a long-time partner of 24M. (Earlier post.) In May 2019, 24M delivered 40 grid-scale, 110 Amp-Hour...

Co-Optima announces Directed Funding Opportunity

Feb 20, 2020: The US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Co-Optima initiative is overseeing a Directed Funding Opportunity (DFO) to apply the unique, world-class capabilities of the consortium toward addressing specific challenges identified by applicants from industry and academia. The Co-Optimization of Fuels & Engines (Co-Optima) National Laboratory consortium is jointly sponsored by the...

Hyundai and Kia develop ICT-connected predictive shift system

Feb 20, 2020: Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation have developed a predictive Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Connected Shift System, enabling the vehicle to shift automatically to the optimal gear after identifying the road and traffic conditions ahead. Hyundai and Kia plan to apply the technology on future vehicles. During system...

Three New Mexico school districts to operate 17 Blue Bird propane school buses; first in state

Feb 20, 2020: In a partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department, Los Lunas Public Schools, Magdalena Municipal School District and Moriarty-Edgewood School District have each purchased school buses fueled by propane autogas. The 17 Blue Bird Vision Propane buses will be the first propane buses to operate in the state. Our...

Critics question Amazon's sustainability amidst Bezos Earth Fund launch

Feb 19, 2020: Critics warn that Amazon is still heavily invested in fossil fuels and thus cannot be a bona fide climate champion.

Tackling sustainability in sporting events

Feb 19, 2020: There's a growing international trends to shrink the carbon footprints of major sporting events.

Odor-free Sepura makes home composting easier than ever

Feb 19, 2020: If you’ve ever wanted to start composting at home but got put off by the hassle and the smell, the Sepura could be the sustainable solution you’ve been looking for.

Hello Wood unveils a tiny cabin that sleeps up to 8 people

Feb 19, 2020: For those social butterflies who believe that getting back to nature doesn't have to mean sacrificing time with friends, Hello Wood has created the beautiful Grand Cabin.

Bamboo electric bike is designed for Kathmandu locals and tourists

Feb 19, 2020: The bike helps people travel easier and reduces air pollution.

Tokyo Tech team demonstrates visible-light photoelectrochemical water-splitting with cobalt-enhanced TiO2

Feb 19, 2020: Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have demonstrated the first visible-light photoelectrochemical system for water splitting using TiO2 enhanced with cobalt. The proposed approach is simple and represents a stepping stone in the quest to achieve affordable water splitting to produce hydrogen. A study on their work is...

Kia announces new platform and powertrain details for next-generation Sorento; hybrid, GDI and diesel; PHEV to come

Feb 19, 2020: Kia Motors Corporation revealed details of the next-generation Sorento’s new platform and powertrains. The new Sorento will make its public debut at the upcoming 2020 Geneva International Motor Show. The latest Sorento will be the first SUV to be based on Kia’s new platform when production commences later this year....

Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics expand public road testing in the US for automated truck technology

Feb 19, 2020: Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics, partners in Daimler Trucks’ Autonomous Technology Group (earlier post), will soon expand testing of automated truck technology to new public routes in the US. Daimler Trucks and Torc Robotics are actively developing and testing automated trucks with SAE Level 4 intent technology on public roads....

BMW presenting three new PHEV 3-Series models, two new 48V MHEV M diesels at Geneva show

Feb 19, 2020: At the upcoming 2020 Geneva International Motor Show, BMW will present three new plug-in hybrid models for the premium mid-range—all in the 3 Series. The debuts include the new BMW 330e Touring (combined fuel consumption: from 1.7 l/100 km; combined power consumption: from 15.7 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: from...

HyPER project using sorbent-enhanced steam reforming for low-carbon production of H2 from natural gas

Feb 19, 2020: An international collaboration led by Cranfield University will examine the potential for the low-carbon production of hydrogen from natural gas. The HyPER project (Bulk Hydrogen Production by Sorbent Enhanced Steam Reforming) will construct a 1.5 MWth pilot plant at Cranfield University to test the innovative hydrogen production technology that substantially...

Gigastack renewable hydrogen from offshore wind project advances to next phase; 100MW electrolyzer system

Feb 19, 2020: The UK has awarded £7.5 million for the next phase of Gigastack, a new renewable hydrogen project, as part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Hydrogen Supply Competition. (Earlier post.) The Gigastack project, led by ITM Power, Ørsted, Phillips 66 Limited and Element Energy, will show...

LEED Gold-targeted office mimics High Line via lush greenery

Feb 18, 2020: New York City’s award-winning High Line has attracted yet another sculptural building to its side—512 West 22nd Street, a contemporary Chelsea office building that takes cues from the elevated park with landscaped terraces on every floor. Designed by local architecture firm COOKFOX Architects, the new building is inspired by not only its proximity to the High Line, but also the neighborhood’s industrial history.

Green-roofed brick home 'disappears' into the landscape

Feb 18, 2020: Built into a sloped hill, the brick-clad and aptly named Sloped Villa uses an expansive green roof to help the house "disappear" into its serene natural setting.

Meet the urban planner responsible for San Francisco's car-free Market Street

Feb 18, 2020: Downtown San Francisco is putting pedestrians first. Inhabitat spoke with an urban planner at Perkins and Will about the car-free Market Street project.

Daimler Trucks E-Mobility Group starts global initiative for electric-truck charging infrastructure

Feb 18, 2020: The E-Mobility Group of Daimler Trucks & Buses is launching a worldwide initiative to establish a charging infrastructure for battery-electric trucks. The initial focus is on charging stations installed at the depots of truck customers. Within the framework of the initiative, the E-Mobility Group is bringing together the main players—e-truck...

Craft beer waste saves Montana town $1M for wastewater treatment

Feb 18, 2020: A Montana town has found a money-saving solution to its sewage and wastewater treatment expenses, thanks to a nearby craft brewery.

Sustainable city block in Hamburg goes for gold in energy-efficiency

Feb 18, 2020: The mixed-use building is energy-efficient to boot.

UK awards £28M for 5 demonstration-phase low-carbon hydrogen production projects

Feb 18, 2020: As part of a larger £90 million (US$117 million) package of awards to cut carbon emissions in industry and homes, the UK is awarding £28 million (US$36.5 million) to five demonstration phase projects for low-carbon hydrogen production. The Dolphyn project showcases a floating semi-submersible design with an integrated wind turbine,...

Germany’s AgiloBat project seeks flexible battery production in terms of format, material, quantities

Feb 18, 2020: Researchers from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), together with partners at the Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg (ZSW) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) are developing an agile production system for batteries. The German Ministry of Science, Research and Art Baden-Württemberg (MWK) is funding...