Transportation News

Federal judge blocks the Keystone XL Pipeline

Nov 12, 2018: In a major setback for President Trump, last week a U.S. district judge issued an order to block construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline while the State Department studies its impact on the environment. Last year, the Trump administration approved the controversial 1,179-mile pipeline, but Judge Brian Morris’ 54-page order is preventing it from being built - for now. This decision does not permanently stop construction, but it is putting construction on hold until the State Department takes...

Yves Bhar designs compact, prefab homes to tackle the housing crisis

Nov 12, 2018: Yves Béhar has designed everything from high-tech wearables to voice-activated transforming furniture—and now the prolific San Francisco-based designer is adding prefabricated homes to the list. Unveiled earlier this month at the Summit Festival in Los Angeles, the YB1 (Yves Béhar LivingHomes) is a line of prefabricated accessory dwelling units created in partnership with LivingHomes, the design studio of California-based prefabricated home producers Plant Prefab. The fully customizable modular...

A London office boasts biophilic design for a healthier, happier workplace

Nov 12, 2018: A new experimental office on the twelfth floor of The Shard in London offers a breath of fresh air—literally. Wrapped in bamboo surfaces and punctuated by living plants, facilities management company Mitie’s headquarters in London was created by local practice DaeWha Kang Design. The biophilic project—dubbed the Living Lab at The Shard—mimics nature from its natural materials palette to the circadian lighting system linked to an astronomical clock. As its name suggests, the Living Lab...

Zaha Hadid unveils futuristic designs for New Moscow

Nov 12, 2018: Zaha Hadid Architects and Russian firm TPO Pride Architects have been selected as one of the consortiums to design the new Rublyovo-Arkhangelskoye neighborhood, a new development on the western boundary of Moscow, Russia that’s been dubbed “New Moscow.” As expected of Zaha Hadid Architects, the renderings of the winning design depict curvaceous, futuristic architecture. The two other consortiums selected to develop the project include Japanese firm Nikken Sekki with local practice UNK Project...

Everlane introduces long-lasting outerwear made from recycled water bottles

Nov 12, 2018: The ReNew outerwear line, launched in late October by Everlane, yanked three million water bottles out of the waste stream and turned them into fibers for the venture. The new product line offers cleaner fashion in an industry known for heavy pollution and resource consumption. This first round of renewed clothing includes four fleece pullover options, six puffer jackets, and three parkas.  While other companies have edged towards the trend of incorporating recycled materials...

The remote Blacktail Cabin offers a convenient escape in Montana

Nov 12, 2018: If you dream of escaping the hustle of daily life at a remote cabin in the woods, the Blacktail Cabin might be just your ideal getaway. Situated along the shore of Flathead Lake in Montana, a stay at the Blacktail Cabin will drop you in the middle of outdoor activities. During the summer months, frolic in the lake with an afternoon of swimming, paddling, or fishing. In the winter months, head up to the nearby Blacktail Mountain Ski Area for some skiing or snowboarding.  However...

Experts’ view on future transportation fuels

Nov 12, 2018: In a paper in the journal Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, Gautam Kalghatgi, newly retired from Saudi Aramco and a visiting professor at Imperial College London and Oxford; Howard Levinsky, Senior Principal Specialist in Combustion Processes at DNV GL Oil and Gas and Professor of Combustion Technology at the...

Lancet GBD 2017 finds halt to improvements in global health

Nov 12, 2018: The Lancet’s Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD), first published more than 10 years ago, is the most comprehensive worldwide observational epidemiological study to date. It describes mortality and morbidity from major diseases, injuries and risk factors to health at global, national and regional levels. Since its inception, every new...

Study links air pollution to increased emergency department visits for heart and lung disease

Nov 11, 2018: New research by George Mason University found that exposure to certain air pollutants is linked to increased emergency department (ED) visits for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Mason Assistant Professor of Global and Community Health Dr. Jenna Krall led the research with colleagues from Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and...

SJTU team develops fumed alumina gel-like electrolyte to boost performance of Li-S batteries

Nov 10, 2018: Researchers at Shanghai Jiao Tong University have developed a gel-like electrolyte induced by fumed alumina for dendrite-free Li deposition, lower over-potential and better cycle stability in lithium-sulfur batteries. An open-access paper on their work is published in the RSC journal Chemical Communications. The Li-S@pPAN cells with the proposed electrolyte exhibit...

Gorgeous, energy-efficient retreat rests among Utah's mountains

Nov 9, 2018: Related: + Via…

BIGs dramatic hillside apartments officially open in Stockholm

Nov 9, 2018: Bjarke Ingels Group has announced the official opening of the long-awaited 79&Park, a residential development with a striking stepped design. Located in Stockholm’s Gärdet district, the sculptural complex consists of 169 foliage-covered apartments constructed from prefabricated 3.6-meter by 3.6-meter modules arranged around an open green courtyard. The cascading design was developed to optimize access to natural light as well as views towards the city and Gärdet’s parklands. Inaugurated...

Reclaimed materials and a massive green wall transports Denali shoppers to the great outdoors

Nov 9, 2018: Earlier this fall, Connecticut-based multidisciplinary design practice Pirie Associates completed a “biophilic” store that evokes the image of a romantic aging barn bursting with lush greenery. Created as the eighth brick-and-mortar location for the outdoor clothing and gear retail chain Denali, the newly opened Providence, Rhode Island store that sits next to Brown University on Thayer Street brings together a massive, low-maintenance vertical green wall with a predominately timber material...

A dark, damp house becomes a sustainable, sun-soaked abode

Nov 9, 2018: Formerly cold, dim and damp, a terrace house in Northcote, Victoria has been reborn into a vibrant and welcoming dwelling with an emphasis on gardening. Designed by Green Sheep Collective for a client named Jill, the compact project, named Jill’s House, saw a modest expansion of just 22 square meters of space yet gained its bright and spacious feel thanks to a thorough renovation. Created to meet the client’s aspirations for a “very healthy home,” Jill’s House embraces recycled materials,...

Strategically slanted walls squeeze extra space out of a small guesthouse

Nov 9, 2018: Related: + Via Dezeen…

How to host Thanksgiving dinner in a tiny home or small apartment

Nov 9, 2018: If you have a tiny home or apartment, the idea of hosting Thanksgiving dinner can seem like a daunting task. A few hundred square feet, no dining furniture, small appliances, and limited seating can definitely present some challenges. But, if you have a plan, you can throw a successful, delicious feast. Here’s how you do it. Make A Detailed Plan for the Menu, and Keep It Simple The items you need for your Thanksgiving dinner can overwhelm your small space, so you want to plan ahead and develop...

T&E: Electric bus orders in Europe more than doubled to 1,031 units in 2017; ~9% share of new registrations

Nov 9, 2018: The number of battery-electric buses ordered in Europe more than doubled in 2017 compared to 2016, reaching 1,031 vehicles, according to a new analysis by environmental NGO Transport & Environment. T&E estimates this to be equivalent to around 9% market share of new registrations in 2018. The are currently about...

Bosch and Daimler: San Jose to become pilot city for automated on-demand ride-hailing service; SAE Level 4/5

Nov 9, 2018: Bosch and Daimler announced that San Jose, the third biggest city in California, is planned to be the pilot city for trials, targeted to begin during the second half of 2019, of the highly and fully automated driving (SAE Level 4/5) on-demand ride-hailing service recently announced by the two companies....

CATL Germany plant to provide Li-ion cells for BMW iNEXT

Nov 9, 2018: At the beginning of the third quarter, the BMW Group signed a long-term contract with the Chinese company Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) to supply battery cells with a value of four billion euros. The award of this contract was a decisive factor in CATL’s decision to build an...

Toyota develops general-purpose hydrogen burner for industrial use; NOx emissions below natural gas burner levels, zero CO2

Nov 9, 2018: Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) has developed the what it says is the world’s first general-purpose hydrogen burner for industrial use in collaboration with Chugai Ro Co., Ltd. The burner is now in use at the forging line in Toyota’s Honsha Plant. In conventional hydrogen burners, hydrogen reacts rapidly with oxygen,...

3XN unveils a sustainable redesign for the Sydney Fish Market

Nov 8, 2018: Danish design practice 3XN has revealed their competition-winning redesign for the Sydney Fish Market, a waterfront marketplace that will undergo a $250 million expansion and, in the process, revitalize the waterfront. Topped with an undulating wave-inspired roof, the contemporary building will emphasize connections with the outdoors while improving visitor access. Sustainability has also guided the design of the structure, which will feature smart water-saving strategies including rainwater harvesting,...

A gloomy house is revived as a modern solar home built of recycled materials

Nov 8, 2018: A dark and gloomy non-insulated dwelling with zero views to speak of has been dramatically transformed into a bright and sustainable new home thanks to the work of local architecture studio Urban Creative. Flanked by 6-meter tall-walls and set on a long and narrow lot in inner Melbourne, 2 Halves Make a Home is a three-bedroom family residence that comprises two structures centered on a light-filled courtyard that allows daylight to penetrate deep into the living areas. Bricks sourced from the original...

This holiday home in Montauk produces all of its own electricity

Nov 8, 2018: East of the Hamptons sits a stunning solar-powered summer home that celebrates indoor/ outdoor living. Wrapped in exposed concrete, and fire-resistant charred timber, the home—dubbed the Montauk House—is the work of Desai Chia Architects, a New York City-based design practice that created the two-story home (with a basement level) for a family with two children. The roof of the house also conceals a large photovoltaic array that harnesses enough energy to power the entire residence, while passive...

'Single-use' is announced as the Word of the Year 2018

Nov 8, 2018: Collins Dictionary has announced their choice for 2018 Word of the Year - single-use. This term describes items, often plastic, that are made to be used just once before throwing them away. And, the frequent use of these items has been blamed for damaging the environment and negatively affecting the food chain. Since 2013, use of the word has increased fourfold because of a rise in public awareness, thanks to news stories, images of plastic items adrift in oceans, and the global campaign to reduce...

Karsan using BMW i3 motors and batteries for 6m electric city bus

Nov 8, 2018: The BMW Group and Turkish manufacturer Karsan have signed an agreement for the supply of BMW i3 motors and batteries for the battery-electric 6-meter city bus “Jest electric”, which is produced in Bursa in Turkey for both the domestic market and for international markets. The electric motors and high-voltage batteries...

Eco-friendly geodomes provide a luxurious stay in an idyllic Quebec forest

Nov 8, 2018: Related: + Bourgeois / Lechasseur Architects Photography by Maxime Valsan…

SEAT takes first step towards micro-mobility strategy with electric eXS KickScooter powered by Segway

Nov 8, 2018: SEAT will introduce the electric eXS KickScooter powered by Segway at the Smart City Expo World Congress next week. The new SEAT eXS powered by Segway is a micro-mobility solution for users who want to get around the city in an efficient and sustainable way. As part of its Easy...

USABC awards $1.08M Li-ion battery recycling project to Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Nov 8, 2018: The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a collaborative organization of FCA US LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors, has awarded $1.08 million to Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts for Phase II of a lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery recycling contract. The contract award, which includes a 50%...

Greenlots to collaborate with Volvo Trucks on electric truck charging infrastructure for fleets in Southern California; SAE J3068

Nov 8, 2018: Greenlots, a global provider of EV charging software and solutions, will collaborate with Volvo Trucks to deploy charging infrastructure for electric trucks operating out of warehouses in Southern California. This is the first heavy-duty fleet-charging project stemming from a significant public-private partnership with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). CARB...

California trucking firm switches fleet of 600+ trucks to Neste renewable diesel

Nov 8, 2018: Ecology, a transportation and logistics company in California, has switched its fleet of more than 600 trucks to run on Neste MY Renewable Diesel and is reporting cleaner fuel filters, fewer maintenance problems and reductions in tailpipe emissions. Ecology is one of the largest trucking and transportation companies in the...

California Energy Commission approves $8M grant for H2 fueling station at Port of Long Beach

Nov 8, 2018: The California Energy Commission approved an $8-million grant to Equilon Enterprises—a fully owned subsidiary of Shell Oil—to develop a high-capacity hydrogen fueling station to service and promote the expansion of zero-emission fuel cell electric Class 8 drayage trucks at the Port of Long Beach. The station is to dispense enough...

Electrify America to collaborate with 6 California organizations to boost awareness, adoption of ZEVs in low-income & disadvantaged communities

Nov 8, 2018: Electrify America will collaborate with six organizations in California to help develop and launch community-based programs to support brand-neutral education and awareness of Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) for disadvantaged and low-income communities. Electrify America is investing $2.7 million in the education and outreach campaign. Electrify America uses definitions for low-income...

BNEF: energy storage is a $1.2-trillion investment opportunity to 2040

Nov 8, 2018: The falling cost of batteries is set to drive a boom in the installation of energy storage systems around the world in the years from now to 2040, according to the latest annual forecast from research company Bloomberg NEF (BNEF). The global energy storage market will grow to a cumulative...

An ancient Jaipur palace property is transformed into a modern restaurant

Nov 7, 2018: New Delhi-based multidisciplinary design practice Studio Lotus has transformed a portion of Jaipur’s lavish City Palace Museum into Baradari, a contemporary fine dining restaurant that pays homage to its rich architectural roots. Formerly used as a fairly nondescript palace cafe, the 14,000-square-foot property has been given a sumptuous revamp using traditional craftsmanship and artisanal techniques. The adaptive reuse project is not only a hybrid of centuries-old elements and modern aesthetics,...

The votes are in for key environmental issues of the 2018 midterms

Nov 7, 2018: Most of the results are in from Tuesday’s election, and when it comes to environmental issues, the outcomes sent a lot of mixed messages. Changes In Washington On the national stage, the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives puts up a roadblock to any major environmental legislation President Trump would like to pass. In the past two years, the POTUS has pushed for an attack on the Endangered Species Act and a farm bill that would have limited controls on water pollution and...

Calgary Central Library is wrapped in a striking, snowflake-like facade

Nov 7, 2018: Calgary’s new Central Library has just opened its doors to the public—and it’s a thing of elegant energy-efficient beauty. International architecture firm Snøhetta teamed up with North America-based multidisciplinary design firm DIALOG to create the new main branch of the Calgary Public Library, one of the largest library systems on the continent. Wrapped in a dynamic, triple-glazed facade overlaid in a modular and hexagonal pattern, the eye-catching library provides 240,000 square feet of...

The ozone is finally healing and could be completely repaired by 2060

Nov 7, 2018: Finally, some good news about the environment. Earlier this week, the United Nations announced in a report that the ozone layer is on the road to recovery. If the current recovery rate continues, parts of the ozone could be fully repaired by the 2030s. And, the entire layer - even the highly damaged parts over the North and South Pole - could be completely healed by 2060. Over the past few decades, humans have done significant damage to the ozone layer, which protects life on Earth from the sun’s...

A gorgeous houseboat with a shockingly spacious interior can be yours for $375K

Nov 7, 2018: Related: + Via…

Hyundai, Kia invest additional US$250M in Grab; pilot EV projects

Nov 7, 2018: Hyundai Motor Group and Grab Holdings Inc., Southeast Asia’s leading O2O (online to offline) mobile platform, announced an agreement under which Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation will invest an additional US$250 million into Grab and establish a partnership to pilot EV programs across Southeast Asia. Under the EV...

Harley-Davidson Livewire electric motorcycle makes European debut in Milan; more specs and details

Nov 7, 2018: The new electric Harley-Davidson LiveWire electric motorcycle—originally unveiled in Milwaukee during the company’s 115th Anniversary this past Labor Day weekend—made its European debut at the Milan press conference of the EICMA show. Due for release in 2019 and being shown at the event as a production-ready motorcycle, LiveWire was first...

Researchers at TU Wien develop new antenna concept for connected cars; shark fin is too small

Nov 7, 2018: Connected and communicating vehicles are now the norm. Navigation systems regularly update their maps and show directions using satellite data and drivers make phone calls while driving. In the future, data exchange will play an even greater role in road transport, not least to improve road safety. However, new options...

Quectel announces new C-V2X module to support autonomous driving based on Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset

Nov 7, 2018: Quectel Wireless Solutions (Quectel), a global supplier of IoT modules, announced the global launch of the automotive grade C-V2X module AG15, which features the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset solution from Qualcomm Technologies, a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. The module is now sampling to the automotive industry for the development of...

CAMX Power introduces GEMX high performance cathode materials

Nov 7, 2018: CAMX Power (CAMX) is introducing a new class of cathode materials that can improve the performance, while also reducing the cost, of lithium-ion batteries. This material was originally conceived by TIAX and continued by CAMX when it became a separate company in 2014. The announcement was delayed until the key...

Nissan Frontier Sentinel pickup concept unveiled in São Paulo; two LEAF battery packs

Nov 7, 2018: Nissan unveiled the Frontier Sentinel, a concept pickup truck designed by Nissan Brazil’s styling studio, at the 2018 São Paulo Motor Show. The concept is designed for rescue missions in all types of Brazilian terrain. Frontier Sentinel integrates a host of features, including two battery packs from the Nissan LEAF...

Volkswagen unveils E100/E22 pickup concept at São Paulo motor show

Nov 7, 2018: Volkswagen unveiled the Tarok Concept to the world at the São Paulo International Motor Show (6 to 18 November). The all-wheel drive all-rounder combines the progressive features of the latest generation of digitally networked SUVs with the versatility of a five-meter pick-up. The Tarok Concept is powered by a 1.4-liter...

Carbon-neutral home in Australia conceals its energy efficiency with minimalist design

Nov 6, 2018: Related: This super-insulated concrete “cabin” hides a surprisingly cozy interior + Whispering Smith Via Dwell Whispering Smith, House A…

Luminous LEDs transform Pragues historic Mirror Chapel into an interactive art space

Nov 6, 2018: The lavish interiors of Prague, Czech Republic’s Mirror Chapel was recently transformed into a psychedelic arts space thanks to New York-based design studio SOFTlab. Commissioned by the 2018 Signal Festival that concluded last month, the designers had inserted an interactive and circular art installation made of responsive mirrors and LEDs. Dubbed Iris, the luminous artwork reacted to ambient sound and the movement of people through the rotation of mirrors, creating vertically fragmented images...

Hydroponic gardens and a mini mountain promote fun and well-being in this creative office

Nov 6, 2018: A running track, elevated hydroponic gardens, and a miniature “mountain” combine in this fun new office headquarters for the non-profit Leping Foundation in Beijing, China. Designed by the prolific local design practice People’s Architecture Office (PAO), the mostly open-plan office landscape was created to foster health and wellness. Covering an area of 1,100 square meters, the Leping Social Entrepreneur Foundation Headquarters unites four of the company’s departments with a suspended vegetated...

A third of people in the UK are now eating less or no meat

Nov 6, 2018: A new report on food shopping in the UK shows that one in eight Brits is now vegetarian or vegan, and another 21 percent claim to be flexitarian. This means that a third of UK consumers have deliberately reduced or eliminated meat from their diets, and it underlines a revolution in the eating habits of UK citizens. Vegetarians have a diet that eliminates meat, poultry, and fish, while vegans eat a plant-based diet and completely avoid all animal products. Flexitarians eat a largely vegetable-based...

A couple builds a fairytale-like rental cabin near a volcano for $30K

Nov 6, 2018: When Caroline and Julien traveled across South America in their Volkswagen Kombi, the couple noticed a dearth of quality accommodations and decided to fill that hospitality gap by building a beautifully crafted rental cabin in Chile. After 19 months of construction, the couple realized their dream on the slopes of the Calbuco Volcano in Ensenada. Designed and constructed for an approximate cost of $30,000, the cozy handcrafted home—dubbed Casa Nido—has been listed on AirBnB starting at $116 a...