Transportation News

WHO issues new, lower Global Air Quality Guidelines for classical pollutants

Sep 25, 2021: New WHO has issued new Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) that reduce levels of key air pollutants, some of which also contribute to climate change. Since WHO’s last 2005 global update, there has been a marked increase of evidence that shows how air pollution affects different aspects of health. For...

HEI study in Europe finds evidence of health effects at lower levels of air pollution

Sep 25, 2021: A major new Health Effects Institute (HEI) report presents a study examining associations between exposures to relatively low levels of air pollution and several health outcomes among participants in 22 European cohorts. In the report, the investigators describe the development of new exposure models for all of Europe for four...

Toshiba, Sojitz and CBMM partner to commercialize next-generation Li-ion batteries with NTO anodes

Sep 25, 2021: Toshiba Corporation, Sojitz Corporation, and CBMM have entered into a joint development agreement for the commercialization of next generation lithium-ion batteries using niobium titanium oxide (NTO) as the anode material. One of the major requirements for rechargeable battery development is greater energy density and faster charging. NTO has twice the...

SAKOR Technologies provides new dynamometer system to U of Houston for testing electric motor, inverter & control system designs

Sep 25, 2021: SAKOR Technologies provided the University of Houston’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering with a dynamometer test system designed to test motor and inverter designs for use in hybrid and electric vehicle applications. The system features dual opposin 7.5 kW AccuDyne four-quadrant AC motoring dynamometers, variable frequency drives, and a...

Vitol and BYD commit $250M to a new Green Mobility service

Sep 25, 2021: Vitol, the world’s largest independent trader of energy, and BYD, a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles, rechargeable battery and energy storage systems, formed a partnership to provide fleet mobility as a service in select markets worldwide. Together they will offer municipal, corporate and others a comprehensive solution including electric vehicles,...

Mustang Mach-E first EV to pass Michigan State Police tests

Sep 25, 2021: The Ford Pro all-electric police pilot vehicle based on the 2021 Mustang Mach-E SUV has become the first all-electric vehicle to pass the rigorous Michigan State Police 2022 model year evaluation. (Earlier post.) Testing included acceleration, top speed, braking and high-speed pursuit, as well as emergency response handling characteristics. Michigan...

Study finds more microplastic in baby poop than in adult

Sep 24, 2021: In a recent study published in the American Chemical Society's Environmental Science and Technology Letters, scientists found 10 times more microplastic in babies' feces than in adults'.

3deluxe's first zero-carbon super-yacht sold as an NFT

Sep 24, 2021: If you've been trying to figure out how to spend that pesky $500 million, here's the answer. This zero-carbon super-yacht made a huge splash, pun intended, at the Monaco Yacht Show.

Take a trip to explore natural beauty on the San Juan Islands

Sep 24, 2021: As I pick my way between the crazily-shaped logs, to the water of South Beach on San Juan Island, it's a driftwood lover's dream come true. Some pieces are propped up to make primitive shelters.

Severe droughts cause 14% drop in US hydropower generation

Sep 24, 2021: In 2021, electricity production by hydropower plants across the U.S. will reduce by 14% compared to 2020 levels. This is due to the extreme drought conditions affecting western states.

Honeybee swarm kills 63 African penguins

Sep 24, 2021: Sixty-three endangered African penguins were the victims of a tragic attack last week. The culprits: a swarm of Cape honey bees.

Mercedes-Benz to become equal shareholder in Automotive Cells Company (ACC) with Stellantis and TotalEnergies

Sep 24, 2021: Mercedes-Benz is taking an equity stake in European battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC) to scale up development and production of next-generation high-performance battery cells and modules. Mercedes-Benz announced in July that it will be ready to go fully electric by the end of the decade wherever market conditions...

GM invests $300M in Momenta to deliver next-generation self-driving technologies in China

Sep 24, 2021: General Motors will invest $300 million in China-based Momenta to accelerate the development of next-generation self-driving technologies for future GM vehicles in China. Momenta has pioneered a scalable path toward full autonomous driving by combining a data-driven approach with iterating algorithms—referred to as its “flywheel approach”—as well as a “two-leg”...

Maersk invests in electrofuels startup Prometheus Fuels

Sep 24, 2021: Maersk Growth has made a leading venture investment in Prometheus Fuels, a Silicon Valley-based startup with a promising direct air capture-technology to enable cost efficient, carbon neutral eFuels for shipping (earlier post). The minority investment in Prometheus Fuels will support A.P. Moller - Maersk’s work to execute on the strategy...

UCSD, LG team creates solid-state battery with all-silicon anode

Sep 24, 2021: University of California San Diego nanoengineers, in collaboration with researchers at LG Energy Solution, have developed a battery that combines a solid-state electrolyte and an all-silicon anode. The initial rounds of tests show that the new battery is safe, long lasting, and energy dense. It holds promise for a wide...

Embark collaborating with Cummins, ZF on powertrain and steering controls for self-driving trucks

Sep 24, 2021: Embark Trucks, a developer of autonomous technology for the trucking industry, is collaborating with Cummins to accelerate the integration of next-generation truck components and controls in self-driving trucks. Under this collaboration, Embark is testing Cummins’ automated driving system (ADS) powertrain interface to manage powertrain operations. The integration of the platform-agnostic...

PACCAR, Aurora and FedEx launch autonomous linehaul truck commercial pilot

Sep 24, 2021: PACCAR has teamed up with Aurora, a leading autonomous driving technology company, and FedEx to launch a commercial pilot of autonomous trucks in linehaul trucking operations. This is the first collaboration of its kind between a truck manufacturer, an autonomous technology developer and a logistics provider. PACCAR’s autonomously enabled trucks...

AECOM to develop hydrogen-powered railway in Central Italy

Sep 24, 2021: Global infrastructure consulting firm AECOM signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Spanish renewables group Iberdrola, and Italian partners Cinque International and Ancitel Energy and Environment, to upgrade Italy’s historic Apennine diesel railway with hydrogen trains. This project aims to aid economic growth for the Apennine region. AECOM and its...

Cummins beginning development of medium-duty and heavy-duty hydrogen combustion engines; H2-ICE program

Sep 24, 2021: Cummins announced that its hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engine (H2-ICE) program is beginning development of a medium-duty 6.7-liter and a heavy-duty 15-liter engine. We’ve established significant goals as part of our PLANET 2050 sustainability strategy, including a target of zero emissions. Reducing well-to-wheels carbon emissions requires innovation of both energy sources...

Eaton introduces new zero-leak vapor valve

Sep 24, 2021: Eaton’s Vehicle Group has introduced a new zero-leak Compact Combo Valve that safely vents harmful evaporative fuel vapors in the tank by stacking a Fill Limit Vent Valve (FLVV) and a new Zero-Leak Grade Vent Valve (GVV). A key benefit of the Compact Combo is reduced fuel vapor permeation. The...

Volkswagen Group China building battery system factory in Anhui to strengthen BEV value chain

Sep 24, 2021: Volkswagen Group China is commencing construction of a battery system production factory in Hefei (Anhui province). VW Anhui Components Company is the first battery system plant to be wholly owned by the Group in China. The initial annual capacity will be 150,000 to 180,000 high-voltage battery systems for Volkswagen Anhui’s...

Honda and Google to collaborate on in-vehicle connected services

Sep 24, 2021: Honda and Google have agreed to integrate Google’s in-vehicle connected service into an all-new model that will come to market in the second half of 2022 in North America. Honda and Google have been collaborating since 2015 with the broader automotive industry to introduce the Android platform to automobiles. As...

Long Beach, Mercedes-Benz partner to improve urban mobility through connected vehicle data

Sep 24, 2021: The City of Long Beach, California has entered into a public-private partnership with Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America, with support from Mercedes-Benz USA Urban Mobility Solutions, and Xtelligent to develop transportation technology systems that will improve urban transportation management and enhance liveability and environmental sustainability in and around the...

Constellium to supply aluminum structural components for Ford F-150 Lightning EV

Sep 24, 2021: Constellium SE will supply aluminum structural components for the recently introduced all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning that is expected to be available Spring 2022. The F-150 Lightning, and all F-Series pickup trucks, extensively use high-strength aluminum alloys. Constellium-supplied structural components for the F-150 Lightning include the windshield header, rocker, radiator support,...

US and China make big climate pledges at UN General Assembly

Sep 23, 2021: Two of the world's largest economies — and by far the largest carbon contributors — have committed to stop financing the climate crisis. On Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, the U.S. and China pledged to cut off financing for activities that fuel the climate crisis.

McDonalds Happy Meal toys to get more sustainable by 2025

Sep 23, 2021: Young activists know that today's plastic toys are tomorrow's non-recyclable waste. In response, McDonald’s is making its Happy Meal toys more sustainable.

Massive greenhouse wins award for sustainable design

Sep 23, 2021: The Global Flora Conservatory at Wellesley College already holds several design awards, including the 2021 Architizer A+ Awards Jury Winner for Architecture + New Technology. After several years of planning and construction, it is nearly complete.

This apple factory turned artist ranch is a budding community

Sep 23, 2021: This is the story of how a decommissioned apple processing facility became a modern rural retreat. Created by Best Practice Architecture, Cloud Ranch is an amazing combination of the old and the new.

Morgenfarm proposes vertical farms to replace Berlins Autobahn

Sep 23, 2021: Morgenfarm offers a utopian vision for Berlin’s infrastructure where toxic fumes are replaced by green space and healthy vegetables.

MAHLE Powertrain and Allotrope Energy unveil lithium-carbon battery technology with ultra-fast recharging

Sep 23, 2021: MAHLE Powertrain and Allotrope Energy have unveiled a new battery technology which offers ultra-fast recharging coupled with good power density. By combining the benefits of supercapacitors and traditional lithium-ion batteries, the new lithium-carbon technology enables a full charge to be delivered in a similar time to refuelling an internal combustion-powered...

6K raises $51M to accelerate advanced battery material development and global expansion of additive manufacturing powders

Sep 23, 2021: 6K, a developer of microwave plasma technology for the production of advanced materials for energy storage and additive manufacturing powders (earlier post), closed a $51M Series C financing round. With this investment, 6K will complete its Battery Development Center of Excellence, adding 33,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art product development space...

Lyten introduces next generation Lithium-Sulfur battery for EVs; 3X energy density of Li-ion

Sep 23, 2021: Lyten, an advanced materials company, introduced its LytCell EV lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery platform. The technology is optimized for the electric vehicle market and is designed to deliver three times (3X) the gravimetric energy density of conventional lithium-ion batteries. Lyten, which has just emerged from stealth mode, worked with the US...

Lotus reveals new lightweight chassis technology for new family of EVs

Sep 23, 2021: Just weeks after Lotus confirmed it will be launching a new family of EV performance cars, it has revealed the new lightweight chassis technology that will underpin the electric sports car in the range. The new structure has been developed through Project LEVA (Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture), announced last October...

Argonne white paper outlines battery and R&D requirements for electric aviation

Sep 23, 2021: A new white paper published by the Argonne National Laboratory Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science (ACCESS) outlines a clear set of battery requirements and research and development needs to accelerate the commercialization of electric propulsion for aviation—from air taxis in the near term to 737 class aircraft in the...

Vertical Aerospace, Marubeni to explore the introduction of eVTOL in Japan; conditional pre-order option for 200 units

Sep 23, 2021: Vertical Aerospace, a British eVTOL manufacturer, and Marubeni Corporation, a leading Japanese integrated trading and investment business conglomerate have reached an agreement to explore Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) travel solutions focused on the application of Vertical’s flagship electric aircraft, the VA-X4 (earlier post), in the Japanese market. Marubeni has also...

YASA spin-out Evolito launches as a business with electric motors for aviation

Sep 23, 2021: YASA spin-out Evolito, a new company developing and manufacturing direct- and indirect-drive electric motors and power electronics for aerospace applications, launched publicly as a privately-owned business. Evolito was spun out earlier this year by YASA (the pioneer of automotive axial-flux electric motors acquired by Mercedes-Benz in July 2021) exclusively to...

Ford, Redwood Materials partner on closed-loop battery recycling, US supply chain; Ford invests $50M

Sep 23, 2021: Ford Motor Company and Redwood Materials are collaborating to build out battery recycling and a domestic battery supply chain for electric vehicles. Ford and Redwood’s goal is to make electric vehicles more sustainable, drive down the cost for batteries, and ultimately help make electric vehicles accessible and affordable for more...

E.ON and Volkswagen introduce fast charger with storage battery

Sep 23, 2021: E.ON and Volkswagen have introduced the E.ON Drive Booster, built by Volkswagen Group Components in operation. As a flexible fast charger, it requires no civil engineering work or adjustments to the grid connection and can charge two electric vehicles simultaneously with up to 150 kW. This means the expansion of...

General Motors and Amazon to offer OnStar Emergency Service at home

Sep 23, 2021: General Motors and Amazon plan to introduce the OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa, a new feature that will provide a voice-enabled connection to Emergency-Certified OnStar Advisors at home through compatible Alexa-enabled devices. The OnStar Guardian skill for Amazon Alexa is part of the OnStar Guardian platform, which aims to...

Officials worry COP26 climate conference is at "high risk of failure"

Sep 22, 2021: The highly anticipated U.N. climate conference COP26 is at "high risk of failure," according to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres. Planned to take place this November in Glasgow, COP26 intends to bring together global leaders to address the climate crisis.

Extreme heat pushes Biden administration to pursue worker protections

Sep 22, 2021: President Biden has directed labor officials to draft laws that will protect workers under extreme heat conditions. The directive comes months after a hot summer, in which several workers were reported dead due to extreme heat.

Climate clock ticks out shame for rich nations

Sep 22, 2021: Activists in New York are trying to shame rich countries into keeping an expensive promise to the Global South. A new version of a digital "climate clock" displayed in Union Square shows a climate-action timeline along with an amount rich countries still owe.

Off-grid design helps rebuild school structures lost in fire

Sep 22, 2021: Frederick Fisher & Partners recently completed a project at the Ojai Valley School’s Upper Campus in Ojai, California, replacing structures previously lost to the Thomas Fire in 2017.

These shipping container tiny homes provide for the unhoused

Sep 22, 2021: The pandemic showed us all how close anyone can come to having nothing. Many people are much closer to losing everything than they even want to know. Monarch Village, created by Studio 804, offers a shelter solution to meet the needs of unhoused people and families.

NREL report finds electrified heavy-duty vehicle powertrains could provide lower total cost of ownership than diesel under certain conditions

Sep 22, 2021: A new total cost of ownership (TCO) study from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) finds that battery-electric and fuel-cell electric commercial trucks could be economically competitive with conventional diesel trucks by 2025 in some operating scenarios. Spatial and Temporal Analysis of the Total Cost of Ownership for Class 8...

The City One is a compact, community-focused electric car

Sep 21, 2021: If less is more, then The City One is more car than you’ve ever seen before! This car is small, efficient, eye-catching, tough, and yeah — it’s electric.

Air Company wins first place in NASA's CO2 Conversion Challenge

Sep 21, 2021: A technology, engineering and design-based company in New York has secured first place in NASA’s CO2 Conversion Challenge with a project that converts CO2 into sugars to create new resources on Mars.

City of Telosa enlists Bjarke Ingels Group for urban utopia

Sep 21, 2021: A plan for the world’s most sustainable city has been designed and is expected to welcome its first residents by 2030. Proposed for construction in an undecided desert location in the United States, the city of Telosa is estimated to cost $400 billion and accommodate a population of 5 million.

Coral reef capacity has declined by 50% since the 1950s

Sep 21, 2021: A recent study published by One Earth has revealed the troubled state of coral reefs globally and their impact on the ecosystem. The researchers established that the coral reefs' capacity to offer ecological services relied upon by humans has declined by 50% since the 1950s.

What causes zombie plants?

Sep 21, 2021: Parasitic bacteria can teach us a lot, according to scientists who have just discovered a manipulation mechanism used by the bacteria to slow down plant aging. Their insights might lead to new ways to protect food crops from disease.