Transportation News

Modified enzyme can increase second-generation ethanol production

Jun 15, 2019: Using a protein produced by a fungus that lives in the Amazon, Brazilian researchers have developed a molecule capable of increasing glucose release from biomass for fermentation. The findings are published in an open-access paper the journal Scientific Reports. One of the main challenges of second-generation biofuel production is identifying...

IEA: time to tap into hydrogen’s potential to play a key role in a clean, secure and affordable energy future

Jun 15, 2019: In a major new report on hydrogen, the International Energy Agency says that the time is right to tap into hydrogen’s potential to play a key role in a clean, secure and affordable energy future. The in-depth study, which analyzes hydrogen’s current state of play and offers guidance on its...

ZF expands e-mobility division

Jun 15, 2019: ZF Friedrichshafen AG has expanded its E-Mobility division with new buildings and locations. On Friday, the technology company opened a new building for administration, R&D, and sales at the divisional headquarters in Schweinfurt. In Pančevo near the Serbian capital of Belgrade, a new plant for electric drives will go into...

German court rules mass killing of male chicks legal

Jun 14, 2019: This month, the Federal Administrative Court in Germany ruled to uphold the common practice of killing male chicks considered in efficient for meat production. The ruling is meant to be temporary, until an alternative and scalable solution is available, despite outcry by animal rights advocates. The hearing is in response to a ban of the practice from 2013 within a state in Germany. Following the ban, two major hatcheries challenged the decision, claiming that the practice was necessary for food...

LEED Gold eco hotel in the Wine Country was built using reclaimed wood

Jun 14, 2019: This 39-room inn in the popular Wine Country town of Healdsburg boasts sustainable, natural materials and an eco-friendly design that earned it a LEED Gold certification.

Britain promises net-zero emissions by 2050

Jun 14, 2019: Britain recently upped the ante on its commitment to fight climate change, promising to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

Studio NAB wants to boost urban biodiversity with an insect hotel at a bus stop

Jun 14, 2019: Waiting for the bus is usually a drag, but what if the experience could instead become an opportunity to be closer to nature?

11 unique edible plants for your garden

Jun 14, 2019: Part of the joy of gardening is falling in love with the plants you choose to nurture, especially those with a tasty reward. While the traditional carrots and raspberries certainly have their place, you can create a yard full of unique, yummy, and eye-catching produce when you select plants that are a little less traditional. The produce department at your local supermarket might have a few dozen choices, there are actually hundreds of fruits and vegetables that you may have never even heard...

Upcycled plastic bottles are used to create this durable emergency shelter

Jun 14, 2019: The Recycled BottleHouse is a pyramid-shaped shelter that was constructed from a bamboo frame covered in discarded plastic bottles.

LG Chem and Geely form China JV for EV batteries; new 10 GWh plant by end of 2021

Jun 14, 2019: LG Chem Ltd. will establish an electric vehicle (EV) battery joint venture (JV) in China with Geely Automobile. Under the terms of a new joint venture agreement, LG Chem and Geely Automobile will establish a 50:50 venture. LG Chem and Geely will each invest US$87 million. The factory site and...

Honda provides some detail on chassis and powertrain for Honda e EV

Jun 14, 2019: Honda’s new compact electric vehicle, the Honda e, is the first Honda to be built on a dedicated EV platform, designed from the ground up to deliver excellent Honda driving dynamics. The Honda e platform has been developed with a focus on urban environments to offer a rewarding, responsive driving...

VDL expands electric bus range with 14.5-meter Citea XLE-145 Electric

Jun 14, 2019: VDL Bus & Coach has expanded its Citea Electric product range with the Citea XLE-145 Electric. With this 14.5-meter e-bus, VDL Bus & Coach adds a new length variant to the available electric Low Entry buses. VDL introduced 12- and 12.9-meter electric Low Entry length variants in September 2018. In...

Global BMW Group electrified vehicle sales pass 400K mark

Jun 14, 2019: In May, cumulated BMW Group electrified sales topped the 400,000 mark with a total of 406,756 fully-electric and plug-in hybrid models delivered to customers since the BMW i3 first went on sale in November 2013. Five and a half years after it was launched, demand for the iconic BMW i3...

Natron Energy awarded $3M by California Energy Commission to pair energy storage with EV fast charging

Jun 14, 2019: Natron Energy, a developer of new battery cell technology based on Prussian Blue analogue electrodes and a sodium-ion electrolyte, has (earlier post), has been awarded a $3-million grant by the California Energy Commission (CEC) for “Advanced Energy Storage for Electric Vehicle Charging Support.” Natron will utilize the funds to manufacture...

ISS ESG awards Valeo pole position in ratings for its CSR policy and the quality of its governance

Jun 14, 2019: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) rating agency ISS ESG has awarded Valeo pole position in its ESG performance rating of global companies (auto components industry, 64 companies assessed). Valeo has also achieved Prime status for its excellent performance. Valeo scored particularly well in the three areas identified by ISS ESG as...

Chalmers team develops optical nano-sensor for detecting pollution

Jun 14, 2019: Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have developed a small, optical nano-sensor for pollution detection which can be mounted onto an ordinary streetlight. The technology is already in use in western Sweden, and researchers and other interested parties hope that the sensor could soon be used in many broad...

ZF develops dual-lens camera for commercial vehicles; launches in 2020 with integrated ADAS technologies

Jun 14, 2019: ZF has developed the Dual-cam two-lens camera specifically designed for the commercial truck market and to be used in concert with other ZF ADAS technologies. The camera features ZF’s longitudinal and lateral vehicle control expertise combined with Mobileye’s advanced EyeQ4 processor. Part of ZF’s S-Cam4 family of automotive-grade cameras, the...

Oberon Fuels secures $2.9M grant from California for first production of renewable dimethyl ether (rDME) in US

Jun 14, 2019: Oberon Fuels, a producer of clean-burning dimethyl ether (DME) transportation fuel (earlier post), has been awarded a grant for $2,876,139 from the California Energy Commission (CEC) for a first-of-its-kind, multi-phase project to produce the first renewable dimethyl ether (rDME), a clean-burning, ultra-low-carbon transportation fuel, in the US. The CEC formally...

Volkswagen ID.R returns to Goodwood to defend its title with new drive configuration optimized for short route

Jun 14, 2019: Fresh off breaking the lap record for electric vehicles on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (earlier post) the Volkswagen ID.R is set to defend its title at the “Goodwood Festival of Speed” (4 to 7 July). Last year, Romain Dumas, at the wheel of the fully-electric race car, set a new record for...

Vegan and lab-grown meats predicted to take over meat market in 20 years

Jun 13, 2019: A new report claims that artificial but sustainable meats will take over the meat market by 2040.

TREDJE NATUR proposes angled timber housing that meets UNs sustainability goals

Jun 13, 2019: Copenhagen-based architectural firm TREDJE NATUR has unveiled an urban housing proposal that ticks all the right boxes for beautiful and sustainable design.

Free at last: Canada passes Act to prohibit dolphin and whale captivity

Jun 13, 2019: This week, Canada’s parliament passed a long awaited Act that will prohibits whales, dolphins and porpoises from being bred or contained in captivity. Originally proposed in 2015 by then Senator Wilfred Moore from Nova Scotia, the legislation received broad support from the public and considerable pressure from animal rights groups. “Nothing fantastic ever happens in a hurry. But today we celebrate that we have ended the captivity and breeding of whales and dolphins. This is news to splash...

Architects envision a sustainable future for a Finnish island at risk of rising sea levels

Jun 13, 2019: Named “Emerald Envisioning for Luonnonmaa 2070,” the futuristic vision calls for a utopian scheme where people and nature live in harmony within a sustainable community tapping into renewable energy sources, eco-tourism and reforestation.

Ending animal exploitation in tourism with World Animal Protection

Jun 13, 2019: World Animal Protection works internationally to end the suffering of animals and urge all people to do more to protect our furred, feathered and scaly neighbors. World Animal Protection (formerly World Society for the Protection of Animals) works on many fronts, including wild animals, farmed animals and those suddenly displaced by disasters. Ontario-based campaign director Melissa Matlow talked to Inhabitat about World Animal Protection’s work to end the exploitation of animals in the name of...

Innovative window solar charger is designed for apartment dwellers

Jun 13, 2019: Now, even apartment dwellers can enjoy the benefits of solar power with this innovative solar charger that hangs in a window.

Carnegie Mellon researchers develop semi-liquid lithium metal anode for use with solid electrolytes

Jun 13, 2019: Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University’s Mellon College of Science and College of Engineering have developed a semiliquid lithium metal-based anode (SLMA) that represents a new paradigm in battery design for solid electrolyte batteries. The interdisciplinary research team published their findings in the current issue of Joule. Solid electrolytes are considered...

UK Faraday Battery Challenge awards £23M to support development of electrified car batteries

Jun 13, 2019: The UK government announced £23 million (US$29 million) in third-round funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge to projects to support the development of the latest electrified vehicle technology. The £23-million investment is part of the total £274 million (US$349 million) that will be awarded to consortia across the UK through...

Hyundai and Kia invest in autonomous vehicle technology company Aurora

Jun 13, 2019: Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation have invested in Aurora to accelerate development of autonomous vehicle technologies. The move will strengthen the strategic partnership formed between the companies in 2018, under which Hyundai, Kia, and Aurora have been collaborating on self-driving technologies on Hyundai’s flagship fuel cell vehicle NEXO....

SW/TCH Maritime funds the construction of hydrogen fuel cell e-ferry

Jun 13, 2019: SW/TCH Maritime (SW/TCH), an impact investment platform building the first fleet of zero-emissions maritime vessels in the US, announced its investment to construct and own the ‘Water Go Round’ e-ferry in collaboration with Golden Gate Zero Emission Marine (GGZEM), a provider of turn-key hydrogen fuel cell power systems for ships....

Volvo Cars and Uber present production vehicle ready for self-driving

Jun 13, 2019: Volvo Cars and Uber presented a jointly developed production car capable of driving by itself, the next step in the strategic collaboration between both companies. Uber and Volvo Cars entered a joint engineering agreement in 2016 and have since developed several prototypes aimed at accelerating the companies’ self-driving car development....

Rutgers study: facial and head injuries from electric scooters “a rising epidemic”

Jun 13, 2019: Facial and head injuries from riding electric scooters have tripled over the past decade, according to a Rutgers study. Electric scooter use has been increasing in popularity as a more environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to gasoline vehicles. However, state helmet laws vary, and the study found that many people...

Renesas develops new flash memory technology for automotive based on next-generation 28nm process

Jun 13, 2019: Renesas Electronics Corporation has developed a new flash memory technology that achieves larger memory capacities, higher readout speeds, and over-the-air (OTA) support for automotive microcontrollers (MCUs) using the next-generation 28nm process. This new technology achieves the industry’s largest capacity of embedded flash memory on an MCU – 24 MB –...

DOE to invest $32M in computer design of materials

Jun 13, 2019: The US Department of Energy (DOE) will invest $32 million over the next four years to accelerate the design of new materials through use of supercomputers. Seven projects will be supported, three led by teams at DOE National Laboratories and four by Universities. The teams are led by Argonne National...

Radiohead dodges ransom request by releasing unheard tracks to benefit Extinction Rebellion

Jun 12, 2019: After an unknown music hacker stole unreleased music from Grammy-winners, Radiohead, the band published 18 hours of private soundtracks on Bandcamp, with the proceeds directly benefiting the Extinction Rebellion. The recordings were never intended for the public’s ear, however the band was left with little choice other than allowing the hacker to profit from their stolen recordings. The hacker as asking for $150,000 for the full 18 hours. Instead, the band acted quickly to ensure that the profits...

Desmond Tutu Clinic welcomes HIV patients with a striking sawtooth roof

Jun 12, 2019: In the Cape Town township of Masiphumelele, approximately 30 percent of the residents are infected with HIV. To help the low-income community, South African architectural practice theMAAK partnered with the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation (DTHF) to build a striking new public building to serve the area.

Study reveals mass plant extinction rate since Industrial Revolution

Jun 12, 2019: According to new research, at least 571 plants have become extinct since 1750, which should be a “frightening” concern to anyone who eats or breathes.

An eco-friendly gift guide for Fathers Day

Jun 12, 2019: This Father’s Day, give your dad a gift he will not only love, but one that also won’t hurt the planet nor gather dust on his shelf: quality time together!

Mysterious Black Villa is to be tucked in the lush forests just outside of Moscow

Jun 12, 2019: The Black Villa in the Forest, designed by Russian architectural firm Archslon, has a certain air of mystery to it that is enhanced by its off-grid location just outside of bustling Moscow.

China researchers develop one-pot process for direct conversion of cellulose to ethanol

Jun 12, 2019: Researchers in China have developed a one-pot process for the direct conversion of cellulose to ethanol with a yield of 43.2 C% over a multifunctional catalyst Mo/Pt/WOx, which effectively catalyzes the tandem reactions of cellulose to ethylene glycol (EG) and then to ethanol. A paper on their work is published...

Twisting brick facade fronts an innovative courtyard house near Chicago

Jun 12, 2019: In a Chicago suburb full of traditional gabled rooflines, California-based architectural firm Brooks + Scarpa has inserted a modern dwelling that puts a sculptural twist on a humble and overlooked building material: Chicago “Common” brick.

Volkswagen to invest ~US$1B in joint battery activities with Northvolt AB; acquiring ~20% of shares, JV for 16 GWh battery factory

Jun 12, 2019: Volkswagen AG is investing some €900 million (US$1.019 billion) in joint battery activities with Northvolt AB. Part of the sum is intended for a joint venture with the Swedish battery cell producer, a further share will go directly to Northvolt AB. Part of the sum is an element of Northvolt’s...

KLM to contribute to TU Delft Flying-V concept for more sustainable aviation

Jun 12, 2019: Under a new cooperative agreement to work together on making aviation more sustainable, KLM will be contributing towards Delft University of Technology’s (TU Delft) research into an innovative flight concept known as the “Flying-V”, which integrates the passenger cabin, the cargo hold and the fuel tanks in the wings, creating...

Hyundai Motor partners with MDGo to enhance vehicle safety through AI accident analysis

Jun 12, 2019: Hyundai Motor Company is partnering with MDGo, an Israeli start-up specializing in medical artificial intelligence (AI) systems, to help shape the next generation of advanced vehicle safety systems. Hyundai Motor and MDGo will co-develop connected services that bring the worlds of health and automotive closer than ever. MDGo’s intelligent injury...

Pfenning Logistics opts for the Mercedes-Benz eActros electric truck

Jun 12, 2019: German logistics service provider Pfenning Logistics will be using a Mercedes-Benz eActros battery-electric 25-tonne truck to supply the Mercedes-Benz Mannheim plant. In October 2018, Mercedes-Benz Trucks handed over an eActros in Mannheim to concrete producer TBS Transportbeton. Both vehicles are part of the eActros “Innovation Fleet” for testing the heavy,...

BP: world on unsustainable path; growing divergence between demands for climate change action and pace of progress

Jun 12, 2019: BP released the 68th annual edition of the BP Statistical Review of World Energy (BP Stats Review), a comprehensive collection and analysis of global energy data. This year’s edition highlights the growing divergence between demands for action on climate change and the actual pace of progress on reducing carbon emissions....

New BMW 3 Series Touring to offer PHEV version; XtraBoost mode

Jun 12, 2019: The new generation BMW 3 Series Touring will offer the first plug-in hybrid drive system for one of BMW’s Touring models. The BMW eDrive technology in the BMW 330e Touring comprises a four-cylinder gasoline engine and an electric motor integrated into the eight-speed Steptronic transmission. The new BMW 3 Series...

DSM expands yeast, enzyme product offerings for the biofuels industry

Jun 12, 2019: Royal DSM is expanding its product offering of low glycerol yeast technology for the biofuels industry with the introduction of eBOOST GT and a new enzyme for fiber conversion, eBREAK 1000F. eBOOST GT, which has been tested and qualified at commercial scale, enables the robustness and yield benefits of eBOOST...

Electrify America, ChargePoint announce roaming partnership

Jun 12, 2019: Electrify America and ChargePoint announced a roaming partnership that will further expand access to electric vehicle (EV) charging across the United States. The interoperability agreement will allow drivers seamlessly to charge their EVs on public chargers between both networks using their existing account credentials to start a session, without incurring...

Canada to ban single-use plastics by 2021

Jun 11, 2019: Canada is the latest country to follow the European Union’s ambitious ban of single-use plastics, which will go into effect by 2021.

Old ruins are transformed into a cozy, off-grid guesthouse in France

Jun 11, 2019: From afar, this quaint guesthouse seems like a pile of rubble — but take a closer look and you’ll find a tiny and cozy getaway with interiors of Douglas fir.