Eaton gets $2 million DOE grant for fuel-cell work
In return for giving Eaton Corp. a $2 million grant, the U.S. Department of Energy is expecting the Southfield, MI, company to boost the performance and reduce the cost of fuel-cell systems. The DOE announced the grant award March 29. As part of a three-year project, Eaton will modify its existing air-compression technology to deliver more power and better fuel economy at a lower cost. Project partners include Kettering University, Ballard Power Systems, and Electricore Inc. The DOE says its hydrogen and fuel-cell research and development program has resulted in more than 300 patents and more than 30 products brought to market. From 2008, it noted, fuel-cell durability has doubled and the cost of fuel cells has come down 30%.
First EV rolls off line at CODA
The first fully assembled CODA EV to be sold to a consumer rolled off the final assembly line at CODA Automotive's plant in Benicia, CA, March 12. The MY2012 five-passenger CODA midsize sedan is equipped with a 31-kW·h lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack that comes with a 10-year, 100,000-mi warranty. The EV has a range of 88 mi (142 km) per charge, but depending on driving habits can reach 125 mi (201 km), according to the company. A 6.6-kW onboard charger provides a full charge in about 6 h at 240 V. The MSRP is $37,250, but with state and federal tax breaks the net price can be as low as $27,250.
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The MY2012 five-passenger CODA midsize sedan is equipped with a 31-kW·h lithium-iron-phosphate battery pack that comes with a 10-year, 100,000-mi warranty.
Guangxi Yuchai to develop natural gas engines
Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Co. Ltd. (GYMCL), the main operating subsidiary of China Yuchai International Ltd., has begun a new project to develop and produce a full portfolio of natural gas-powered engines to complement its current diesel-engine range, primarily for the large bus, mid- to heavy-duty truck, power generator, and marine engine markets. A new facility, with a capacity to produce 20,000 gas engines, will be constructed at the company’s main facility at Yulin City, Guangxi Province. It is expected to be operational in early 2013. The new facility also will undertake R&D efforts to advance production capabilities. GYMCL notes that China’s 12th Five-Year Plan targets natural gas to make up 8.3% of the primary energy mix by 2015, which represents about 9.2 trillion ft3 (260 billion m3) of gas, more than three times the consumption in 2008. According to GYMCL, the country’s major oil companies, China National Petroleum Corp., China Petrochemical Corp., and China National Offshore Oil Corp., are actively building pipelines and facilities to increase the use of natural gas.
Bridgestone eyes alternative rubber source
Bridgestone is undertaking research in the United States to develop the Guayule plant as an alternative source of rubber. The company says the perennial shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico produces natural rubber in its bark and roots. Its qualities are almost identical to those of rubber harvested from Hevea trees, currently the primary source for the natural rubber used in tires. The growing area of Hevea Brasiliensis is limited to tropical climates close to the equator. By contrast, Guayule is native to desert climates, with a huge potential growing area, Bridgestone says. The company expects to finalize a location in the Southwestern U.S., establish the research farm, and begin construction on the process research center later in 2012. The facility is expected to be fully operational in 2014. Trial rubber production should start in 2015.
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Natural rubber from Guayule is almost identical to natural rubber harvested from Hevea trees, which are currently the primary source for the natural rubber used in tires.
SAE launches A/C conformance program and database
In response to industry and consumer requests, SAE International has developed a new program to provide conformance measures for the mobile air-conditioning (MAC) industry. Overseen by SAE International's Interior Climate Control Standards Committee, the program offers a procedure for certifying compliance with appropriate SAE International technical standards. It can be used by MAC manufacturers, along with testing facilities and providers of technical training. While certification of any product is voluntary, suppliers or manufacturers that advertise their products as certified to an SAE International “J” standard are required to follow the procedures established by the respective program (the organization has similar conformance programs addressing engine power ratings). In this case, the certification is designed to raise the level of confidence and to assure consumers of MAC components, equipment, and technician training programs that the providers are following and meeting the expected performance criteria set by SAE International standards. The program is governed by SAE J2911—“Procedure for Certification that Requirements for Mobile Air Conditioning System Components, Service Equipment, and Service Technician Training Meet SAE J Standards,” a revised version of which was issued in January. MAC industry suppliers may register for the program at http://macdb.sae.org/. The SAE MAC Manufacturer Database website also provides information about companies that have submitted claims of conformance. For more information, contact SAE conformance program manager Gary Pollak at gary@sae.org.
CARB sets fuel-efficiency rules for 2017-2025
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) on Jan. 27 adopted rules for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that largely align with proposed federal rules for the years 2017-2025 but add certain mandates designed to help automakers achieve the required fuel-efficiency and GHG levels. The CARB rules deviate most significantly from the federal rules in requiring minimum sales levels of full and partial electric vehicles (including hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles). One of the provisions calls for the construction of hydrogen filling stations. The effect of the rules will be to put more than 1.4 million plug-in-electric and fuel-cell vehicles on California roads by 2025. CARB expects the lifetime savings in fuel costs for the average vehicle buyer to be three times as great as the upfront costs of the advanced technologies developed and deployed to improve fuel efficiency. Unlike the federal program, which addresses only fuel efficiency and GHG emissions, the California rules also address NOx and particulate-matter emissions.
SDCmaterials begins field trials for emission control catalysts
SDCmaterials, a Tempe, AZ-based developer of advanced high-performance catalyst materials, has commenced field trials for its Nano-Nano-Micron (NNm) emission control catalyst product. As part of this final phase of pre-production testing, the company’s NNm product will be deployed as the active catalyst ingredient within a critical exhaust system component used on municipal transit buses. This is a joint project between SDCmaterials Inc. and a major European exhaust gas aftertreatment and systems company. The exhaust system components targeted in these field trials rely on high-cost platinum group metals (PGM) to oxidize soot and convert CO and HC into CO2 and water. SDC’s catalysts are produced using a proprietary process that results in a unique nano-scale PGM structure. “The cost and performance benefits of our NNm emission control catalysts have been proven in synthetic gas and vehicle drive-cycle tests with multiple OEMs in various light-duty and heavy-duty emissions control applications,” said Maximilian Biberger, CEO of SDCmaterials Inc. The company has production facilities in Schwarzheide, Germany.
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SDCmaterials’ Nano-Nano-Micron catalyst material is said to “substantially reduce” the amount of platinum group metals required to meet stringent emissions control requirements.
Continental and SK Innovation team on lithium-ion batteries
As part of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, officials of SK Innovation and Continental Corp. on Jan. 10 signed an agreement to form a joint venture in lithium-ion batteries. The JV will develop, manufacture, and market the batteries globally. SK will supply Li-ion cells to the JV while Continental will supply battery-management electronics and its overall automotive systems competence. SK Innovation will have 51% ownership, Continental 49%. Initial operations will be based in Germany and Korea. The management team will be composed of executives from both companies, and the JV is subject to the completion of additional agreements, which are expected to be achieved by mid-2012.
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A worker performs cell testing at SK Innovation.
EU proposes lower vehicle noise limits
The European Commission have recently published a new draft regulation on motor vehicle sound levels, according to InterRegs, an online resource for global vehicle safety and emissions regulations. In addition to limiting noise levels, the proposal would establish a new procedure for measuring noise emissions and new requirements on the minimum sound generated by electric and hybrid-electric vehicles. The reduced noise limits would be implemented in two phases. In the first phase, applicable two years after the publication of the regulation, the noise limits applicable to heavy trucks would be reduced by 1 dB (A) to between 77 and 82 dB (A), dependent on engine power and drive configuration. The noise limits applicable to other types of vehicles would be reduced by 2 dB (A) to between 70 and 79 dB (A), dependent on vehicle type, GVWR, engine power, and drive configuration. In the second phase, applicable five years after the publication, the noise limits would be reduced by a further 2 dB (A) for all vehicle types.
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