Category Archives: environment

Germany Drops Hard Coal After 200 Years

In 2007, the social partners in German coal industry reached a deal to phase out hard coal production by 2018. However, fossil fuels still account for an important part of the energy mix, and the lignite, or brown coal, produced in Germany still derives a part of it. Continue reading

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Autonomous Vehicles – OmniVision is Watching with High-Speed Global Shutter Image Sensors

Semi-autonomous vehicles use DSM to track the driver’s eye gaze and allow the vehicle to take control when the driver becomes drowsy or distracted. DSM is currently available in high-end cars, but over the next few years, the tracking will likely migrate into mainstream vehicles, a market segment that is much more cost-sensitive. Continue reading

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Hyundai Delivers First 2019 NEXO Fuel Cell SUV

Mr. Hochrad isn’t the typical automotive buyer. More than 15 years ago, he purchased his first hybrid car and over the years has driven dedicated electric vehicles as well. His new NEXO will deliver about five times the driving range of his first unnamed all-electric car. Continue reading

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Mobility Company Capital Destruction. Latest German JV Attempts to Lessen Negative Effects on Shareholder Value

It’s just the latest example of the capital intensive, shareholder-value destroying transition to an ill-defined, but demonstrably expensive mobility company that all automakers are now pursuing. Continue reading

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First Fully-Electric Freightliner eM2 to Penske Truck Leasing

Penske Truck Leasing is going to operate the electric truck in local distribution traffic in the Northwest Pacific and in California. During 2019, Penske Truck Leasing Corporation will receive in total 20 fully-electric Freightliner trucks: ten medium-duty eM2 and ten eCascadia for heavy-duty transportation. In total the Freightliner’s test fleet will include 30 vehicles. Continue reading

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European Court Annuls Real Driving Emissions Limits. Cleaner Diesel Deception Threatened. They Can Be Banned from Cities

Their argument is provocative: “While the European Commission did not seek to increase the headline 80 mg/km emissions limit for diesel vehicles, which must still be adhered to in the laboratory test, they granted “Conformity Factors” that in effect did increase the limits for the harder, on-road part of the test. As a result, all diesel vehicles only had to meet 168 mg/km by September 2019, falling to 114 mg/km by January 2021. This was in practice a large increase in the permissible emissions limit.” Continue reading

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Korean Made 2019 Hyundai Kona starts at $37,495

Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform. It is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with – marketing babble alert – “active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds.” Continue reading

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Ford First Automaker to Outline UN Human Rights Issues

Ford claims to be the first automaker to complete this assessment, thought to be key in identifying the issues that are at risk of the most severe negative impact through activities or business relationships. Continue reading

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Fully electric Audi e-tron and e-tron GT concept at Los Angeles

Audi e-tron is the first all-electric production model from the brand. It’s a five-seater, electric mid-sized crossover SUV that will arrive in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2019. ALA Tesla it’s is available now for U.S. customers to place reservations. Continue reading

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General Motors Kisses Trump’s Butt

This was after its actions yesterday revealed the weakness if not downright falsity of President Trump’s claim to be creating jobs… “We appreciate the actions this administration has taken on behalf of industry to improve the overall competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing.” Continue reading

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Automobility LA – Fast EV Charging Network Plugged and Supported by Volkswagen Subsidiary Electrify America

However, industry observers note that there isn’t a clear focus in the U.S. to create an open electric vehicle charging network. In fact, the grid is to varying degrees populated by self-interested players in for a buck – as in charges via fees – and not necessarily for creating or sustaining potential consumer demands and expectations for convenience, reliability and speed. It’s true that these might ultimately become benefits, but one need only recall Enron* and its history with utility companies and how that worked out for consumers. Continue reading

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Death of the Diesel – High Gasoline Injection Pressures?

Efficient and hybridized gasoline should be the combustion-based alternative as diesel declines. Considering these added costs and complexities that have always been part of diesel, there is an unknown risk that the same pattern of reputational blight and penalties will occur on gasoline engines. This could/would accelerate the demise of the internal combustion engine while promoting electric vehicles. Continue reading

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BMW Has Claim on Leading Electrification. iNEXT Debuts in LA

“Sales of our electrified vehicles are up over 40% in the year to date. Around every fifth BMW 5 Series sedan or BMW 2 Series Active Tourer sold worldwide has a plug-in hybrid drivetrain, while our all-electric BMW i3 remains very successful with sales up over 10% in October,” said Pieter Nota, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG responsible for Sales. Continue reading

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WLTP How Does It Work? Will it Work?

After the scope of the Dieselgate scandal was revealed by American University and regulatory agency tests, an embarrassed European Union has developed a new test, called the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). Continue reading

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European Market Sinks. One-Third of Model Versions Not legal

Alternative-fueled vehicles continued to gain traction with their market share increasing by 2 percentage points to 7.5%, while demand for pure electric cars grew immensely, with volume up by 70%. Continue reading

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