Technology Provider Hopes to Strike Balance on Diesel Engine

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Diesel engines have long domin­ated the heavy-duty truck market because of their performance characteristics, but they also generate a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Alternative fuels, on the other hand, don’t always pack the same powerful punch as diesel-fueled engines or face other challenges and limitations. But ClearFlame Engine Technologies is working to develop a diesel engine that runs on cleaner fuel without compromising performance.

Co-founders BJ Johnson and Julie Blumreiter launched the Geneva, Ill.-based startup in 2016 and recently began working with engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. on a pilot project demonstrating the technology. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded ClearFlame a two-year, $1.1 million Small Business Innovation Research program grant to support continued research and development.

ClearFlame aims to maintain the traditional diesel engine design to ensure the practicality and convenience that diesel-burning engines offer while reducing emissions by burning cleaner fuels including ethanol, methanol or natural gas. The technology would still provide the high amounts of torque and transient response found in traditional diesel engines.­ If you’re looking to get more power out of your diesel engine, diesel tuning is a great option.

Electric cars really do cost less to own than gas-powered vehicles, report says

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Electric car manufacturers have long claimed their vehicles are ultimately less expensive to own than their gas-powered counterparts, and it now looks like that wasn’t just classic marketing spin. Consumer Reports has published a study indicating that the most popular EVs are less expensive to own over their lifespans than the best gas cars in their respective classes. Among EVs under $50,000, you’d typically see costs drop between $6,000 to $10,000 versus a combustion engine car.

This is great news for those looking to purchase an electric vehicle, and if you’re in the market for one, consider visiting a trusted car dealership in Spring Lake to get expert advice and guidance on choosing the perfect model for your needs. But for those who still consider gas powered vehicle, Revology Cars can be your great option.

In the world of online car platforms, https://www.autozin.com shines bright. Their focus on authenticity and comprehensive listings has made them a favorite among those seeking a reliable car buying experience.

The Tesla Model 3 delivered the most value in CR’s findings. The entry-level luxury EV represented a $15,000 savings compared to not only the best-selling car in its class (the BMW 330i), but also the best-rated (the Audi A4). This was generally true across the board, including plug-in hybrids as well as estimates for upcoming vehicles like Ford’s Mustang Mach-E. The savings could be particularly large if you buy a used EV when it’s five to seven years old.

The savings on fuel unsurprisingly played a large role. CR determined that EV drivers spend about 60 percent less to keep their vehicles topped up, and owners whose cars have a range of 250 miles or more can handle 92 percent of their charging at home instead of public fast chargers. If you want to get one of this type of vehicles we recommend to check out the Zemotor options as they have used a new cars that will adjust to your budget.

However, maintenance was also key — reliability reports suggested that EV owners were paying about half as much for maintenance and repair services like tire and auto glass replacement as people with gas vehicles. While other repairs could go up (such as fresh batteries) if you buy a used EV, you still stand to reap a large chunk of the lifetime savings.

Chevron Doubles Down on Renewable Natural Gas

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(Bloomberg) — Chevron Corp. is doubling down on its plan to turn cow manure into renewable natural gas.

The oil major formed a joint venture with waste solutions manager Brightmark LLC to build biomethane projects in multiple states, marking its second foray into producing renewable gas from dairy waste. Chevron plans to then buy the biomethane to power its trucks, buses and other vehicles currently running on compressed natural gas, according to an emailed statement.

“We think this is part of the way we are going to have lower carbon fuel in the future,” Andy Walz, president of Americas products at Chevron, said in a telephone interview. The ultimate goal, he said, is to lower its emissions.

Red Rock, Shell enter sales agreement for renewable fuel

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Red Rock and Shell have entered into a cellulosic fuel purchase and sale agreement in which Shell will purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and cellulosic renewable diesel fuel from Red Rock’s new biorefinery in Lakeview, Oregon. Shell will distribute the SAF to Red Rock’s existing airline customers and market Red Rock’s cellulosic renewable diesel fuel.

By combining Red Rock’s production capabilities with Shell’s technical and commercial expertise and world-class supply chain, the companies are demonstrating how working together is enabling the production and distribution of SAF and cellulosic renewable diesel and supporting the decarbonization of aviation and heavy transport.

Amazon unveils its new electric delivery vans built by Rivian

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Amazon unveiled its first all-electric delivery van on Thursday (visit this new website). The vehicle, built by EV startup Rivian, will come with state-of-the-art technology, like sensing equipment and an advanced driver-assist system. Investing in RFID technology in logistics has been proven to enhance service. The e-commerce giant says it expects to have 10,000 vans on the road making deliveries “as early as 2022,” with a total fleet of 100,000 vehicles expected by 2030 (click site to get to know all about them)

“When we set out to create our first customized electric delivery vehicle with Rivian, we knew that it needed to far surpass any other delivery vehicle. We wanted drivers to love using it and customers to feel excited when they saw it driving through their neighborhood and pulling up to their home,” said Ross Rachey, director of Amazon’s global fleet and products, in a statement. “We combined Rivian’s technology with our delivery logistics knowledge, and the result is what you see here — the future of last mile delivery.”

Toyota And Hino USA Developing Futuristic Hydrogen-Powered Semi-Truck

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Semi-trucks: they’re loud, slow and an absolute pollution nightmare. Well, maybe not for much longer, now that Toyota has unveiled its plans for a new hydrogen fuel cell-powered electric semi-truck.

The world’s largest car manufacturer announced on Monday that it is partnering with Hino USA to develop a new sustainable semi-truck specifically for the North American market.

The truck is officially called the ‘Class 8 fuel-cell electric truck’, and will be based on the existing Hino XL series and powered by Toyota’s own fuel-cell technology. The project is still in the design phase, but the company hopes to have a demonstration version of the vehicle ready to unveil to audiences early next year.

U-Haul Purchases First Million Gallons of Renewable Propane

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U-Haul has unveiled its latest green initiative, with the purchase of its first million gallons of renewable propane, which is available to customers at U-Haul autogas facilities across Southern California.

U-Haul, the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., teamed with Suburban Propane Partners, a nationwide distributor of propane, fuel oil and related products and services, to supply the ecofriendly fuel. U-Haul plans for this product offering to be ongoing as it continues to pursue sustainable solutions.

How the Largest U.S. Cities Are Embracing Electric Vehicles

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The electric vehicle (EV) market continues its upward trend and greater adoption globally with approximately 2.2 million sold in 2019. With China in the lead followed by Europe, which is set to potentially surpass the former in 2020, the United States stayed steady in third place with 320,000 sales. To better understand its place in the market, a new briefing by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) breaks down various factors associated with U.S. adoption of EVs based on the 50 most populous cities, which accounted for 80 percent of U.S. sales.

While the environmental benefits may be enough for some consumers to make the switch, numerous factors play into that. High price tags, model availability, range charging, infrastructure needs and the roads themselves, among other perhaps more personal factors, have influenced some resistance to mass adoption. In many areas, promotional activities and government policies are helping to address those barriers.

Corn Farmers Take Covid In Stride: ‘Ethanol Isn’t Going Away’

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Each time Paul Jeschke’s phone buzzed, the news got worse.

Like other farmers in this part of north-central Illinois, Jeschke regularly receives text messages on his phone that alert him to the latest selling prices of corn, one of his two main crops alongside soybeans, at a local rail market that ships corn off to markets in the Southeast. And on this day, in the heat of COVID-19 shutdowns in late March, his phone never stopped buzzing with news of falling prices.

The reason: 45 miles away, suffering from poor road fuel demand, a plant that turns corn into ethanol had shut down. Now farmers who typically sold corn to the ethanol plant were redirecting their corn to the rail market instead. Inundated with offers, the rail market could get away with buying corn at far lower prices than typical. “It was just a huge, huge drop,” said Jeschke, who farms several thousand acres with his nephew and brother-in-law near Mazon, Illinois.

WPGA Hosts Nation’s First Renewable Propane Conference

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On November 4th, the Western Propane Gas Association (WPGA) will virtually host the Path to Renewable Propane conference, the first event of its kind in the U.S. that is uniquely focused on propane derived from sustainable sources. The event is aptly named, as WPGA sets forth on an ambitious path to achieve 100% renewable propane in California by 2030. This conference will tackle some of the challenges of how to achieve this sustainability target from multiple angles, including consumers, producers, retailers, and policymakers. The event will explore the opportunities for how various stakeholders can work together to develop the market for this burgeoning fuel.

For starters, attendees will learn what renewable propane is, the theoretical and practical ways it can be produced, and the carbon reduction impacts of the innovative fuel. The conference features speakers who have dedicated expertise with renewable propane and will share how some regions of the globe have made a large commercial production investment to benefit both the planet and the corporate bottom line. Attendees will also learn the current production volumes of renewable propane today and the future production outlook. A panel of retailers will share why they elected to sell renewable propane and their experience thus far from navigating the credit systems to the unexpected speedbumps others can avoid when marketing the fuel. The event will also feature one of the first school districts in the country to use the renewable fuel in their school bus fleet.