Lightning Systems Receives bp Reaccreditation

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Lightning Systems, a developer of zero-emission powertrains, has received reaccreditation under bp’s Advancing Low Carbon (ALC) program.

The ALC program was created by bp to encourage bp and its partners to identify lower carbon opportunities. Activities within the program include everything from low carbon products to global research initiatives to partnerships with startups developing new technologies.

“bp’s Advancing Low Carbon program encourages every part of bp to pursue lower carbon opportunities, which includes investments in low carbon technologies,” says Heath Morrison, ventures principal at bp and a board director at Lightning Systems.

GreenPower Launches the EV Star CC Model

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GreenPower Motor Co. Inc., a designer, manufacturer and distributor of electric-powered medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, has launched its new EV Star CC Model.

The EV Star CC is a purpose-built, battery-electric, multi-utility cab and chassis that can be used by cargo and delivery companies who wish to use their body design while transitioning to a zero-emissions fleet. The 25-foot chassis has a payload of up to 6,000 lbs and can be configured with a range of options including a lift gate, wireless charging and autonomous capabilities. This approach allows operators to buy a “future proof” blank canvas with maximum flexibility and configuration options.

“This is an exciting product launch for GreenPower and the potential is unparalleled. While this initiative has been in place for more than a year, we certainly find ourselves in the right spot at the right time as we roll out our new EV Star CC,” says Brendan Riley, president of GreenPower.

EIA: CO2 Emissions Will Decline by 11 Percent in 2020

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The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has forecasted that U.S. energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will decline by 11% in 2020.

If realized, this decline would represent the largest decline in not only percentage but also absolute terms in EIA’s energy-related CO2 series that dates back to 1949. In EIA’s latest Short-Term Energy Outlook, U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions are forecast to fall more than the 5% decline in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.

Much of the drop in CO2 emissions in EIA’s updated forecast arises from estimates of the travel restrictions and general economic slowdown associated with the efforts to mitigate the spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, even before the effects of COVID-19 became apparent in mid-March, EIA had expected a decline in 2020 energy-related emissions, generally consistent with the trend of lower U.S. CO2 emissions since their peak in 2007.

Electric Vehicle Sales Are Surging. Can Mineral Producers Meet Future Demand?

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Elon Musk isn’t known for playing by the rules.

The 48-year-old tech billionaire got himself into hot water with regulators a couple of years ago by tweeting that he was “considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured.” (At its 52-week high in February, the company’s stock traded at more than double that amount.) Then there was the time he smoked weed live on Joe Rogan’s show, a decision that the administrator of NASA himself called “not appropriate.”

Oh, and you may have heard that he named his and Canadian singer Grimes’ newborn son X Æ A-12, though California regulations may have something to say about it.

Even more recently, Musk—a vocal critic of coronavirus lockdown measures—disobeyed a California county’s laws by reopening the Tesla assembly plant. “If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” he tweeted. (Since then, county officials have capitulated and will now allow the plant to officially reopen next week.)

 

Hyundai Motor to Jointly Establish Hydrogen Refueling Station at IIAC

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Hyundai Motor Co. has partnered with Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC), Air Liquide Korea and Hydrogen Energy Network (HyNet) to accelerate Incheon Airport’s efforts to become a low-carbon eco-friendly airport. The four parties have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a hydrogen refueling station for fuel cell electric buses at Incheon Airport’s Terminal 2 by March 2021. Travelers may also book Flughafen Taxi for a safe and smooth journey to their destination. With reliable drivers and comfortable vehicles, this option ensures that passengers can relax and enjoy the scenery as they make their way to hotels or other locations.

Hyundai will support the construction cost of the hydrogen refueling station while providing fuel cell electric buses, as well as their maintenance and service. IIAC will provide a site for the station, and HyNet will handle its construction and operation. Air Liquide Korea will provide two high-capacity hydrogen chargers and supply hydrogen gas.

Over the next five years, Hyundai’s hydrogen-powered buses will gradually replace Incheon Airport’s current fleet of internal combustion engine buses that shuttle between the terminals, long-term parking lots just remodeled by local Car Park Painters and logistics complex. The first batch of seven fuel cell electric buses will go into operation in the second half of this year, followed by three to five buses entering service annually.

Lightning Systems Unveils the Lightning Mobile Fast Charger

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Lightning Systems, a developer of zero-emission powertrains, has unveiled Lightning Mobile, a mobile direct current fast charger (DCFC) for electric vehicles (EVs). When you’re on a road trip, you can play fun games like 토토사이트. Interested in playing baccarat. Discover วิธีการเลือกบาคาร่าที่ดีที่สุด.

Equipped with 192 kWh of high-energy-density, liquid-cooled DC battery storage in a package designed to be installed in a vehicle or trailer for mobile deployment, Lightning Mobile can be rapidly deployed to provide fast roadside charging to support the operation of electric fleet vehicles. The mobile charger also offers the capability to recharge EVs on their routes, which allows fleets to maximize vehicle uptime.

“Every fleet with electric commercial vehicles will benefit from mobile fast charging. Uptime is the name of the game for fleets,” says Tim Reeser, CEO of Lightning Systems.

“While operators will schedule vehicle duties to include depot-based charging, there’s always the chance that a vehicle will need a top-up at another location or en route. There is also often the need for DC fast charging at locations or times that may not already be permitted or where demand rates would prohibit fast charging direct from the grid. Lightning Mobile fulfills all these needs,” he adds.

Lightning Mobile is charged from a standard Level 2 AC charger at up to 18 kW and can deliver DC fast charging at up to 80 kW and, optionally, Level 2 AC charging at up to 19.2 kW. Lightning Systems designed the system to be installed in its Lightning Electric Transit 350HD cargo van, but the system can be installed in any vehicle or trailer that meets size and weight specifications.

Propane Autogas Hybrid Fleet Hits the Streets

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For decades, propane autogas has been a proven and reliable alternative energy source for fleets looking for a cost-effective solution for reducing emissions. Part of the reason it has remained a critical resource for fleets is because innovations continue to evolve as new technology becomes available for vehicles powered by this clean-burning fuel.

One of the more recent innovations is the propane autogas hybrid vehicle. By converting a hybrid vehicle’s gasoline engine to a propane engine, fleets can now take advantage of the low emissions profiles of both the propane and electric energy sources. Additionally, the vehicle combines the reduced fuel needs of a hybrid with propane autogas’ low fuel costs. This alternative fuel is typically less expensive than gasoline and provides the lowest total cost-of-ownership of any energy source.

An early adopter of this emerging technology is thriving on one of the most iconic stretches of road in the nation: the Las Vegas strip. Its propane autogas-electric hybrid success story is worth sharing.

Researching the technology
Yellow Checker Star (YCS) Transportation’s 860-vehicle fleet racks up nearly 50-million miles every year. On any given Friday or Saturday, the Las Vegas fleet will run close to 1,000 shifts. When you add up all those miles, the potential emissions impact could be immense. It is one of the reasons YCS turned to clean propane autogas for its vehicles in the 1980’s, and they’ve never looked back. Vehicles powered with this fuel can produce up to 22 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline vehicles.

When passenger hybrid vehicles began to hit the streets, YCS experimented with converting Toyota Prius V sedans to propane autogas hybrids. Before making the switch, YCS owners wanted to ensure their taxis would have the same optimal performance they experienced with propane autogas for the prior 30 years. The staff invested significant time in researching, creating, and testing a custom conversion technique for the Prius.

YCS’ in house conversion technicians engineered a solution that replaced the OEM gasoline fuel system with a custom-designed propane fuel system. It includes a fuel tank designed for maximum fuel capacity, while also providing maximum luggage space. As an added safety measure, the fuel tank is enclosed in a protective barrier.

Biogas to support General Mills’ 100% renewable electricity goals

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Major US food company General Mills has committed to 100% renewable electricity globally by 2030, partly by utilising biogas.

The Minnesota-based firm is investing in renewable energy efforts including anaerobic digestion and wind farms as part of the RE100 initiative, led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. The renewable energy projects currently underway, as well as those in development, will enable General Mills to reduce Scope 2 emissions in its global operating facilities.

In the US, the company has a 1.6 MW generator fuelled by an anaerobic digester at its Murfreesboro plant in Tennessee. The facility processes wastewater from its yoghurt and dough production into biogas. Power and heat generated are fed directly back into the yoghurt processing facility to reduce its annual grid power and natural gas purchases by up to 20%.

In South America, the company has a 335 kW biogas regeneration plant at its Paranvai Yoki location. This plant is one of the largest manufacturing facilities in Brazil where electric power is produced from biogas generated by the site’s wastewater treatment system. The power is used by the plant and excess is sent to the local electric utility, reducing the company’s power spend by 30%.

In Europe, General Mills has a 195 kW capacity biogas plant at its Arras, France Häagen-Dazs production facility. The plant generates power from the site’s wastewater treatment system. Any excess power generated from the biogas facility is sold to the local utility grid, while heat in the form of hot water is recovered to reduce natural gas consumption at the ice cream plant.

On-Road RNG Use Continues to Rise

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NGVAmerica and the RNG Coalition say 39% of all on-road fuel used in natural gas vehicles in 2019 was renewable natural gas (RNG).

Captured above ground from organic material in agricultural, wastewater, landfill or food waste, RNG produces carbon-neutral and even carbon-negative results when fueling on-road vehicles like short- and long-haul trucks, transit buses, and refuse and recycling collection vehicles. RNG fuel has the lowest EER-adjusted carbon intensity of any on-road motor fuel, as low as -400.1

Over the last five years, RNG use as a transportation fuel has increased 291%. NGVAmerica and the RNG Coalition report that in 2019, a total of 717 million gallons of natural gas were used as motor fuel. Of that, 277 million gallons were renewable.

Karma Automotive Debuts Level 4 E-Flex Van

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Karma Automotive, a Southern California-based car company, says its SAE1 Level 4 autonomous van with a battery electric vehicle (BEV) architecture has arrived.

The SAE1 Level 4 autonomous van is one of five platforms designed to offer new electric mobility solutions through extended-range electric vehicle (EREV) and BEV chassis systems.

Karma’s new L4 E-Flex Van is powered by the NVIDIA DRIVE AGX Pegasus autonomous vehicle computing platform, which achieves 320 trillion operations per second of deep learning. It is built on a scalable architecture, with two NVIDIA Xavier processors and two Tensor Core GPUs. This energy-efficient AI computer runs an array of deep neural networks simultaneously for safe, highly automated and fully autonomous driving. The L4 van’s software platform and sensors suite are supported by WeRide, which covers a full 360-degree field of view and provides precise, real-time localizations powered by multiple sensors including LiDar, radar, camera, GNSS and INS.