BYD is expanding its Lancaster, CA, facility in anticipation of increased demand for its electric trucks. The plant, a repurposed coach and bus factory, has been expanded by 40,000 square feet with another 200,000 square feet planned by year’s end.

Already a major force in electric bus manufacturing, BYD says the new trucks will feature similar technology used in the buses:

· no heavy metals or toxic electrolytes used;

• high-efficiency, permanent magnet synchronous motors; and
• regenerative braking extends battery life and reduces brake component wear.

A pilot program between BYD and UPS will see the development of electrified versions of the delivery company’s iconic package trucks.

Cutting CNG Fueling Costs

Simple-Fill has developed a CNG fueling technology that it claims will reduce the cost of installing fueling infrastructure. According to Work Truck magazine, the technology “would replace a traditional reciprocating piston compressor, known as a recip, that’s used as part of CNG fueling infrastructure. Rather than a recip, Simple-Fill uses a unit that is filled with glycol-based fluid that takes the moisture out of the gas during compression. It replaces the dehydration unit used in a recip. Simple-Fill’s liquid compresses, cools, and dehydrates the natural gas, while eliminating methane leakage.”

Safelite AutoGlass has been using the technology at its Worthington, OH, facility. Simple-Fill’s technology costs about half the price of a recip.

Alkane Hopes to Expand Across North America

Alkane Truck Company, a South Carolina-based alternative fuel vehicle assembler, announced plans for more than a dozen new facilities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico over the next three years. The company makes class 7 and 8 trucks, and boasts a model that lowers the costs of manufacturing.

Alkane is working with local economic development officials to identify specific sites for the facilities. Similar to franchise agreements, the company plans to work with local owners to get the facilities up and running.

Shell and Toyota Opening Seven Hydrogen Stations in California

California is getting seven new hydrogen fueling stations as the result of a partnership between Shell and Toyota. The stations are part of the state’s zero emission vehicles and greenhouse gas reduction program, with 100 more stations expected to open by 2024.

Spurred by the popularity of the Prius, its best-known model, Toyota hybrid sales recently passed the 10 million mark worldwide. The company offers 33 hybrid models in 90 countries, with Japan and North America being the strongest markets. The Prius accounts for 3.9 million of that sales number since it was introduced in 1997.

In a Hybrid Cars article, Takeshi Uchiyamada, chairman of the board of directors at Toyota and the man known as the “father of the Prius,” observed “When we launched Prius, no one even knew what a hybrid was. Those who drove it were called geeks or other names. Today, thanks to those early adopters who gave Prius a chance, hybrids have grown in popularity, and have ridden a wave of success out of the unknown and into the mainstream.”

Toyota projects that hybrid sales will reach 15 million cars by 2020.

Half of Oslo Vehicle Sales are EVs

During January 2017, half of all personal vehicle sales in Oslo, Norway, were fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles, reports CleanTechnica.com. Drivers will be able to charge their new vehicles at the more than 100 stations available in the Norwegian capital.

“For Oslo, this part of a long-term effort to get more people to opt for zero-emission vehicles,” said Lan Marie Nguyen Berg, Oslo’s city councilor for environment and transport.” We need to rethink and expand. The City of Oslo will go ahead and make it easier for the city’s growing number of electric vehicles. We will expand the supply of charging garages for EVs only, charging in municipal car parks, fast chargers, and semi-fast chargers.”

Strong CNG, LPG Vehicle Market Growth Expected

A report released by P&S Market Research projects that compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, also known as propane autogas) markets will grow by more than 10% each year between now and 2022. P&S attributes this growth to increases in population and urbanization, growing demand for vehicles, and efforts to mitigate air pollution.

Europe is the largest CNG and LPG market due to the high price of diesel and stringent emissions standards. The market for vehicles running on these fuels is expected to increase significantly in South America and the Asia-Pacific region.

Beijing Cab Operators Converting to Electric

Beijing’s famously polluted air could be getting a little cleaner. The city recently announced a plan to replace more than 67,000 conventionally fueled taxis with electric models. The project, expected to cost $1.3 billion will be phased in over the next decade.

The efforts in Beijing coincide with the “new energy vehicle” campaign promoted by the national government. Hybridcars.com reports that China is now the largest market for plug-in electric vehicles and, with subsidies available for fleets and manufacturers, sales will likely skyrocket.

Tesla Approved for Sales in Korea

Beginning in May, Tesla will begin selling vehicles in South Korea, after receiving government approval. In addition to sales locations, the company will establish service centers to oversee maintenance and to provide charging stations.

Korea’s domestic hybrid and electric market sold nearly 69,000 vehicles in 2016, an increase of 27,000 over the previous year, according to the Korea Herald.

Belgian Cities Order 90 Electric Hybrid Buses

Commuters in the Belgian cities of Charleroi and Namur will be riding on Volvo 7900 Electric Hybrid buses later this year. Charleroi is the destination for 55 new buses, along with four ABB fast chargers, while Namur will get 35 buses and eight fast-charging stations. Namur has already begun using 11 of these vehicles.

The fast-charging stations are built to the OppCharge open standard so that they can be used by a variety of manufacturers. The vehicles, which run on electric approximately 70% of the time, will reduce emissions by more than 60% compared to conventional diesel.

Later this year, selected Shell stations in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands will add electric vehicle charging capabilities to their stations. With gasoline prices remaining high in Europe and residents becoming increasingly interested in clean vehicle alternatives, this infrastructure encourages alternative vehicle growth.

“The push toward renewable, clean energy is strong in Europe,” says Cynthia Shahan in a CleanTechnica story about this development. “One of the benefits of electric cars is the convenient ability to charge at home, or perhaps at your workplace, the grocery store, IKEA, etc. However, installing EV charging stations at gas stations can be helpful to bridge gaps in charging infrastructure for those who are out and about and low on charge.”

According to Shahan, Shell sees the chargers as a business opportunity that will drive customers into the convenience stores typically found with traditional gas stations.

Nissan Note e-Power Now Available in Japan

The Nissan Note e-Power, a hybrid that uses a 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine as a generator to charge the 1.5-kWh battery while an electric motor drives the front wheels, is now being sold in Japan. The vehicle shares several components with the company’s more familiar Leaf model.

According to Tim Healy of hybridcars.com, “Nissan hopes it will serve as a ‘bridge’ for customers as they move from gas-powered vehicles to all-electric vehicles,” and that the shared Leaf components will help reduce the Note e-Power’s costs.

Similar to the Chevrolet Volt, the e-Power system uses an electric motor to drive the wheels and a gas engine to provide charge for the electric motor. The e-Power’s electric motor is 40 kW and makes 109 horsepower. The battery pack is 1.5 kWh. Nissan claims fuel economy of up to 80 mpg.

Tesla Going to India?

Tesla founder Elon Musk aroused curiosity this month when he said that the company would be selling its electric vehicles in India.

Responding to a query about when Tesla might launch in India, Musk tweeted “hoping for summer this year.”

“The nation of India is vast market with a growing population and economy, and very few EV offerings in the market,” writes Jon LeSage, “and Tesla could be well positioned to make a splash there. Like China, India has put in place incentives to get automakers to build EVs, and import them, in the country.”

A previously published article reports that Tesla will be building a $9 billion manufacturing plant in Asia sometime soon. Tesla had plans in place to build a factory in China, a person close to the matter told Bloomberg last year. While it hasn’t yet happened, the company had announced it would start the process during 2016.

Earlier in 2016, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a delegation toured the Tesla’s California corporate campus. As a result of the visit, LeSage reports, Tesla was invited to be a part of India’s strategy to become a renewable energy hub.

Global Biodiesel Market to Surpass $41 billion by 2021

A report released by Research and Markets predicts that the global biodiesel market is projected to surpass $41 billion by 2021.

In Biodiesel Market—Global Forecast to 2021, the company states, “Rising use of biodiesel in the fuel and power generation application segments have led to an increased demand for biodiesel, globally. Europe is estimated to be the largest market for biodiesel, followed by North America. Germany is expected to account for the largest share in Europe [until] 2021 [while] Italy is expected to be the fastest-growing market for biodiesel during the forecast period.”

The report notes that companies are investing in expansions of production capacities to increase market share and supply increasing demand for biodiesel.

Korean Automaker Plans Three Electric Vehicles By 2020

Korean automaker SsangYong Motor says it may be rolling out three battery electric vehicles by 2020, as reported in Autocar.

The company will compete with the Nissan Qashqai in the small SUV segment with the SIV-2 concept, which has made it to production level. That vehicle’s release has been pushed back to 2019, and it may come out as an electric version of the SsangYong Korando small SUV.

SsangYong has been in the Korean auto market for years and is considered one of the national car companies, Autocar states. However, it is far behind Hyundai and Kia, and U.S. automakers like GM, that have a strong share of the market.

Electric Smart Cars in the USA

In the coming years, those cute Smart cars you see will increasingly be electric vehicles. Daimler—Smart’s parent company—announced that it will be moving away from internal combustion engine vehicles in the U.S. and Canada and transitioning to all-electric vehicles instead.

“To be more specific, the company is now planning to cease the sale of Smart-branded cars with gasoline engines in the U.S. and Canada by the time that the 2017 model reaches the end of its sales life (this autumn),” writes James Ayers. “All sales in those two countries thereafter will be all-electric Smart cars only.”

“The news shouldn’t be too surprising for those reading this,” Ayers continues, “as the Smart brand (and super compacts in general) have always faced an uphill battle in the U.S., and the all-electric version better fulfills the market that is there (urban people wanting to limit their greenhouse gas emissions and/or fuel costs).”

New Hyundai Models Coming

Hyundai announced that hybrid and all-electric versions of its new Ioniq compact sedan will be available in the U.S. soon. Marketing for the vehicles will begin in March with the vehicles expected to go on sale in September 2017.

“Our focus was on developing a great compact car that happens to be electrified,” says Mike O’Brien, vice president of product planning for Hyundai Motor America in a WardsAuto article. “There were around 1.1 million buyers who shopped for an EV last year, but because of cost or maintenance or durability—or that they felt the car was too underpowered—they didn’t buy one. We are offering a no-excuse electrified vehicle that measures up to compact vehicles in the segment.”

Hyundai plans to introduce several new green vehicle offerings in the coming years. By 2020, O’Brien says Hyundai will have five hybrids, four plug-in hybrids, four all-electric, and one fuel-cell vehicle on the market.

New Designs for VW’s Electric Vehicles

Beginning with the 2020 production models, Volkswagen will be introducing a new design aesthetic. VW’s modern design will be featured in the automaker’s first car in its new family of battery-electric vehicles.

The automaker’s head of design, Klaus Bischoff, says in an Automotive News article that using battery packs allows VW to change the shape of its upcoming cars. The cars will have shorter hoods, longer wheelbases, short overhangs, larger passenger compartments, more-raked windshields, and be taller due to the power cells mounted on the bottom of the cars.

Range is another aspect that VW is looking to improve upon with its new designs. By using a smaller hood, the automaker can use a windshield that is inclined at a steeper angle for better fluid dynamics. “To gain the travel distance – range is essential – we need to have outstanding drag coefficients, and this will also influence the shape of the cars quite a bit,” Bischoff said.

U-Cal Irvine Rolls Out Electric Buses

Beginning this fall, the University of California Irvine will become the first college campus in the U.S. to switch its entire bus fleet to zero emission vehicles. To accomplish this, the university is purchasing 20 buses from BYD (Build Your Dreams), made at their facility in nearby Lancaster. The new buses will join a hydrogen fuel cell bus already in operation.

UCI students approved an additional $40 per-quarter-per-student fee to cover the bus purchase and startup costs. The fleet, known on campus as the Anteater Express shuttle service, is free for students to ride.

The electric buses are part of the University of California system’s pledge to emit net-zero carbon greenhouse gases from buildings and vehicles by 2025.

Chevrolet’s Bolt EV and the new Chrysler Pacifica minivan—including its plug-in hybrid version—joined the Honda Ridgeline as winners of the North American Car, Utility Vehicle, and Truck of the Year, respectively.

Ford Announces Plans for a Mustang Hybrid Vehicle

Ford announced plans to make a hybrid version of the Mustang that will be powered by electric motors as well as a gasoline engine. The vehicle is planned for the 2020-model year.

General Motors Announces Expanded Alternative Fuel Fleet Options

General Motors announced recently that its new lineup of heavy-duty diesel pickups will soon have natural gas, petroleum autogas, electric drive, and B20 capability. B20 fuel is a blend of 20-percent biodiesel and 80-percent conventional diesel, which helps lower carbon dioxide emissions and lessens dependence on petroleum. The announcement was made this month at the National Biodiesel Conference in San Diego.

In Japan, Toyota Motor Corporation has launched the TOYOTA NEXT Open Innovation Program. The program seeks to promote joint development of new services by using new ideas, technologies, and solutions held by various organizations regardless of scale, as well as by businesses that have already launched services, which departs from Toyota’s usual practices of trying to be self-sufficient in terms of development.

Mercedes to launch 10 electric cars by 2025 under EQ sub-brand

Mercedes-Benz recently confirmed plans to produce 10 electric models by 2025 under the new EQ sub-brand. The first of the new electric vehicles is the Generation EQ concept unveiled at the 2016 Paris auto show.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) announced recently the designation of 55 routes that will begin the formation of a national network of “alternative fuel” corridors.

Electric Vehicle Use Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions 61% in Minnesota

The Great Plains Institute used Argonne National Laboratory’s GREET Lifecycle Model to determine well-to-wheels carbon intensity in Minnesota under a number of different vehicle driving scenarios and found a significant reduction when using electric vehicles.

Investors Form New Firm to Further Clean Energy Initiative

Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Vinod Khosla, Jack Ma, John Doerr and 15 other high-profile investors have formed a new venture firm—Breakthrough Energy Ventures—that will pour at least $1 billion into clean energy companies over the next 20 years. According to its website, the firm’s goal will be, “to provide everyone in the world with access to reliable, affordable power, food, goods, transportation, and services without contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Chevrolet Bolt was given the Motor Trend Car of the Year award in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The Bolt , which is expected to go on sale by the end of this year, is General Motors ( GM ) new battery electric compact car.

Automakers Outperform Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for 4th Consecutive Year

Two reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicate that passenger vehicles achieved record-high fuel economy and exceeded greenhouse gas emission standards in model year 2015.

The World’s Largest Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Opened in Nevada, Iowa

The DuPont cellulosic ethanol facility, opened in Nevada, Iowa, on October 30, and is the largest cellulosic ethanol plant in the world. The facility is expected to produce about 30 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year from corn stover, which are the stalks, leaves, and cobs left in a field after harvest, within a 30-mile radius of the site.

BMW, Daimler, Ford, and Volkswagen Group (including Audi and Porsche) have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an electric fast-charging network in Europe.

India’s Mahindra Reva Launched Four-Door e2o Line of Vehicles

Mahindra Reva Electric Vehicles Pvt. Ltd recently unveiled a four-door version of the e2o vehicle. There are reports that the automaker plans to export the new vehicles early next year to countries offering electric vehicle incentives.

Toyota Mirai FCV Wins the e-Rally Monte-Carlo

The hydrogen-powered Toyota Mirai from Toyota France took first place in the first e-Rally Monte-Carlo, which was held between Fontainebleau and Monaco.