NYK will build Japan’s first liquefied natural gas-fueled tugboat (pictured). The dual fuel engine can be powered by LNG or heavy oil. NYK says using LNG as a fuel will cut the tugboat’s CO2 emissions by about 30 percent, NOX by about 80 percent and SOX by 100 percent compared to using heavy oil.
Tesla Motors has added an onboard charging system that automatically reduces the charge current by 25 percent when it detects unexpected fluctuations in the input power to the vehicle. The electric vehicle company says this change will increase safety in the event that a home wiring system, receptacle, adapter or cord is unable to meet its rated current capacity.
Volkswagen Group of America says it has sold 100,000 TDI clean diesel vehicles from the Volkswagen and Audi brands this year. The company says the TDI models in the Audi and Volkswagen lineup deliver up to 30 percent better fuel economy and 12 percent to 30 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline engines.
Bus manufacturer BYD has announced the 2014 production of what it says is the world’s first, long-range, 60-foot all-battery-electric transit bus. The bus has been developed specifically for Bogota’s TransMilenio Rapid Transit system serving the capital of Colombia. According to initial prototype testing in China, the BYD articulated bus ran 240 km (150 miles) on a single charge, which would meet the daily requirements for Colombian city BRT transport.