Nissan projects 240 mile-range electric cars by 2012; Toyota reaffirms its commitment to hybrid technology; and a big advance for green chemistry.

Newer Lithium Batteries Improve Electric Car Range: Researchers are already looking past the next generation of lithium storage batteries — expected in 2010 — to a third generation just two years later. Lithium cells are expected to give all-electric vehicles a range of about 105 miles (170 km) within the next two years. But by 2012, Nissan believes a new wave of lithium batteries will push the range of EV cars to 248 miles (400 km). Mitsuhiko Yamashita, Nissan’s executive VP of research and development, says practical factors — such as battery charge times — will determine the scale of electric vehicle adoption. (WSJ.com)

Japanese firms cast doubt on electric car: Toyota would have you pay no attention to the story above: after all, they’re heavily invested in electric/gasoline hybrids, such as their market-leading Prius. An unnamed Toyota spokesperson tells the Israeli business website Globes [online] that all-electric vehicles — presumably such as those being designed by rival Nissan — may burst into flame on long trips. The “senior official” making these claims says lithium batteries are not longer sufficiently mature for automotive use, and face problems with overheating. (Globes [online])

‘Green Chemistry’ Used To Produce Amines, Chemical Compounds Used Widely In Industry: Reserchers at UC Riverside have discovered a way to produce amines — nitrogen-containing organic compounds derived from ammonia — cheaply and cleanly. Amines are widely used in a variety of industrial applications, from solvents to dyes. Current methods of producing amines rely on hydrochloric acid, and produce large amounts of toxic waste. The UC Riverside process relies and carefully tailored chemical reactions using a gold atom catalyst. (Science Daily)

Mazda Motor and Hiroshima University Developing New Bioplastic for Vehicles from Cellulosic Biomass: Plastic cars, anyone? Not just any kind of plastic. A new way to make bioplastics has been announced by Mazda and a Hiroshima University. The new plastics are derived from non-food cellulosic biomass, and will find their way into car bumpers and instrument panels. Mazda says the process should be ready for commercial production by 2013. (Green Car Congress)

Europe Urged to Shrink Paper Use: A campaign to reduce paper use in Europe says the paper industry has a footprint three times higher than the airline business. The European Environmental Paper Network also says Europeans use up to four times more paper per capita than the rest of the world. The EEPN’s Shrink campaign hopes to trim carbon dioxide emissions and water use by getting companies and individuals to use thinner paper, reduce the number of printed documents, and reuse and recycle as much paper as possible. (GreenBiz)