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Hyundai app lets you build your own zombie apocalypse car

Walking Dead fans, rejoice! Thanks to Hyundai, you can build your very own virtual zombie survival machine. We've all seen the light-green Hyundai Tucson transporting the likes of Rick Grimes and his motley crew of survivors in AMC's hit series, and now you can get in on the action with Hyundai's Walking Dead Chop Shop.
Available both as a mobile app and desktop version, this quirky configurator presents you with a choice of three Hyundai vehicles: the Veloster Turbo, Santa Fe and Elantra. Each one has its strengths, though we particularly like the Santa Fe's utility. After all, according to Hyundai, "There's room for seven survivors inside" and you won't have to worry about "getting zombie all over your seats. They're easy to wipe clean." But for those who prefer not to invite zombies along for the journey, the speedy Veloster Turbo and its 201-horsepower engine may be the way to go.
Once you select your post-apocalyptic ride, you have a choice of colors (including Apocalypse Black, of course), decals ("Alive Inside" is a useful one) and nearly 300 other zombie-fighting features. We're partial to the automatic shotguns on the hood, although the flamethrower is also quite tempting. You can even add titanium or aluminum armor and a dizzying array of other defensive and offensive weapons: spinning saw blades on the wheels, a horde plow on the front bumper and barbed wire on the side windows, just to name a few.

Hyundai rehires R&D president let go over quality issues

Last November, Hyundai announced the resignations of research and development president Kwon Moon-sik and two other R&D executives. At that time, it was said that the executives wished to "take responsibility for a series of quality issues" at the Korean automaker. Kwon Moon-sik had only been in the position for a year, but some of the quality issues thought to have caused the resignations included recalls of the Genesis and other sedans around the world, along with the company's much-publicized fuel economy overstatement controversy - both of which dealt with matters that transpired before Moon-sik took his position. In its statement at the time, Hyundai said, "The latest personnel change shows our firm commitment to quality management and reaffirms our will to continuously improve R&D competitiveness."
Three months later, Reuters is reporting that Moon-sik is back with the company, a statement announcing the rehire saying, "Given his expertise, experience and leadership skills, we reinstated president Kwon to enhance quality and R&D capability from scratch." Company chairman Chung Mong-koo is said to have a reputation for firing then rehiring workers, and it's possible this rehire is especially timely because Hyundai will bring its new Sonata to market this year and likely wants its experienced R&D captain at the wheel.
The man who had taken Moon-sik's position has returned to his previous post as head of powertrain development. However, in another surprise resignation, the head of Hyundai's design center, Oh Sug-geun, has left the company for "personal reasons." He has been replaced by Lee Byung-seob, who moves up from his position as head of exterior design.

Recharge Wrap-up: Canada gets Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell, Washington governor favors EVs

Washington Governor Jay Inslee wants extend tax breaks for EVs past the July 1 expiration date. He also calls for looking into allowing EVs use of carpool lanes and creating charging infrastructure. Inslee sees encouraging electric driving as a way to help mitigate climate change, but detractors within the state don't like the idea of giving priorities to certain drivers. "I'm not enthusiastic about a subsidy that picks winners and losers and doesn't help the middle class," says representative Reuven Carlyle. Read more at The State. Novozymes says it has an enzyme solution, called Eversa, that can make biodiesel from waste oils. The technology converts the vegetable oils used by the food industry into usable fuel. The enzymatic process is said to be cheaper and safer than chemical processes with fewer harmful byproducts, and can handle higher levels of free fatty acids. The process is safer than others, says Novozymes' Frederik Mejlby, due to the lack of required high temperature and pressure, and that the "organic nature and mild process conditions do not generate toxic components as in some chemical biodiesel processes." Read more in the press release below. The USDA has announced funding of advanced biofuels and the bioeconomy. The USDA is providing $5.6 million in grants to advanced biofuel producers, as well as an additional $4 million toward a bioeconomy to reduce dependence on foreign oil. The funds come from the USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which is part of the 2008 Farm Bill. The biofuel sources targeted are, in particular, crop residue, animal, food and yard waste, vegetable oil and animal fat. Read more in the press release below. Hyundai will be offering the Tucson Fuel Cell for lease in Canada. Beginning in early 2015, the hydrogen vehicle will be available to customers in Vancouver, British Columbia. It's the first hydrogen vehicle from a major automaker in the country. "We are proud to be leading the fuel cell movement," says Hyundai Auto Canada President and CEO Don Romano, "and now is the time for auto companies, governments, and citizens to join us in this initiative and push for the creation of a hydrogen infrastructure in Canada to maintain this positive momentum." Read more in the press release below. New enzyme technology converts waste oils into biodiesel Novozymes' latest offering secures flexible feedstock selection and lower operational costs for biodiesel producers.