Last week ZENN completed an additional $5 million equity investment in EEStor.?? This investment increases ZENN’s stake in the energy storage developer from 3.8% to 10.7%.?? The option to increase their stake was triggered when EEStor reached a previously agreed upon technical milestone earlier this year.?? Learn more:?? Stockhouse.com
Best Buy is exploring market opportunities as a distributor of e-vehicles.?? The computer and electronics retailer sees potential in these products along with others related to the concept of the “smart grid”.???? According Rick Rommel, Best Buy’s senior vice president for Emerging Business
When you turn to the smart grid, the ability to take complex technologies that are going to plug into the home, utilize home area networks, communicate back over broadband to utilities — it’s going to be a fairly complex system.?? We think that’s a place where Best Buy can take our experience in in-home systems sales, support and installation and apply it to the smart grid.
The company recently started selling electric bicycles in 20 stores around Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles and has plans to see the Enertia, an electric motorcycle as well.?? Depending on the success of these products,?? other e-vehicles such as NEVs may offered for sale or rental.?? Learn more:?? greenbiz.com
Comment: Distribution on this scale could really raise the awareness level of NEVs and a rental option could allow a large number of consumers to experience and essentially test drive these vehicles. – MC
Tomberlin management recently announced that production of their Anvil LSV will begin at the end of July.?? Executives are promoting the vehicle this week with an appearance Monday morning on CBS’ Early Show.?? The Anvil is targeted for planned communities and urban/suburban short-distance trips.?? Learn more:?? Augustachronicle.com
USA Today is speculating that plans to launch the Peapod Mobility this fall are on hold.?? The story is based on the fact that while you can add your name to a waiting list for the vehicles you still cannot place orders on the website.?? Learn more:?? tuningtruck.com
Modec recently announced a 100 vehicle order for their all electric urban delivery van.?? ElecTruckCity, their new distributor based in Paris, placed the order and has already sold 40 of the vehicles to customers.?? The order is worth about $4.9 million USD or approximately $49,000 per vehicle.
The electric van received EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval allowing it to be sold across Europe without gaining country by country approval.?? The company is currently seeking government approval to begin sales in the United States. The vans were designed from the start as battery powered vehicles and specifically for urban use. They have a range of 100 miles, a top speed of 50mph and a 4,000 lb payload.
Modec sees great market opportunities for the vehicle as management expects to be producing the vehicle on three continents in five years and reach a total annual production of 50,000 vehicles.?? Last year 100 vehicles were produced and that figure is expected to increase to 400 in 2009 and 1,200 in 2010. Learn more:?? Birminghampost.net
ExxonMobil and Electrovaya just announced, AltCar, a vehicle sharing program to be based at the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore, MD that will use Electrovaya’s Maya 300 low speed vehicle. The fleet of five vehicles will grow to ten shortly and people will be able to rent the vehicles for the day. The Maya 300 uses Electrovaya???s Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery, which incorporates ExxonMobil Chemical???s separator film. Learn more: greencarcongress.com
Update: According to Green Energy News rental rates for the vehicles will be $14.50 per hour but decrease to $7-9 per hour if you join the sharing program.?? Additional fees apply with the program.
First Test Vehicle Revealed: Smith Electric Vehicle US and Altec Industries Utility Truck
Smith Electric Vehicles US (SEVUSA) and Altec Industries will work together on the development of an all electric utility truck with an aerial bucket. SEVUSA will use their Newton truck produced in Kansas City as the basic vehicle and Altec will integrate their aerial product. The utility truck is targeted for utility companies and Pacific Gas and Electric will be involved in the development of the vehicle as well. The utility company will take delivery of the first test unit and provide feedback and test data. Learn more: utilityproducts.com
ZAPTruck XL Ready For Shipment
ZAP has begun shipping their ZAPTruck XL, an electric LSV, to the US military for use at military bases around the world.?? The purchase continues the trend by the US military of moving to more fuel efficient and often smaller vehicles for specific on base applications.?? The company did not provide any specific sales figures for the contract.?? Learn more:?? Zapworld.com
A recent study by the utility Southern California Edison that an E-Z-GO RXV electric golf car which uses an AC drive is as much as 39% more efficient compared to standard DC drive golf cars. The RXV also features full-time regenerative braking and a PowerWise QE charger that help improve energy usage. The AC drive golf car was also reported to maintain higher performance. Learn more: clubandresortbusiness.com
Miles Automotive has created a new company, Coda Automotive, for the marketing of their first highway speed all electric vehicle, aptly named Coda. The Chinese manufactured vehicle will have a top speed of 80 mph and a range of 90-120 miles. The four-door sedan will seat five and include amenities like bluetooth and an iPod dock. According to the company’s CEO, Kevin Czinger, a test fleet of 200-300 vehicles will be on the road in June 2010 and vehicles will be available for consumers later in the fall. The vehicles will be priced around $45,000 but that could be reduced to around $35,000 with federal and state tax credits.
The vehicle has been modified from a Mitsubishi designed internal combustion vehicle manufactured for the Chinese market by China-based Hafei and sold under the name Saibao. Coda has partnered with Tianjin Lishen of China to manufacture the vehicle’s lithium ion batteries. Learn more: MSN Autos