Starting September 1, neighborhood electric vehicles will be able to go up to 45 mph in Texas. Learn more:?? Financial Times
Texas Passes MSV Law
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Category Archives: electric vehicles
ZAP Completes Made In USA Electric Pickup Engineering Project
ZAP reports finishing an engineering project to develop an electric pickup truck where most of the parts and components will be made in the United States.?? The project is an extension of the company’s efforts to shift vehicle production back to the US. Learn more:???? marketwire.com
Going Postal Means Going Electric?
A draft study by the Postal Regulatory Commission examining vehicle-electrifications has concluded that:
Electrification of the Postal Service delivery vehicle fleet is practical, achievable, and desirable, and should be initiated now.
According to the study electrifying the Postal Service’s delivery vans would save 68 million gallons of fuel annually and cut overall costs per mile from 20-25 cents to 8-12 cents.?? The aging Postal fleet includes 142,000 delivery vehicles and with most delivery routes about 17-18 miles long the situation seems ideal for electric vehicles.?? However a significant hurdle for the often financially challenged organization is the very high level of capital investment fleet electrification would require – up to $10 billion.?? Learn more:?? csmonitor.com
Smith Electric Vehicles USA Update
The company is on track to begin production in July and reports a”strong expression of interest from fleet operators” including Frito-Lay and Canteen Vending Services.?? The related story also includes a short video with the CEO where he talks about some of the advantages for drivers including less fatigue from constantly having to shift gears, as well as the need for developing a supply chain to support an electric vehicle market in the US.?? Learn more:?? treehugger.com
Ruff And Tuff Vehicles Spins Off Wheego Electric Cars
RTEV has spun off Wheego Electric Cars so both companies can focus on their respective markets.?? RTEV will focus on cost cutting and selling deeper into their traditional market of electric powered recreational vehicles in a difficult environment for powersports manufacturers.?? Wheego will concentrate on developing the market and distribution for their Wheego Whip LSV product which will go on sale in July of this year.?? Management remarked that RTEV will be trying to optimize cash flow while Wheego will be following a more capital intensive strategy to take advantage of what they see as a high growth potential market.?? Learn more?? prnewswire.com
Miles Automotive To Unveil Highway Speed Electric Sedan
On June 3rd Miles Automotive is planning to unveil their highway speed electric sedan and announce a new strategic partner. The vehicle will be re-branded under a name other than Miles.?? Sale of the vehicle is expected to begin in 2010 and reach production levels of 20,000 in 2011. Rumored cost is $45,000.?? Learn more:?? Autobloggreen.com
ZENN Certifies EEStor Technology Milestone
ZENN recently reported that a third party had certified an important technology milestone reached by EEStor.?? Independent tests showed that…
…the main material in the ultracapacitor technology achieved relative permittivity of at least 22,500 over an operating range of -20 to +65 degrees Celsius. Permittivity is a measurement of how much energy can be stored in a material.
Per the agreement with EEStor, reaching the milestone triggers an additional $700,000 payment by ZENN and an opportunity to increase their equity stake.?? The next milestone is to commercialization of the technology, which according to the agreement, is supposed to start by the end of 2009.?? ZENN still plans to incorporate the ultracapacitor technology in vehicles in 2010.?? Learn more:?? cleantech.com
BG Automotive Looking In Windsor, Ontario For Facilities
BG Automotive C100 NEV
BG Automotive is now looking in Windsor, Ontario for facilities to assemble their NEV, the C100.?? According to the report, if funding can arranged, the company believes they can be producing vehicles within three months.?? Windsor has an existing automotive manufacturing base and skilled workforce that appeals to the company.
As noted in a previous post, the company plans to develop six facilities around the country which can each produce up to 15,000 vehicles.?? Other states being considered include Connecticut, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Georgia and Massachusetts.?? Learn more?? Windsorstar.com
Bad Boy Buggies Looking To Import More Parts From China?
A recent article covering a trade forum involving the state of Mississippi and the city of Changzhou in China noted that a Mississippi based company was looking to import parts for use in off-road utility vehicles.?? According to the report Bob Kirkland business development officer for Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems remarked that:
… a Mississippi company, which he wouldn’t identify, is interested in assembling parts that would be sent to it from China to be used in off-road utility vehicles.
One such company could be Bad Boy Enterprises located in Natchez, Mississippi, manufacturers of the Bad Boy Buggie, an electric powered off-road utility vehicle.?? Government officials from both sides are looking at the automotive industry as a potential area for increased trade.?? Learn more:?? clarionLedger.com
Miles Automotive Highway-Speed EV To Be Sold Under Different Brand
Miles Automotive has removed the reference to their highway-speed electric vehicle from their website.?? While the company still expects the vehicle to be available in 2010, apparently it will be under a different, and as of now, publicly unknown brand.?? The company will provide a progress update on the vehicle during this summer.?? Learn more:?? autobloggreen.com