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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Electric vehicle batteries 'must improve'
BYD Auto Co Ltd's F3DM plug-in hybrid compact sedan on display at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show. According to Zhen Zijian, deputy director of the office for electric vehicles at the Ministry of Science and Technology, 2015 might be the turning point for electric vehicles in China as the required technologies are likely to experience big breakthroughs. (Photo / China Daily)
China's new-energy vehicle production capacity is expected to hit around 300,000 units by 2012, according to the latest research from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
The number includes domestic automakers' production capacity of hybrids and pure electric and fuel-cell vehicles, excluding the production capacity of joint ventures, Zhen Zijian, deputy director of the office for electric vehicles, told China Daily.
The office, under the Ministry of Science and Technology, is deeply involved in mapping the nation's strategy for electric cars. However, the actual output will depend on market demand and government policies, he said.
China currently has more than 5,000 new hybrid buses on the roads. Electric cars are mainly used for taxi demonstration programs in some cities.
"Electric vehicles have yet to develop the strength to compete with conventional vehicles or serve as a substitute due to technical constraints such as immature battery technology," Zhen said.
However, 2015 might be the turning point in the market share for electric vehicles in China as the required technologies are likely to experience big breakthroughs, he added.
Although China's new-energy vehicle industry is considered "heated" or "overheated" by many people, it has enormous room for growth since continued development is vital to the auto industry and also to the nation's energy safety and environmental protection, he said.
Also, the coming years will see more integration among industries as key components and technologies of new-energy vehicles require greater synergy among industries.
Besides technological barriers, choice between battery swapping or fast charging is also a critical issue facing China's automakers and grid companies.
The State Grid Corporation, China's largest energy grid company, has previously indicated that it would prefer to establish more battery-swap stations, industry insiders said.
Yang Fang, an analyst at the State Grid Energy Research Institute, said whether battery swapping or plug-in models will become the mainstream depends on the development of battery technology, adding that the institute frequently exchanged views with China Southern Power Grid Co Ltd over establishing charging stations.
An electric taxi made by the Zhejiang-based Zotye Auto Co Ltd suffered spontaneous combustion in Hangzhou in April. The government said on Tuesday the accident was largely an issue concerning the battery pack, although each individual battery had no quality issues.
Zou Yuan, an assistant professor at the School of Mechanical Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Technology, said the quality consistency of batteries remains a major safety risk.
The government plans to invest 100 billion yuan ($15.4 billion) over the next 10 years to stimulate the new-energy vehicle industry. The volume of China's new-energy vehicles is expected to reach 1 million by 2015 and 10 million by 2020, according to the government's new-energy vehicle development road map for the next decade.
The energy-saving and new-energy vehicle industry has been nominated by the government as one of the seven key strategic emerging industries to be nurtured over the next five years.
Source:China Daily
Saturday, July 30, 2011
AAA Presents Electric Vehicle Mobile Charging Unit to Electric Drive Transportation Association
America's largest motor club demonstrates leadership in electric vehicle industry with announcement of nation's first ready-for-deployment mobile EV charging solution
ORLANDO, Fla., June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AAA, the nation's largest motor club, presented to the membership of the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) today that it has a fully functioning electric vehicle mobile charging unit ready to deploy into its roadside assistance operations.
The motor club announced it will unveil the latest addition to its fleet of roadside assistance vehicles at the Plug-In 2011 Conference & Exposition in Raleigh, N.C., July 18-21, and begin initial deployment in select cities across the country later this summer.
"For more than 100 years, AAA has been a leader in addressing the needs of the motoring public. Dating back to the early days of the automobile, AAA has kept the pulse of the ever-changing automotive industry, and that continues today as we ready AAA's emergency road service operations to address the emerging electric vehicle market," said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair, Buying Services and Consumer Information.
"AAA is proud to announce today to the membership of the EDTA that it is the first in the nation to have a full production level two and level three mobile charging unit that will be unveiled next month and deployed into the field to begin servicing AAA members later this summer," continued Nielsen.
AAA will announce details of its electric vehicle mobile charging unit as well as deployment plans next month at the official unveiling of the vehicles at the Plug-In 2011 Conference & Exposition in Raleigh, N.C., July 18-21.
As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 52 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.
AAA news releases, high-resolution images, broadcast-quality video, fact sheets and podcasts are available on the AAA NewsRoom at AAA.com/news.
Stay connected with AAA on the web via:
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SOURCE AAA
Vancouver unveils public electric vehicle charging station
Russian president orders sped-up retirement of Soviet-era airliners after crash that killed 45
MOSCOW - Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev says he wants Soviet-built airliners similar to the one that crashed?…
Friday, July 29, 2011
Mobile chargers set to help stranded EV owners
AFP Relax?–?Thu, Jun 23, 2011
Dapat bang i-boycott and lahat ng produktong galing China?
The AAA, America's largest roadside assistance organiaation, is to roll out a fleet of mobile charging units to help stranded electric vehicle owners.
The motor club recently announced that it has completed a fully-functional electric vehicle charging unit, which will be deployed to its roadside assistance operations.
The unit is set to be fully unveiled in July and will be in action on US roads later in the summer, a spokesperson for the AAA said.
As a level two and three charging unit, it will be capable of "fast-charging" electric cars quicker than a normal household outlet -- level two charging can fully charge a battery in 4-6 hours but level three chargers can fill a battery to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes, although it's not compatible with all types of vehicle.
The units will be rolled out to California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia, according to reports.
Running out of battery in an electric vehicle is complicated by the fact that they cannot be "towed" in the traditional sense -- theoretically, turning the wheels independently could feed power back into the car (recently proved by a Dutch experiment which proved popular on YouTube).
Instead, electric vehicles must be recovered by a truck, adding expense and making running out of gas considerably more inconvenient.
AAA's move follows an announcement earlier this month by Nissan and the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) which confirmed that the parties were working together to test a mobile charging roadside assistance vehicle.
At the time, Nissan said that the new charger would help to build confidence in mobile EV use.
Dapat bang i-boycott and lahat ng produktong galing China?
Thursday, July 28, 2011
The Linc Group Installs First Electric Vehicle Charging Stations for Laguna Beach Climate Protection Initiative
{"s" : "abm","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: ABM Industries Incorporated On Wednesday June 22, 2011, 9:11 am EDT
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Linc Group, an ABM Industries (NYSE:ABM - News) company, has installed the first electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in downtown Laguna Beach, California, an important element in the City’s wider effort to implement an array of climate protection measures. The EV charging stations are part of the ChargePoint America Program administered by the Department Of Energy, which provided a grant for the EV station equipment.
The EV charging stations were officially unveiled at a June 21 press event conducted by the Laguna Beach City Council. Representatives from The Linc Group attended the event.
The new charging stations will provide free charging services of up to four hours per electric vehicle per day. The stations managed by the ChargePointR Network are accessible to all EV drivers by making a call to the 24/7 number posted on each station, signing up for a ChargePass? smart card or paying by credit card.
The new stations are open to all drivers of plug-in electric vehicles. In addition to providing free charging for electric vehicles, the stations will also enable drivers to check the real-time status and location of unoccupied charging stations and track and report greenhouse gas and gasoline savings. Drivers can receive charging status notifications by SMS, email or smart phone (iPhone and Blackberry) applications.
The EV charging stations were manufactured by Coulomb Technologies, Inc.
“We are proud to be a part of this sustainability initiative in partnership with the City of Laguna Beach,” said Ken Sapp, vice president of Linc EnergyHub. “The Linc Group is strongly committed to providing superior, sustainable services to all of our clients across all of our service areas – including IT, electrical, lighting, controls and HVAC. We also are pleased to have the opportunity to work once again with Coulomb Technologies to help deliver leading sustainability solutions.”
About ABM Industries Incorporated
ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM - News), which operates through its subsidiaries (collectively "ABM"), is the leading provider of integrated facility services in the United States. With fiscal 2010 revenues of approximately $3.5 billion and nearly 100,000 employees, ABM provides commercial cleaning and maintenance, facility engineering, energy efficiency, parking and security services for thousands of commercial, industrial, government and retail clients across the United States and various international locations. ABM's business services include ABM Janitorial Services, ABM Facility Services, ABM Engineering Services, Ampco System Parking and ABM Security Services. For more information visit www.abm.com.
Fisker Automotive Selects EV Connect as Exclusive EVSE Services Provider
Press Release Source: EV Connect On Wednesday June 22, 2011, 7:00 am EDT
CULVER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- EV Connect, the premier electric vehicle infrastructure solutions provider, today announced an exclusive services agreement with Fisker Automotive, the California manufacturer of premium electric vehicles with extended range. Under the partnership, EV Connect will install and service electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) for Karma owners and 47 Fisker dealerships throughout the United States and Canada, providing electric vehicle (EV) readiness across the national network of Fisker retailers and buyers.
“Everything we do at Fisker revolves around the customer experience, so we choose our partners with great care and diligence,” said Marti Eulberg, VP Global Sales and Marketing at Fisker Automotive. “We want to provide all our customers with a totally seamless experience and this partnership ensures that Fisker drivers across North America will receive the high level of quality service that they expect from the Fisker brand, beginning at the point-of-purchase all the way through to their charging experience at home.”
Before Fisker Karma owners leave the showroom floor, EV Connect will initiate the installation process for their Fisker-branded charging equipment for home or workplace charging. EV Connect’s automated system is fully integrated with Fisker Automotive’s CRM solution, jumpstarting the EVSE purchase order at the retailer. Behind the scenes, EV Connect will serve as the turnkey infrastructure solution for Karma, shipping the charging equipment to the Karma’s owner, performing a home or workplace site assessment and installing the unit while taking care of all permitting requirements. EV Connect serves as the singular point of contact for the purchase and ongoing maintenance of all Fisker EVSE.
“A brand like Fisker requires a platform that shares the same efficient, technology-driven DNA to seamlessly support the nationwide roll-out of Karma chargers,” said Brett Hauser, COO of EV Connect. “From order fulfillment to installation and warranty repair, our proprietary web-based solution provides the level of transparency and service that Fisker customers and retailers expect from this new line of luxury electric vehicles.”
Jordan Ramer, CEO of EV Connect concluded, “This is the point that my team—and our industry—has been working towards over the past decade. We have been working hard to innovate around the charging experience and make EV-readiness a streamlined and efficient process. As Karmas begin to grace our streets and highways, we know that we’ve played a critical role in the infrastructure charging experience required to achieve EV-readiness. We’re proud to support the launch of these broad national efforts with the elite Fisker team.”
ABOUT EV CONNECT
EV Connect provides turnkey electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure solutions for individuals, businesses and communities throughout North America. No other company parallels EV Connect’s expertise in design, installation and maintenance of EV infrastructure. For more than 15 years, the executive team has been committed to getting adopters ‘EV Ready’ with the simplest and most economical solutions for home, workplace and public charging. EV Connect is based in Culver City, California; for more information visit www.evconnect.com.
ABOUT FISKER AUTOMOTIVE
Fisker Automotive is an American car company, founded in 2007, committed to producing electric vehicles with extended range (EVer) that deliver uncompromised responsible luxury. The Fisker Karma is the world’s first premium electric plug-in hybrid that represents the company’s firm belief that environmentally conscious cars need not sacrifice passion, style, or performance. Fisker Automotive is a global company that is redefining luxury for the modern sports car buyer. For more information on the brand and the Fisker Karma, please go to http://fiskerautomotive.com.
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Strategy Analytics: Electric Vehicle Telematics - Connectivity Essential for Market Growth
Press Release Source: Strategy Analytics On Wednesday June 15, 2011, 12:49 pm EDT
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Strategy Analytics Automotive Multimedia and Communications Service (AMCS) predicts that the growing market for electric vehicles must be supported by a connected telematics solution in order to grow from a niche market to a mainstream vehicle solution. The report, “Strategy Analytics: Electric Vehicle Telematics: Connectivity Essential,” outlines connectivity solutions and data requirements that are essential for this nascent electric vehicle market. Also included are electric vehicle OEM market share charts, forecasts and manufacturer profiles.
“It is still very early for the Electric Vehicle market. The vehicle-charging infrastructure has not yet been strongly linked to the car,” said Mark Fitzgerald, Associate Director of the Strategy Analytics North American Automotive service. “The charging infrastructure, vehicle and consumer cell phone must all connect in order to relay electric vehicle-specific data beyond charging station location and state of charge. Electric vehicles require communication systems that convey charging station location, compatibility and availability.”
The Strategy Analytics Automotive Multimedia and Communications Service provides highly detailed system, feature and semiconductor forecasts as well as industry leading strategic market analysis of the applications and services markets.
About Strategy Analytics
Strategy Analytics, Inc. provides timely and actionable market intelligence focused on opportunities and disruptive forces in the areas of Automotive Electronics and Entertainment, Broadband Connected Home, Mobile & Wireless Intelligent Systems and Virtual Worlds. Headquartered in Boston, MA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, S. Korea and China, Strategy Analytics works with clients through annual multi-client services, management team workshops and custom consulting engagements. For more information, please visit http://www.strategyanalytics.com/
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Vancouver rolls out electric vehicle charging stations
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SPX Home Charging Installation Survey Findings Shed Light on Households of Electric Vehicle Customers
{"s" : "spw","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: SPX Corporation On Tuesday June 14, 2011, 8:00 am EDT
NOVI, Mich., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The homes of most electric-vehicle buyers have the electrical foundation to support advanced charging, but they often require a custom solution installed by an expert to take advantage of this option, according to data collected by SPX Service Solutions.
SPX Service Solutions, a leader in global automotive diagnostics, has gathered data about potential owners of electric vehicles and their garages since November 2010, when it became the exclusive provider of turnkey home-charging installation services to owners of the new Chevrolet Volt.
SPX Service Solutions works with electric vehicle owners and interested buyers to prepare their garages for 240-volt charge stations, which can charge the vehicles in half the time required with a 120-volt charge station. To date, the company has surveyed about 2,000 potential owners in five U.S. markets where electric vehicles are currently rolling out: California, Michigan, Texas, and the New York and Washington, D.C. metro areas.
"After seven months of working with people acquiring electric vehicles, SPX has collected an extensive amount of valuable data on their needs," said Tanvir Arfi, President of SPX Service Solutions. "One key finding is that, for the most part, their homes are conducive to home-charging. Most respondents own their own homes, live in single-family dwellings, and have electrical systems that can support 240V charging. In addition, the types of garages and foundations in their homes vary considerably, indicating the need for highly flexible, custom charge station installations."
Arfi is presenting findings from SPX's electric vehicle home-charging survey during the Automotive News Green Car Conference taking place today in Novi, Mich. Some key findings from the survey include
98 percent of survey participants own their own home.63 percent live in single-family dwellings.99 percent of these homes have electrical systems equipped with circuit breakers, an important piece of infrastructure needed to support a 240V charge station.71 percent have space on their electrical service panel for additional breakers, allowing space to have a line for a charge station to be added.78 percent of respondents lack a 240V outlet or line near their parking location, which is essential for faster home charging.Building foundations, garage types, and the location of electrical service panels create different charge station installation requirements. The survey indicates that 32 percent of participants have basements, 29 percent have crawl spaces and 36 percent slab foundations. Garage types also vary, with 47 percent of garages attached to the home, 7 percent detached, 13 percent carport or driveway, and 33 percent other types. The location of the main electrical service panel is also variable, with 32 percent in a basement, 29 percent in a garage, and 31 percent outside the home.
In addition to these findings, participants indicated that they usually want the charge station installed in a garage, but also want the flexibility of charging their vehicle in their driveway.
SPX conducts the detailed online survey to better prepare its network of 2,000 certified electricians for the specific type of electric vehicle home-charging installation required, and to simplify the process for EV owners and prospective buyers. SPX Service Solutions also offers its own SPX Power Xpress[TM] charge station for electric vehicles, a compact wall-mount unit that can be unplugged, moved, and installed in outdoor locations.
For more information about SPX's electric vehicle home charging service offerings, please visit http://www.homecharging.spx.com.
About SPX
SPX (NYSE:SPW - News) is a global Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing company. With headquarters in Charlotte, N.C., SPX has 15,500 employees in more than 35 countries worldwide. Visit www.spx.com. SPX Service Solutions is a leading global developer and manufacturer of advanced diagnostic systems and service solutions for automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), their dealer networks, and retail and aftermarket channels. The business also provides consulting, strategy and technical information for vehicle servicing and maintenance, as well as for charging and the servicing of electric vehicles.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Wheego Electric Cars targets Oregon with Salem dealership and small supply
Photo courtesy of O'Brien Auto GroupThe O'Brien dealership in Salem has its first Wheego Life on display now, with more models coming as production at a California assembly plant increases. The two-seater sells for about $33,000, but is eligible for significant energy-program rebates.Another company -- this one a virtual unknown -- has pulled into Oregon's increasingly crowded electric vehicle lane.
The O'Brien Auto Group has been granted an exclusive dealership for the Wheego Life in Oregon and recently received its first vehicle at its dealership in Salem. O'Brien hopes to eventually sell 25 to 30 Wheegos a month when the Atlanta-based company cranks up production volume this fall.
Essentially a two-seater, the $33,000 car will go head to head with full-size electric sedans from more established companies such as the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt and upcoming models from car giants Ford and Toyota.
Like Nissan and other companies offering electric models, Wheego Electric Cars hopes Oregon will be a fruitful debut market because of its environmental ethic and the state's participation in the federal EV project. That program is a stimulus funded effort to establish a public charging infrastructure across six states and study how early adopters use their cars and chargers.
"We know there's a lot of excitement in Oregon about EVs, so our dealer in Oregon got one of the first cars produced," said Susan Nicholson, a spokeswoman for Wheego. "Those other big companies have done a good job raising the visibility of the industry and the excitement. ... We feel like there's an opportunity for us to step in. Our car is available now."
Only in limited quantities, however. Wheego won't start ramping up production until its assembly contractors in California move into a larger facility. The company is currently seeking investment capital to finance that expansion.
Wheego's mere existence illustrates how embryonic the electric vehicle market remains.
The company was spun off from a manufacturer of electric recreational vehicles in 2009 and is led by Mike McQuary, the former president of the internet service provider Mindspring. Wheego started off producing a low-speed, neighborhood electric vehicle call the Whip. Limited to 35 mph, that model is street legal, but primarily targeted at government fleets, military bases and retirement communities, Nicholson said.
Photo courtesy of O'Brien Auto GroupThe instrument cluster in the Life lets the driver know how much farther the car can travel on its charge, while also monitoring other electrical functions.The Life is the company's bid to grab a small slice of what is expected to be a huge market. Fully crash tested, it has a top speed of 65 mph and a range of 100 miles on a charge. The body and chassis are produced in China, the motors and batteries in California. Assembly takes place in Ontario, Calif.The Wheego looks similar to a Smart Car, and some experts expect a proliferation of similar small-form cars over the next decade as automakers struggle to meet stricter federal fleet mileage standards.
The Life isn't cheap, with its $33,000 base price in the neighborhood of the Nissan Leaf or a low-end BMW. Air conditioning and destination charges add $3,000 to the tab. But it's eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit, plus state tax credits.
Bengt Halvorsen, an automotive journalist who writes for GreenCarReports.com, said he's skeptical that Wheego Life will sell in much volume. The company arrived at the tail of the neighborhood vehicle market --a niche dominated by small companies making limited use vehicles for fanatical enthusiasts --and just before the automotive giants bring the full weight of their engineering, supplier and marketing infrastructure to bear on electric vehicles.
"This is shakeout time for these small EV ventures," Halvorsen said. "Once the major automakers bring their EVs to market, all but a few won't survive."
Additional costs: airconditioning and freight, $3,000 Nissan Leaf base price: $33,720 Chevy Volt base price: $40,280 Tax credits: All three models are eligible for federal credits up to $7,500 and state credits, until Jan. 1, 2012, of up to $1,500.Part of the problem is pricing, he said. Lithium-ion battery packs are the most expensive component, and economies of scale will give big car companies a major advantage.Mike O'Brien, owner of the O'Brien Automotive Group, noted that back in the mid 80s, no one thought Japanese car makers would succeed in the luxury car market either.
"Who can look in the crystal ball and say Wheego isn't the next Honda," he said. "The opportunity came to us, we thought it looked like a perfect fit in the Salem market, so we grabbed it.
"It's the consumer who determines what the market is, not some guy sitting forecasting on Wall Street," O'Brien said.
Nicholson said Wheego isn't looking for Nissan- or Ford-sized sales volumes.
"We're hoping to be shipping 100 a month by September," she said. "We don't ever expect to be selling a 1,000 cars a week. That's not part of our game plan right now, and we don't need to sell that many to be successful because we're a very small operation."
Sunday, July 24, 2011
High performance electric vehicle trial starts in the UK
The Westfield Sport E - can go from zero to 60 mph in about seven seconds and has a top speed of 100 mph
Image Gallery (13 images)A consortium made up of specialist UK vehicle manufacturers, a green consultancy and an eco-friendly vehicle rental company has just launched a new project to road test 14 high performance electric vehicles (EV) for the next 12 months. Every aspect of performance will be closely monitored as the drivers taking part in the EEMS Accelerate project put the vehicles through the same kind of dynamic driving conditions encountered by users of regular road cars. The gathered data is to be published and used by government officials to help boost green transport manufacture in the UK.
The Energy Efficient Motorsport (EEMS) program was established by the UK government in 2004 to accelerate the development and public acceptance of green automotive technologies. The latest project - called EEMS Accelerate - is one of eight collaborative efforts to be chosen for part-funding by the government's Technology Strategy Board under its Carbon Vehicles Demonstration Program, and aims to showcase high performance, low emission vehicles that have been designed and built in the UK. Led by energy and climate change consultants AEA Technology, the project aims to motivate industry to invest in an electric automotive future while also challenging any misgivings and preconceptions held by the public, motorsport enthusiasts and specialists.
There are four British-designed, sporty, two-seater EVs being used in the trial and - being a dedicated Prisoner fan - my vehicle of choice would likely be the Westfield Sport E. It's the slowest of the bunch (with a top speed of 100 mph/160 kph) and its Lithium Ion Phosphate batteries offer the least range (100 miles/160 km), but its classic Lotus Seven charm and beauty more than make up for such considerations. It'll go from zero to 60 mph (96 kph) in about seven seconds, benefits from rear-wheel direct drive motors and has only one drawback for this road trial - as the sky behind the photo above shows only too well, the open-top design is not exactly UK-weather-friendly.
The Ecotricity Nemesis is probably most people's idea of what a modern road racer should look like. According to the EEMS Accelerate specs, it can get from zero to 60 mph in about four seconds, has a top speed of about 135 mph (217 kph) and benefits from 250kWh Lithium polymer battery technology.
The four-wheel-drive Delta E-4 Coupe model is said to produce 2000 Nm of torque, with the two-wheel-drive unsurprisingly offering half that. Its 50kWh Lithium Ion Phosphate Batteries give an average range of between 150 and 200 miles (241 - 321 km) per charge and its Oxford Yasa electric motor takes it from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds and gives it a top speed of 139 mph (223 kph).
The Electric Lightning GT is probably the one James Bond would drive. Its said to produce 4,400 Nm of torque, will run for 180 miles (289 km) on a single charge of its Lithium Titanate batteries, can go from zero to 60 mph in less than five seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph (209 kph).
Operational support for all of the vehicles during the trial is being provided by environmentally-friendly car and van rental company Green Motion.
While we await the first batch of performance data, have a look at a prototype of the Westfield car in action at the Stoneleigh Kit Car Show in 2010:
Saturday, July 23, 2011
AAA to deploy fast-charging trucks for stranded EV drivers:
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24 Blink® Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Installed in Seattle’s South Lake Union Neighborhood
{"s" : "ecty","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: ECOtality, Inc. On Tuesday June 14, 2011, 8:00 am EDT
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ECOtality (NASDAQ: ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, today announced that Vulcan Real Estate has joined The EV Project, a national program for the deployment of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. As part of this agreement, Vulcan has installed 24 BlinkR EV Pedestal charging stations in eight South Lake Union commercial and residential buildings owned by Vulcan Inc.
“ECOtality is committed to providing clean energy solutions and installing electric vehicle infrastructure in communities like South Lake Union,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “South Lake Union is a forward-thinking neighborhood with many early adopters currently driving electric vehicles. We are thrilled to be bringing our Blink chargers to locations where people normally visit in South Lake Union.”
The South Lake Union charging stations will be available to the public, and are located at the following buildings: Westlake/Terry Building, 2200 Westlake, and 2201 Westlake each host three Blink Pedestal chargers, Alley24 has four chargers, and Amazon headquarter campus has installed 11 Chargers. In addition, two charging stations will be installed at the Discovery Center in the coming months.
“We are proud that South Lake Union is one of the greenest neighborhoods in the country and these charging stations are a reflection of the area’s longstanding commitment to sustainability,” said Ada M. Healey, vice president of real estate at Vulcan Inc. “South Lake Union now has more electric vehicle (EV) charging stations than any other neighborhood in the Pacific Northwest and one of the highest concentrations of EV charging stations in the country.”
The Blink Network of charging stations provides all EV drivers the freedom to travel wherever they choose and charge at commercial locations conveniently identified along the way. Blink charging stations utilize an industry standard connector and can be used by any EV on the market and coming to market, including Ford Focus, Tesla, Nissan LEAF, and the Chevy Volt, among others.
ECOtality’s Blink Pedestal chargers are Level 2 (240 V) chargers that incorporate smart elements of design to provide intelligent, user-friendly features that intuitively and safely charge EVs. ECOtality will deploy approximately 14,000 chargers in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas around the country (with around 1,000 standard public charging stations to be installed in the Puget Sound and Olympia region).
About Vulcan Real Estate
Vulcan Real Estate directs all real estate activities for Vulcan Inc., a Paul G. Allen company. The company’s experienced, talented team of real estate professionals offers a full range of development services from site selection to build-to-suit construction. Its real estate model is based on quality, sustainable development that builds new value across the entire community. To date, Vulcan has delivered nearly 4.3 million square feet in 21 new office, biotech, residential and mixed-use projects in South Lake Union. The company has approximately 500,000 square feet currently under construction and/or planned for delivery by 2013. For more information, visit www.vulcanrealestate.com.
About The EV Project
ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project and will oversee the installation of approximately 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 major cities and metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. The project will provide an EV infrastructure to support the deployment of 8,300 EVs. The project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy through a federal stimulus grant, made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
The EV Project will collect and analyze data on vehicle use in diverse topographic and climatic conditions; evaluate the effectiveness of charge systems; and conduct trials of various revenue systems for commercial and public charge infrastructures to enable the streamlined deployment of future electric vehicle charging stations.
About ECOtality
ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY - News), headquartered in San Francisco, California, is a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. Through innovation, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, ECOtality accelerates the market applicability of advanced electric technologies to replace carbon-based fuels. For more information about ECOtality, Inc., please visit www.ecotality.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
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Friday, July 22, 2011
Oregon, Washington EV drivers among first to get AAA rapid-charging roadside help
AP PhotoHeidi Bray, of Olympia, Wash. demonstrates how she charges her Nissan Leaf at the new ECOtality Blink Commercial charging stations in Seattle.The AAA has just declared war on range anxiety.
--Joseph Rose ? ?
America's largest automotive emergency services provider announced today that it plans to deploy electric-vehicle rapid charging units in its roadside assistance trucks in the Northwest starting in August.
A few days ago, Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said the automaker was working with a company to offer the same service in Japan on a trial basis, according to Edmunds.com.
Range anxiety -- the worry that motorists feel about possibly draining their power supply on the road -- is considered the most common barrier to motorists buying electric cars.
As automakers continue to look at new EV technologies to extend battery life and transportation officials move toward creating a network of charging stations, AAA said it “has a fully functioning electric-vehicle mobile charging unit ready to deploy into its roadside assistance operations.”
Unfortunately, that sounds a lot like Darth Vader announcing that the Death Star is “a fully armed and operational battle station” before blowing up a planet.
Get beyond the corporate PR-speak, and this is a positive thing for EV drivers in Oregon, Washington, California and a few other states where the rapid-charging unites will be tested starting in August.
Now, to get really geeky.
The 109-year-old AAA says it has always adapted to new automobile technologies.
"That continues today as we ready AAA’s emergency road service operations to address the emerging electric vehicle market,” said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair, Buying Services and Consumer Information.
Nielsen said AAA will deploy Level 2 and Level 3 mobile charging units.
Let's hope there are Level 3 units, which can charge an EV battery in a matter of minutes. A Level 2 unit can take a couple hours.
--Joseph Rose ? ?
ECOtality accelerates electric vehicle charger installations
Writing publicly about what the high-tech industry is actually doing to help itself and the world get greener or more sustainable is one way I figure I can contribute more meaningfully to said effort. IA?A￠A¯A?A?A¯A?A?m also a big OMG-kind-of-fan of smart leadership, which is why the goodly folks who publish this blog let me go on about this topic and why I am always on the hunt for forward-looking business management ideas.
My daily writing is focused on looking for topics for my blogs, GreenTech Pastures and Business Brains. I also write often about emerging technology trends such as mobile computing, unified communications and cloud computing. Occasionally, I will pop up at an industry conference in some sort of speaking capacity. In cases where a speaking engagement involves a sponsor that may be covered in this blog, that fact will be disclosed in coverage as appropriate.
My corporate writing work usually consists of crafting research white papers about some aspect of technology. In the event that my commentary (in written, audio or video form) mentions a company for which I have provided consulting advice, I will disclose that fact. However, there is no connection between these projects and the topics that IA?A￠A¯A?A?A¯A?A?m covering in my blog.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Electric vehicle charging stations rolled out in Vancouver
The Nissan Leaf electric car will available in B.C. in the fall of 2011, the company said in March. (Nissan)
The City of Vancouver is pushing ahead with plans to create more charging stations for plug-in electric cars, even though there are only a handful of the electric-only vehicles in the city.
Mayor Gregor Robertson is expected to unveil the city's newest station at a public parking lot near city hall on Tuesday morning.
The project, which is the first of its kind in B.C. is designed to assess the viability of commercial charging stations installed at several EasyPark lots throughout the city.
John Stonier, the spokesperson for the Vancouver Electric Vehicle Association, estimates there are 20 fully electric cars on Vancouver roads. He says the single biggest reason there aren't more electric cars on the road is because local car dealers haven't made them available.
But he says it's still important to start building charging stations for the future, in parking lots and in residential buildings.
"We build buildings to last hopefully hundreds of years, and we have to have these buildings have the right energy supplies for the energy of the future, which will hopefully be electricity, and not fossil fuels," he said.
The Nissan Leaf electric car will be available in B.C. in the fall of 2011, the company said in March.
Plug-in vehicles are different from most hybrid vehicles, because they can be plugged into a power source to charge up the batteries, although some include gasoline engines.
Back to accessibility linksWednesday, July 20, 2011
Is electric car era finally dawning in U.S.?
(CBS News) Concern over gas prices hovering around $4 a gallon combined with concern over greenhouse gases have caused consumers to reconsider the electric vehicle. In fact, President Obama is hoping to get people charged up about electric cars by offering big rebates.
But would you ever buy one?
On "The Early Show," CBS News Correspondent Ben Tracy reported that Chris Paine, a proponent of electric cars and documentary filmmaker, has an all-electric Tesla roadster that goes from zero to 60 miles per hour in about four seconds.
But, Tracy pointed out, Paine knows just how long and slow the road has been for electric vehicles.
Paine's documentary, "Who Killed The Electric Car?" chronicled their rise back in the 1890s and then again in the 1990s. Both times, car makers gave up on electric because gas-powered cars were cheaper and went further.
Now, Paine has a new film, called "Revenge of the Electric Car." It shows intense competition among auto companies to mass produce a new era of plug-in electric vehicles. Why? Gas isn't cheap anymore, and climate change is a growing concern.
Paine says most people will make the switch to electric cars to save money, not necessarily for the environmental reason.
He said, "The whole success of the electric car is going to be based $4 a gallon and $5 a gallon gasoline."
Paine owns three electric vehicles, including the Chevy Volt and the new Nissan Leaf. Because of better battery technology, the Leaf can travel up to 100 miles on one charge and plugs right into the wall.
Paine explained, "Like, you'll be at a friend's house, (and say) 'Excuse me, do you mind if I plug in?' ... They'll say, 'How much will this cost me?' (And you'll say) 'Well, I'll be here for three hours, so it will cost you like 75 cents.!"'
it sounds simple, but getting Americans behind the electric wheel isn't. A recent USA Today/Gallup poll found 57 percent of Americans won't buy electric, despite pain at pump.
What's behind Americans' seeming hang-up about electric cars?
Paine said, "Most Americans haven't had a chance to drive one."
Carlisa Hamagaki, 36, made the switch. She says she never has to stop at a gas station anymore.
But she knows most people are confused by electric vehicles.
Hamagaki said, "I just shake my head and say, 'There's no miles per gallon, it's kilowatt hours."
Hamagaki no longer spends money on gas, but most electric cars cost about $10,000 more up front than comparable gas cars. That's why the federal government is offering $7,500 tax credits and many states are giving thousands more.
Hamagaki said, "The rebates make it look like any affordable car."
Nearly every major car company is coming out with an electric model, including start-ups, such as California-based CODA. It offers a bigger battery that can go as far as 150 miles.
Phil Murtaugh, chief executive officer of CODA, told CBS News, "At some point, we will run out of oil. So energy security plays a very large part in pushing (electric vehicles)."
President Obama thinks electric cars will help reduce our dependency on foreign oil. His goal? One million plug-in electric vehicles on the road by 2015.
Most experts say that's unlikely.
Dave Sargent, vice president of Research at J.D. Power and Associates, says of the goal, "The vehicles are too expensive for most consumers, and they don't see the benefits. Plus, they're concerned about range."
The government is trying to change that, spending more than $100 million to build thousands of charging stations around the country.
So Paine believes the electric cars' time has finally come -- again.
"I think we are at the beginning of a whole new era right now," he said.
And this time, Paine says he thinks Americans will stay charged up.
"Early Show" co-anchor Jeff Glor added right now there are few models to choose from if you're thinking of buying a plug-in electric car. But auto industry analysts say by 2016, consumers will have many choices -- somewhere between 25 to 30 pure electrics, and another 25-30 hybrids. And, he says, battery technology just keeps getting better.
Car Charging Group to Exhibit Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station at Real Estate Convention
{"s" : "ccgi.ob","k" : "a00,a50,b00,b60,c10,g00,h00,l10,p20,t10,v00","o" : "","j" : ""} Press Release Source: Car Charging Group, Inc. On Monday May 23, 2011, 12:42 pm EDT
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. and LAS VEGAS, May 23, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Car Charging Group Inc. (OTCBB:CCGI - News), a provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging services with the mission to own and build out a nationwide network of EV charging stations, in conjunction with American Clean Energy, a leading solar integrator, has announced that it will exhibit an EV charging station at the International Council of Shopping Centers' global retail real estate convention, Recon 2011, held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from May 22 to 25.
Located at the Car Charging Group and American Clean Energy booth (#S5740), the exhibit will demonstrate Level II, 240-volt EV charging sessions with an Inzio, the world's fastest all-electric supercar. The car will be provided by Li-ion Motors Corp., a Nevada-based developer, manufacturer and marketer of high speed lithium-powered vehicles.
"We're pleased to be exhibiting at this year's REcon because it is an annual destination for experts and key players in the shopping center industry," said Brian Golomb, director of sales for Car Charging Group. "This venue gives us the opportunity to directly reach our target audience while demonstrating how easy it is to charge an electric vehicle and the benefits of installing one on their properties."
Stephen Morgan, CEO of American Clean Energy, said, "We couldn't be more excited about partnering with Car Charging Group to bring the combined 'POWER'ful combination of Solar Energy as well as EV Charging to America! This is the future of our country."
About The International Council of Shopping Centers
Founded in 1957, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) is the global trade association of the shopping center industry. Its 60,000 members in the United States, Canada and more than 80 other countries include shopping center owners, developers, managers, marketing specialists, investors, lenders, retailers and other professionals as well as academics and public officials. As the global industry trade association, ICSC links with more than 25 national and regional shopping center councils throughout the world.
About Car Charging Group, Inc.
Car Charging Group, Inc. is an owner and provider of electric vehicle charging stations with the mission to build out a nationwide infrastructure, enabling EV and PHEV owners to charge their EVs anytime, anywhere. As part of its strategy, the Company owns, provides, installs and maintains electric vehicle charging units and works with its landowner partners to identify appropriate locations for its charging stations. The company provides convenient, safe and affordable charging stations away from home in customer-friendly public locations, including municipalities, shopping malls, parking garages, multi family residential and commercial properties.
An estimated 40 million plug-in electric vehicles, such as the Nissan LEAF, GM Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma, Tesla Model S, Ford Focus EV as well as many others, are expected to be on the road by 2030. Car Charging Group realizes the need to establish charging station networks throughout the transportation infrastructure to provide easy access to energy everywhere drivers live and work. By investing at the forefront of the electric car revolution, Car Charging Group seeks to become the leading provider of electric car charging services. The company launched its operations nationally in September of 2009 and is expanding its operations internationally.
Car Charging Group, Inc. is based in Miami, Fla. The company's website can be viewed at www.CarCharging.com.
About American Clean Energy
American Clean Energy is a New Jersey based developer of solar installations for municipal, retail, commercial and industrial customers. They develop and own solar installations on host customers' sites and sell the resultant electricity to those customers using innovative financing. Their team truly understands the energy marketplace and brings extensive experience in energy infrastructure, project development, finance and construction. For more information on American Clean Energy please call 973-718-2318, email Info@AmCleanEnergy.com or visit www.SolarTrackingTree.com.
Forward-Looking Safe Harbor Statement:
This press release contains statements, which may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Car Charging Group, Inc., and members of its management as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Recargo App Helps Electric Vehicle Drivers Find And Review Charging Stations
Another app to help electric vehicle (EV) drivers find a place to power up? Yep. This one, Recargo, was made by the founder of Dictionary.com, Brian Kariger, and launched stealthily in July last 2010. So far, the app has attracted hundreds of users, Kariger told TechCrunch. The company added new features and is pushing for wider adoption today, with a version 1.5 release.
New features on Recargo include: Yelp-like, user contributed reviews and photos of charging stations that EV drivers encounter and use, and news content about clean transportation syndicated in-app from Recargo’s partner, PlugInCars.com.
Recargo, currently available for iOS only, generates revenue through in-app advertisements, and shares revenue with PlugInCars.com.
Here’s why user-generated, and real-time updated reviews and photos of EV charging stations should prove useful to EV drivers, Kariger said:
“I took a trip to Ventura up from L.A. and I drove to where there was supposed to be a charging station. Nobody on the lot had used it, though. Not knowing where it was, and driving anxiously around this lot was just frustrating. Having an image of the charging station in context, or some directions from another driver that used it would have been helpful.
You don’t want to start driving hundreds of miles away from home and not know you’ll be able to go somewhere to charge before reaching your final destination. We use crowd sourced reviews and data from open APIs to let drivers know about things like this.”
Recargo is distinct from others in the field, like PlugShare by Xatori, in part because it is generating revenue already.
Some of Recargo’s earliest users have been in Hong Kong and Germany, according to Kariger. The serial entrepreneur is the proud owner and driver of different alternative vehicles, including: a Tesla Roadster, a Nissan Leaf and a Volkswagen Touareg that uses biodiesel.
Down the line, Recargo aims to become a mobile app development studio whose products help the makers and drivers of electric vehicles, worldwide. Near-term Kariger hopes to get an Android app out, and to add traffic data to Recargo, to let driver plan their commutes more energy-efficiently.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Stevens Pass Resort invests in clean-vehicle infrastructure
Date:? Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Contact: Ross Freeman, Stevens Pass Resort, 206.812.7855
Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, Port of Chelan County, 509.663.5159
Tonia Buell, Washington State Department of Transportation, 360.628.2644
STEVENS PASS , WA – Stevens Pass Resort today announced completion of the nation's first mountain-pass electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The resort's two new chargers along U.S. Highway 2 in Washington's central Cascade Mountain Range might also be the only public units located at a ski resort anywhere in the Western U.S.
Each "Level-II" station provides both a trickle charge and a faster charge, servicing two electric vehicles simultaneously. These 240-volt fast-charge units built by Coulomb Technologies Inc. allow EV drivers to "fuel up" while they enjoy the resort's recreational activities. Owners of vehicles like the new Nissan Leaf will gain approximately 15 miles of range for every hour of charging. Nearly empty batteries will require four-to-six to fully charge– perfect for a day of skiing or mountain biking at the resort or hiking from the trailhead of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Stevens Pass fills a critical link in EV charging infrastructure along Highway 2, providing EV drivers with a well-placed refueling option and permitting journeys to Leavenworth or Wenatchee, where other chargers are located. The Stevens Pass stations are available to the public 24 hours a day, every day of the year with restrooms nearby and reliable cell phone coverage.
"Our company-wide focus on sustainability includes many progressive programs, and we are especially pleased to remain on the cutting edge by installing these EV charging stations at the resort," said Ross Freeman, Environment & Sustainability Manager for Stevens Pass. "We strive to lead the way among Pacific Northwest resorts in reducing our carbon footprint – supporting the use of electric vehicles puts us one more step ahead of the competition."
Grants from the ChargePoint America Program, which includes federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, helped pay for the new charging stations. Stevens Pass paid for all fabrication, installation and electrical work.
Both charging stations are connected via cellular signal to the national ChargePoint Network, allowing anyone with a smartphone or computer to access station location and real-time availability information, view their usage history and sign up for email alerts.
The average user fee for charging at Level-II stations is approximately $4-$5 per session, but Stevens Pass will waive this charge for an introductory period. Fees can be paid through a key ring swipe pass, credit card or by calling a toll-free phone number on each unit.
Other locations along Highway 2 are considering – or have announced – plans to install additional Level-II charging stations. Also along Highway 2, the Washington State Department of Transportation will install two DC fast-charging stations (sometimes known as Level-III), which can provide an 80 percent charge in just 20 minutes. By the end of 2011, this route will connect to I-5 and WSDOT's Electric Highway Project.
"Stevens Pass is leading a national movement. This new electric vehicle charging station is a peek at how most of us will drive to the mountains in the not-so-distant future, using cleaner, more efficient fuels," said Washington State Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond. "It brings us closer to a seamless network of electric vehicle charging stations across Washington and, eventually, from Canada to Mexico with the West Coast Green Highway."
The Stevens Pass Greenway is one of the richest scenic byways in Washington. Originally built for the Old Great Northern Railroad, the greenway winds through dense forest, snowcapped mountains and green valleys, past orchards and wineries of Wenatchee, family farms and the Bavarian village of Leavenworth.
"Businesses along U.S. 2 rely on tourism," said Port of Chelan County's Ron Johnston-Rodriguez, Director of the PlugIn Center. "With fast charging stations along this scenic byway, travelers will be able to drive electric cars to popular destinations such as Stevens Pass, Leavenworth and Wenatchee."
For more information, please visit:
www.ridestevenspass.com/electric-vehicle-info-sheet
www.westcoastgreenhighway.com/electrichighways.htm
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About Stevens Pass Mtn Resort
Stevens Pass has grown from its humble beginnings over 70 years ago to one of the Northwest's premier resorts, and we reckon that protecting and restoring the natural resources that have provided us our livelihood is the least we can do. As a locally owned company, Stevens Pass believes we have a responsibility to both the Pacific Northwest environment and regional climate that allow us to conduct business at all. Our company-wide focus on sustainability and our carbon footprint includes many progressive programs, as well as the purchase of renewable energy credits to offset 100% of our electricity and propane use. By investing in clean windpower, our carbon offset prevents approximately 7,980,000 pounds of global warming pollution from entering the atmosphere annually.
Oregon to install electric-vehicle chargers along I-5
AeroVironment's DC fast-charging station.
(Credit: AeroVironment)
(Credit: AeroVironment)
Oregon is planning to install Level 3 DC fast-charging stations along a portion of Interstate 5, the Oregon Department of Transportation announced today.
AeroVironment was chosen to be the supplier for the electric-vehicle charging stations which will be sprinkled throughout a 150-mile stretch of highway.
Interstate 5 is the main interstate highway that runs north and south through the western U.S. The electric-vehicle charging stations will be placed starting at the California-Oregon state line and up to Oregon's Willamette Valley.
The 480-volt Level 3 chargers are CHAdeMO (Charge de Move) compliant, a standard that is compatible with the Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi i-MiEV, and Subaru R1e. It's capable of fully charging an electric-vehicle battery in about 30 minutes, according to AeroVironment.
The exact locations for the stations have not yet been chosen.
AeroVironment has also been tasked with researching the best spots in conjunction with local utilities, based on an analysis of things like area traffic patterns and vehicle range. The stations should be in place and available to drivers by the end of this fall, according to the company.
"Fast charging stations along high-traffic transportation corridors will help make driving electric vehicles between communities a viable option for Oregonians," Oregon Department of Transportation Director Art James said in a statement.
The electric-vehicle chargers are part of Oregon's "Green Highway" project, which was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
AeroVironment is best known for its drones, but is also a heavy player in the vehicle-charging industry. The company has already partnered its charging stations with NRG Energy for its eVgo Network (pronounced ee-vee-go), Nissan for its U.S. Leaf roll-out, and BMW for its ActiveE project. The company has manufactured charging stations for light-duty electric-vehicle fleets for years, and also collaborated with General Motors in the 1980s on the EV1 project.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Sen. Jeff Merkley to Visit Eugene Electric Vehicle Company
By Sonia Talati
EUGENE, Ore. -- Senator Jeff Merkley was in Eugene Thursday to discuss the electric vehicle bill and met up with the creators of this two-person, battery-operated vehicle from Arcimoto.
The car's battery can take unused energy from over the night or when the car is at rest and save it for later.
A bill going through the legislature pushes for more electric vehicles and includes support for lithium battery research.
The democrat believes the progress of electric vehicles would help to reduce America's oil dependence.
"If you have kind of followed the sequential development of these vehicles, they are now at the point where they would like to do limited vehicle production.? In other words, the first stage of actually being on the market," Merkley said.
Senate Bill 948 was filed last week.
Merkley says it's important the bill receives bipartisan support.
T3 Motion Receives $309,000 Follow-on Order for T3 Series Electric Vehicle from Mexico
Press Release Source: T3 Motion, Inc. On Wednesday June 1, 2011, 10:35 am EDT
COSTA MESA, Calif., June 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- www.t3motion.com - T3 Motion, Inc.?(NYSE AMEX:TTTM, TTTM.u) T3 Motion, Inc., a producer of clean tech/green tech electric personal mobility vehicles today announced that the distributor for T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicles in Mexico has placed a $309,000 order to be supply law enforcement agencies and security companies throughout Mexico.
(Photo: ?http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110601/LA11948 )
T3 Motion has a long-standing partnership with exclusive distributor TSN (Telecomunicaciones y Servicios del Norte), which has achieved more than 20 years experience in its domain of high tech design, development and implementation of business solutions.
T3 ESVs are currently deployed throughout Mexico by law enforcement and private security companies to fulfill numerous security needs, including tourist safety patrols in Acapulco and plaza security in Nuevo Laredo and Guadalajara.
“We are pleased with the high degree of demand for our clean-technology security vehicles in Mexico,” Ki Nam, CEO of T3 Motion noted. “With this successful reorder, TSN has become our top-selling and most successful distributor, selling over $1.2 Million of T3 Motion products in Mexico. This is another great example of how our company is excelling on both the domestic and international arenas.”
Eduardo Velasquez Gonzalez, TSN director general stated, "Our ongoing successes in Mexico are exciting on many levels. Strong, durable, clean-energy security vehicles are few and far between on the ground here and the unique qualities by the T3 i-Series fulfill our customer's specific needs for their security initiatives."
To see the T3 Series in Mexico, watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHmLOwFIIAYm/watch?v=GHmLOwFIIAY
T3 Series Features
The cutting-edge 'green' technology provides a low cost of operation, at less than 10 cents per day and two re-chargeable, swap-able batteries, the T3 has 24/7 operation with unlimited range.
Zero-degree turning radiusSwap-able batteriesSpeeds up to 25 km/h, the equivalent of 15 mph9-inch raised platform provides a superior vantage pointAbout T3 Motion, Inc.
T3 Motion, Inc. (NYSE Amex:TTTM, TTTM.u) revolutionized the world of personal mobility with the introduction of their flagship electric T3 Series. ?Headquartered in Orange County, California, USA, T3 Motion, Inc. is dedicated to raising the bar for law enforcement and security capabilities in personal mobility technology.
This year, T3 Motion unveiled the R3 plug-in electric consumer vehicle prototype. ?The proprietary rear-wheel design of the R3 features a patent-pending, single, wide-stance wheel with two high-performance tires sharing one wheel.? The revolutionary two-tire design improves traction, stability, and handling, while the low rolling resistance and rounded profile of the rear tires increase energy efficiency.? The R3 will incorporate the Samsung Galaxy into the sleek dashboard design.? Due to its three-wheeled design, the R3 is classified as a motorcycle.
For more information on T3 Motion, Inc. and the company's signature T3 Series line of electric personal mobility vehicles, and the upcoming R3 consumer vehicle, visit www.t3motion.com, email sales@t3motion.com or call 714-619-3600.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding T3 Motion's business, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. ?For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Daniela Desormeaux: Can Lithium Ride the Electric Vehicle Craze?
Daniela Desormeaux: Can Lithium Ride the Electric Vehicle Craze?
Source: George Mack of The Energy Report? ?(6/2/11)
http://www.theenergyreport.com/pub/na/9747
Although lithium is not in short supply now, electric and hybrid vehicles could soak up new production of the versatile light metal for decades to come. In this exclusive interview with The Energy Report, Economist Daniela Desormeaux of Santiago, Chile-based signumBOX, elaborates on small exploration plays that could move up.
Companies Mentioned : FMC Lithium Corporation Galaxy Resources Ltd. Li3 Energy Lithium Americas Corp. Lithium One Inc. Nemaska Exploration Inc. Orocobre Limited Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. Talison Lithium Ltd. Western Lithium USA Corp.
The Energy Report: Who are your clientele?
Daniela Desormeaux: Our customers are very diverse. Investment banks are looking for new investments in natural resources, including lithium, which has become important for its use in batteries for electric vehicles, and has therefore become very popular. In the last four years, more than 80 new lithium projects have been announced. So we have seen a lot of appetite for investment in lithium.
Our customers also include battery companies; they are interested in understanding the future of lithium because they have to buy it. We also have customers who are lithium producers and involved in exploration activities. Lithium is strategic in terms of its use, and that's why we have seen Toyota, Mitsubishi and other automakers investing in the industry. They want to secure their supply of lithium in the future. So, a percentage of our customers are automakers.
TER: Daniela, lithium trades on industrial supply and demand factors in a negotiated market. Without a public market for the metal or its salts, how do you value producers?
DD: Lithium is not traded on a formal market like copper and gold. So it is impossible to know, for example, how much lithium is traded in one day and at what prices. The price is determined by negotiations between producers and customers. So far, production of lithium chemicals has been concentrated among three main players: Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (NYSE:SQM; SSX:SQM-B, SQM-A) in Chile, Chemetall, a division of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:ROC) in Chile and in the U.S. and FMC Lithium Corp. ( FMC ) in Argentina. Meanwhile, Talison Lithium Ltd. (TSX:TLH) in Australia is the largest producer of lithium concentrates.
These are public companies that have to release information, so we can value the lithium business to a certain degree, despite the fact that lithium is not traded on an exchange. However, we don't have a daily track of what is happening in this industry in terms of volumes and prices. On a monthly basis, we track lithium exports from major producer countries such as Chile, Argentina, Australia and China.
TER: Do large market-maker companies enjoy a pricing advantage over smaller companies? Can they get more for lithium because they can supply more?
DD: Absolutely, yes. SQM and Chemetall sell more than 50% of the total use of chemical supply nowadays. They are the drivers of lithium prices. The main advantage they have is that they are both located in the Salar de Atacama in Chile, which has the highest quality lithium resources in the world and is located within the driest desert in the world.
TER: I know that electric vehicles-cars, scooters and bikes-are a major growth driver for lithium used to produce lithium-ion batteries. If these lithium-ion batteries can be charged to five times the capacity of the same sized nickel-metal hydride battery, that obviously represents a tremendous efficiency. But the power still has to be generated by nuclear, natural gas, coal, hydro, solar, wind or geothermal means. These batteries don't produce power; they only store it, so what is the value proposition?
DD: Well, electric vehicles are an option, but lithium-ion batteries also serve other technologies, such as hybrid-electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles. Pure electric vehicle batteries can be plugged into a home's electricity for charging; batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles can also be used while the engine is running. So it is not just an external source of electricity. We have also to consider that automakers are researching other technologies as well, and they have made important progress on the efficiency of internal combustion engines, for example. I believe that in the future we will see a mix of different technologies coexisting. You have to strike a balance because there are tradeoffs. Yes, you have to generate the electricity, but if you consider the impact of CO2 emissions, you will conclude that electric vehicles are the best option compared with other current-available technologies.
TER: About two months ago, you gave a presentation at the Technology and Rare Earth Metals Conference 2011. You concluded that there was enough lithium in the world to meet future demand and that the price of lithium would remain the same or drop. You also said there was room for more new producers to come into the market. Those were your three takeaways. From what you said, it doesn't sound like a growth industry.
DD: In the presentation, I said that the lithium industry is a growth industry and it has a real potential because we haven't yet seen a full implementation of its uses. We are in a transition period and so we have to wait. It's like what happened in the 1990s: Sony introduced the first lithium-ion battery, and it was very successful. In less than five years, almost 90% of the batteries were based on lithium. So we saw a very fast penetration break for the lithium battery segment. We still don't know what will happen in the auto industry, but the future is promising.
Years ago, some news articles questioned the ability of the world lithium supply to meet future requirements. I think that many people overestimated the growth in the demand of lithium and underestimated the amount of lithium resources in the world. That's why we saw predictions of near-term high price grow. That's absolutely not going to happen. My perception is that the future is promising and lithium demand will show interesting growth rates because it has many applications in addition to batteries. On the other hand, lithium is abundant as evidenced by a total of 80 exploration projects that have been announced globally in the last few years.
TER: Can you address some players?
DD: These companies are not producing lithium right now, but are exploration mining companies working deposits and projects around the world.
Galaxy Resources Ltd. (ASX:GXY) is an Australian company that extracts lithium from Mount Cattlin in Western Australia. The company is building a lithium chemicals plant in China and has already shipped lithium concentrate mineral to the site. SignumBOX ranks Galaxy as number one of all of the lithium mineral projects.
Nemaska Exploration Inc. (TSX.V:NMX; OTC:MNKEF) has a good deposit in Canada. The company also has an important investor in China (Chengdu Tianqi), which holds 10% of the stock. Nemaska's Whabouchi Lithium Project is ranked number three at signumBOX.
Companies with projects based on less expensive salar-bearing brines production include Orocobre Ltd. (TSX:ORL; ASX:ORE) , Lithium One Inc. (TSX.V:LI) and Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX:LAC) . All of these companies have projects in Argentina with strategic partner offtake agreements-Orocobre with Toyota; Lithium Americas with Mitsubishi and Magna, and Lithium One with LG International, Kores and GS Galtex.
In Chile, Li3 Energy ( LIEG ) is considering extracting lithium from a deposit in the northern Salar de Maricunga area. However, current mining regulation (which was established after SQM and Chemetall started to produce in the region) lists lithium as a strategic mineral that cannot be exported. I strongly believe that this situation is going to change in the near future since it could cost the government its global lithium industry leadership position.
Western Lithium USA Corp. (TSX:WLC; OTCQX:WLCDF) plans to produce lithium in the U.S. from a hectorite deposit located within the McDermitt Caldera Complex. The company claims that it would be competitive in terms of lithium carbonate's cash cost; nevertheless, they may not be as competitive as producers from brines.
TER: Do you believe that Li3 is closer to production than the hard rock mineral companies we just talked about?
DD: It's difficult to say because Li3 doesn't have the permit to extract lithium. The company has the mining rights and a strategic partner, but it needs a permit from the government. As I said earlier, I think the government will eventually allow new companies to extract lithium. If Li3 gets the permit, it could succeed, but it is very difficult to say when this will happen.
TER: You mentioned Nemaska Explorations. I understand that the company is spinning out its non-lithium properties into a new company, Monarques Resources. I'm wondering if you believe this will make it easier for the company to move its Whabouchi Project into production by 2013.
DD: At this stage, it is difficult to say. As I said before, the Whabouchi Project is very well ranked by signumBOX because of the geological characteristics of the deposit and the presence of China as a strategic investor. But this is a relative ranking, which gives an idea about which project is more likely to eventually become part of the lithium supply. It doesn't indicate when it will occur. It is also important to note that the survival of many of the projects that are under evaluation will depend on the price strategy that current lithium producers decide to deploy.
TER: 2013 sounds near term compared to some others. Is that something investors can hang their hat on?
DD: Well, 2013 is short term and I believe that the biggest potential for lithium demand will be after 2015 when electric cars become more commonplace. So, I don't see much room for the entry of these projects in the short term.
TER: Nemaska has formed a strategic partnership with China's Tianqi Group, which could purchase as much as 50% of the company's lithium production. It sounds like a big advantage.
DD: Tianqi is an important Chinese operation that produces lithium chemicals from lithium concentrates, so they have the experience and the knowledge of the Chinese market. China is the largest consumer of lithium concentrates, which are mainly used as raw materials for lithium chemicals but they are also used in several industrial applications. In this context, it is crucial for a lithium concentrate producer to have a strategic partner or investor in China.
TER: Daniela, I've enjoyed meeting you very much.
DD: Thank you.
Daniela Desormeaux is an economist and an expert in industrial chemicals and natural resources. Prior to starting with signumBox , she was strategic marketing manager at SQM, where she was responsible for market intelligence on lithium, iodine and other industrial chemicals. Before joining SQM, she was an economic analyst at Camara Chilena de la Construccion, a Chilean trade association focused on the housing and construction industries.
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DISCLOSURE:
1) George Mack of The Energy Report conducted this interview. He personally and/or his family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in the interview are sponsors of The Energy Report: Talison Lithium Ltd., Nemaska Exploration Inc., Western Lithium USA Corp.
3) Daniela Desormeaux: I personally and/or my family own shares of the following companies mentioned in this interview: None. From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned and may make purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise. Interviewees may also receive compensation for investment banking and related services.
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Friday, July 15, 2011
Recargo Releases Updated Mobile App for Electric Car Charging
Press Release Source: Recargo On Wednesday June 1, 2011, 4:00 pm EDT
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Recargo, the electric vehicle (EV) mobile app developer led by the founder of Dictionary.com, today announced the release of Recargo 1.5. Upgrades to the EV charger-finder app include the industry’s only real-time comments section, crowd-sourced from drivers for chargers coast to coast, a news feed and photo sharing.
The upgraded app allows drivers to instantly warn others of faulty chargers, share eyewitness reports and photos to help locate chargers in maze-like garages and elsewhere, and leave tips about nearby amenities such as restaurants and malls. Recargo’s charger maps are accompanied by Google Street Views, which provide broad street-level photographs of charger sites.
“Our goal is to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles by giving drivers instant access to the information they need to make range anxiety a figment of the imagination,” said Recargo CEO and founder Brian Kariger. “Up-to-the-minute reports from the roadside are part of the answer. In addition, our news section keeps drivers and prospective electric car owners informed about every facet of the industry.”
Recargo 1.5 maps more than 1,000 EV charging sites worldwide that are compatible with current and upcoming cars such as the Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Volt and Tesla Roadster. It is available as a free download for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch users in Apple’s App Store.
Kariger led the company that grew Dictionary.com to more than 20 million monthly visitors by focusing on the customer experience and innovation. After extensive consultation with EV drivers, both very early adopters and new owners, he and his new team launched the Recargo.com website in July 2010, then the iPhone app in December 2010. For the app’s news feed, he partnered with PluginCars.com, which provides news and reviews by industry experts as well as EV journalists and how-to’s about owning and operating plug-in vehicles.
“The health of the electric car market heavily depends upon well-informed early adopters sharing their candid, real-world experiences,” said Brad Berman, editor of Plugincars.com. “The upgraded Recargo app allows electric car drivers and shoppers to easily read about and share the latest EV news and knowledge.”
Much of Recargo’s initial charger location information was licensed from EVChargerNews.com, which was also the source for the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator. Recargo builds on this data and continuously improves it through a mixture of crowdsourcing, partnerships and targeted internal efforts. Since its launch, it has doubled the amount of data amassed.
“We recognized early on the need for a system that could scale to meet the needs of the electric car community as it grows from thousands to millions of drivers,” Kariger said. “We want to provide the ultimate experience for people who drive electric cars.”
About Recargo:
Recargo is a free mobile application, available on iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, for locating plug-in vehicle chargers worldwide, regardless of manufacturer or network. It was created by Recargo, Inc., a Los Angeles-based software development company founded by Brian Kariger, founder and former CEO of Lexico Publishing Group, LLC., publishers of Dictionary.com, Thesaurus.com and Reference.com. Lexico was acquired by IAC/Ask.com in 2008, at which time Dictionary.com was the world’s most popular online English-language dictionary. Media contacts: Zan Dubin Scott, zan@zdscommunications.com, (310) 383-0956; Marjaneh Ravai, Marjaneh@zdscommunications.com, (650) 346-3756. FIND RECARGO ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
About PluginCars.com:
PluginCars.com provides news and information about electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to create a community of consumers eager to purchase cars and trucks that use little or no petroleum. Its content is syndicated by Yahoo! Autos, Reuters and other media outlets.
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