Electric Drive Transportation Association Media Watch

April 24, 2009

Media Watch:

Hydrogen vans to be used by postmen in the Hebrides
The Scotsman
April 24, 2009

--Royal Mail is to deliver a first in the Hebrides by giving posties vans fueled by hydrogen. The delivery vans will have their engines adapted to use the clean fuel and will top up at a hydrogen filling station where Western Isles Council has developed an innovative system to turn waste into biogas and hydrogen.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961138119

Brevard to host electric car rally
Asheville Citizen Times
April 24, 2009

--When Craig Melby began driving his electric car on roads in and around downtown Brevard, he was pulled over by police officers, sheriff's deputies and state troopers, all within a few days. Melby had to explain that his small, low-speed vehicle was not a golf cart, but rather an alternate form of transportation he says is ideally suited for getting around smaller towns.
http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009904240329

California approves emissions reductions
Daily Camera
April 24, 2009

--California became the first state in the nation to mandate carbon-based reductions in transportation fuels in an attempt to cut the state's overall greenhouse gas emissions. The California Air Resources Board approved a phased-in reduction starting in 2011, with a goal of shrinking carbon impacts 10 percent by 2020.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961137938

Hybrid car feeds electricity back into power grid
ABC Premium News (Australia)
April 23, 2009

--Imagine a world where cars not only consume energy, but also become a source of energy for the electricity grid. Researchers at the University of Technology in Sydney say that time is coming, with the launch of the first Australian prototype hybrid car that can feed power back into power grid.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961138243

NASCAR picks up pace in going green
San Jose Mercury News
April 23, 2009

--A Toyota Camry Hybrid will serve as the pace car for the May 24 Coca-Cola 600. To be approved as a pace car, the Camry Hybrid had to pass a NASCAR-mandated performance test. To run at Lowe's, a pace car is required to reach speeds close to 100 mph from a stand-by position near the exit of pit road to the time it reaches the exit of Turn 2 — a distance of about a quarter of a mile.
http://www.mercurynews.com/sports/ci_12213594

Greening the fleet: State eyes hundreds of hybrid, natural gas vehicles
Salt Lake Tribune
April 23, 2009

--Utah's fleet could get a lot cleaner in the coming year, as the state spends $4.5 million to more than double the number of natural gas cars and gas-electric hybrids in the fleet.
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_12203855

Mitsubishi Fuso launches enhanced version of Canter Eco Hybrid
Datamonitor NewsWire
April 23, 2009

--Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks, has launched an enhanced version of its Canter Eco Hybrid light-duty truck in Japan.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961138789

Mercedes hybrid to lead new S range
Canberra Times
April 24, 2009

--The star of the new S-class line-up will be the S400 hybrid that will be the world's first hybrid-drive car to use a lithium-ion battery.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961137932

Biden annoucnes $300 million Clean Cities program supporting advanced fuels vehicle purchases by states, cities
Biofuels Digest
April 23, 2009

--In Maryland, Vice President Joe Biden announced $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand the nation's fleet of clean, sustainable vehicles and the fueling infrastructure necessary to support them.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:961138448

Nissan shows electric car test model in US
Business Week
April 22, 2009

--Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen test-drove a Nissan Motor Co. electric vehicle at the company's North American headquarters, pledging the state's support in the automaker's effort to put the cars on the road soon.
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D97NMRGO0.htm

Chrysler shows A123-powered postal minivan
Boston Globe
April 22, 2009

--Chrysler showed a pair of electric Town & Country minivans in blue and white Postal Service regalia. The minivan's lithium-ion batteries are manufactured by A123 Systems. Paired with a 200 kW motor (268 horsepower), the T&C is good for 50 miles.
http://www.boston.com/cars/newsandreviews/overdrive/2009/04/chrysler_shows_a123powered_pos.html

Dana introduces hybrid drivetrain technology for off-highway vehicles
Datamonitor NewsWire
April 21, 2009

--Dana Holding, a US-based supplier of axle, driveshaft and thermal products for vehicle manufacturers, has introduced a new hybrid drivetrain technology, the Spicer TE-15HX, specifically engineered for off-highway vehicles.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:959698899

Ford to develop lithium-ion battery systems
Auto Business News
April 21, 2009

--Ford Motor Company is developing lithium-ion battery systems.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:959698614

Oregon seeks grant for electric transportation
Daily Journal of Commerce
April 21, 2009

--When Gov. Ted Kulongoski test-drives yet another electric vehicle, he won't be looking to enlarge his personal fleet of cars. The governor's constant courting of electric vehicle manufacturers is simply the most visible piece of a multipronged approach: away from the television cameras, state agencies and local partners are working to make Oregon the plug-in capital of the country.
http://www.djcoregon.com/articleDetail.htm/2009/04/21/Oregon-seeks-grant-for-electric-transportation-Federal-stimulus-funding-would-help-cover-costs-for-c

UK will become part of trials for electric Mini
Birmingham Post
April 20, 2009

--BMW is expanding trials of the electric powered Mini E to include the UK. Forty cars will be built at the Mini assembly plant at Oxford and at Munich for use in field tests. Mini E is already undergoing extensive testing in the US and Germany and the announcement that the UK will now be included came as BMW Group pledged its support for the Government's plans to develop an ultra-low carbon transport system.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:958536979

'Smart Grid' uniting more than power
The Idaho Business Review
April 20, 2009

--Northwest utilities, power industry groups and university representatives joined the Bonneville Power Administration in a plan to set up a regionwide "Smart Grid". The Smart Grid is a system that uses digital technology to allow real-time communication between power users, suppliers and generators. The system tracks electrical supply and demand, adjusting usage depending on who's using how much, where and when.
http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument∨gId=101846&topicId=104970025&docId=l:958536999

The Green Road Ahead: Electric Drive Today & Tomorrow

EDTA's Capitol Hill Briefing on Earth Day was a success! Speakers' slides are available here on EDTA's website.

Industry Press Releases:

California Adopts Low Carbon Fuel Standard:New measure will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase use of alternative fuels
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=display/ReleaseDetails/i/11991

Vice President Biden Announces $300 Million in Recovery Act Funds for Clean Cities Program
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=display/ReleaseDetails/i/11980

Bright Automotive Announces World's First Purpose-Built 100 MPG Vehicle for Commercial and Government Fleets
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?ht=display/ReleaseDetails/i/11992

EDTA Membership Survey

EDTA members, please log in to our website and take our 2009 Membership Survey! You can find the link to the survey on the homepage. While you are logged in, be sure to check out additional Member Only" information, including a valuable Media Analysis and relevant Stimulus documents. If you do not know your username and password, send an email to info@electricdrive.org or call 202-408-0774. (You should have received an email yesterday with your log-in information.)

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202-408-0774