Electric Drive Transportation Association Media Watch August 14, 2009

Electric Drive (select to view enlarged photo)

Electric car is easy to live with
National Post
August 14, 2009
--Going into the test of the Mitsubishi i MiEV, I half expected to find something akin to an overblown electric golf cart. But nothing could be further from the truth. This little car is the real deal.
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Brooklyn-based renewable-energy company plugs all-electric car
New York Daily News
August 13, 2009
--A Brooklyn-based renewable-energy company has snagged the city's first MINI-E.
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New Buick crossover will feature plug-in hybrid system
The Hamilton Spectator
August 13, 2009
--General Motors' plug-in hybrid technology will be introduced in a new Buick crossover vehicle in 2011.
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Honda Prefers Hydrogen as U.S. Pushes Battery Autos
Bloomberg
August 12, 2009
-- Honda Motor Co. is backing hydrogen power for the cars of the future. "Fuel-cell cars will become necessary," said Takashi Moriya, head of Tokyo-based Honda's group developing the technology. "We're positioning it as the ultimate zero-emission car." Honda isn't alone. Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler AG, General Motors Corp. and Hyundai Motor Co. say hydrogen, the universe's most abundant element, is among the few options to replace oil as a low-carbon transportation fuel.
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Electric Bus to Debut in Seoul in 2011
The Korea Times
August 12, 2009
--Seoul City plans to operate buses powered by electricity supplied from equipment planted in road surfaces from 2011. The OLEV gets its power supply from an electric facility laid underground, without rails or surface power lines, and it can share the road with other vehicles as well.
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Eco drivers wanted for car tests
Birmingham Evening Mail
August 12, 2009
--Drivers looking to cut their carbon footprint are being invited to test drive the latest electric cars for a year. The chosen motorists will enjoy the 12 month trial of the electric vehicle in return for filling in regular surveys and having their journeys recorded by GPS tracking devices.
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County to test a route for buses
Sarasota Herald Tribune
August 12, 2009
--Five hybrid buses are on order, and Charlotte County is poised to implement a fixed public transportation route, but the buses will not roll until county commissioners give the green light.
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New Volt to get 230 mpg in city driving
Lowell Sun (Massachusetts)
August 11, 2009
-- General Motors Corp. said its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 miles per gallon of gasoline in city driving. GM came up with the 230-mile figure in early tests using draft guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for calculating the mileage of extended range electric vehicles.
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White House sees jump in green jobs?
New Haven Register
August 11, 2009
-- U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis believes hiring in the alternative energy industry will pick up in the next 12 months, but it will take longer than that for so-called green jobs to become a bigger part of the U.S. job market. Solis said that new government incentives will kick-start hiring in the fledgling industry as companies regain confidence and find it easier to borrow money.
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Carmakers Chase Region's Lithium Reserves
BMI Americas Automotive Insights
September 1, 2009
--Automotive companies are increasingly approaching the Bolivian government in an attempt to exploit the country's lithium reserves. The element, a key ingredient in manufacturing batteries for hybrid and electric cars, could make Bolivia the largest hub for the development and production of HEVs and EVs in the region.
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How green is the future?
Chicago Daily Herald
August 10, 2009
--Premier parking spots for low-emission vehicles near stores won't be appearing soon, but Vernon Hills officials have begun to prepare for the time when such innovations may be the way to go. "We're trying to get ahead of some of this and create an opportunity to have a dialogue on sustainable priorities in the village," said John Kalmar, assistant village manager.
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Nissan claims Leaf EV might outsell hybrids
just-auto global news
August 9, 2009
--Hybrids currently account for about 2% of global vehicle sales. Nissan expects electric vehicles to take 10% by 2016 to 2020.
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