Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA)Weekly Media Watch
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Electric Drive Transportation Association EV News Round-up
Automakers focus on affordable electric cars
San Francisco Chronicle
October 23, 2009
--There's more than one path to the electric car. Ford Motor Company's first mass-marketed, all-electric car is a battery-powered Focus. In order for electric cars finally to win public acceptance, they'll need to be affordable, said Nancy Gioia, who this month was named Ford's director of electrification efforts.
"This is not about making a small
niche," she said. "It's about affordable transportation for the masses.
Electric transportation is still expensive."
Complete Article
Japan's Big Three Rev Up Green Cars
Wall Street Journal
October 23, 2009
--As the competition for greener cars ratchets up,Toyota Motor Corp.
signaled its strong endorsement of a new generation of gasoline-electric
hybrid vehicles that may serve as a successor to its best-selling Prius.
Complete Article
Barriers loom on road to plug-in cars
CNET
October 23, 2009
--For plug-in electric cars, it's no longer a question of if. It's a
question of when and how. After many years of buildup, plug-in vehicles
aimed at mainstream buyers are set to come to the market starting next
year. But even with the momentum around plug-ins, many questions remain
unanswered over how this technology transition will impact the ailing auto
industry and how the cars will received by consumers.
Complete Article
India's Reva plans NY electric car site
Associated Press
October 23, 2009
--The Reva Electric Car Co. will work with Bannon Automotive, a new
electric car company in Freeport, N.Y., to assemble a three-door plug-in
hatchback, the NXR, at a site in the Syracuse area, according to an
official who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity
because the announcement hadn't been made.
Complete Article
Charge of the climate protection brigade
New Straits Times (Malaysia)
October 23, 2009
--Over 30 years ago, the everyday Malaysian was not concerned with
plastics and recyclable cans while most were not aware of greenhouse gases
and the disappearing ozone layer. But thousands of miles away, a different
story was unfolding in Germany, where a swell of grassroots concern for
Mother Earth was gaining momentum.
Complete Article
South Korean company to export 38,000 electric cars worth $400 million
Asia Pulse
October 23, 2009
--CT&T, a South Korean electric vehicle maker, has signed contracts
at the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show in Japan to export 38,000 electric cars
worth $400US million.
Complete Article
Judge gives group, OTC deadline to reach tax credit agreement
Enid News & Eagle (Oklahoma)
October 22, 2009
--Oklahoma Tax Commission and a group suing to maintain a tax credit
for low-speed electric vehicles have until Oct. 28 to reach an agreement
before a judge issues a decision in the case. District Judge Dennis Hladik
gave both groups the deadline following a day of testimony Wednesday from
LSV manufacturers, dealers and buyers.
Complete Article
Sanyo to Mass Produce Plug-in Hybrid Batteries
Jiji Press Ticker Service
October 21, 2009
--Sanyo Electric Co. will start mass production of lithium-ion
batteries for plug-in hybrid vehicles in 2011. The company will set up a
new facility in Kasai, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, to produce such
batteries at a monthly pace of 300,000 to 400,000 units.
Complete Article
Infiniti confirms plans to launch electric vehicle
Auto Business News
October 21, 2009
--Infiniti has confirmed its plans to launch an electric vehicle.
Complete Article
Electric sparks flying
Evening Gazette
October 21, 2009
--The boss of Nissan's Sunderland plant said he was confident it had
done all it could to attract electric vehicle manufacturing to the region -
but said it was still in a race with two other European countries to land
the work.
Complete Article
Demand for hybrid, electric cars boosts Japan autoparts makers
Asia Pulse
October 21, 2009
--The rising demand for hybrid cars and electric cars has begun
giving Japanese autoparts manufacturers a much-needed boost.
Complete Article
Motorists put lots of spark into plans for electric cars
Birmingham Post
October 21, 2009
--An invitation for Birmingham and Coventry motorists to take part
in government-backed trials of electric cars has been ten times
oversubscribed. Mitsubishi Motors, which will be running the 12-month
trials with 25 of its i MiEV asked for interested parties from the two
cities to contact them and was inundated with replies.
Complete Article
Nissan, Sumitomo Eye Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Biz
Jiji Press Ticker Service
October 20, 2009
--Nissan Motor Co. and major trading house Sumitomo Corp. will start
a joint project to reutilize used electric vehicle lithium-ion batteries.
The companies said they will "reuse, resell, refabricate and recycle" such
batteries to give them a "second life."
Complete Article
Driver finds freedom from pump by converting car to electric
The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 18, 2009
--At first glance, Bushrod Lake's 1979 Mazda RX-7 looks like it
might be harming the environment. It's old, it looks heavy and it looks
like it could really be puffing some black smoke clouds out of a muffler --
if it had one. But when Lake climbs into the old aerodynamic car and turns
the key, it's another story.
Complete Article
Nissan bets on battery power, electric car future; Carmaker and its
parent Renault will manufacture both
The Business Times Singapore
October 20, 2009
--Japan's second biggest car marker, Nissan, and its French parent
Renault intend to sink a huge investment into producing batteries for
electric cars in the belief that electric vehicles will account for 10
percent of the global car market by as early as 2020.
Complete Article
43 contestants head into next round for $10M X Prize
E&E News PM
October 19, 2009
--The automotive equivalent of the competition that saw the first
private launch of a manned spacecraft announced today the final 43
contestants vying for a $10 million prize to the team that can build the
best car capable of getting 100 miles per gallon. Organizers of the
Progressive Automotive X Prize say that 43 teams have passed the qualifying
round in the contest and will enter 53 separate vehicles in a head-to-head
competition, beginning with road and safety tests.
Complete Article
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EDTA Press Release:
The
EDTA Conference will also feature an Advanced Technology Superhighway,
featuring EDTA members and other companies showcasing the latest in
battery, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fuel cell electric drive vehicles.
Meet suppliers and infrastructure providers as well!
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Industry Press Releases:
EDTA Applauds Utility Industry Pledge for Electric Vehicles
In Joint Pledge, Utilities Ramp Up Efforts to Make Electricity a
Crucial Transportation Fuel
Complete Article
Ford, U of M Explore New Ways To Speed Development of Future Hybrid
Vehicles
Complete Article
Honda CR-Z Concept 2009 Makes World Debut at the Tokyo Motor Show
Complete Article