Tesla Motors announced yesterday, May 22, that it has paid off the entire loan awarded to the company by the Department of Energy in 2010. In addition to payments made in 2012 and Q1 2013, Tesla said May 22′s wire of almost half a billion dollars ($451.8M) repays the full loan facility with interest. According
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BMW UK revealed its network of dealers that will supply and support BMW i, the company’s new sub-brand featuring electric drive systems and premium mobility services. From launch, 46 sales agents across the UK will offer the BMW i range. Each will have specialist technical capabilities allowing them to carry out repairs to the vehicles’
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ChargePoint and National Grid unveiled May 22 the first of what will be many electric vehicle charging stations funded through a $1 million award from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The ChargePoint EV charging station, which can charge two cars at once, has been installed at the Homewood Suites on
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Ford is seeing a strong demand for many of its products, including its hybrids, and will increase production accordingly. Ford said it will add an additional 200,000 units of annual straight-time capacity this year. In addition, Ford said it will produce an extra 40,000 units by idling select plants for only one week during what
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Fisker’s saga is far from over and businessmen around the world are hovering over its Karma. We heard news not long ago that Detroit-based VL Automotive, in which ex-GM executive Bob Lutz is involved, is planning on selling V8-powered Fisker-bodied vehicles. According to news agency Reuters, VL Automotive is partnering with China’s Wanxiang Group with
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The Nissan Leaf has won the Environment Award at the 2013 Fleet World Honours awards at a ceremony held at The Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall. The Leaf fended off competition from rival electric and hybrid manufacturers to win one of the most significant UK fleet awards. The Fleet World Honours Car Awards are open
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China has been pushing the production and adoption of electric vehicles and is set to continue doing so. By 2012, 25 pilot cities had promoted 27,432 new energy vehicles totally within two years after the subsidy policy was implemented, including 23,032 ones used in public services and 4,400 ones bought by individuals. In March, 2013,
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Xchanging announced that Jaguar Land Rover has been collaborating with Xchanging and Arynga to create a proof of concept that allows remote software and firmware updates to be sent to vehicles over standard network protocols. This solution was revealed at the GENIVI All Member Conference in Barcelona, Spain held end of April 2013. Xchanging said
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Improvements in lithium ion (Li-ion) battery technology are helping to accelerate the worldwide market for electric vehicles (EVs). In the last few years, most automakers have shifted from nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries to Li-ion batteries. This shift represents a major endorsement of Li-ion chemistry and its ability to perform consistently in an automotive environment. According
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California-based Green Automotive Company (GAC) has acquired a 30-percent stake in Powabyke EV Ltd, a UK-based Electric Bike business, from Metroelectric PLC. With the Electric Bike market forecasted to grow globally from 31 million in 2013 to 38 million e-bicycles to be sold in 2020, GAC decided it was a sector in which they should
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