Maryland Governor Signs Two Bills Intended to Quicken Consumer Acceptance of Electric Vehicles
Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) today signed two bills into law that will support advanced vehicle propulsion technology and help spur early consumer acceptance of electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt.
The Maryland legislation includes two important consumer incentives:
1) Access for plug-in electric vehicles to high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes regardless of the number of passengers. This legislation will take effect October 1, 2010 and last for three years.
2) A $2,000 excise motor vehicle tax credit for the purchase of a plug-in electric vehicle. Consumer’s will be able to take advantage of this incentive at the point of sale and can combine the $2,000 with an existing $7,500 federal tax credit. The tax credit applies to vehicles titled in Maryland between October 1, 2010 through July 1, 2013.
“This important tax credit not only helps promote the use of cleaner, more energy efficient vehicles throughout our State to help our environment, but it’s an important economic development tool as well,” said Governor O’Malley. “We’ve set a bold goal of creating 100,000 new green jobs over the next several years, and investments like this new electric vehicle tax credit helps us build towards that green infrastructure that GM and others are leading the way on in Maryland.” Read more
OnStar Leverages Google technology to Connect Customers to the Chevrolet Volt
OnStar is leveraging the power of Google technology to develop a number of new mobile app features that strengthen Chevrolet’s commitment to providing Volt customers with the most connected vehicle experience possible.
The public will get a peek at what OnStar is working on at the Google I/O conference May 19-20 in San Francisco, CA, where OnStar will debut and demonstrate new functionalities they’re developing for the Chevrolet Volt mobile application leveraging the AndroidTM platform.
“While OnStar will never lose sight of our core focus on safety and security, this relationship is an example of how we’re evolving our leadership position in connected vehicle technology,” said Chris Preuss, OnStar president. “What we’re talking about today is only the beginning.”
A new “navigation” tab has been added to the home screen of the existing Chevrolet Volt mobile app on the Android smartphone. When a Volt owner presses this tab, they will be able to see the current location of their Volt pinpointed on Google MapsTM , as well as their location relative to it. Read more
Nissan Leaf EV Priced at $25,280 in the U.S.
Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today announced U.S. pricing for the 2011 Nissan LEAF electric vehicle, which becomes available for purchase or lease at Nissan dealers in select markets in December and nationwide in 2011. Nissan will begin taking consumer reservations for the Nissan LEAF April 20.
Including the $7,500 federal tax credit for which the Nissan LEAF will be fully eligible, the consumer’s after-tax net value of the vehicle will be $25,280. The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price *(MSRP) for the 2011 all-electric, zero-emission Nissan LEAF is $32,780, which includes three years of roadside assistance. Additionally, there is an array of state and local incentives that may further defray the costs and increase the benefits of owning and charging a Nissan LEAF – such as a $5,000 statewide tax rebate in California; a $5,000 tax credit in Georgia; a $1,500 tax credit in Oregon; and carpool-lane access in some states, including California.
As a result of aggressive pricing and the availability of the $7,500 federal tax credit whose benefit is immediately included, Nissan will be able to offer a monthly lease payment beginning at $349, not including state or local incentives, which could further reduce the net cost of the Nissan LEAF. Read more
Seat IBE Concept Revealed
SEAT is delivering a powerful statement with a compact sports coupé that carries stunning design and great driving fun into the age of electric mobility. The SEAT IBE concept car uses the zero-emissions drive of the future in a sporty and dynamic concept for urban mobility, while the clean, athletic styling of the IBE concept offers an exciting perspective on the ongoing development of the next generation of SEAT design. Powerful proportions and a precise, clear design language define the continued evolution of the Spanish brand’s design DNA. Read more
Audi Super Bowl ad
T3 Motion, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: TMMM) received worldwide exposure for its iconic clean-energy T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicle (ESV) in last night’s Super Bowl XLIV broadcast. Four of the vehicles were featured in a 60-second commercial by Audi entitled “Green Police” promoting their diesel wagon, the A3 TDI® (Green Car Journal’s 2010 Green Car of the Year®). Rock and roll legends Cheap Trick rewrote the lyrics to their hit song, “Dream Police,” for the soundtrack to the commercial which aired in the fourth quarter of the worldwide broadcast to an estimated television audience of over 100 million viewers.
Since 2006, T3 Motion, Inc. has deployed over 2,000 T3 Series ESVs around the world and over 5,000 of its proprietary power management systems with swappable Lithium-ion batteries. The T3 Series has become a daily tool for public safety, government and security applications for over 500 agencies. Examples include police departments in Los Angeles, New York, Miami-Dade, Dallas, Acapulco and Montreal as well as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Airports using the T3 Series include Los Angeles, Atlanta, JFK in New York, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Toronto and Vancouver. They can also be found at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Seattle. Government deployments include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force and the United States Postal Service. Read more
2010 WORLD GREEN CAR
>офис обзавежданеcountdown has begun in preparation for the 2010 World Car Awards winners’ press conference co-hosted by Bridgestone Corporation and BASF SE at the New York International Auto Show on Thursday, April 1, 2010. The 2010 World Green Car* title holder will be declared at this time.
The top three World Green Car finalists will be announced at the Geneva International Motor Show on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010.
The five 2010 World Green Car finalists are the Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Honda Insight, the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, the Toyota Prius and the Volkswagen BlueMotion (Golf, Passat, Polo)
The World Green Car award is presented by Bridgestone Corporation (Japan) who announced their sponsorship earlier this year. Ryoji Yamada, General Manager of Brand Management said, “We are very pleased and honored to sponsor the 2010 World Green Car of The Year. The environment is everyone’s responsibility. And throughout our global family of companies, we take this responsibility very seriously. We believe it is our mission to serve society with superior quality… not just with eco-friendly products but also in the way we produce those products and the way in which we support our many communities with environmentally-friendly activities such as wildlife habitats and our Lake Biwa initiative in Japan”.
Toyota FT-CH Dedicated Hybrid Concept
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A, Inc., today unveiled the FT-CH dedicated hybrid concept at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The FT-CH is a concept that would address Toyota’s stated strategy to offer a wider variety of conventional hybrid choices to its customers, as it begins to introduce plug-in hybrids (PHVs) and battery electrics (BEVs) in model year 2012, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (FCHVs) in 2015 in global markets.
“Within the next 10 to 20 years, we will not only reach peak oil we will enter a period where demand for all liquid fuels will exceed supply,” said Jim Lentz, TMS president. “A century after the invention of the automobile, we must re-invent it with powertrains that significantly reduce or eliminate the use of conventional petroleum fuels. One of many alternatives is through what is commonly called the electrification of the automobile. By far, the single most successful example of this has been the gas-electric hybrid.”
The CH stands for compact hybrid as in compact class and it’s a concept that can best be defined by comparing it with the mid-size class Prius. The FT-CH captures the spirit and functionality of a car that thrives in the inner-city environment; sized right to be nimble, responsive and maneuverable. Read more
BMW ActiveE Concept Revealed
The BMW Concept ActiveE is the BMW Group’s second vehicle after the MINI E to be developed. The aim is to test the use of electric drive for everyday purposes in a vehicle which offers the driving pleasure which is characteristic of BMW automobiles. Take your chance and be among the first to watch the first video about the BMW Concept ActiveE right here:
Read the complete press release:
Concept study of a purely electrically powered model based on the BMW 1 Series Coupé. The BMW Concept ActiveE represents a consistent continuation of the research and development activities of the BMW Group relating to electromobility as part of project i. A concept which realizes CO2-free mobility in BMW style is presented.
• The BMW Concept ActiveE is the BMW Group’s second vehicle after the MINI E to be developed as part of project i. After the successful launch of the pilot project MINI E, the BMW Group announces the development of another field test of electric vehicles for private and selected fleet users. The aim is to test the use of electric drive for everyday purposes in a vehicle which offers the driving pleasure which is characteristic of BMW automobiles. Read more