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Over the past two years, we’ve seen a phenomenal growth in residential solar in the U.S., and, at the same time, a huge surge in nationally based installation companies. As GTM’s Mike Munsell pointed out in a recent article, the market share of the top six installers grew from 31 percent in 2012 to 46 percent in 2013. Some people

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Utilities are excited about the current generation of smart thermostats that customers are buying from big-box stores and HVAC dealers. A growing body of research shows that there’s good reason for the excitement. Not only can utilities leverage the two-way wireless thermostats for demand response if a customer so chooses, but there are also notable savings even if a customer

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SolarCity (SCTY) is trying out a new approach to signing up customers in the increasingly competitive rooftop solar game — taking its offer to the online discount marketplace. On Wednesday, the country’s leading residential solar financier and installer announced it was partnering with Groupon (GRPN) to test the appetite for discounted solar installations in 84 U.S. metropolitan areas. Under the

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Today Standard & Poor’s gave Tesla Motors’ stock an unsolicited junk rating of B-minus, six grades below investment status, for what it termed a “vulnerable” automaker. “We believe there is considerable uncertainty in Tesla’s long-term prospects and believe that the company is less likely to successfully adapt to competitive and technological displacement risks over the medium to long term,” says

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MINI is showing up at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2014 with a very special EV concept: the MINI Superleggera Vision. This open-top two-seater EV was created by MINI and Touring Superleggera, the tradition-steeped design and coach building house based in Milan. MINI stated the Superleggera Vision is on the one hand a classic roadster, a compact and agile two-seater,

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4,150 MW worth of new solar energy projects are now set to be developed in China thanks to a series of new deals just inked by GCL-Poly. All of the new deals are currently set to be completed by the year 2016. The new deals include: one with Guodian unit GD Solar to develop 3 GW of solar PV capacity;

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As part of a new development partnership, Volvo Buses will deliver three Volvo Electric plug-in hybrids to Hamburger Hochbahn AG. The electric hybrids will enter into traffic in Hamburg towards the end of the year.   Hamburger Hochbahn AG has been a successful and important partner of science and manufacturers in the field of innovative drive technologies. The company has now

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A few years ago, Fiat-Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said the company will lose $10,000 on every Fiat 500E EV it makes. Turns out he was wrong…by about 40%. According to Marchionne, Fiat loses some $14,000 on every electric car it loses. His solution? Asking people not to buy it. But don’t feel bad for Marchionne or his massive corporation, because

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After sitting idle at the dock, awaiting an official fuel economy rating from the EPA, the BMW i3 with the three-cylinder range extender finally has the credentials needed to go on sale. Rated at 39 MPG and with a 72-mile EV range, the BMW i3 REx has a total range of about 150 miles and a 117 MPGe. So how’s

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The largest electric vehicle show in the Midwest is celebrating its sixth year at Schoolcraft College. The show, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 7, is a must-see for anyone who’s ever considered buying an electric vehicle. The show is free and open to the public. It is a great opportunity to see all types of EVs and

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