Industry news

10
Oct

200-Mile Electric Car Confirmed By GM

Since last summer there have been rumors that GM is building a $30,000 electric car with a driving range of 200 miles, and the Detroit Free Press reports that GM has confirmed the existence of this EV, minus any revealing details. Select investors and media were invited to check out several upcoming GM vehicles, though no cameras or phones were

Read more

10
Oct

Panasonic Creates Gigafactory-Dedicated Company

Tesla and Panasonic are the two driving forces behind the massive battery Gigafactory being built in the Nevada desert. To facilitate this huge project, Panasonic has formed a new company to oversee its operations at the Gigafactory, and its initial $92 million investment is the first of many cash infusions. The Gigafactory will go online in stages, rather than all

Read more

10
Oct

310- To 373-Mile Electric Cars By 2020, Says VW Exec

Dr Heinz-Jakob Neusser, Volkswagen’s head of powertrain development, thinks that electric cars with over 300 miles of range aren’t too far off. The foundation of his argument is that the energy density of electric car batteries has been improving rapidly and will continue to do so. “I expect the next generation in 2015-17 will increase to around 300 km [186

Read more

10
Oct

Honda and SolarCity Announce $50 Million Fund to Make Solar Power More Accessible

In the market for a new car? You may want to consider a Honda or Acura if you want a sweet deal on solar power. Honda and SolarCity have announced the details of their renewed partnership that will provide $50 million in future solar projects. The partnership has already created a range of solar projects for homeowners, dealerships and corporate

Read more

9
Oct

Solar Landfills: One Person’s Trash Is Another’s Treasure

Green Mountain Power just broke ground on a 2 MW photovoltaic plant in Rutland, Vermont. While some other large PV systems planned for the area have met with strong opposition (some residents worry large, ground-mount solar arrays will be an eyesore on the state’s pastoral landscape), this project seems to be welcomed with open arms. Why? It’s being built on

Read more

9
Oct

SolarCity to Finance Rooftop Panels in Shift From Leasing

SolarCity Corp. (SCTY) will offer loans for rooftop solar power systems in a bid to reach consumers who want to own the panels rather than lease them or pay cash. No-money-down leases helped SolarCity become the largest U.S. supplier of rooftop solar power. Today it will begin offering 30-year loans in eight states including New York and New Jersey that

Read more

9
Oct

Solar’s $30 Billion Splurge Proves Too Much for Japan

After spending almost $30 billion on solar energy in a single year and installing as many panels as exist in the whole of Spain, Japan is preparing to ratchet back its boom in photovoltaic power. At least five of the nation’s utilities are restricting the access of new solar farms to their grids. Utilities say two years of rapid expansion

Read more

9
Oct

3 Reasons Tesla Motors Inc.’s Hong Kong Strategy Is a Winning One

Tesla Motors (NASDAQ: TSLA  ) plans to more than double its workforce in Hong Kong to more than 100 people by the end of the year, according to a recent press release on the Hong Kong government’s website that quotes Tesla’s vice president of China operations Veronica Wu. This expansion is due to anticipated increased demand for the Model S and

Read more

9
Oct

Tesla’s trump card? Used cars

SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk, in his quest to transform Tesla Motors from a scrappy electric-vehicle startup into a mature, profitable automaker, may have an ace up his sleeve: used cars. Tesla is developing a program to sell the Model S secondhand, Automotive News has learned, in a bid to lower the cost of entry for the $71,070 sedan and

Read more

9
Oct

Nebraska City Council powers electric car program

Nebraska City officials are giving some juice to a program promoting the use of electric vehicles throughout the state.On Monday night, the Nebraska City City Council approved the purchase and installation of a charging station, and the leasing of a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. Nebraska City Administrator Joe Johnson tells KMA News the program is made possible through funding from

Read more