electric vehicles

Electric traction motors are ‘engines’ for electric vehicles and hybrids

2010-01-26 -- WASHINGTON – GM will expand its in-house electric vehicle development capabilities by becoming the first major U.S. automaker to design and manufacture electric motors, a core technology for hybrids and electric vehicles.

By doing so, GM will lower costs and improve performance, quality, reliability and manufacturability of electric motors by controlling design, materials selection and production processes. The first GM-designed and built electric motors are scheduled to debut in 2013 in next-generation, rear-wheel-drive Two-mode Hybrid technology.    » read more »

Says Auto Industry Has Turned the Corner

January 26, 2010 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), Co-Chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus attended the Washington Auto Show where he test drove a Chevy Volt. The Congressman praised the innovation he saw at the show and said it demonstrated the promising future of the industry.

“Last year, there was a feeling of uncertainty surrounding the auto industry. Today, there is a feeling of confidence, accomplishment and energy about the future of our auto makers – and electric cars are leading the charge.    » read more »

Projects Supported by DOE Expected to Create Over 1600 Jobs in California

January 21, 2010 -- Washington, DC – Today, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu announced the Department of Energy has closed its $465 million loan with Tesla Motors, Inc. for construction of a manufacturing facility in southern California on the Model S electric sedan and a power-train manufacturing facility in Palo Alto, California.

The Palo Alto facility will assemble electric vehicle battery packs, electric motors, and related electric vehicle control equipment, both for Tesla’s own electric vehicles and for sale to other automobile manufacturers.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) released the following statement regarding the Department of Energy’s announcement that it has completed an agreement with Tesla Motors for a $465 million low-interest loan under the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing (ATVM) Loan Program.

The loan will be used for construction of a manufacturing facility located in southern California and a power-train manufacturing facility located in Palo Alto. Tesla estimates that over 1,600 California jobs will be created by this loan.    » read more »

Section 136 loan will generate 1,600 new jobs in California

January 21, 2010 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today applauded news that the U.S. Department of Energy had finalized a $465 million loan to Tesla Motors, a California-based company that manufactures electric vehicles. The loan, issued through the Department’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVM), will generate up to 1,600 new jobs in California.

“I strongly supported creating the program that made possible this $465 million loan to Tesla Motors, which will generate up to 1,600 manufacturing jobs in California,” Senator Feinstein said.    » read more »

Combined Volt-related investments by GM in eight Michigan locations total $700 million

2009-12-07 --
DETROIT, Mich. – General Motors will invest $336 million in the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to begin production of the Chevrolet Volt electric car, with extended-range capabilities, in 2010.

This brings GM’s combined Volt-related investments in Michigan to $700 million, covering eight facilities. Detroit-Hamtramck will be the final assembly location for the Volt, using tooling from Grand Blanc, lithium-ion batteries from GM’s Brownstown Township battery pack manufacturing facility, camshafts and connecting rods from Bay City, and stampings and the Volt’s 1.4L engine-generator from Flint.    » read more »

Transit Connect BEV is the first production vehicle from accelerated electric vehicle strategy

DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 30 – Ford Motor Company announced today that Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD) has joined in a collaborative effort to deliver a pure battery electric Ford Transit Connect van for the United States and Canadian markets in 2010. Azure will integrate its Force Drive ™ battery electric drive train in the Transit Connect van for commercial fleet and retail use.

The collaboration with Azure Dynamics for the Transit Connect BEV will build on the existing business relationship between Ford and Azure as well as their shared experience with battery supplier, Johnson Controls-Saft.    » read more »

October 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON — With the purchase of five compressed natural gas buses and 35 hybrid buses, the U.S. General Services Administration has successfully completed one of the Administration’s key initiatives to green the federal fleet through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“We’re proud to have completed this program under such an aggressive schedule,” said GSA Acting Administrator Paul F. Prouty. “By investing in more fuel-efficient federal vehicles, we’re contributing to the nation’s economic recovery while realizing significant long-term savings for both the taxpayer and the environment.”    » read more »

NREL-developed methodology shows promise for estimating real-world energy use

September 28, 2009 -- The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently joined forces with researchers from Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) to take the lead in developing and testing a new method for predicting the real-world fuel and electricity consumption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).

After examining data on the only PHEV currently available in large numbers, the NREL-developed method shows promise for reasonably predicting the PHEV’s average fuel and electricity use.    » read more »

Navistar truck will be built in Elkhart County; project will produce hundreds of new Hoosier jobs; reduce our dependency on oil

September 30, 2009 -- Washington -- Senator Evan Bayh, a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, today joined executives from Navistar, Inc., to unveil the company’s new all-electric, light-duty truck to be built exclusively in Elkhart County, Indiana.

Navistar officials demonstrated their vehicle to Bayh, who discussed Indiana’s role as a national leader in making the energy-efficient, high-tech vehicles and components of the future.    » read more »

New Delhi, September 24, 2009: General Motors India and Reva Electric Car Company (REVA) have entered into a collaboration agreement to develop electric vehicles for the Indian market. This unique partnership will bring together two companies, established in their own field to develop car platforms, electric vehicle technology and advanced control systems.

The agreement was announced jointly by Karl Slym, president and managing director, General Motors India and Chetan Maini, deputy chairman and chief technology officer, REVA.    » read more »

Governor awards $100,000 to Ashland electric motorcycle company

August 31, 2009 -- (Ashland) – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski today toured two start-up electric vehicle companies in southern Oregon as part of his initiative to transition the state toward cleaner, more sustainable transportation options.

While visiting Brammo, Inc., an electric motorcycle company headquartered in Ashland, the Governor announced a $100,000 grant from his Strategic Reserve Fund for workforce training to assist the company in growing their workforce by more than 300 employees over the next two years.    » read more »

DOE grants to Michigan companies could help create up to 40,000 new jobs by 2020

August 27, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today visited Eaton Corporation in Galesburg to highlight the company's key role in a $45.4 million advanced-battery award by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Michigan led the nation earlier this month with the announcement of 12 awards totaling more than $1.35 billion in federal grants for advanced-battery and electric-vehicle manufacturing and development.

Funding for the competitive grants comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The projects are estimated to create 6,800 jobs in the next 18 months and up to 40,000 jobs by 2020.    » read more »

Alexander, Corker, Gordon Say Nissan Announcement Puts Tennessee at the Forefront of America’s Automotive and Energy Future; Nissan anticipates increase of 1,300 jobs in Smyrna when full production is reached

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representative Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.6th) said today that Nissan’s award of a $1.6 billion Department of Energy loan to produce electric cars and battery packs at its manufacturing complex in Smyrna, Tennessee, is outstanding news both for the local economy and for Tennessee’s position as a leader in America’s automotive and energy future.    » read more »

Tesla Motors will Receive $465 Million to Create Jobs in California

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today lauded U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Steven Chu’s announcement that San Carlos-based Tesla Motors will receive $465 million as part of the first loans made under DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturingloan program.

Senator Boxer spoke with Secretary Chu earlier this year and pressed him to quicklyapprove loans under this program.    » read more »