Better Place will use the proceeds to expand into Western Europe while it continues to advance the company’s deployment projects in Northern California, Southern China, Japan, Ontario, Canada, and Hawaii. The company will launch its initial commercial service in Israel and Denmark early next year and has already announced a series of consumer offerings for electric mobility services that are competitive with gasoline-based cars. Better Place will begin initial commercial service in the second quarter of 2012 in Australia, starting in Canberra.

“We’ve worked hard over the past four years to engineer and build a technology solution that competes with oil-based transportation,” said Shai Agassi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Better Place. “We are entering the next phase of growth for our company where we prove that our solution works, that it’s in demand, and that it scales, as we begin to push into new markets and attract new investors and new partners. I believe that our investors should be applauded for having the vision to finance the future of transportation.”

New investors in the Series C round include GE and UBS AG, among others. Existing shareholders, including Israel Corp., HSBC Group, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, VantagePoint Capital Partners, Ofer Group and Maniv Energy Capital, also joined the round. The Series C financing transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.

“With this round, our shareholder base now includes the world’s largest banks, blue chip asset managers and leading industrial holding companies,” said Idan Ofer, Chairman, Better Place. “Our Board, as well as all of our investors, continues to be both confident and enthusiastic about the opportunity that Better Place presents. The highly competent Better Place team has the talent and technology to rapidly deploy its electric car network on a global scale. Our Board and investor base are committed to leveraging their vast networks, experience, and diverse set of skills to accelerate the global adoption of electric cars.””

Read more: Press Release

The Series B round brings Mission’s total to-date funding to $15.0 million. Proceeds from the financing will support the commercialization of Mission’s electric powertrain technologies and allow the company to expand its partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

“We are proud to have a firm as respected as Warburg Pincus leading our Series B round,” said Mission Motors CEO, Jit Bhattacharya. “With this funding, we plan to grow our powertrain technology business by becoming a reliable production supplier to our OEM customers. The financing adds to what has already been a big year for our company. With the backing of Warburg Pincus, we will be able to build on our recent accomplishments, taking the powertrain technology that we have developed and integrating it into high-volume production vehicles.”

For Warburg Pincus, the investment in Mission Motors continues a long-tradition of the growth of innovative portfolio companies and technologies.

“Mission Motors has developed innovative and flexible electric drive system technology, which can be applied to a range of vehicle types,” said Michael Graff, a managing director at Warburg Pincus. “We believe they are well positioned to take advantage of the strong growth in this segment, and we look forward to partnering with Jit and the Mission Motors leadership team.”

Mission currently provides vehicle manufacturers with optimized electric powertrain solutions based on the company’s core technology. Examples of Mission’s latest technology at work include the integration of Mission powertrain components in high-performance hybrid race cars and the record-breaking Mission R electric superbike.

Read more: Press Release

India and South Africa will be the first International regions scheduled to receive the SEEK™ systems. Both regions will utilize the SunPods SEEK™ product to build out solar power in rural regions and areas with unstable or unreliable grid power systems. International SunPods’ Partners will develop and train a local workforce to factory assemble and install the solar arrays.

Like SunPods’ U.S. systems, each unit is complete with the solar modules, wiring, inverters, power-adjustable legs and optional batteries or off-grid projects and Electric Vehicle (EV) car charging stations. The SunPods are then delivered directly to the solar project, set into place, and connected – ready to generate solar energy. This process eliminates the lengthy construction and extensive site preparation phase and enables installation on almost any terrain.

All partners have access to online and on-site training programs and marketing resources to support building a SunPods’ solar business.”

Source: SunPods Press Release

“Solyndra has excellent marketplace momentum, with record installations of our product in the fourth quarter and annual revenues exceeding $140 million last year,” said Brian Harrison, Solyndra’s president and CEO. “With strong acceptance of our 200 Series product, we are seeing growth in the U.S. and markets throughout Europe. We have recently reached a number of significant milestones, including the shipment of nearly 100 megawatts of panels, the completion of more than 1,000 installations in 20 countries and the announcement of our PV greenhouse solution.”

The company’s construction of its new, world-class manufacturing and customer demonstration facility is complete. The 300,000 square foot project was completed ahead of schedule, employing approximately 3000 construction workers. Installation of the remaining production tools occurs in 2011 and will bring Solyndra’s annual production run rate to approximately 200 MW per year by year’s end. When fully ramped, the new facility’s annual production capacity will reach 300MW per year. The new facility will also enable Solyndra to manufacture products with an installed system cost-of-goods sold (COGS) of approximately $2 per watt in the first quarter of 2013, which is expected to be highly competitive with all other technologies.

“We are confident that with this round of funding and the continued support of our existing investors we are on track to be cash flow positive at the end of this year,” continued Harrison. “Solyndra’s fast and easy to install panels are a proven and scalable solar solution, ideal for rooftop applications. Today we are demonstrating competitive ’all in’ pricing, strong ROI and economics for rooftop owners, and many enthusiastic new and repeat customers.”

The new financing also included the restructuring of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness. Solyndra’s existing convertible notes have been exchanged for new notes and the U.S. Department of Energy which provided a loan guarantee agreed to certain loan modifications including an extension of the amortization period. Together with the existing indebtedness, the new credit facility is secured by all assets of the Company.”

Read more: Solyndra Press Release

Aptera 2e

According to the Remy Press Release, “Today, Remy International, Inc. joined Aptera Motors for a press conference in Carlsbad, California where Remy was announced as the electric motor supplier for the Aptera 2e. Remy will supply HVH250™ electric motors for the new Aptera 2e all-electric vehicle. Remy is already supplying a High Voltage Hairpin (HVH™) electric motor for Aptera’s entry in the Progressive Insurance Automotive X Prize, where the 2e has successfully reached fourth phase of competition and will undergo extensive testing and judging over the next several months.

The all-electric, three-wheel Aptera 2e looks like no other vehicle on the market. Aptera’s founders understood aerodynamics and vehicular dynamics enough to know that almost every car on the road today spends more than fifty percent of its energy pushing wind out of the way. In an attempt to correct what they saw as a major design flaw, Aptera looked for alternative solutions in nature which led to a vehicle design that emulates the aerodynamics of a bird in flight.

The Aptera 2e has a unique light-weight design weighing approximately 1,800 pounds. It goes 0-60 mph in ten seconds and has a top speed of 90 mph with a range of nearly 200 miles.

Aptera said they chose the Remy HVH250 electric motor for the superior technology, reliability and speed to market the motor offers. Specifically, the HVH250 motor provides the high power density and torque Aptera was seeking; and the motor is compact and light which helps keep down the overall weight of the vehicle, contributing to the driving range. Additionally, Remy’s patented technology provides cooling efficiency that permits the Aptera 2e to run at higher speeds longer than other motors, an important feature in today’s freeway-heavy transportation system.

Aptera CEO Paul Wilbur said, “Remy’s HVH250 was an ideal choice for our electric motor. It can integrate into our drivetrain quite easily, and the support we have received from Remy’s engineering team has been nothing less than first rate. Not only have we selected a great motor, but we have also tapped in to a highly qualified team of professionals that are actively concerned about our success and future growth. We are excited about this partnership.”

Remy CEO John Weber said, “Remy is proud to supply Aptera our HVH electric motors which enhance the Aptera 2e’s performance. Remy motors are backed by over a billion miles of proven reliability. This partnership is another great example of our HVH standardized platform at work. Remy can easily support Aptera’s growth with existing production capacity of 100,000 motors. The leading edge, proven technology and track record of the Remy HVH electric motor enable companies like Aptera Motors to confidently choose Remy. This choice provides the luxury of reducing the design, R&D and tooling costs often associated with the development of an electric drive system.”"

Source: Remy Press Release

According to the Press Release, “Amyris Biotechnologies, Inc. announced today that Temasek Holdings has invested $47.8 million into the company. Amyris intends to use these funds to support commercial plant design and construction activities as well as ongoing operations in the U.S. and Brazil.

“We are privileged to welcome Temasek as a significant investor, and appreciate having them join us as we look to commercialize and scale our renewable fuels and chemicals,” said John Melo, chief executive officer of Amyris.

Amyris has secured $244 million in private funding since inception in 2003, including funding directly into Amyris Biotechnologies and into its subsidiary, Amyris Brasil S.A. Other Amyris investors include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Khosla Ventures, TPG Biotechnology, Votorantim Novos Negocios, Advanced Equities Inc., DAG Ventures, Grupo Cornélio Brennand, Naxos U.K., The Westly Group, and Stratus Group.

About Amyris

Amyris is an integrated, renewable products company striving to help the world reduce its carbon footprint through the production and use of renewable chemicals and transportation fuels. Amyris’ strategy is to combine technology, production and distribution with the goal of commercializing and scaling products effectively while participating across the supply chain. Amyris applies synthetic biology to create a broad range of products, and is combining this technology with growing scale up and production capabilities through its subsidiary, Amyris Brasil S.A. Amyris is also building distribution capabilities, including through its U.S. subsidiary Amyris Fuels, LLC.”

Source: Amyris Press Release

PHEVs, according to CalCars, combine the strengths of both types, the long distance capability of gas and the cost-efficiency of a green, electric motor. By charging the vehicle overnight in the garage most daily commute is sufficiently covered by the battery which translates to about $0.75/gallon of gasoline. By comparison, regular hybrids today achieve 45 mpg at about $1.20/gallon.

Besides the daily costs of owning a PHEV many consumers are still weary of the hefty price tag on PHEVs versus an old-school automobile. While most PHEVs admittedly cost thousands more than even the hybrids on the market today, the cost to own a car is an entirely different matter. By essentially cutting the cost of fuel for a PHEV by 2/3 the money saved will reach well into the thousands.

If an average car owner drives 12,000 miles a year and gets roughly 25mpg and spends about $3/gallon for gas, then $1440 is spent on gas alone per year. If we use the high estimate of the cost for electricity to power the car, the savings will be roughly $1000/year. After five years, an PHEV would effectively negate the added cost. For simplicity sake the cost for battery replacement should at least be offset by lower maintenance since PHEVs have significantly less moving parts. Although it should be noted that battery technology is a rapidly growing industry which would lower its costs immensely in the coming years.

Finances aside, the environmental implications are obviously far-reaching which CalCars stresses the most. In a extensive study by the Electric Power Research Institute and the Natural Resources Defense Council (EPRI-NRDC) conducted in July 2007, the organization confirms that PHEVs will be cleaner as they get older because the grid it utilizes is itself becoming cleaner.

The EPRI-NRDC also emphasizes that this shift away from our dependency on oil can happen right now since we have the technology to build it and the infrastructure to support it. Although the future will undoubtedly bring greener, more affordable technology PHEVs are going largely unnoticed despite their potential impact on the environment. By investing in PHEVs today we would be investing in the future of our planet because we should be giving back to that which has already given us so much.

According to the Press Release, “The Board of Directors of Amonix, Inc., the best choice for utility-scale solar power in hot and dry climates, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of Sunworks Solar LLC, a solar manufacturing plant developer. At the same time, Sunworks co-founder Brian Robertson becomes Chief Executive Officer; Sunworks co-founder Guy Blanchard joins as Senior Vice President of Sales and Corporate Development; and Matthew Meares, Sunworks Managing Director, joins as Director of Project Finance.

Amonix, which has been in business 20 years, on its seventh generation of product, with 15 years’ experience with field deployments in real-world conditions, completed its acquisition of Sunworks on November 9, 2009. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Between them, Robertson, Blanchard, and Meares have been instrumental in securing financing for more than half of all the solar photovoltaic projects deployed under power purchase agreements (PPA) in the United States.

Vahan Garboushian, founder, Chief Technology Officer, and Chairman said. “Amonix systems clearly work in utility-scale applications. With the addition to our management team of three of the most productive solar industry business executives in the country, we have what it takes to get large, complex projects completed. We are ready to leverage our expertise and years in the field to take our growth to the next level.”

Brian Robertson co-founded Sunworks in 2008 to provide American-made utility-scale solar. Previously, Robertson co-founded and was president of SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider. SunEdison was acquired by MEMC in November 2009. Robertson is a graduate of MIT with a degree in Computer Science and has an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sunworks co-founder Guy Blanchard jointly led development of Sunworks’ project pipeline. He has extensive asset and project finance experience, previously as Managing Director for Fortress Investment Group’s Drawbridge family of funds, where he was a principal investor with a focus including renewable energy investments. Blanchard has a BS and an MBA from the University of California, Davis.

At Sunworks, Meares was responsible for utility-scale solar panel sales and project development. Previously at HSH Nordbank, he was responsible for project finance, mezzanine, and equity transactions in the power sector, with an emphasis on renewable energy. Meares has a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a BA in French Language and Literature from North Carolina State, and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua school of Business.”

Source: Press Release

According to the Press Release, “The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved Southern California Edison’s request to construct Segments 4-11 of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) in order to increase access to new renewable energy. This brings the total of new transmission approved by the CPUC for the state’s investor-owned utilities to more than 500 miles, primarily in five major lines carrying 9,000 megawatts (MW), in the past three years with an infrastructure investment of more than $4.5 billion.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger commented on today’s action, “California leads the nation in developing renewable energy, and with the approval of this project our ability to harness the power of the wind and other renewable sources to deliver clean energy to Californians has been strengthened. The thousands of megawatts of renewable energy capacity this transmission line will add to our grid will help California meet its ambitious Renewable Portfolio Standard, protect our environment, increase our energy security and further the growth of our green economy.”

The project approved today is the main portion of the 11 segment TRTP, which will provide access for up to 4,500 MW of renewable energy generation, primarily wind from the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area in Kern County, and to deliver it Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Previously, the CPUC approved Segments 1-3 of the TRTP, which will deliver approximately 700 MW of the total TRTP carrying capacity. Construction on Segments 1-3 is nearly complete and will be fully energized by the end of this year.

“This project will help bring renewable energy to the grid that would otherwise remain unavailable,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey. “Ensuring adequate transmission infrastructure is vital to helping the state reach its 20 percent renewable energy goal and will contribute significantly to meeting the 33 percent goal.”

“The Tehachapi region is the largest wind resource zone in California and can support economic renewable resource development,” said Commissioner Dian M. Grueneich, the Commissioner assigned to the TRTP proceeding. “Edison has already signed contracts for up to 1,800 megawatts of wind resources in Tehachapi and this project will provide transmission for full build-out of the wind resource. It will also ease transmission constraints for Los Angeles and assure grid reliability.”

As lead state permitting agency for TRTP, the CPUC conducted an environmental impact report (EIR) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act. The CPUC evaluated the environmental impacts of the proposed project and 11 alternatives. The Final EIR identifies the proposed project approved today as the Environmentally Superior Alternative. The Environmentally Superior Alternative covers 173 miles from the new Whirlwind substation in southern Kern County to the Mira Loma substation in Riverside County.

About 70 percent of the approved project’s route is on existing right-of-way in compliance with the state policy, known under a state law as the Garamendi Principles, to site and expand transmission infrastructure within existing right of way.

The CPUC set a maximum cost of $1.5 billion for the project, excluding allowance for funds used during construction, estimated at $261.82 million, for an estimated total project cost of $1.8 billion for the project.

Commissioner John A. Bohn commented, “This has been a very difficult decision. The broader interests of the people of California are best served by the timely delivery of increased amounts of renewable generation. Therefore, we must go forward.”

Added Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon, ‘It is imperative that California sites and constructs transmission more expeditiously, and this Decision is a step in the right direction. It is important that we invest in the critical infrastructure that will move us incrementally closer to our renewable energy goals while fostering green collar jobs opportunities.’”

Source: Press Release