Better Place Raises $200 Million Series C Financing

The press release states, “with the launch of the first nationwide electric car networksin Israel and Denmark just months away, Better Place today announced that it has secured $200 million through a Series C equity financing from a consortium of top-tier investors and partners, nearly doubling the company’s valuation to $2.25 billion (post money valuation [...]

Polaris Announces Investment in Brammo

The press release states, “Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced a minority investment in Brammo, an Ashland, Ore.-based maker of electric vehicle technology and two-wheel electric vehicles. By investing in Brammo, Polaris obtains access to their proprietary electric vehicle powertrain technology, as well as exposure to the rapidly growing electric motorcycle market. “We are [...]

Mission Motors Announces Series B Financing

Press release states, “Mission Motors, a developer of cutting-edge electric vehicle technology, today announced that it had closed on a $9.0 million dollar Series B financing round led by Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm. Warburg Pincus is making an initial investment of $7.5 million in the company and Infield Capital is following [...]

Proterra Paves Way for Growth with $30M Investment

According to the press release, “Proterra Inc, a leading maker of zero-emission commercial transit solutions, today announced an investment of $30 million to accelerate the commercialization of its world-leading, fast-charge battery electric transit buses and automated bus charging system. The investment is being led by Silicon Valley venture firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB), [...]

Germany Doubles Electric Vehicle Research and Development Aid

Bloomberg reports, “the German government announced an additional 1 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in research and development aid for electric vehicles, doubling its budget by 2013 in a bid to position itself at the technology’s vanguard. Tax rebates, dedicated parking spots and measures aimed at promoting government use of electric cars are among the other [...]

First of 70 eVgo sm Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Dallas Ready to Charge

The press release states, “NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) is bringing range confidence to electric vehicle (EV) owners in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex by commencing operations at the first privately funded, eVgo sm (ee-vee-go) Freedom Station in Texas, including the first high-speed direct current (DC) charger in Texas that is among the first in the [...]

USABC Awards $15.6 Mil in Advanced Battery Tech Contracts to 3 Firms

The press release states, “The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), an advanced research collaboration among Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company, today announced approximately $15.6 million in advanced battery development and technology assessment contracts to three firms. The competitively bid contract awards are co-funded by the U.S. Department of [...]

Amprius Raises $25M to Commercialize Next-Generation Lithium Ion Batteries

According to the press release, “Amprius has raised $25 million to commercialize next generation lithium ion batteries leveraging Amprius’ proprietary silicon-based electrode technology. Major new investors include IPV Capital (Shanghai, China), Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (Menlo Park, CA), and Qian Neng Fund (Wuxi, China). Also participating in this round are previous investors Trident Capital, [...]

Tesla Motors Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results

According to SEC Filings, “Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSLA) today announced its preliminary unaudited financial results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 were $36.3 million, a 16% increase from the $31.2 million reported in the prior quarter. Gross margin improved to 31%, up from 30% for [...]

GM Ventures Makes Strategic Investment in Envia Systems

The press release states, “General Motors Ventures LLC invested $7 million in Newark, Calif.-based Envia Systems to provide GM’s battery engineering team with access to advanced lithium-ion cathode technology that delivers higher cell energy density and lower cost. In a separate agreement, GM has secured the right to use Envia’s advanced cathode material for future [...]

Chevrolet Invests in Clean Energy Projects Across America

According to the press release, “Chevrolet announced today that it will invest $40 million in various clean energy projects throughout America with a goal to reduce 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The initiative is based on projects that promote energy savings, renewable energy, responsible use of natural resources and conservation in communities [...]

GE and Better Place Partner to Accelerate EV Infrastructure Deployment

According to the press release, “GE  and Better Place, a leading electric vehicle (EV) services provider, today announced a technology and financing partnership to accelerate the global deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure through collaboration in four key areas: standards-based technology development, battery financing, joint fleet electrification programs and consumer awareness. The partnership combines GE’s global [...]

GE, Nissan to Drive Smart Charging for Electric Vehicles

According to the Press Release, “In the race to build a smart-charging infrastructure that fuels the coming plug-in car revolution, GE and Nissan have teamed to research new technology developments that will make smart charging a reality. The two companies signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore new technologies that are needed to [...]

Better Place Takes First Step in China

According to the Press Release, “Better Place took a first step today in China by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Chery Automobile Co., China’s largest independent auto producer and exporter, to collaborate on electric vehicle technology in the world’s largest auto market. As part of the collaboration agreement, the Chery exhibit at Auto [...]

CalCars: PHEVs are the Future

Based out of Palo Alto, CA, CalCars is a nonprofit organization comprised of engineers, environmentalist and entrepreneurs. While a majority of people are looking to invest in the EV market, CalCars believe that plug-in hybrid EVs (PHEVs) are the best of both worlds. To them, PHEVs are not simply a transition from traditional internal-combustion engine [...]

GM To Be First Major U.S. Automaker to Manufacture Electric Motors

According to the press release, “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, [...]

Hitachi Develops Lithium-ion Batteries for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

According to the Press Release, “Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT / TSE:6501,hereinafter Hitachi) today announced that Hitachi and Hitachi Vehicle Energy, Ltd. ,which develops and manufactures lithium-ion batteries for automotive applications, such as hybrid electric vehicles, have developed ithium-ion batteries for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, a first for the Hitachi Group. These new batteries were developed in [...]

A Clash of Hybrids: Insight vs. Prius

For the consumer inclined to buy a hybrid automobile, there are several different options. Many of the main automotive manufactures have at least one hybrid in their lineup these days, in the hope to stay competitive with one another. These hybrids come in all different forms, but the most popular have been those that are [...]

Electric carmaker Tesla preparing IPO: sources

According to Reuters, “U.S. electric sports car maker Tesla Motors plans to go public soon, two sources familiar with the matter said, amid growing interest in green technology and battery-powered vehicles. An IPO filing from the six-year-old start-up, best known for its $109,000 all-electric Roadster, is expected any day, said one of the sources. The [...]

GREEN BUSINESS: Nature’s Calling to General Motors?

Green, being the word of the day applies itself to every industry due to regulations and consumer demand for cleaner products. In the case of General Motors (GM), the only green they may ever see could be in the form of the grass that is covering their new home 6 feet under the ground in [...]

Green News: An Green Car Escape to Cleaner Pastures

When many automakers in the United States failed financially, a massive amount of money was spent to keep them afloat. Taxpayers became the partial owners of these blue chip corporations, which included some of the biggest names in the automotive industry. There was however, one brand that refused any real assistance from the U.S. government, [...]

Green eXtreme Racing

When the words “motorcycle racing” are heard, the image of a sleek, powerful and fuel-hungry superbike comes to mind. The kind that Valentino Rossi likes to ride in the Moto GP, or a hopped up street bike popping a wheelie down a vacant street whilst competing with another. While these images of motorcycle racing may [...]

Green Cars: Tesla Motors Shatters Single-Charge Distance Record

The biggest knock on the electric vehicles (EVs) is its lack of range on a single charge. On average the typical EV being produced today has about a 100-mile range before needing to recharge. On hybrids it becomes even more dismal with an all-electric range of roughly 40 miles. For normal commute in a day [...]

Green News: Electric Vehicles Gone Postal

With consumers largely avoiding electric cars due to their shortcomings (range, charging infrastructure) the United States Postal Service is already undertaking the electrification of their current Long Life Vehicle (LLV) model to contribute to the green movement. AM General and Smith Electric Vehicles (SEV) will be teaming up to complete this project in converting all [...]

150 mph Electric Motorcycle: Mission Motors Electric Superbike Sets Bonneville Landspeed Record

150 mph Electric Motorcycle: Mission Motors Electric Superbike Sets Bonneville Landspeed Record. Recently, an electric motorcycle start-up based in San Francisco, said that its prototype vehicle had set a world speed record for battery-powered bikes of 150.059 miles an hour at the Bonneville Speedway in Utah.