Solar and Wind's blog

BMW: Electric cars will arrive at dealers in 2014
China Daily

The first mass produced electric vehicles from BMW's "i" division will be shipped to dealer’s inChina in 2014, BMW Group's senior executives said at the Los Angeles auto show early thismonth.
The i3 battery-powered vehicle and i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will be sold in BMW's "5S"dealerships in China, its top outlets that have added "sustainability" to the standard 4Sfunctions of sales, spare parts, service and surveys. BMW has seven such dealerships in several Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

WASHINGTON — As part of the Energy Department's SunShot Initiative, which is working to make solar energy competitive with other forms of energy without subsidy by the end of the decade, the Energy Department today announced a $29 million investment in four projects that will help advance affordable, reliable clean energy for U.S. families and businesses. These projects are aimed at improving grid connection and reducing installation costs through innovative plug-and-play technologies and reliable solar power forecasts.

Community Solar: Why is it so hard?
Renewable Energy World

Sunlight falls almost anywhere, in every community. So it would make sense for any number of people in that community to team up to harness the sun and make clean, local power.

Smith Electric Vehicles to open plant in Windy City

Smith Electric Vehicles announced this past Wednesday that Smith will open an electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Chicago, creating hundreds of direct and indirect jobs and boosting the already rapidly growing battery and electric vehicle sector in the City. Smith’s decision to locate a facility in Chicago is influenced by the Mayor’s innovative voucher system created to accelerate the conversion from diesel to zero-emission, all electric commercial vehicles, the large number of fleets interested in vehicle electrification, and the development incentives made available to Smith.

“I’m proud to welcome another growing company with a great mission to Chicago. Soon hundreds of Chicagoans will be able to put their skills to use providing businesses worldwide with high-quality, zero-emission, American-made vehicles,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Smith Electric Vehicles is an innovative company in a forward-looking, essential industry that is a central part of Chicago’s economic future.”

Nissan Teams with Coca-Cola Central Japan to Test e-NV200 100% Electric Commercial Vehicle Ahead of Market Launch

· Nissan and Coca-Cola Central Japan Co. will partner to test the 100% electric

· e-NV200 commercial vehicle starting in mid-November

· Coca-Cola will give feedback on e-NV200's prowess in meeting commercial demands

· Test results will help finesse the future commercial version

If Nissan EVs Falter, What Company Will Champion Electric Cars? PlugInCars

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn has finally admitted what EV sales numbers have been clearly indicating since January, and what even the most casual observer of the electric car market could clearly see: Nissan will not meet its 2012 sales target for the all-electric LEAF.

So far this year, Nissan has sold 6,791 LEAFs, down 15.6 percent from this time a year ago. The company had predicted that sales would double this year.

With each passing week over the past few months, as Ghosn continued to deny the obvious, the company’s credibility as the leader in EVs was being eroded. In fact, just a few days ago, he refused to step back from the larger goal of Nissan-Renault cumulatively selling 1.5 million EVs by 2015. He instead suggested to Automotive News that electric car sales from Renault, including the Zoe model to be introduced next year, could help reach sales targets.