Are we underestimating the electric car market? A bullish outlook from Morgan Stanley and President Obama’s energy speech apparently have raised that question, even though neither has made a good case for the answer to be “yes.” Read more »
With my daily commute, Nissan’s all-electric LEAF car isn’t a good fit for me, but GM’s extended range electric car the Volt isn’t exactly an inexpensive car. Here’s how the economics work out and why a plug-in hybrid car could be a real game changer. Read more »
AT&T is starting to look like the network of choice for connecting electric car’s wireless IT systems. This week at the wireless event CTIA, Ford said it has chosen AT&T’s wireless network for connectivity for its upcoming Ford Focus Electric. Read more »
Greentech marked its best year ever in 2010, and part of that is thanks to the wealth of activity across sectors during the fourth quarter. Global investment in clean energy surged, and while wind power remained the biggest greentech area, solar power saw the fastest growth. The energy efficiency sector appears to have more room for smaller players to make their mark amidst a rapidly maturing market. Meanwhile, China’s stance as a growing greentech giant continued to complicate its relationship with the United States. Companies mentioned in this report include General Electric, Intel, ZigBee, iControl, People Power and EnerNOC. For a full list of companies, and to read the full report, sign up for a free trial. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
The new wave of electric cars will be connected cars, both via a power cord, but also through the increased use of communication networks. The latest example of this comes from Sprint, which is providing the connection for Ecotality’s Blink electric car charging stations. Read more »
Swiss grid giant ABB has put $10 million into car charging company ECOtality and linked a North American manufacturing agreement. Looks like ABB is picking its preferred winner for the U.S. car charging network to come. Read more »
After 6 months and close to 30 shows on green vehicles, we’re ready to ring in 2011 with a brand new year of eco-vehicle content for the Green Overdrive. Here’s my personal favorite 10 (+1) episodes from the Green Overdrive Show in 2010: Read more »
Since influencers are what makes the greentech industry world go round, we thought we’d bring you the 10 individuals that we think had the biggest effect on the greentech sector this year. From corporate bigwigs to policy wonks, these are the people changing the sector. Read more »
While Uncle Sam has tapped a select few companies as winners for its green car loan program, it has left a much longer list of loan applicants disappointed or stuck in limbo. Here’s the state of the ATVM awards at the end of 2010: Read more »
According to filings via the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, GM outspent Nissan North America when it came to climate and energy-related lobbying in 2010. Will that give either company an edge in the U.S. market with their inaugural EVs? Read more »
Yep, it’s that time of year again; get ready for the flurry of end-of-the-year market prediction posts. Here’s 9 predictions from Jeff St. John (plus 1 from me) laying out what the greentech sector will look like in 2011. Read more »
The world’s greentech industry is likely meeting the end of 2010 with a mix of relief and trepidation. Clouds are on the horizon for global investment in renewable energy, and VCs fret about realizing returns on their existing investments. Meanwhile, China boasts the world’s largest population ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
Would you save money on your commute if you bought an electric car? Here’s a handy dandy Facebook app that will help you figure it all out: Read more »
NRG Energy has taken big stakes in solar and wind power generation, has a lot of green power retailing clout and is planning the first-ever for profit car charging network in the United States. What are the strengths and drawbacks of this end-to-end green power moneymaking ... Read more at GigaOM Pro »
A variety of auto makers are vying for the second car market for electric vehicles, so instead of competing head-to-head with traditional car makers for an internal combustion engine replacement, they’re offering EVs as second and even third cars. Read more »
With the launch of Nissan’s LEAF and GM’s Volt this year, the first mainstream electric cars are finally reaching customers in the U.S. But it’s clear that Big Auto as a whole is still in the baby step stage. Read more »
NRG Energy is launching what it calls the first privately funded plug-in electric vehicle charging network in the U.S. in the country’s oil capital of Houston. Read more »
On the heels of management changes at Coda Automotive, the electric car startup has decided to push back the sales date of its inaugural all-electric sedan to the third quarter of 2011 from December 2010, interim CEO Steven “Mac” Heller told me in an interview. Read more »
When it comes to the first mainstream electric cars on the market, expect consumers to take a cautious “wait and see,” approach, according to a survey out this morning from Pike Research. Read more »
The city that’s so defined by its car culture, traffic and massive freeways, is hosting a major auto show this week: the LA Auto Show. Here’s 10 green cars to watch for outta the show this week. Read more »
New flash: Consumers aren’t so quick to embrace electric cars. After creating a flurry of news reports and test drive videos to get the word out, the carmakers, media and the government haven’t convinced the masses that alternative-fuel cars are the more environmental-friendly choice. Read more »
While the Nissan LEAF folks turned to cute animals and bear hugs for its ads to sell Nissan’s all-electric LEAF, GM is going for the more, um, patriotic angle. Read more »
Wireless charging — the ability to toss your cell phone on your table and have it charge without a plug — has for years failed to reach its disruptive potential. But consumers are willing to pay a high price, around $50, for the perk, according to a new report. Read more »
While the Google’s recently revealed robot car project is being looked at as an example of just how far outside of its core business Google has been reaching, the prospect of self-driving, computerized cars are compelling for their ability to make driving more sustainable. Here’s how: Read more »
Everyone agrees that the batteries that will run the next-generation of our electric vehicles need to operate within a certain temperature range. But not everyone agrees on what to use to baby the battery. The debate over liquid vs air-cooled batteries rages on. Read more »
The green car battery recycling bandwagon just got a bit more crowded. General Motors and Swiss grid giant ABB announced that the two companies will jointly research ways to reuse old batteries from GM’s Chevy Volt hybrid for storing power on the grid. Read more »
Electric vehicle maker startup Coda has finally released the pricing of its inaugural vehicle, and at almost $45,000 it’ll cost you almost $4,000 more than GM’s Volt, and over $12,000 more than the Nissan’s all-electric LEAF. Read more »
If you’re sold on a plug-in car, one of the next questions to answer is whether to lease or buy your chosen model. Here are five things to consider as you hunt for a plug-in car deal that fits your budget, driving habits and preferences. Read more »
Nissan is reportedly taking its first official orders on Tuesday for the all-electric LEAF, which will basically be the first mass-produced mainstream-targeted electric vehicle on the market. Here’s what you need to know about the Nissan LEAF. Read more »
For most YouTubers, the almighty viewcount reigns supreme — if your video doesn’t break five figures, it doesn’t matter how good it is. It’s an interesting yet at times exhausting attitude — which is possibly why the 0Views blog is so refreshing an experience. Read more »
General Motors’ long-awaited S-1 filing spotlights work on the Chevy Volt, OnStar communication system and Google partnership as evidence of GM’s commitment to next-generation technologies. Here’s 12 things to know from the S-1 related to greener vehicles and Car 2.0:. Read more »
Mobile technology, including vehicle navigation systems and mobile apps, will act as a safety net to beat back “range anxiety” for the first generation of electric vehicles. Read more »
We took (arguably) the most affordable, mainstream, soon-to-be-released all-electric vehicle the Nissan LEAF out for a test drive for this week’s episode of Green Overdrive (where if it’s green we’ll drive it.) Read more »
In the balancing act between reducing the budget deficit and giving automakers enough long-term certainty to gamble on building and launching green vehicles in the UK, the government has stayed firm in trying to cultivate the next generation of cleaner cars. Read more »
Hot on the heels of General Motors unveiling an 8-year, 100,000-mile warranty for its upcoming Chevy Volt, Nissan announced today that it will offer the same warranty for the battery in its all-electric LEAF sedan. Read more »
GM announced today that the plug-in Chevy Volt will have a base price of $41,000, before federal and state incentives, and an aggressive lease offer that’s competitive with Nissan’s upcoming electric LEAF. Here’s the scoop on what the ordering process will entail. Read more »
At high noon on Tuesday, General Motors plans to detail just what it will take for consumers to land an extended-range electric Chevy Volt in their garage or driveway, releasing new info on pricing and the ordering process. Read more »
In the second quarter of 2010, greentech startups scored record venture capital and increased spending despite a weak economy. Solar power retained its lead in greentech venture financing, while global investment for clean energy asset financing fell. China, meanwhile, underscored its rising might in the greentech industry, raising billions of dollars in green energy financing. Read more at GigaOM Pro »
How important will the design of some of the first charging stations be for the success of plug-in cars? Here’s how GE, Better Place, Ecotality, AeroVironment, and Coulomb Technologies stack up. Read more »
Today Nissan popped the hood on five vehicle technologies set for deployment in the 2010 fiscal year, offering a glimpse of some of the oft-overlooked tools for reducing vehicle emissions long before electric cars go mainstream. Read more »
