HK steps up efforts to launch electric vehicles by end of 2010 ( channelnewsasia.com ) EVHUB.BIZ news update

SINGAPORE: Hong Kong announced on Wednesday that it is stepping up efforts to give eco-friendly cars the green light.

Some 200 electric vehicles are expected to hit the streets of Hong Kong in the next financial year. The government is said to be in talks with two power companies to launch an electric vehicle leasing scheme by the end of 2010.

LG Chemical, South Korea's largest chemical firm by sales, has also announced that it is investing US$303 million in an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan.

However, experts in Singapore said that more education and incentives are needed for consumers to take the driver's seat in going green.

While educational institutions, such as the National University of Singapore, continue to develop green technology, more manufacturers are expected to stick a green label on future vehicles.

Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery is expected to develop electric and renewable fuel models under the Hummer brand, following General Motors' sale of its Hummer truck brand to the Chinese machine maker.

But experts said growth and demand for such products is dependent on cost.

"The pricing barrier is the one that caps the growth. But once that is capped, the cost of running the electric vehicles is 5 to 6 times less then the gasoline car and the growth will be exponential," said Lim Kian Wee, founder and executive director, AMPLE WORLD.

Driving an electric vehicle in Singapore for example could cost somewhere around S$6 to power up, in comparison to the equivalent of S$80 or S$90 in gasoline.



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Ford charges electric, hybrid strategy ( news.cnet.com ) EVHUB.BIZ EV News update

BOSTON--Ford Motor expects to manufacture as many as 2 million all-electric and gas-electric vehicles in the next 10 years, betting that rising oil prices and consumer interest will sustain a long-term transition to new technologies.

The company has set a goal of making 10 percent to 25 percent of its fleet "electrified" by 2020, which represents somewhere between 800,000 and 2 million cars, said Nancy Gioia at a media event here on Wednesday. Ford announced on Wednesday that Gioia will hold a newly created position of director of global electrification, which covers hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery-electric vehicles.

Plug-in electric vehicles promise to offer a much lower cost-per-mile than gasoline cars and deliver substantial environmental benefits. But in the near term, hybrids will likely represent the largest volume in the mix of technologies, said Gioia at the event.

"We've finally demonstrated the technology, the life, the durability, the safety (of hybrids)--all of that has reached a comfort zone to make it viable. Now it's going to be affordability that will drive mass market adoption," she said.

More news on this story @ http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10375326-54.html

Chrysler, Fiat joint-developing electric car ( carandsuv.co.nz ) EVHUB.BIZ EV News update

In a few weeks time, Chrysler big boss Sergio Marchionne will reveal his 5-year plan for the automaker. According to information leaked out early, at least one electric car will be part of the plan. Apparently the once presumed-dead electric car program is back in progress and being worked on by Chrysler and Fiat together.


For more news on this story @ http://www.carandsuv.co.nz/news/8900/chrysler-fiat-joint-developing-electric-car

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