So far the Detroit auto show is setting the tone for 2009, the year where electric vehicle, EV and hybrids, HEV become mainstream.
- Plug-In America, The Inaugural. If you are in Santa Monica, California tomorrow morning, we invite you to see 68 freeway capable electric cars, plug-in hybrid, PHEV, such as; Toyota RAV4 EVs, Tesla Roadsters, a Zero Motorcycle, the AC Propulsion eBox, Vectrix motor scooters, a Balquon 50-ton truck, Phoenix SUTs, Chevy S-10s, a Brammo Motorcycle, a Solectria, prototypes of Mitsubishi’s iMiEV and Ford’s Escape plug-in hybrid, EV conversions of a Porsche and Geo Metro, 3 plug-in hybrid Prius conversions, a plug-in hybrid VW Jetta conversion, which has V2G (vehicle-to-grid) capability to supply stored electricity to the grid and more? So come on Saturday, Jan. 17, with a press conference at 9:30 a.m., the parade at around 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m., Press Conference: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium parking lot, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica, CA 90401. Parade will travel from Civic lot south on Main Street to the neighborhood of Ocean park, then back to the Civic. Source: Plug In America and pictures, here.
- Detroit Auto Show: The Green Show. According to Wall Street Journal, the Detroit auto show is now a green car show: “hybrids and plug-ins and electric vehicles are front and center, as are other efforts to boost the green quotient of the automobile.”
- Chrysler-Nissan, Anyone? If GM gave the cold shoulder to Nissan last year, Chrysler is looking for a merger… According to Freep.
- BYD EV & PHEV In U.S. By 2011. It doesn’t look like anything can stop the BYD group who plans to introduce its electric and rechargeable hybrids to the U.S. by 2011, according to AFP.
- Who’s In Pursuit Of Electric Cars? We feel AP doesn’t get it their article when they report: “Several startup automakers are in hot pursuit of electric-powered vehicles, but they face an uphill road as they challenge major car companies like Toyota and General Motors in the race for the green car market.” Mainstream car makers are playing catch up to smaller startups with electric cars. Not the other way around.
Well, this year is shaping up to be a fine one for EVs and HEVs. Stay tuned for more.