Smart transportation systems to see increase in investment, public adoption in next few years– Pike

A total of $13.1 billion will be invested globally in smart transportation systems from 2011 to 2017, despite reduced spending on public infrastructure, according to a report from Pike Research. “Even as governments seek to reduce their debt, [intelligent transportation systems] will not see significant cutbacks and will, in fact, benefit as transportation agencies seek to optimize their existing infrastructure, rather than fund major new capital projects,” says Pike senior analyst Lisa Jerram.

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First customers getting Tesla Model S units in late June

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla Motors will start delivering their electric sedan for the high-end market, the Model S, on June 22 this year, earlier than the July timeframe previously announced. The customers will be receiving their orders at an invitation-only event at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. "In 2006 our plan was to build an electric sports car followed by an electric sedan, and reduce our dependence on oil," said Elon Musk, Tesla Motors chief executive and chief product architect. "Delivering Model S is a key part of that plan."

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Beijing sets new fuel standards to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions

Beijing will introduce new fuel standards on May 31 to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions from 50 to 10 milligrams per kilo. According to a report in China Daily, these new fuel standards are nearly on par with the European Union's Euro V fuel standards, said to be among the strictest in the world.

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FedEx Express continues to pursue fuel efficiency in vehicle fleet

Twenty percent of FedEx Express pickup and delivery fleet are now fuel efficient and clean emission vehicles in accordance with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 diesel emission standards. The transformation of their fleet is in line with the company’s goal to make its vehicle fleet 20 percent more fuel efficient by 2020. 

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Toyota-Tesla partnership creates first all-electric RAV4

Toyota has unveiled the all-electric version of its crossover sports utility vehicle, the RAV4, at the 26th annual Electric Vehicle Symposium in Los Angeles. The vehicle is the first product to come out of the automaker’s collaborative partnership with electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla, which started in May 2010. Tesla supplied the RAV4 EV’s battery, which they designed and produced themselves, and its electric powertrain.

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More efficient, smaller cars favored over hybrids – survey

A majority of Americans are ready for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles but they are sharply divided on whether a hybrid car or truck will be worth the extra cost, according to a survey conducted by Yahoo! Autos. Some 49 percent of the respondents said they would either buy a smaller car or had already done so; another 9 percent said they'd do it if gas hit $4 a gallon.

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Coda, Great Wall partnership for developing EV’s picks up speed

Electric vehicle company Coda and China-based Great Wall Motors Company will be co-developing an EV which they hope to become the most affordable in the market, comparable with entry-level internal combustion engine vehicles. “This marks the launch of our partnership with Great Wall Motors that will enable us to bring EV’s to global markets in a very efficient and cost effective manner,” said Phil Murtaugh, chief executive of Coda Holdings.

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Boeing completes transpacific flight on biofuel

The first transpacific flight – from the United States to Japan – using biofuel has been completed by Boeing and All Nippon airways. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner completed a delivery flight from Boeing’s Delivery Center in Everett, Washington to Tokyo Haneda Airport on April 17 fueled partially on sustainable biofuel derived from used cooking oil.

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Chinese ‘green’ vehicle ownership fails 2011 expectations

“New-energy vehicle” ownership in China grew at a lower-than-expected rate in 2011, and experts are now suggesting a more “down-to-earth” approach and improvements in product quality to increase buy rates, China.org.cn reported, citing China Daily. In the April 7 forum “Rethinking and Reshaping the Auto Industry in Challenging Times” held in Beijing, the editor-in-chief of China Bus & Coach Yearbook, Wang Jian, said the government might have been rash in demonstrating and promoting electric vehicle projects when the technology roadmap was not clear.

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I.B.M. to do feasibility study for Bratislava-Vienna electric mobility

I.B.M. will do a feasibility study with Zapadoslovenska Energetika, A.S., the largest distributor and supplier of electricity in Slovakia, on building an electric vehicle charging network that will connect two European capitals. The work will study how the two neighboring metropolitan areas of Slovakian capital Bratislava and Vienna, Austria can be connected through electric vehicles, which requires the construction of infrastructure like charging stations.

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