Zero and Chinese company emerge on top of e-motorcycle ranking

A California-based EV specialist and a Chinese company topped Pike Research’s latest ranking of the 12 leading manufacturers of electric motorcycles and scooters in the world. Still in its infancy, Pike Research said the industry is booming in the Asia-Pacific. An estimated 17 million two-wheeled electric vehicles was delivered in the region in 2011, while shipments for the rest of the world were probably only 30,000 last year, Pike Research estimated.

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Quantum, SBE Inc. to develop electric drive-train solutions

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. and SBE, Inc. have announced a technology partnership to develop advanced electric drive-train buses. SBE, Inc. is providing a novel integrated capacitor/bus structure design solution to Quantum which specializes in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems.

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World’s first diesel plug-in hybrid goes on sale next year

Sales of Volvo’s new plug-in hybrid, the Volvo V60, will start at the beginning of 2012. The V60, billed as the world’s first diesel plug-in hybrid, starts at 57,000 euros ($75,160). After the initial batch of 1,000 cars for model year 2013, the company said production of the V60 plug-in hybrid will increase to between 4,000 and 6,000 cars as of model year 2014.

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Los Angeles extends BYD’s plugin hybrid testing for a year

The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles extended an existing contract allowing electric cars from BYD Motors Inc., to run with their fleet as part of testing program. The agency is using seven F3DM plug-in hybrid compact sedans from the Chinese car maker to conduct housing inspections to help BYD determine how the car functions in real driving conditions.

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Nissan Leaf to be available in more U.S. states

Nissan North America, Inc. is expanding the availability of the all-electric Nissan Leaf, re-opening reservations and taking orders from general customers for the 2012 model in Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.

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Coda starts production; Nissan partners with Coulomb for EV charging

California-based electric car company Coda Automotive has started production of its zero-emission flagship vehicle, the 2012 model year Coda sedan. Coda’s 2012 model year Coda Sedan is an all-electric five-passenger, mid-sized sedan with a range of 150 miles on a fully charged battery pack.

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More than 1 million fuel cell vehicles on the road by 2020 – Pike

Limiting factor for the market will be the availability of hydrogen infrastructure

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Hybrids among six most fuel efficient cars – Consumer Reports

Hybrid vehicles ranked high on the recently released Consumer Reports listing of the most fuel efficient cars. The magazine, published by the global non-profit testing organization Consumer’s Union, named the most fuel efficient cars based on its latest series of auto-test programs for fuel economy. Hybrid vehicles Toyota Prius IV, Lexus HS 250 h, and Ford Escape Hybrid made it to Consumer Report’s best cars list.

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Nissan’s NV200 will be New York’s new iconic taxi starting 2013

New York City’s iconic yellow taxis will soon be replaced with minivans running on electric power, after Nissan Motor Company won a competition inclusive of an estimated $1 billion contract to be the city’s exclusive car provider of its new greener taxi fleet. Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that a modified version of Nissan's NV200 minivan had won the Taxi of Tomorrow competition.

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Eco Marine starts development of eco solar ferry Medaka

Eco Marine Power Ltd., a Japan-based company that develops solar, wind and electric marine power and propulsion systems, will be developing a solar ferry called Medaka, which will cater to water commuters. Eco Marine aims to produce a solar-electric ferry that is a cost-effective option for ferry operators and ship owners. Medaka will be capable of carrying around 100 to 150 seated passengers and is specifically designed to be an urban water bus.

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