*Auto X Prize*
The knockout round will be held June 20-30 at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. Three technology pillars of electrification plan include full-hybrid vehicles, battery electric vehicles, and an upcoming plug-in hybrid.

BMW
JUNE 2010
BMW has discovered that the real world electric driving range of its MINI E is about 100 miles, not the expected 156 miles.
MAY 2010
BMW is to play an active role in the 'national plan for electromobility' launched by German chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin yesterday.
APR 2010
BMW electric car to be built in Washington George Tibbits / Associated Press Detroit Free Press April 07, 2010 Drawn by cheap and sustainable hydropower, a joint venture to manufacture carbon-fiber parts for a new BMW electric car will be built in Moses Lake, the heart of central Washington's potato country... The long-expected announcement that SGL Automotive Carbon Fibers will build its plant in the town of about 20,000 people came at a news conference Tuesday. The joint venture is backed by BMW Group and SGL Group, Europe's only carbon-fiber manufacturer. BMW AG will jump further into the electric-vehicle game with the launch of its Megacity vehicle in 2013. The car, being developed as part of the German auto maker’s “project i” program, will be sold under a new sub-brand. BMW will experiment with new materials for the car, including high-strength carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic, which it says will play “a significant part in the materials mix.” BMW launched a joint venture earlier this month with SGL Group to build a state-of-the-art carbon-fiber manufacturing plant in Moses Lake, WA, to supply material for the Megacity vehicle. Company officials also stated that the Megacity will be significantly lighter than conventional cars, setting a new standard in terms of sustainability. BMW recently entered into a joint agreement with Daimler and Toray for the development of carbon fiber vehicle applications to support its Megacity program, in addition to their existing carbon fiber JV with the SGL Group. Part of BMW's Megacity BEV will be made of carbon-fiber produced at a new US$100M plant in Washington state (USA), and operated by a joint venture between BMW and Europe's SGL Group. Fibers from the plant will be shipped to Germany, where BMW will construct carbon-fiber components for the car. The Megacity will launch before 2015 under a new sub-brand within the BMW Group.
FEB 2010
BMW will begin the series production of an electric vehicle under its “project i” Megacity Vehicle program at its Leipzig plant in Germany; BMW plants in Wackersdorf and Landshut will also produce parts for the vehicle.

*CHRYSLER*
MAR 2010
Chrysler reportedly will start making an all-electric Fiat 500 minicar for the U.S. market starting in '12 that will use lithium-ion batteries from A123 Systems.
JAN 2010
The University of Michigan-Dearborn has received a $3.1mn grant from Chrysler to conduct research & development for a plug-in hybrid powertrain for Dodge Ram pickup trucks.

*CODA*
MAY 2010
Coda Automotive plans to open a battery plant in Ohio, according to Senior Vice President Mark Atkeson; the planned factory would be called LIO Energy Systems U.S. and be majority owned by Coda.
APR 2010
Coda Automotive and joint venture partner Lishen Power Battery said that they have secured $394mn of investment and lines of credit.
MAR 2010
Coda Automotive has told the Cleantech Group that it is seeking $40mn before starting the sale of electric vehicles in the U.S. in late '10.
JAN 2010
Coda Automotive has hired Michael Jackson, a former senior GM marketing executive, as senior vice president of global sales and distribution, starting on Jan 27.

*DAIMLER*
SEP 2010
Daimler's Smart brand will begin fleet trials of its fortwo-based Electric Drive BEV in the US next month. Only 250 units will be available for 4-year leases at $599/month (including the $7500 federal tax credit) and 10k miles/year. Global retail sales 2012 - 10k upa.
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled the A-Class E-CELL, a 5-seat BEV with a range of more than 200 km. A "sandwich" structure houses the 36-kWh liquid-cooled Li-ion battery under the passenger compartment. Modular components are shared with the B-Class F-CELL and the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive BEV. Peak output is 70 kW (50 kW continuous) with 290 Nm of torque. Cargo capacity is unchanged vs. the conventional A-Class (435 - 1,370L). A total production run of 500 units will be built beginning in 3Q10 for lease to select customers in several European countries, including Germany, France, and the Netherlands.
Daimler and Renault-Nissan have expanded their previously announced alliance to include electric vehicles. Daimler exec Thomas Weber conceded, "We won't be able to meet the target of 95 grams CO2 in 2020 without electric vehicles with batteries and fuel cells." Both companies hope to reduce electrification costs by building scale.
AUG 2010
Mercedes-Benz to Produce 500 E-Cell A-Class Electric Cars Mercedes-Benz, as part of its collaboration with Tesla Motors, will produce 500 battery-powered “E-Cell” versions of its small A-Class, introducing the car at the Paris auto show in October. According to Shirin Emeera, a Daimler spokeswoman, details of the electric car will be announced on Sept. 15. She said the car would be produced at the Mercedes Rastatt plant, near Stuttgart, Germany, where the A-Class (which is not sold in the United States) is produced. Delivery of the cars will begin early next year.
JUNE 2010
Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. (BAIC) reportedly will withdraw from or delay its planned acquisition of Fujian Daimler, which might block Daimler's partnership with BYD; Daimler can set up a new venture with BYD only after selling its holdings in Fujian Daimler as foreign automakers are allowed to have only two auto joint ventures in China.
Germany's Daimler AG and China's BYD Co. set up a 50-50 joint venture 'Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co. Ltd' Thursday to develop an all-electric car for the Chinese market with an 600 million yuan ($87.9 million) investment.
MAY 2010
Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co. also today announced a tie-up with Daimler AG to develop electric cars in China as growing environmental concerns spur demand for alternative-energy autos.
Daimler, Toyota Reportedly Mulling Joint Development of Fuel Cells for Electric Cars. German luxury car maker Daimler and Toyota, the world's biggest automaker, are mulling joint development of fuel cells for electric vehicles, the Financial Times Deutschland reported today.
APR 2010
Alliances - Deutsche Accumotive (JV w/ Evonik) to provide complete lithium-ion batteries; 49.9% stake in Evonik’s subsidiary Li-Tec, a manufacturer of lithium-ion cells [The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler announced a broad strategic cooperation on engines, small cars, including electric versions and light commercial vehicles; each group will take a 3.1% equity stake in the other partner(s).]
MAR 2010
Daimler plans to increase its investment in green technologies at Mercedes-Benz Cars to $1.9bn in each of the next two years from a previous average of $770mn per year.
Daimler and BYD have signed an agreement to jointly develop electric vehicles for China; the vehicles will be sold under a jointly owned new brand. (other partnerships BYD+VW & Daimler+10%Tesla)
FEB 2010
Eco City Vehicles will begin trials in London later this year of the Mercedes Electric eVito Taxi; the eVito is unlikely to appear on London's roads for public use until '11 at the earliest. JAN 2010
Daimler and Evonik Industries are reportedly planning to increase the lithium-ion cell manufacturing capacity of their joint-venture in Germany; the JV will receive €200mn ($286.5mn) from the partners.
Daimler plans to use half of this year’s €4.4bn ($6.4bn) in research-and-development spending on green technology, according to Thomas Weber, Daimler’s development chief.

*FISKER*
MAY 2010
Fisker Auto has raised $100.7mn through Series A1 preferred stocks to support retooling a former GM facility in Delaware (U.S.); Fisker expects to manufacture its Project Nina vehicle there by '12.
APR 2010
Fisker Automotive has raised $115.3mn in new private equity funding, which was required to access a $528.7mn low-cost loan from the U.S. government; A123 Systems and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers are Fisker investors.
Fisker Automotive has selected A123 Systems to supply lithium-ion batteries for its Karma plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.

*FORD*
JULY 2010
Ford Motor Company today announced it has selected Compact Power, Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of LG Chem, to build lithium-ion battery packs for the Ford Focus Electric, which will go on sale in the U.S. in 2011. The Focus Electric battery packs will leverage CPI and parent company LG Chem’s deep expertise in advanced flat format lithium-ion cells and advanced liquid-cooled modules and battery management systems.
MAY 2010
Ford Said to Add Jobs at Michigan Plant for Electric Vehicles (Bloomberg) Ford Motor Co., working to electrify a quarter of its model lineup, is adding about 40 jobs to a factory in Michigan as part of a plan to introduce four such models by 2012, said two people familiar with the plan. APR 2010
Microsoft to manage the energy vehicle influx for Ford (Hohm tool) - Ford Transit Connect Electric goes on sale in summer (2010). Produced in partnership with Azure Dynamics of Michigan, this commercial van has a 1000-pound payload, an 80-mile cruising range, and a top speed up to 80 mph + it can also climb a 20% grade. Charging time is six to eight hours on with a 240-volt supply (like the power source for your washing machine). A standard outlet could charge the Connect in 16 hours. Only available for fleet purchase through Azure Dynamics
FEB 2010
Frost & Sullivan has named Ford Motor Company as the recipient of the Vehicle Owners' Choice Award based on the results of our recently completed U.S. Electric Vehicle Voice of the Customer study.

Alcatel Blames Parts Shortage for Steep Loss
*GM* JULY 2010
GM China has broken ground for its Advanced Technical Center to be located in Shanghai (China); the $250,000 R&D facility will develop electric cars, lightweight materials, and alternative fuel technology.
GM announced a standard, eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its advanced, lithium-ion battery in the Chevy Volt; the warranty is also transferable at no cost.
GM plans to build 10,000 units of the Chevy Volt by the end of '11 and another 30,000 in '12; GM also announced that it has added the states of Texas, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to the initial launch plans.
The Chevy Volt completed a trouble-free 1,776 mile Freedom Drive from Austin, TX, to New York City. GM reportedly is considering re-engineering its Volt/Ampera extended-range battery car to better suit it to high-speed European use by powering it directly from its petrol engine at high speeds.
JUNE 2010
GM will provide 4,400 free 240-volt home charging stations for early Volt buyers; the program will provide owners with a charge station from either ECOtality, Inc. or Coulomb Technologies and will also include the cost of home installation in most cases.
OnStar, GM will give Volt first responder training - General Motors Co. and OnStar are tackling a key safety concern ahead of the launch of the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car by training paramedics, cops and firefighters on how to respond to crashes and emergencies involving electric vehicles. General Motors Co.’s Chevy division and the auto maker’s OnStar telematics subsidiary are unveiled in San Francisco a nationwide campaign to educate first responders about the safety implications of affecting rescues at accident scenes involving electric vehicles. Volt features a 360-volt battery. The Volt-based training is scheduled to begin in August in Chicago. Later sessions will be held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit and Washington. The training will feature animated and illustrated depictions of the Volt’s construction, highlighting locations of high-strength steel, cut points for extrication, first-responder labeling and the car’s automatic and manual electrical shut-off systems.
MAY 2010
GM to Develop New India Electric Car, Ends Reva Deal GM's EN-V made global debut in Shanghai on March 24. Fisker Automotive, which has acquired a former GM plant in Wilmington, DE to produce its high-volume plug-in hybrid sedan. General Motors and its strategic partner, Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp. Group (SAIC), share a common vision for addressing the need for personal mobility through a radical change in personal urban transportation. They are exploring several solutions for tomorrow's drivers. Among the most promising is a new vehicle form called EN-V. EN-V, which is short for Electric Networked-Vehicle, maintains the core principle of personal mobility - freedom - while helping remove the motor vehicle from the environmental debate and redefining design leadership. EN-V is a two-seat electric vehicle that was designed to alleviate concerns surrounding traffic congestion, parking availability, air quality and affordability for tomorrow's cities. [Washington Times May 07, 2010]
APR 2010
GM plans to invest $8mn to expand its battery lab in Warren, Michigan (US) by mid-'10.
MAR 2010
GM confirmed the launch of the Chevrolet e-Spark in India by the end of '10; the e-Spark is the first product of the GM-REVA joint venture in India.
GM advanced the small electric concept vehicle it built with Segway Inc. and unveiled three updated models for mega-cities; the Electric Networked-Vehicle, or EN-V, the 2-seat, dynamically stabilized machine will be shown at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
JAN 2010
GM announced that Washington D.C. will also be one of the initial launch markets for its plug-in hybrid Volt; the vehicle will be simultaneously launched in California and Michigan. GM announced that it plans to become the first major U.S. automaker to design and manufacture electric motors; GM will invest $246mn in an electric motor plant in Baltimore, MD, which includes a $105mn grant from the U.S. government.
GM reportedly is considering using SB LiMotive lithium-ion batteries for its Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid electric car, according to the Korea Economic Daily; SB LiMotive is a 50:50 joint venture between Samsung SDI and Robert Bosch.
GM launched lithium-ion battery production last week at the Brownstown Battery Assembly Plant in Michigan; GM believes it will cut the cost of the battery pack in half with the second generation that will be out in three to five years.

*HONDA*
AUG 2010
Honda's 2-motor PHEV for Japan and the US in 2012 will have a claimed electric-only range of 60 km, approximately matching the EV range of the Chevrolet Volt.
JULY 2010
Honda needed to adjust its strategy to include plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles for the U.S., even though it purchased emissions credits from Tesla; these credits are insufficient to meet California's zero-emission requirements for volume carmakers. Coda Automotive's future emissions credits are likely to be available for purchase as well but would not suffice to completely meet volume requirements.
Honda will begin using advanced lithium-ion batteries in its hybrids, starting with the next-generation Civic hybrid, due to start production this year.
MAY 2010
Honda remains skeptical about demand for electric cars 10 years after it stopped selling its EV Plus battery-powered model, according to Tomohiko Kawanabe, president of Honda’s research and development. Honda was a pioneer of early EV technology with the EV Plus compact electric vehicle that was available in California from 1997-1999. About 30o cars were leased but Honda did not consider the program successful. Honda is pushing for hydrogen fuel cell technology as the standard for future automobiles, but their progress is currently hampered by inadequate infrastructure surrounding refueling. Honda currently sells their FCX Clarity fuel cell vehicle (pictured above) in California. Tomohiko Kawanabe, Honda’s president of research & development, expressed doubts about consumer demand for electric vehicles. “We lack confidence,” Kawanabe said in an interview with Automotive News.“It’s questionable whether consumers will accept the annoyances of limited driving range and having to spend time charging them.”
MAR 2010
Honda plans to use lithium-ion batteries in its Civic compact within the next 2-3 years, as well as in its Acura luxury vehicles, according to Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo.

*HYUNDAI*
SEP 2010
Hyundai Motor unveiled its first electric car Thursday -- the BlueOn -- as it moves to catch up with Japanese rivals that have jumped ahead in the field. Hyundai showed off the car on the grounds of Seoul's hillside Blue House, the office and residence of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, who took it for a spin while Cabinet ministers, officials and electric-vehicle industry representatives looked on. South Korea's biggest automaker said that it invested about $34.3 million over one year to create the vehicle, which is based on the automaker's small i10 hatchback. Hyundai, which hailed the small car as South Korea's first full-speed electric vehicle, said that it plans to deliver 30 of them on a test basis to various South Korean government organizations by October and plans to manufacture 2,500 by the end of 2012. The BlueOn has a maximum speed of 130 kph (80.6 mph), can accelerate to 100 kph in 13.1 seconds and travel as much as 140 kilometers on a single charge of its lithium-ion polymer battery, Hyundai said. The company also said the car makes an artificial engine sound as a safety feature for warning pedestrians because electric vehicles make little or no sound at low speeds. The name BlueOn was derived from its Blue Drive strategy of "eco-friendly products and technologies" and the word "on" from "switch on."
JUNE 2010
Lithium-polymer battery cells in the 2012 Sonata Hybrid
APR 2010
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Hyundai-Kia have introduced the first charging interface in South Korea.
FEB 2010
Hyundai Mobis and LG Chem have officially launched their 51:49 joint venture HL Green Power to produce lithium-ion car batteries.
JAN 2010
Hyundai plans to begin assembling an electric version of the i10 hatchback by the end of the year in South Korea using kits from India.

*KIA*
MAY 2010
Kia plans to introduce the electric variant of supermini Picanto for the European market by '13, with production starting by '12 in South Korea. Kia to launch Picanto EV.

*MITSUBISHI*
JULY 2010
Mitsubishi North America has revealed that it wants the Sub-B sized i-MiEV electric vehicle to start under $30,000 when it goes on sale in 2011. The price excludes the $7,500 federal tax credit for BEVs. Mitsubishi claims its research shows that two-thirds of its likely customers are male, with an average age of 53 and a household income above US$120K.
Mitsubishi reportedly may buy lithium-ion batteries from Toshiba Corp. for an electric vehicle that it plans to launch in the near future; Mitsubishi has not decided yet whether to use the batteries, said Mitsubishi spokesman Yuki Murata. The current i-MiEV uses lithium-ion batteries from GS Yuasa Corp, the main supplier for its electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Mitsubishi has agreed to consider working together with PSA to develop electric vehicle powertrains, initially focusing on light commercial vehicles.
Mitsubishi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Denmark regarding the promotion of electric vehicles; the government will consider using Mitsubishi’s i-MiEV electric vehicle within its fleet in or after '11.
Mitsubishi has announced that six i-MiEVs have arrived in North East England to form the next stage of the low carbon vehicle 'Smart Move' trials taking place in the region.
JUNE 2010
Mitsubishi reportedly plans to cut the price of i-MiEV electric vehicles by 30% to ¥2mn ($21,890) by fiscal '12, as reported by the Nikkei.
Mitsubishi will reportedly cut the price of its i-MiEV BEV by 30% in order to reach JP¥2 million (net after Japanese federal incentives) by fiscal 2012. The price cut seeks to capitalize on the popularity of hybrids in that price range (e.g., 2010 Toyota Prius at ¥2.05 million), forecasted lower costs for Li-ion batteries, and Mitsubishi's planned purchasing and manufacturing efficiencies (such as an increase in automated assembly from 2% to 10% of total processes). The i-MiEV was launched at ¥4.59 million (before incentives), then reduced to ¥3.98 million. Federal incentives total up to ¥1.14 million. Mitsubishi announced it will loan two of its zero-emission i-MiEV's to the State of California for evaluation in their test fleet.
MAY 2010
2010 Mitsubishi i-MiEV - now on sale in Japan; $42,420 ($30,700 with government subsidies); powertrain: Electric motor, 63-hp, 133-lb-ft electric motor, direct drive; curb weight: 2,425 lb; 0-60 MPH: 13 sec (est). Once the power bars indicate that the batteries are nearly depleted, the onboard navigation system provides locations of the nearest fast-charge points--at least in Tokyo. The Japanese government is working to expand the nation's infrastructure of "eco stations," and the capital city is already equipped with numerous quick-charge stations. At a quick-charging station, the i-MiEV's batteries recharge to 80 percent capacity in about 20 minutes, via a high-voltage plug behind a conventional filler cap. A 100 percent charge by plugging into a 110-volt home outlet takes about 16 hours (eight hours on a 220-volt outlet).
Mitsubishi Motors plans to commercially introduce its electric i-MiEV in China by '12 with imports from Japan; Mitsubishi may start producing electric vehicles in China with its Chinese partners - Southeast Motor and GAC Changfeng.
APR 2010
Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plans to introduce its small all-electric i-MiEV car to China by 2012. The Japanese company became the world's first auto maker to launch mass-produced electric cars when it rolled out the i-MiEV in Japan last year. Chinese government says local production is a prerequisite for subsidies for electric cars.
MAR 2010
Mitsubishi has announced i-MiEV pricing for the UK market at £38,699 (US$58,193) including VAT; the vehicle will also be subsidized under the UK government’s Consumer Incentive Scheme with £5,000 (US$7,516).
PSA has agreed to purchase 100,000 electric vehicles from Mitsubishi Motors; the supply contract for the battery-powered Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn runs from this year until '15.
FEB 2010
Hydro-Québec entered into a $4.5mn pilot project with Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada to buy 50 iMiEV electric cars that will be tested on the road under a variety of circumstances in the City of Boucherville.
Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada (MMSCAN) has signed an MoU with Transport Canada for the demonstration and evaluation of i-MiEV electric vehicles.
Mitsubishi Electric Corp has demonstrated 2 prototypes of ultracapacitor-battery storage devices that reportedly show an improved life cycle by 4X compared to the li-ion batteries used as a baseline.
Australian lithium producer Galaxy Resources has signed a sales and distribution deal with Mitsubishi; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is building a battery plant in Japan.

*NAVISTAR*
MAY 2010
Navistar has begun producing its first BEV truck, the eStar, a class 2-3 delivery van based on the British Modec van. Lithium-ion batteries for the eStar are from A123 Systems and provide a range of about 100 miles. 400 units of the eStar will be delivered to the FedEx Corporation by year-end 2010 as part of its Los Angeles fleet. Navistar claims that each eStar can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 10 tons per year.
Navistar has begun rolling out its first purpose-built all-electric commercial truck, the new eStar, at its Elkhart plant in Indiana; the eStar is produced through Navistar-Modec EV Alliance, the joint venture between Navistar and Modec.
MAR 2010
Navistar and A123 Systems have signed an agreement to develop lithium-ion batteries for the OEM’s upcoming commercial electric vehicle to be launched in mid '10.

*NISSAN*
JULY 2010
Renault has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Istanbul Enerji, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, to implement a program aimed at preparing for a zero-emission partnership.
Renault is beginning road testing of its first two BEVs, the Fluence ZE and Kangoo ZE. The models are starting a European tour which will take 10 electric vehicles through Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, France, Austria, UK, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey and Nordic countries. The tour will end in February 2011, a few months before the cars are launched on the market. During the tour, people will be allowed to drive the models, and compare them to one another. Renault is also conducting 10 customer evaluations in Europe and Israel, allowing consumers to drive the BEVs for a few months.
Renault has signed a collaboration agreement for promotion of zero-emission mobility with Istanbul Enerji, a subsidiary of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality; a network of charging stations will be deployed in the municipality, starting in '11.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Spain's Seville City Council formed a partnership that paves the way for the introduction of electric vehicles in '11; this agreement provides access to the Cartuja 93 Science and Technology Park for field-testing, which aids the design process for a permanent urban recharging network in the city.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Yulon-Nissan Motor and Taiwan's Taichung City to jointly study the Electronic Vehicles Connection Program in Taichung City to make the city EV-friendly.
Renault and the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) signed a research and development agreement to work together in the field of clean vehicles and sustainable mobility for all: electric vehicles, new energies, and cleaner combustion engines.
Renault is embarking on a Europe-wide tour with Kangoo Express Z.E. and Fluence Z.E.; the roadshow will give some 2,000 people – media, national and local authorities and opinion leaders – a chance to drive the vehicles.
Nissan has joined Renault's partnership with German electric utility RWE Efficiency GmbH to promote electric mobility in Germany.
The Nissan LEAF became the first electric vehicle to charge up at Portugal's first charging station near the Park of Nations in Lisbon; the car was charged by Prime Minister José Sócrates.
Nissan admitted to a delay in providing LEAF delivery details to initial U.S. customers; Nissan sent emails to the customers who placed LEAF pre-orders after the June 30 date passed, stating the company will get in touch with the customers later this summer to provide details on deliveries.
Nissan has opened a new technical training center in Livermore, California, to ensure a smooth sales launch for the electric LEAF. Nissan has received more than 14,000 reservations for its LEAF electric sedan, about 90% of which are from current owners of non-Nissan vehicles, per Brian Carolin, Senior VP Sales and Marketing at Nissan N. America.
Nissan announced it will launch "the new action TOUR", Nissan LEAF's first nationwide tour in Japan aimed to provide an opportunity for people around the country to experience electric vehicles first-hand.
Nissan said it aims to nearly double the mileage on its first hybrid car developed in-house compared with the gas engine version; Nissan said its one-motor, two-clutch system would achieve far better fuel economy, at a much lower technical cost compared with hybrid leader Toyota's complex, two-motor "series parallel" system.
2010 Sustainability Report from Nissan (Blue Citizenship)
JUNE 2010
Nissan has added the approaching vehicle sound for pedestrians" system to the electric LEAF, which also will be used in the Nissan Fuga hybrid, slated for sale in fall '10.
Nissan held an exclusive preview of the LEAF for 500 people at its Oppama test track, Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan) from June 11-19.
Renault-Nissan plans production capacity of 500,000 electric vehicles by '13.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said a £20 million ($28.9 million) grant for electric LEAF cars at the Nissan Sunderland plant would go ahead, after fears the money could be pulled.
Nissan’s electric LEAF got a major plug at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, when CEO Steve Jobs used the product to showcase the new iAd platform on the fourth-generation iPhone; the interactive nature of the ad lets users see how much money they could potentially save by buying the car. The LEAF ad will start running on the handsets on July 1 and will show that the LEAF will be able to travel 38 miles versus the Toyota Prius’ 17 miles on just $1 worth of gas.
Nissan Motor said that corporate customers make up 60% of the pre-sale orders for its LEAF electric car in Japan.
Battery guru a skeptic about Leaf, Volt batteries | SAE International, 27 May 2010 | Patrick Ponticel | Battery expert Menahem Anderman is pessimistic while Nissan is optimistic about the expected life of the Nissan Leaf Li-ion battery pack. (Nissan) While strongly making the case that lithium-ion batteries must have a good safety record and a minimum life of 10 years to be a mass-market solution, a prominent battery expert at a recent conference expressed deep skepticism about the viability of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt.
MAY 2010
Nissan Motor Co. plans to sell 500,000 electric cars a year by 2012. Nissan has started sales of its in-house developed electric vehicle quick chargers through its regional parts sales affiliates in Japan; the new charger will cost around ¥1.47mn ($16,300).
Nissan began building its battery plant next to its main N. American auto-assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee; the battery plant will launch in '12 and will be able to supply lithium-ion battery packs for 200,000 electric cars annually. Nissan is spending less than $18,000 on the Leaf battery, which would mean less than $750 per kilowatt hour, according to Mark Perry, the chief product planner for Nissan North America. Nissan aims to cut the cost of the Leaf’s lithium-ion battery pack to less than $370 per kilowatt-hour ($9,000) to make a profit from the model, according to Masahiko Otsuka, President of Automotive Energy Supply Corp., Nissan's battery joint venture with NEC.
Renault, Nissan and Daimler sign up for green car-share deal Sarah Arnott | The Independent (UK) | April 08, 2010 - Renault, Nissan and Daimler are embarking on a three-way, equity-sharing alliance to jointly develop new small cars, light commercial vans and engine technologies... In a tie-up tipped to be worth €2bn (£1.8bn) to all three participants over the coming five years, Daimler will take newly issued Renault shares equivalent to 3.1% of the French group, and will receive 3.1% of Nissan's existing shares from Renault. In return, Renault is to receive 3.1% of Daimler's shares, half of which will be exchanged with its Japanese partner in return for 2% of Nissan's shares. Nissan is raising concerns about pricing challenges that its Leaf electric vehicle – due later this year – and other electric cars will face due to limited government subsidies for EVs. Nissan's comments underscore wider skepticism about the near-term viability of electric vehicles without consistent financial backing from governments. Honda, meanwhile, is drawing attention for giving a public vote of no confidence when it comes to the future of the electric-vehicle industry.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has launched construction of its first £210mn ($320mn) lithium-ion battery plant in Europe at Nissan’s Sunderland car plant in the U.K.
Renault's electric Kangoo ZE (Maubege plant in '11) and Zoe ZE (Flins plant in '12) will represent 80% of its total production of electric cars in the future.
Reportedly Renault is in talks to find a strategic partner to facilitate its entry into the electric car market in India.
Reportedly the Nissan LEAF will cost between £24,000 - £25,000 ($35,500 - $37,000) when it goes on sale in the U.K. next year, which includes the car's battery pack and the U.K. government's £5,000 ($7,400) incentive towards the cost of purchasing an electric
Nissan has selected Hawaii as one of its target markets for the electric LEAF; sales will begin in '11.
Nissan has more than 13,000 LEAF pre-orders globally to date, according to its recent financial presentation.
Nissan has teamed up with students at Carnegie Mellon University to explore the future of electric vehicles.
APR 2010
The Madrid City Council and the Renault-Nissan Alliance signed an agreement to promote electric vehicles in the city. The Renault-Nissan Alliance, Enel and Endesa have signed an MoU for the promotion of electric vehicles across Italy, Spain and Latin America.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has signed an MoU with government of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for the development of electric vehicles.
The municipality of São Paulo and Renault-Nissan Alliance announced a partnership to jointly study electric vehicle opportunities and required investments to use electric autos in the state capital; São Paulo is the first city in South America to sign this kind of agreement.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Electricite de France SA (EDF) have confirmed a new electric vehicle test project in Yvelines and secured €6.5mn ($8.9mn) in funding from ADEME, the French Environmental and Energy Management Agency.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has partnered with the Irish government and electricity supplier, Electricity Supply Board (ESB), to foster electric vehicles in Ireland.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler announced a broad strategic cooperation on engines, small cars, including electric versions and light commercial vehicles; each group will take a 3.1% equity stake in the other partner(s).
Renault is inviting customers to pre-reserve their Kangoo Z.E. or Fluence Z.E vehicle via a dedicated website: www.renault-ze.com The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Daimler announced a broad strategic cooperation on engines, small cars, including electric versions and light commercial vehicles; each group will take a 3.1% equity stake in the other partner(s).
MAR 2010
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has signed a deal with All Japanese Ryokan Association for the promotion of EVs and related infrastructure; Nissan will set up charging stations in 18,000 hotels all over Japan affiliated with this organization.
Nissan and the city of Houston in conjunction with Reliant Energy, a power producer, will build a charging infrastructure.
Reportedly Nissan will offer its electric LEAF within the price range of ¥3.5mn ($38,696) to ¥4mn ($44,224) in the Japanese market; Nissan expects the retail cost of the vehicle to fall to ¥3mn ($33,168) with a government subsidy.
Nissan will begin building the electric LEAF at its Sunderland plant in the U.K. from early '13; combined production of the LEAF and lithium ion batteries represents a total investment of more than £420mn ($632mn).
The Renault-Nissan Alliance and A2A are launching an electric vehicle pilot project in June in Lombardy (Italy).
Renault received a pre-order from Europcar for 500 electric vehicles for delivery in Europe's largest cities from the 3rd quarter of '11.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has partnered with Avis in Europe to offer electric cars to its customers from '11. (+ w/ Hertz & All Japanese Ryokan Association, which will promote electric vehicles in 18,000 hotels in Japan)
Renault signed an MOU with global elevator company Schindler (fleet of 16,000 vehicles) aimed at promoting zero-emission mobility; Schindler will be part of a pilot group that will test the first Renault electric vehicles by the end of '10.
Nissan in Europe has launched an educational micro site - http://www.electric-mobility.com/ - aimed at raising the public's awareness about the benefits of electric mobility.
FEB 2010
Renault has secured a loan of €100mn ($135mn) from the French government to finance the retooling of its French plants located at Flins and Maubeuge; Renault plans to develop the Flins facility as the hub for battery development and production of EVs.
France's state-owned strategic investment fund will invest €125mn ($169mn) into the Renault Flins battery facility, while the same amount is expected to come from France's Atomic Energy Commission.
Nissan announced that its LEAF BEV will be available to consumers via lease or sale, in a single transaction that includes the battery; pricing information has not been announced.
The Renault-Nissan Alliance has entered a joint commitment with Hertz to bring zero-emission mobility to car rentals in the U.S. and Europe by early '11.
JAN 2010
The Renault-Nissan Alliance signed a protocol of intentions with Andalusia, Spain, which aims to promote the development of electric vehicles in the Andalusian region.
Renault, EDF, GBH (Groupe Bernard Hayot), Total Réunion, GE Money and the GERRI agency signed a letter of intent on the experimentation of 50 electric vehicles in Reunion, France, together with battery charge infrastructure powered mainly by renewable energies.
Nissan North America (NNA) announced AeroVironment will supply electric vehicle home-charging stations and installation services supporting the introduction of the Nissan LEAF later this year.
Nissan Motor has tied up with AeroVironment to supply U.S. home-charging stations and installation services for its upcoming all-electric vehicle, LEAF.

*PSA*
JUNE 2010
PSA has indicated that will offer an advanced telematics system as standard equipment on its new A/Sub-B sized BEVs, the Citroën C-Zero and Peugeot iOn, to help differentiate their versions from the European-market Mitsubishi i-MiEV that they are both based on. The new 'Connect' telematics system will provide the customer with communication and navigation functions, including a 24 hour 'peace of mind' customer assistance feature for times when the battery runs out of charge, in addition to supplying PSA with real-time data on how the vehicles are being used in the field. PSA expects their new BEVs to cost consumers about €30,000 in France, after government incentives of €5,000. PSA has contracted with Mitsubishi to provide a total of 100K BEVs through 2015, with sales starting this December.

*REVA*
MAY 2010
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. agreed to buy a 55.2% controlling stake in Reva Electric Car Co., to gain technology amid rising demand for alternative-energy vehicles; Mahindra will buy stock in Reva from the carmaker’s founders and spend about $10mn on new shares, per a Bombay Stock Exchange statement.
FEB 2010
Reportedly Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Reva Electric Car Company have formed a collaboration to jointly develop electric trucks and passenger carriers in the sub-one-tonne segment.
JAN 2010
Reva Electric Car Company is in talks with Cape-Natixis SGR SpA about building electric cars at Fiat’s closure-threatened Termini Imerese plant in Italy.
Reva Electric Car Company plans to establish four overseas vehicle manufacturing ventures that may be profitable building as few as 5,000 cars a year.

*SMART*
AUG 2010
Electric Smart car drives into town - An all-electric version of the Daimler-Benz Smart car has come to Milwaukee, with a limited number of vehicles available for lease starting in October...The Smart Fortwo electric is the same size as the two-seater Smart car that's powered by a gasoline engine...The Smart electric uses a 30-kilowatt electric motor that generates the equivalent of about 42-horsepower, compared with a 70-horse power gasoline engine in a regular Smart car that uses premium gas and has a top speed of about 90 mph.

*SUZUKI*
JUNE 2010
Sanyo Electric has received a contract from Suzuki Motor to supply lithium-ion batteries for the Swift plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
MAY 2010
Suzuki's PHEV based upon its Swift model (PI#372, page 14) will begin fleet tests in 2H10 when a total of 60 units will be allocated to dealers in Japan. The cars will have an electric range of 15 km, Li-ion batteries from Sanyo (now part of Panasonic), and a 660 cc petrol engine powering a generator (series hybrid). Recall that 5-6 months ago, Volkswagen acquired 19.9% of Suzuki and the two agreed to develop electrified vehicles for the Japanese market.

*TATA*
MAY 2010
Tata’s Indica Vista EV is set to be launched in Norway, Denmark and the U.K. in '11.
MAR 2010
Tata Motors has announced plans to bring an electric version of the Nano to Europe within three years.

*TESLA*
AUG 2010
Tesla Motors has posted a deeper second quarter loss of US38.5m compared to US$29.5m in the same period last year.
JULY 2010
Tesla hired George Blankenship, the 57-year-old retail expert responsible for the extraordinary growth of retail stores for both Apple and Gap, Inc., to move Tesla stores beyond buying an electric vehicle.
Tesla Motors plans to deliver two electric vehicle prototypes to Toyota by the end of this month; reportedly the vehicles are modified versions of Toyota’s RAV4 and Lexus RX. Tesla & Toyota signed a development agreement to put together "a high-volume Toyota vehicle with a Tesla electric powertrain" according to their spokesperson. According to Bloomberg, Tesla is building electric test versions of the RAV4 and Lexus RX S.U.V.’s, and that Toyota will receive them this month. It also said that the goal of the joint development project was an EV with a 150-mile range that could be sold for $40,000.
Tesla Motors had a successful IPO, raising $226.1mn with the sale of 13.3mn shares at $17/share; shares closed at $23.89 on the first trading day, up more than 40% from the $17 issue price. Tesla Motors shares fell below the $17 price its shares sold for in their IPO last week; shares dropped $3.09, or 16%, to $16.11 at 4 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading on July 6.
Tesla has launched a subtly revised version of its electric sports car, the Roadster, now called Roadster 2.5.
JUNE 2010
Tesla hired George Blankenship, the 57-year-old retail expert responsible for the extraordinary growth of retail stores for both Apple and Gap, Inc., to move Tesla stores beyond buying an electric vehicle.
Tesla has filed documents with the SEC for a $178mn initial public offering (IPO) priced $14-$16 per share; $250mn in total is possible with the underwriters’ participation and Toyota's immediate $50mn investment after the IPO. Tesla has made a Retail Roadshow to showcase its products for its company's IPO. Tesla may launch its Model S electric car in Japan in '12; an official stated that the electric vehicle’s price range would start from ¥5mn ($54,740).
MAY 2010
Honda has purchased zero emission vehicle (ZEV) credits from Tesla for vehicles made through '11 to meet California's pollution rules; Tesla has generated revenue of $12.2mn from 368 vehicles through March '10.
Toyota and Tesla Motors announced a partnership to develop and build electric vehicles using Tesla powertrain technology and Toyota off-the-shelf parts.
Tesla will purchase the former NUMMI California plant for $42mn to make its Model S. California-based Tesla Motors has purchased Toyota's shuttered NUMMI factory to produce the Tesla Model S sedan, a D/E-sized BEV set to debut in 2012. Toyota, in turn, will invest US$50 million for a private placement of Tesla common stock, and the state of California will provide a sales tax abatement to Tesla valued at approx. $20 million. At NUMMI, Tesla plans to produce the Model S at the rate of 20K upa. Per Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, acquisition of the plant enables his company to learn the Toyota Production System, gain access to Toyota suppliers, manufacture other future Tesla models in an integrated facility, and ultimately, drive down the cost of future Tesla BEVs. Toyota intends to learn from and to "partner" with Tesla as well, per TMC President Akio Toyoda, but no specifics have been revealed.
Tesla Motors filed documents with the U.S. Department of Energy that reflect that the all-electric Model S will be built in the city of Downey, California.
MAR 2010
Tesla Motors is now offering a Roadster lease option in the U.S. with monthly payments starting at $1,658 for a three-year, 30,000 mile contract.
FEB 2010
Tesla Motors Inc., the maker of electric sports cars, filed for an initial public offering of U.S. shares worth as much as $100mn
JAN 2010
Tesla Motors Inc. closed on a $465mn low-cost U.S. Energy Department loan to build a plant in southern California to produce its Model S electric sedan and a powertrain manufacturing facility in Palo Alto.
Tesla Motors will partner with Panasonic Corp. for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries; this agreement means that there will be a change in the battery chemistry for Tesla Motors. Recall that Daimler has a 10% equity stake in Tesla, so Daimler's joint-ventures with Evonik Industries could potentially supply Tesla as well.
Tesla hired former Fiat SpA executive Cristiano Carlutti to lead its European electric vehicle operation.

*THINK*
JUNE 2010
THINK has entered into a distribution partnership deal with the Swiss retailer Migros for its electric vehicle Th!nk City. European production of the Think City EV is under way in Finland with manufacturing partner Valmet Automotive; the first customer deliveries will be in the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland.
Think is working with Japanese partner Itochu Corp. to develop operations in Asia.
Think has entered the South American market with its new supply order of three Think City EVs from Brazilian electricity supplier, CPFL Energia SA.
MAY 2010
Think expects to price its U.S. electric vehicle in the range of $20,000 after federal and state incentives.
Charles Gassenheimer, Ener1 CEO and Chairman, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Think.
Think has raised $40mn to support its product development plans and expansion in the N. American and European markets; Ener1 and RockPort Capital Partners invested $12.5mn each, and the remaining investment was led by the other investors.
JAN 2010
Think will work with AeroVironment on its level III fast-charge system to carry out demonstration and commercial projects in the U.S.; Think believes its vehicles can be recharged to 80% in 15 minutes.
Think announced it will build a $43.5mn plant in Indiana that will have capacity of 20,000 electric vehicles per year, with production starting in '11.

*TOYOTA*
AUG 2010
Owners of Toyota's Prius hybrid will be able to buy a device to alert pedestrians that they are approaching from next week. Toyota is the first carmaker to market such a device, designed specifically for the third-generation Prius.
JULY 2010
Reportedly Toyota Industries plans to sell charging stations for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles in Japan by October '10; the stations have been jointly developed with Nitto Electric Works Ltd.
Toyota signed a joint vehicle development agreement with Tesla Motors, solidifying the verbal agreement made at a joint press conference in May; Toyota purchased roughly 3% of Tesla last month after its initial public offering.
Toyota is launching a three-year leasing program for the Prius Plug-in Hybrid in the U.K. in collaboration with EDF.
Toyota has started the rental services for its Prius plug-in hybrid vehicle in Goto, Nagasaki Prefecture (Japan); the company plans to gather user reactions to further help the development of the vehicle.
JUNE 2010
The Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid electric vehicle has joined the U.K. fleet trial with five businesses and organizations: Transport for London, the government's Car and Despatch Agency, the Metropolitan Police Service, Times and Sun newspaper publisher News International and satellite TV company Sky.
MAY 2010
Toyota has agreed to invest US$50mn in Tesla Motors when the California-based electric car producer goes public, giving the Japanese firm access to electric technology and a chance of improving its brand image. Tesla will buy a portion of the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI) plant in Fremont, CA.
APR 2010
Toyota has partnered with Portland State University (PSU) and its partners to demonstrate and evaluate the next-generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHV) in Oregon (US); PSU is one of the six partners Toyota has selected to administer the program. The University of Windsor will also be part of a national program to test the new plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota Prius.
Toyota is set to increase its stake in battery joint-venture Panasonic EV Energy Co. to more than 80.5% from the present 60%; Toyota will buy existing shares from Panasonic and will also buy about ¥15bn ($160.8mn) in new stock.
MAR 2010
Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors, Fuji Heavy Industries, and the Tokyo Electric Power Company have formally established the "CHAdeMO Association" that aims to increase electric vehicle quick-charger installations worldwide and will standardize how to charge the vehicles. Outline of CHAdeMO (http://www.nissan-global.com/en/news/2010/_story/100315-03-02.pdf - CHArge de MOve)
JAN 2010
Toyota has set up a division to accelerate the development of next-generation batteries; the new division was established this month and has about 50 engineers.
Toyota affiliate, Toyota Tsusho, has partnered with Australia’s Orocobre Ltd. to develop a lithium mine in Argentina that will provide materials for vehicle batteries.
Toyota Industries will provide 21 solar charging stations for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles in Toyota City, Japan, with the aid of the local government.
Toyota's Pan-European plug-in hybrid lease program officially started with the handoff of the first unit of its new generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid for the European continent to Mr. Roland Ries, Mayor of Strasbourg (France).
Toyota aims to sell its upgraded Prius Plug-In Hybrids globally in about two years,
according to Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada. Toyota aims to sell several tens of thousands of Prius Plug-in Hybrid cars at a price of around €33,700 ($48,900), according to Executive Vice President Takeshi Uchiyamada.

Venturi
Venturi North America operation will design, engineer and produce electric vehicles for specialty markets. Ohio State University says Monaco's Venturi Automobiles chose to locate in Columbus to be close to the university's Center for Automotive Research. The university says Venturi now employs 70 people in engineering and manufacturing in Monaco and France and is expected to eventually have a similar presence in central Ohio. Last September the company opened its first factory near Le Mans, France, with an initial order for 1,500 electric vehicles. The North American branch will be headed by General Motors and Chrysler veteran John Pohill.

*VW*
JULY 2010
A zero-emission vehicle rule in California will force VW to offer electric cars if it hopes to become a volume player in the state; reportedly the largest carmakers by volume must sell about 60,000 plug-in hybrids and electric cars combined from model years '12-'14, according to Bloomberg News.
JUNE 2010
VW announced Karl-Thomas Neumann, head of the company’s electric-car division, will become president of VW Group China as of Sept. 1 to succeed Winifried Vahland, who will run Skoda.
MAY 2010
Reportedly the Audi A2 will be an electric-only car when it is launched in '12, which will give it a jump on the BMW Megacity that will be launched in '13.
VW has indicated its intent to become the "market leader of a new type of sustainable mobility" by 2018, and laid out its plans to launch HEV and BEV models to support this aggressive initiative. As a part of Volkswagen's electrification plans detailed above, it introduced a Golf "blue-e-motion" technology concept. Previewing the system going into production in 2013 on the Golf 5-door hatchback (EU, NA), Jetta sedan (EU, NA) and Lavida sedan (China), the model features an 85 kW electric motor with 270 Nm of torque, a 26.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery pack and a top speed of 140 kph. The vehicle retains the traditional Golf's 5 seats and provides 237L of rear cargo space, and does 0-100 kph in 11.8 seconds. VW estimates a range of 150 km, and claims the concept weights 1,545 kg (205 kg more than a diesel engine powered Golf).
Audi has partnered with Desertec Industrial Initiative, an international consortium, for eco-friendly production of electricity in the deserts of North Africa and Middle East; Audi will support the development of solar- and wind-driven power plants.
VW showcased its Golf Blue-E-Motion electric vehicle at the launch of the National Electric Mobility Platform in Germany; the company will test a fleet of 500 cars in '11 and will launch electric Golfs and Jettas in '13.
VW China's E-Lavida Concept made its debut at the recent Auto China 2010. The concept is the company's first electric car to be completely designed and built in China. Based on a Golf MKIV platform, the Volkswagen E-Lavida is powered by an electric motor installed at the front of the vehicle and lithium batteries.
MAR 2010
Volkswagen expects electric car sales to represent 3% of its total sales by '18, according to CEO Martin Winterkorn.
FEB 2010
Audi has set up a new electric car division to develop and produce "e-tron" cars starting in '12.
VW plans to have its components organization become the system supplier for electric technology; electric powertrains will come from the Salzgitter plant in Germany.
JAN 2010
Porsche is working on an all-electric sports car but will not put it into production unless it meets the performance levels of a petrol version, according to CEO Michael Macht.

*ZAP*
APR 2010
U.S. electric-vehicle maker ZAP unveils its all-electric Taxi model, initially set for the Asian fleet market, at the Beijing auto show today. Company statement - already in pilot production at ZAP’s Hangzhou, China, joint venture with electric-meter manufacturer the Holley Group, the ZAP Taxi can hold five passengers plus “considerable” cargo and run for less than $0.03 per mile (RMB12 per km). The ZAP Taxi is based on Chinese auto maker Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Co. Ltd.’s A-380 SUV model. The vehicle’s top speed is 70 mph (113 km/h) and it has a 186-mile (300-km) range.
ZAP has received an order from Samyang Optics for 100 electric SUVs to be built through a partnership with Chinese automaker Zhejiang Jonway Automobile Company; Samyang says this is the first phase of its business plan to introduce ZAP vehicles in S. Korea.
U.S. Postal Services has awarded an engineering prototype contract to ZAP for the design and development of an electric mail truck; 20,000 future trucks will be electric, although ZAP may not be the final provider.

Other
The GENIVI Alliance has announced that Robert Bosch GmbH, Tata Consultancy Services and TomTom have joined the organization as Core members. GENIVI is a non-profit industry alliance that is committed to driving the broad adoption of a Linux-based In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) reference platform.

SUPPLIERS
American Electric Vehicles
Colorado-based American Electric Vehicles (AEV)--a company co-founded by Dr. Dan Rivers, who also co-founded Li-ion battery company Compact Power Inc. with LG Chem in 2000--is developing a 6.3m electric shuttle bus, with its primary markets intended to be China, India and the US.