Author Archive: Mike Payne

General Electric and Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation have announced cooperative plans to build an offshore wind farm off the Ohio coast of Lake Erie in 2012.  LEEDco and GE will build a 20-megawatt wind farm using GE’s direct drive wind turbines, a system similar to the Siemens direct drive [...]

Pininfarina has unveiled a new electric car and an electric vehicle platform that could be on the road in the near future, spear-heading the Italian auto manufacturer’s plans for the electric car market.  The Pininfarina Nido EV is both a 2-seater, small format electric car and a platform upon which [...]

The Tesla Model S has taken a big step forward toward production today, thanks to a $50 million investment by Toyota Motor Company.  Toyota’s investment will yield a 2.5% stake in Tesla Motors, while Tesla will receive a closed Toyota GM plant outside of San Francisco to build its Model [...]

Aquamarine Power has unveiled a new wave power generator that produces 250% more electricity than its predecessor.  The Aquamarine Power Oyster 2 hydraulic power generator can produce up to 800-kilowatts of electricity from underwater currents.

The city of London has officially unveiled its new hybrid double-decker bus, designed in concert by The Wright Group and Thomas Heatherwick.  The new hybrid bus is set to join London’s fleet in 2012, providing a 40% boost in efficiency over traditional diesel buses.

Think Global, the makers of the Think City Electric Car, have raised $40 million in funding for an entry into the U.S. automobile market.  Think’s $40 million booster shot will fund the import of 500 Think City Electric Cars and also a low-volume production facility in Indiana.

Wheego, an Atlanta-based electric vehicle startup, plans to begin production of a new highway-ready electric vehicle which could hit the market by August.  The Wheego Whip Life Electric Car builds on Wheego’s expertise with NEVs (neighborhood electric vehicles) to produce a two-seater electric car with a top speed of 67 [...]

JFE Engineering Corp has developed a new electric car charging system that provides a quick battery charge in a matter of minutes.  The JFE quick charge will give your electric car’s battery a 50% charge in just 3 minutes on the plug.

Volkswagen has introduced a new folding electric bike for short range trips and commuting.  The Volkswagen Bik.e Electric Bike can travel up to 12.5 miles on a single charge at speeds of up to 12.5 mph, and can fold to fit in the standard spare tire hold of a car.

Internet search and services giant Google has expanded its commitment to green energy with a $38.8 million investment in wind energy.  Google has purchased a tax equity stake in two South Dakota wind farms, capable of generating a combined 169.5 megawatts of electricity.