Zapworld.Com (ZAP, Sebastopol, CA) announced that it will be distributing a new electric go-kart, the E-Kart. According to ZAP, electric go-karts work well for indoor sports because they do not create any emissions or noise. ZAP's E-Karts are also specifically designed for children because they incorporate more safety features and are quieter for use in […]
Ebus Inc. (Downey, CA) unveiled its first HEV at an Alternative Fuel and Electric Transit Bus Workshop hosted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The Ebus HEV is a 22ft long replica of an old-fashioned trolley car. It features an all-electric drive train with a small pack of liquid-cooled NiCd rechargeable batteries. An […]
Ballard Power Systems (Chicago, IL), XCELLSIS Fuel Cell Engines Inc. (Vancouver, BC) and the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) announced the successful conclusion of what they claim is the world's first fuel cell bus demonstration and testing program after two years of operation. During the past two years, three buses powered by Ballard fuel cells have […]
Smith & Wesson (Springfield, MA), one of the world's leading firearm makers, announced that a two-year agreement has been reached with EV manufacturer Zapworld.Com (ZAP, Sebastopol, CA). Smith & Wesson launched its bicycle division three years ago to produce and distribute law-enforcement bicycles. Each company has agreed to an exclusive arrangement in which Smith & […]
Budget EV Rental Cars (Los Angeles, CA), a joint effort between EV Rental Cars and Budget Rent A Car Corp., announced the first gasoline-electric Honda Insight hybrids for rent at Budget's Los Angeles International Airport and Beverly Hills locations. Budget EV Rental Cars will initially offer a fleet of five Honda Insight two-seater coupes, with […]
Astris Energi Inc. (Canada) recently revealed that it has achieved substantial progress in the development of commercially viable alkaline fuel cells as power sources for vehicles and other applications. Guided by Jiri K. Nor, a pioneer developer of fuel cell technology, Astris has been quietly pursuing that goal for nearly 17 years and has devoted […]
Koor Industries Ltd. (Israel) and Electric Fuel Corp. (Iselin, NJ) jointly announced an agreement that will allow Electric Fuel to acquire the Tadiran Batteries Ltd. (Israel) subsidiary of Koor Industries Inc., and for Koor Industries to invest $10.5 million in Electric Fuel. Tadiran Batteries is claimed to be a world leader in the manufacture and […]
The new Dodge ESX3 concept car from DaimlerChrysler Corp. (Detroit, MI) has a hybrid-diesel and electric engine and gets 72mpg while comfortably seating five people with plenty of trunk space. DaimlerChrysler is trying to take the lead on two fronts in the development of advanced-technology vehicles by discussing price (about $28,500 for the ESX3, compared […]
Evercel Inc. (Danbury, CT) reported results for the two-month transitional period ended December 31, 1999. Evercel posted revenues of $13,000 and a net loss of $1,320,000, or $0.23 per basic and diluted share, compared with no sales and a net loss of $358,000, or $0.13 per basic and diluted share. According to Evercel, the two-month […]
Customers seeking Honda Motor Co.'s hybrid gasoline-electric Insight automobiles in Southern California may have a hard time finding one to buy, at least for now. Honda claims to be ramping production to 400 per month, but there are currently no Insights in stock or available to buy. Since US deliveries began six weeks ago, just […]
ZeTek Power plc (UK) has announced an expansion program with major implications for automotive, marine and distributed power applications. The company is actively encouraging partners to sign up as ZeTek Approved Systems Integrators (ZASI) to develop specific commercial applications of its fuel cell technology. ZeTek Power's alkaline fuel cell modules generate electricity by the catalytic […]
ON Semiconductor LLC (Phoenix, AZ), formerly the analog business of Motorola Corp., announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition by ON Semiconductor of Cherry Semiconductor Corp. (East Greenwich, RI), a subsidiary of the Cherry Corp. The purchase price is $250.0 million in cash, subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The transaction […]
This year's Greater LA Auto Show, which was held January 6 through 14, 2001, saw the debut of Ford Motor Co.'s (Dearborn,...
Ballard Power Systems Inc. (Vancouver, BC) recently announced that it has set the price for the previously announced public offering of 3,245,000 shares of its common stock at $105 (CDN $153.84) per share. Closing of the offering is scheduled for March 2, 2000. According to the company, the net proceeds from the offering will be […]
General Motors Corp. (Detroit, MI) recently announced that it is recalling about half of all the EV1 electric cars it has leased since 1996, and all of its battery-powered Chevrolet S-10 pickups, because of a fire hazard. The company announced it has told owners of about 450 1997 EV1 coupes, and 450 1997-1998 Chevrolet S-10 […]