Renault-Nissan plugs-in to Italian and Spanish utilities to promote EVs

Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Nissan , Renault Renault-Nissan Alliance EV in Lombardy - Click above for high-res image The Renault - Nissan alliance is betting the farm on electric vehicles in the next few years and CEO Carlos Ghosn knows that the automakers can’t do it alone. In order for EVs to be viable in the near- to mid-term, electric utilities and governments will need to step up and make sure the grids can support the load and the communications necessary to bill drivers for electricity

Nissan to spend $1 billion on U.S. battery plant, 4 more plants in Europe

Nissan EV-02 prototype - click above for high res image gallery Nissan was one of the three recipients in the first round of low interest loans through the U.S. Department of Energy’s ATVM program along with Ford and Tesla . Nissan will be getting $1.6 billion from the program that will be used to re-tool part of its Smyrna, Tennessee factory to build electric cars and lithium ion batteries

AutoGreen Latest

• Consumer Federation of America calls for 60 mpg CAFE standard by 2025
• GM to offer competitive pricing on Chevrolet Volt in China
• Spyshots: Is Phoenix Motorcars still working on a plug-in hybrid?
• Frost & Sullivan: EV production could be hindered by shortage of battery parts
• Coulomb unveils Michigan’s first ChargePoint America charging station
• General Motors Australia reveals new Chevrolet Cruze hatchback
• Report: Lotus bringing a pair of front-engine hybrids to Paris Motor Show
• Tesla Roadster eligible for $38,000 clean energy rebate in Japan
• Coda will sell electric sedan in Hawaii in late 2011
• 2012 Ford Focus Electric to use liquid-cooled lithium-polymer battery
• Hybrid sales drop off for August; even Prius records a 37.5% decline
• Automotive X-Prize: no money until cars pass dynamometer validation tests
• Motive doesn’t Bogart cannabis car info, passes us more details
• Donnie Bowles scores first win in propane-powered Roush Mustang
• Mazda’s "uniquely engineered" Sky engines will offer best-in-class fuel efficiency
• GM says Chevy Cruze Eco with an automatic will hit 36 mpg highway