Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies

Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies
Climate Change Worries, High Oil Prices and Government Help Top Factors Fueling Hot Renewable Energy Investment Climate

Investors Flock to Renewable Energy and Efficiency Technologies; Transactions Leap to Record $100 Billion in 2006, Says UNEP Study;Renewables Shed Fringe Image; American, European Markets DominateBut 9% of Global Investments are in China, 21% in Developing Countries

Paris, 20 June 2007 - Climate change worries coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support top a set of drivers fueling soaring rates of investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, according to a trend analysis from the UN Environment Programme.
The report says investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005 to a record $100 billion in 2006. As well, the renewable energy sector's growth "although still volatile ... is showing no sign of abating."
The report offers a host of reasons behind and insights into the world's newest gold rush, which saw investors pour $71 billion into companies and new sector opportunities in 2006, a 43% jump from 2005 (and up 158% over the last two years. The trend continues in 2007 with experts predicting investments of $85 billion this year).
In addition to the $71 billion, about $30 billion entered the sector in 2006 via mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and asset refinancing. This buy-out activity, rewarding the sector's pioneers, implies deeper, more liquid markets and is helping the sector shed its niche image, according to the report.
While renewable sources today produce about 2% of the world's energy, they now account for about 18% of world investment in power generation, with wind generation at the investment forefront. Solar and bio-fuel energy technologies grew even more quickly than wind, but from a smaller base.
Renewables now compete head-on with coal and gas in terms of new installed generating capacity and the portion of world energy produced from renewable sources is sure to rise substantially as the tens of billions of new investment dollars bear fruit.
Says UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner: "One of the new and fundamental messages of this report is that renewable energies are no longer subject to the vagaries of rising and falling oil prices—they are becoming generating systems of choice for increasing numbers of power companies, communities and countries irrespective of the costs of fossil fuels.
"The other key message is that this is no longer an industry solely dominated by developed country industries. Close to 10 per cent of investments are in China with around a fifth in total in the developing world. We will need many sustained steps towards the de-carbonizing of the global economy. It is clear that in respect to renewables those steps are getting underway."
Says Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Climate Change: "As governments prepare to launch begin a new round of post-2012 climate change-related negotiations later this year, the report clearly shows that, amid much discussion about the 'technologies of tomorrow,' the finance sector believes the existing technologies of today can and will 'decarbonize' the energy mix provided the right policies and incentives are in place at the international level."
The report represents "a strategic tool for understanding the energy sector's development in both OECD and developing countries," says Michael Liebreich, CEO of New Energy Finance Ltd, a leading provider of research and analysis on the clean energy and carbon markets, which prepared the report for UNEP's Paris-based Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative.
The report attributes the sector's boom to a range of global concerns - climate change, increasing energy demand and energy security foremost among them.
It credits as well the November 2006 U.S. mid-term elections, which confirmed renewable energy as "a mainstream issue," moving it up the political agenda.
Also spurring the sector's growth has been the persistently high price of oil - averaging more than $60 a barrel in 2006 (although one report conclusion is that the sector is becoming more independent of the price of oil).
"Growing consumer awareness of renewable energy and energy efficiency - and their longer term potential for cheaper energy, and not just greener energy - has become another fundamental driver," it says. "Most importantly governments and politicians are introducing legislation and support mechanisms to enable the sector's development."
Among the report's other key points and conclusions:
Renewable energy and efficiency markets are growing more global and enjoying easier access to capital markets; Capital is coming from the venture investment community, the stock markets and internal refinancings, signaling the sector's a shift to a more mainstream status; Risk and uncertainly can be reduced through diversification across technologies and geography; Energy efficiency is a significant but largely invisible market, attracting increasing attention as investors realize its important role in meeting rising energy demand; Capital investors are now more closely aligned with industry proponents in their views of expected growth.Wind, solar, biofuels attract greatest investment dollarsRenewable energy sectors attracting the highest investment levels are wind, solar and biofuels, "reflecting technology maturity, policy incentives and investor appetite," according to the report, adding that the NEX index (www.tsx.com/en/nex/) of clean energy stocks increased 64% in the 15 months to April.
Stock market investments in technology development, commercialization and manufacturing firms leapt 141% in 2006 compared with 2005, while venture capital and private equity investments jumped 167%. Financings of energy generation assets and capacity grew at "a more sedate 22.9%," the analysis says.
Asset financing of new generation capacity, the largest single source of renewable energy investment, accounted for nearly 40% of the $70.9 billion invested in 2006, a reflection of the sector's coming of
age, the report says. The trend continues in 2007. Most asset financing deals were in the relatively mature wind sector, with biofuels (which experienced a surge of interest in 2006) in second place.
Venture capital and private equity investors in 2006, meanwhile, poured $2.3 billion into biofuels, $1.4 billion into solar and $1.3 billion in wind, much of it to increase manufacturing capacity.
Around 40% of the capital invested in solar went towards new technology development. In biofuels, the proportion was about 20%, reflecting a surging corn-based ethanol industry in the U.S., as well as research into second generation biofuels, including cellulosic ethanol.
Renewable energy investment is almost evenly split geographically between United States and Europe. U.S. companies receive more technology and private investment (with high profile investment interest shown in biofuels during 2006 by entrepreneurs such as Vinod Khosla, Bill Gates and Richard Branson). Europe's publicly quoted companies attracted the most public stock market investment dollars: $5.7 billion compared to $3.5 billion in the U.S.
The pattern reflects the earlier arrival of enthusiasm for renewable energy in Europe and its ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, unlike the US and Australia. As well, government support is particularly strong in some European countries.
The European markets' relative maturity also helps explain its dominance of merger and acquisition activity in 2006, with deals worth more than $20 billion in 2006 compared with $8.8 billion in the U.S., many of the corporate acquisitions being made by investors from developing countries, notably India.
Comparing the renewable energy and dotcom booms, the report says the former is "underpinned by real demand and growing regulatory support (which the dotcom boom did not enjoy), considerable tangible asset backing, and increasing revenues."
Strongest growth of all worldwide has been in venture capital and private equity investment, totaling $7.1 billion in 2006, up 163% from 2005. Investment via public markets increased 140% to $10.3
billion, with initial public offerings (IPOs) of renewable energy companies particularly strong in the second and final quarters of 2006.
Most energy efficiency investment has been in early-stage funding. Venture capital and private equity investment rose 54% between 2005 and 2006 to $1.1 billion. Some merger and acquisition activity also occurred in the energy efficiency industry, notably the Australian Bayard group's $705 million acquisition of US smart-metering company Cellnet in December.
Among other insights:
Investment in sustainable energy is still mostly in OECD countries, with the US and EU together accounting for more than 70% in 2006. However, investment in developing countries is growing quickly: 21% of the global total in 2006 occurred in developing countries, compared with 15% in 2004; A healthy 9% of global investment occurred in China, helped by significant asset financing activity in wind and biomass as well as the waste sectors. Investments in China came from across the spectrum, from venture capital through to public markets, "reflecting the country's increasingly prominent position in renewable energy"; India lagged a little behind China but was the largest buyer of companies abroad in 2006, most of them in the more established European markets; Latin America took 5% of global investment, most of which financed Brazilian bio-ethanol plants; Sub-Saharan Africa notably lagged behind other regions; Global government and corporate research and development spending rose 25% to $16.3 billion; Investments in small-scale projects rose 33% from an estimated $7 billion in 2005 to $9.3 billion in 2006.Small-scale projects attract growing interest, driven partly by opportunities in developing countries, which stand to benefit most from small-scale installations (e.g. solar roof panels and micro turbines).
"The finance community has been investing at levels that imply expected disruptive change is now inevitable in the energy sector," says Eric Usher, Head of the Energy Finance Unit at UNEP's Paris-based Division of Technology Industry and Economics. "This report puts full stop to the idea of renewable energy being a fringe interest of environmentalists. It is now a mainstream commercial interest to investors and bankers alike."
"This is a powerful signal of the arrival of an alternative future for today's fossil fuel-dominated energy markets," he adds. "Signals move markets and the signal in these investment numbers is that the sustainable energy markets are becoming more liquid, more globalized and more mainstream."
This is full-scale industrial development, he added, not just a tweaking of the energy system. Growth is underpinned by a widening array of clean energy and climate policies at the federal, state and municipal levels.
With respect to the energy efficiency sector, the investment trends are harder to identify but the impacts of improving energy efficiency can be valued economically, notes Virginia Sonntag-O'Brien of UNEP's Sustainable Energy Finance Initiative (SEFI). Investments in supply side and demand side efficiency have been helping decrease global energy intensity, which on average has been dropping 1% to 1.5% per year.
Since 1990, energy efficiency has met one-half of all new demand for worldwide energy services. These savings - 3 billion tonnes of oil equivalent - have a value of $6 trillion if an average oil price of $27 is assumed. The challenge is to accelerate energy intensity improvement to levels of 2% or above, which compounded to 2030 would mean a 61% improvement from today.
Says Mohamed El-Ashry, Chair of the Renewable Energy Global Policy Network REN21: "The findings in this report are adding to the mounting evidence that renewable energy is going to play a far greater role in the energy mix than many expected."

“Shrewd Speculators” Provide Commentary on Investment Opportunities in Solar IPO’s and the Solar Chinese Markets

InvestorIdeas.com Investor Podcast “Shrewd Speculators” Provide Commentary on Investment Opportunities in Solar IPO’s and the Solar Chinese Markets
Tapping into the Long Term Potential of Solar Stocks

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta B.C., June 15, 2007 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing news, stock directories and research links, presents the Shrewd Speculators; Market and Sector Commentary with Kevin Sylla and Eric Axel. In this segment the Shrewd Speculators take a look at the recent flurry of solar IPO’s, specifically new Chinese solar entries to the market.

As solar stocks experience volatility, the Shrewd Speculators discuss solar companies including Yingli Green Energy (NYSE: YGE), SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR), Suntech Power Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) and others.

Kevin Sylla discusses how the market and investors had to absorb the supply of multiple new entries into the market within a short period of time and as a result investors have not fully digested the potential. He feels investors may want to see the market mature as technologies improve.

As Eric Axel comments, “The demand for solar power is extremely robust … but there may be too many investment vehicles to choose from for retail investors”. He went on to say- “I think this is the right sector to be in, but investors have to pick and choose and be patient.”
To listen to the full Investor Podcast, as well as previous discussions by our Shrewd Speculators, please visit:
www.investorideas.com/Podcasts/sspodcast.xml

The audience is invited to submit questions to the Shrewd Speculators for response in future podcasts. Please email all questions to: speculators@investorideas.com
InvestorIdeas.com Audio Investor Portal: http://www.investorideas.com/audio_stocks/
InvestorIdeas.com renewable energy portal, RenewableEnergyStocks.com, provides a valuable resource for investors and alternative energy public companies and industry participants. RenewableEnergyStocks.com® features industry and stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews and Podcasts, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks in the sector.
The RenewableEnergyStocks.com portal currently features a directory with info and links on Alternative Energy Funds, Biogas and Ethanol Stocks, Energy Efficiency Stocks, Flywheel Stocks, Fuel Cell Stocks, Geothermal Stocks, Hydrogen Production, Micro Turbine Stocks, Solar Stocks, Green Transportation, Wind Power and Wind Energy Stocks.
For the full list of Renewable Energy and Green Stocks Click Here http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp
Additional references to recent IPO’s are available in the most recent column of Renewable and Solar Energy Perspectives with J. Peter Lynch at:
The Solar IPO Wave Continues to Grow by Peter Lynch http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/PL/news/053107.asp

About Our Green Investor Portals:
www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com ®, www.FuelCellCarNews.com ®, www.EnvironmentStocks.com and www.GreentechInvestor.com are global investor and industry research portals in the renewable energy and Greentech sectors within InvestorIdeas.com. RenewableEnergyStocks.com provides a variety of renewable and clean energy content including the Clean Energy News Blog, Renewable Energy Blog, articles by solar expert, J. Peter Lynch, and a regular ‘green’ column: ‘The New Power Fund,’ by Samuel F. Jones, President of All Season Financial Advisors.

About InvestorIdeas.com:
InvestorIdeas.com® - www.InvestorIdeas.com is a leading global investor and industry research resource portal specialized in sector investing news, stock directories and research covering over thirty industry sectors and global markets.

Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. The site is compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising.
Podcast Disclaimer-All opinions expressed by the "Shrewd Speculators Podcast", with Kevin Sylla and Eric Axel are their own and do not reflect the opinions of Investorideas.com or its affiliates.

For more information contact:
Dawn Van Zant: 800-665-0411 - dvanzant@investorideas.com
Ann Marie Fleming: 866-725-2554 - afleming@investorideas.com
Source: InvestorIdeas.com

Electric Vehicle Manufacturer ZAP, (OTCBB: ZAP) Showcases New Wall Street Mantra

Electric Vehicle Manufacturer ZAP, (OTCBB: ZAAP) Showcases New Wall Street Mantra
“Green is Good” in New Online Green Ads

RenewableEnergystocks.com Green Ad Online Advertising Option for Environmentally Friendly Companies

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – JUNE 14, 2007 http://www.investorideas.com/, and its global
investor and industry Greentech portals including RenewableEnergyStocks.com, showcase featured public company, electric transportation pioneer ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) in new Green Ads branding a new Wall Street Mantra “Green is Good.” The new Green ads reflect the global shift in the financial industry that created a cult-like following to movie character Gordon Gekko’s “Greed is Good” speech in the 80s.

As Corporate America goes green, from Disney’s recent environmentally friendly changes at its theme park to Advertising Age magazine naming top “Eco-marketers” at its first Green Conference in New York City, it appears that this time the shift to eco-friendly business is not just a trend or merely a PR campaign, but a real and dramatic change in global corporate ethics.

Green and environmental companies like ZAP (See right side bar of RenewableEnergyStocks.com for ZAP Green Ad) are gaining consumer confidence and interest as the growing green and ethical consumerism trends are fuelled by high gas prices going into the summer driving season.

ZAP, gaining recognition in the marketplace, has also recently received substantial media coverage for its current line of affordable electric cars, priced in the $10,000 range. Next in line for the electric car manufacturer, ZAP is also working with Lotus Engineering to create the ZAP-X performance cars with an advanced battery system to enable the car to travel up to 350 miles between charges.

The new green ads are formatted in the color green, have a text link with “Green Ad” above the ad and the phrase “Green is Good” embedded into the bottom of the ad in green text. Public and private companies can easily be identified in the marketplace as a green or environmental brand to the growing number of ethical and green investors and consumers.

Featured Green Portal Sponsor:
About ZAP
ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy-efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X, engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics, like cell phones and laptops. For more product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp or
http://www.zapworld.com/

ZAP is a featured Company on RenewableEnergyStocks.com, TechSectorStocks.com and EnvironmentStocks.com and compensates the portals as disclosed in disclaimer below.

About Our Green Investor Portals within the InvestorIdeas.com Content Umbrella:

http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/ ®, http://www.fuelcellcarnews.com/ ®, http://www.environmentstocks.com/, http://www.water-stocks.com/ and http://www.greentechinvestor.com/ are global investor and industry research portals in the renewable energy, water and greentech sectors.
RenewableEnergyStocks.com also includes one of the most comprehensive free renewable energy stock lists in the investment industry. /Stock_List.asp

InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. These sites are currently compensated by its "featured companies." ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) pays Two thousand five hundred per month equivalent in shares for one year commencing Nov 2006, discounted as a courtesy to previous sponsorship of the InvestorIdeas Greentech contest.

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com

Ann-Marie Fleming 866.725.2554
Email: afleming@investorideas.com

Source: InvestorIdeas.com, ZAP

First Solar, Inc. reaches 52 week high

First Solar hit 52 week highs today - trading up over $2.18 today at $73.25 as energy bills are discussed

First Solar, Inc. (NasdaqGM:FSLR - ) manufactures solar modules with an advanced thin film semiconductor process that significantly lowers solar electricity costs. By enabling clean renewable electricity at affordable prices, First Solar provides an economic alternative to peak conventional electricity and the related fossil fuel dependence, greenhouse gas emissions, and peak time grid constraints.

for a complete list of solar stocks and renewable energy stocks -
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/stock_list.asp

(FCEL) FuelCell Energy Technical Indicator

(FCEL) FuelCell Energy, Inc. Bullish 50/200-day MA Crossover 5 Jun 2007
For the technical traders who look for stock chart indicators - here is a renewable energy stock to watch based on the 50/200 day breakout .

On June 4th the company issued the following update -

excerpt :
FuelCell Energy Reports Second Quarter 2007 Results and Latest AccomplishmentsMonday June 4, 2007
* Product sales and revenues increased 37 percent over the prior year
* Lower commercial product cost ratio driven by cost out initiatives
* Year to date orders of 10.9 MW including 3rd quarter order for
5.1 MW from POSCO Power
* Connecticut Clean Energy Fund selected 68 MW of projects
incorporating FuelCell Energy's ultra-clean power plants
* Capital position strengthened as Company raised $94.4 million to
fund growth


For those of you not familiar with their business model- from their press release -
FuelCell Energy is the world leader in the development and production of stationary fuel cells for commercial, industrial, municipal and utility customers. FuelCell Energy's secure, ultra-clean and high efficiency DFC(r) fuel cells are generating power at over 60 installations worldwide. The company's power plants have generated more than 150 million kWh of power using a variety of fuels including renewable wastewater gas, biogas from beer, onion, and milk processing as well as natural gas and other hydrocarbon fuels. FuelCell Energy has partnerships with major power plant developers, trading companies and power companies around the world. The company also receives substantial funding from the US Department of Energy and other government agencies for the development of leading edge technologies such as hybrid fuel cell/turbine generators and solid oxide fuel cells. For more information please visit our website at http://www.fuelcellenergy.com.

Green is Good

Wall Street has a new mantra changing Gordon Gekko's words that started a cult -like following "Greed is Good" to new eco friendly words "Green is Good" from Corporate leaders like Yahoo!- Yahoo for Good.

The new website -Yahoo! Green -(Nasdaq: YHOO) offers environmental tips to save money, stop pollution, and help fight global warming. http://green.yahoo.com/

Yahoo! is encouraging users to take action and reduce their CO2 emissions.

With major companies and world financial leaders making strides to create a green future we created a new ad format for companies to show their green mantra - Green is Good!

Companies in the sector can share their green philosophy and gain brand awareness with Green Ads. The Green Ads target the growing number of ethical and green investors and consumers and create instant visual identification as a green company with the phrase "Green is Good " attatched to the bottom of the ad ! To see an example- http://investorideas.com/Advertise/

or - on our Green Investor Portals:
http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/®, http://www.fuelcellcarnews.com/®, http://www.environmentstocks.com/ and http://www.greentechinvestor.com/.global investor and industry research portals that look at the renewable energy and Greentech sectors.

Solar IPO Listed today- LDK Solar

LDK Solar Co., Ltd., (NYSE:LDK) a manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, announced today that its initial public offering of 17,384,000 American Depository Shares ("ADSs") . The shares were priced at US $27.00 per ADS.

LDK Solar Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer of multicrystalline solar wafers, which are the principal raw material used to produce solar cells. LDK sells multicrystalline wafers globally to manufacturers of photovoltaic products, including solar cells and solar modules. In addition, the company provides wafer processing services to monocrystalline and multicrystalline solar cell and module manufacturers. LDK's headquarters and manufacturing facilities are located in Hi-Tech Industrial Park, Xinyu City, Jiangxi province in the People's Republic of China. The company's office in the United States is located in Sunnyvale, California.

To read more about pending and new IPO's - read our columnist J Peter Lynch and his article on our site yesterday-The Solar IPO Wave Continues to Grow

http://www.investorideas.com/PL/news/053107.asp

More Green IPO's in Pipeline

Its a green summer - with several other green IPO's in the pipeline
Clean Energy Fuels Corp.(NASDAQ:CLNE) leading provider of natural gas as an alternative fuel for vehicle fleets in the United States and Canada. http://www.cleanenergyfuels.com/main.html


Clean Energy Fuels Corp. IPO info - closing bids today- May 24th pricing between $13 and $17
http://www.wrhambrecht.com/ind/auctions/openipo/clne/index.html

Also underway- Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. Ltd ( proposed New York Stock Exchange symbol YGE ) and LDK Solar Co. Ltd have filed IPOs

Another cleantech IPO winner

On Friday May 18th - EnerNOC, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENOC) announced pricing of its IPO of 3,750,000 shares of its common stock at a price of $26.00 per share. Today, Wednesday May 23, the stock is trading at $ 35.97. Who says you can't make money going green?

EnerNOC, Inc. is a developer/ provider of clean power solutions to commercial, institutional, and industrial customers, as well as electric power grid operators and utilities. EnerNOC's technology-enabled demand response and energy management solutions help optimize the balance of electric supply and demand

Sign of the Times - New York Taxis Go Hybrid

When New York City Taxis go green- it tells you its not a statement to look politically correct- its just the right thing to do . Current environmental action is not a PR trend - its a real shift in the economy and a sign of things to come . We have to go green - high energy prices and global warming combined tell us we have no other option .
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has set a goal to have New York city taxis switch to hybrids entirely in the next five years. There are currently 13,000 cabs that need to replaced over the next five years

Yahoo Issues "Greenest City in America" Challenge with Reward of Hybrid Taxi Fleet

Yahoo! Issues "Greenest City in America" Challenge with Reward of Hybrid Taxi Fleet

Matt Dillon and Global Green USA join in effort to "Be a Better Planet;"
Coincides with introduction of Yahoo! Green eco-site

NEW YORK, N.Y. - May 14, 2007 — With the multi-megawatt backdrop of New York City's Times Square, Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq: YHOO) will issue a challenge today in search of the greenest city in America. Cofounder David Filo, joined by actor Matt Dillon and Global Green USA CEO Matt Petersen, will introduce "Be a Better Planet" (http://better.yahoo.com/planet), a program that empowers Americans to take action against climate change. Consumers participate by using Yahoo! tools, resources and communities to become better planetarians.
The winning city, which will be announced following the program's conclusion on June 8th, will be rewarded with a fleet of hybrid taxi cabs or the equivalent cash donation, to be dedicated toward city greening projects. To kick off the program, Yahoo! will also donate a fleet of hybrid taxis to New York City, recently determined to produce 1% of all U.S. greenhouse gases. By displacing traditionally fueled cabs with hybrid taxis, Yahoo! will be helping New York City edge closer to its ambitious environmental goals. The City will also save enough gas per year to drive a hybrid vehicle 56 times around the Earth.
"Americans everywhere are taking notice of the increasingly dire predictions around global climate change," said Yahoo!'s David Filo. "We want to make it easy for consumers to do something, as well as help them build enduring habits that can truly make a difference. We believe many small individual actions can add up to significant change."
The program coincides with the introduction of Yahoo! Green (http://green.yahoo.com/), a new site launching today as a one-stop resource for the growing number of environmentally-concerned consumers. The eco-site is designed to inform and empower consumers with the latest news, tips, and ways to take action. The site features a personalized plan to protect the planet — a pledge that allows consumers to choose from a menu of actions to reduce their personal carbon emissions and see the collective impact of everyone who participates. In the near future, it will include the latest environmental headlines from Yahoo! News; featured content from Global Green USA, Environmental Defense, NRDC, and Lime; blog feeds from environmental authority Amory Lovins, Environmental Defense's chief scientist Bill Chameides and EcoGeek; green shopping tips; relevant content from Yahoo! Answers, Yahoo! Groups, the Yahoo! Autos Green Center; with even more content and features to come.
"Part of reducing global warming pollution can be as simple as turning off the lights when not being used, changing to compact fluorescent light bulbs and walking or using public transportation more often," said Matt Dillon. "I'm excited to support Global Green USA's work with Yahoo! to get the word out about more simple solutions to global warming through this program — I urge everyone to take the pledge to make their city the greenest in the country."
Dillon has also asked the question "What are the most effective yet simple ways people can save energy?" on Yahoo! Answers, the leading Q&A site on the Web, inviting people to share their thoughts and offer advice.
Lower Carbon Diets with Yahoo! Green, Yahoo! Answers and Yahoo! Mobile
To participate in the "Be a Better Planet" promotion, users can do one or more of the following:
Take the Green Pledge: Visit Yahoo! Green and commit to lowering their carbon diet by pledging such actions as changing light bulbs, taking public transportation, using reusable shopping bags, properly inflating tires, and recycling more;
Yahoo! Answers: Help save the planet by answering an environmental question and contributing to the growing body of knowledge and advice on Yahoo! Answers;
Yahoo! oneSearch: Learn more about living a greener life by conducting a "green" mobile search on Yahoo! oneSearch, a new search service with results optimized for the mobile phone. Consumers can enter keywords such as "organic food," "public transport," "recycle center," "bike," and "ride share" to find relevant resources.

Participants earn points with each green action, contributing to their hometown's overall ranking, which will be visible nearly in real-time on an interactive national map. They will also receive a free energy-efficient compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), while supplies last.
The "Be a Better Planet" promotion is part of Yahoo!'s new integrated branding campaign, "Be a Better ___," which launched on April 30 with online, television, radio and cinema advertising. Its goal is to inspire consumers and businesses to be better at whatever interests them by tapping Yahoo!'s breadth of products and services.
"Our buildings and transportation are two of greatest contributors to global warming," said Global Green USA's Matt Petersen. "Across the country, cities are leading the fight against global warming — through green policies, sustainable buildings, and solar power — while our federal government fails to act. We applaud Yahoo! for mobilizing its users to shift their actions, and in turn further reduce the impact of our cities on the environment."
Global Green USA — which works with cities to create policies, programs, and incentives to create more cost-effective, energy efficient, healthier buildings — will partner with the winning city to green a school, city building, or a citywide green building program (see http://globalgreen.org/greenbuilding/index.html for their "Municipal Green Building Guide") should the winning city choose Yahoo!'s cash donation in lieu of hybrid taxis.
Yahoo!'s Commitment to the Planet

Yahoo! has a long track record of supporting environmental sustainability both in its operations and on its global network. The company uses renewable power, hydroelectric energy, and passive cooling at its various facilities and data centers. Its award-winning commute alternatives program offers incentives such as Wi-Fi enabled biodiesel shuttles and generous public transit subsidies. The company has also launched several sustainability-focused product initiatives, including an annual Earth Day resource site (earth.yahoo.com), the Yahoo! Autos Green Center, and 18Seconds.org, dedicated to educating Americans about the cost-savings and environmental benefits of CFL bulbs.

Yahoo! recently replaced incandescent light bulbs with CFLs on its billboards in New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and announced that it will become carbon neutral in 2007.

About Global Green USA
Global Green USA is a national environmental organization and is the US affiliate of Mikhail Gorbachev's Green Cross International. To learn more about their work on green cities, sustainable building, and other smart solutions to global warming, visit file://facultas/pr$/Brand%20Marketing/2007%20Trade%20Campaign/Be%20A%20Better%20Planet%20Event/www.globalgreen.org

About Yahoo!
Yahoo! Inc. is a leading global Internet brand and one of the most trafficked Internet destinations worldwide. Yahoo!'s mission is to connect people to their passions, their communities, and the world's knowledge. Yahoo! is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.

President's Speech - US needs to Improve Efficiency and Cut Greenhouse Gases

With gas prices at all time highs - The President spoke today about the country's dependence on foreign oil and how it poses a threat to National Security. He went on to say that this is a pivotal moment in history as new technologies become available to improve the efficiency and help save the environment. He re-iterated his plan and intent to cut gasoline use by 20% over the next 10 years. With increased fuel efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced. He said he would direct the EPA and Department of Transport to work on the goal of gas consumption and had signed an executive order for them to work together on this proposal. His 20 in 10 goal is on the table to be moved up to 2008

Do Auto Consumers Have to Compromise Performance to Go Green?

InvestorIdeas.com Green Investor Portals -- Consumer Choices in Green Cars; Hybrids, Electric, Biofuels and Fuel Cells

Do Consumers Have to Compromise Performance to Go Green?

- InvestorIdeas.com green investor portals report on choices and trends in green cars including Hybrids, Electric, Biofuels, and Fuel Cell cars. As green and ethical consumerism grows to become a global phenomenon, InvestorIdeas.com discusses options and choices available and underway posing the question -- Are there enough choices and incentives to create the shift? Electric Car Manufacturer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) and R.L. Evans, Director Clean Energy Research Centre, University of British Columbia, help to provide insight into the highways of the future.

At the recent Hydrogen & Fuel Cells 2007Conference held in Vancouver, B.C., Bill Reinert, National Manager TMS Advanced Technologies Group, Toyota Motor Company discussed that, "By 2040, based on the current growth, there will be 2-3 billion cars on the road, up from current numbers of 1 billion, creating environmental problems 4 to 5 times of what they are today." The projected numbers of population and vehicle growth provide compelling motivation for change.

Consumers looking for green and environmentally friendly automotive choices available in the market today can visit Yahoo! Autos Green Rating and search the Top 100 Cars by Green Rating, developed in consultation with Environmental Defense (http://www.environmentaldefense.org/). Users can browse through available options in Hybrid - Electric cars, Ethanol cars, Diesel - Biodiesel cars, Natural Gas cars and fuel efficient cars. The rating measures the vehicle's environmental friendliness from 1 to 100 with the higher a vehicle's Green Rating, the "greener" it is and the lower its harm to both human health and the planet.

For consumers looking at electric cars, industry players ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) and GM with the GM Volt offer both performance and efficiency in the near future.

ZAP, who has been in the electric car market since 1994, has a full line of competitively priced electric vehicles from A to Z ranging from electric scooters, electric ATVs and electric cars and trucks. ZAP is also working with Lotus Engineering to create the ZAP-X (http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560) utilizing the award-winning APX lightweight aluminium architecture design to achieve unprecedented levels of performance and utility for electric cars. An advanced battery system will enable the car to travel a range up to 350 miles between charges, with a rapid charge technology that can recharge the batteries in as little as 10 minutes.

"Thanks to the support our shareholders, with the only series city class electric car in production, ZAP is now uniquely positioned to maximize the current demand due to rising gas prices and concerns of global warming. Priced at around $10,000, electric cars can now not only save the environment, they can save you money," commented ZAP's Chairman of the Board, Gary Starr.

GM's Chevrolet Volt, unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, is anticipated to hit the roads by 2010. The Volt is projected to have a charge time of 6.5 hours featuring 40 miles on just the battery alone with a 640 mile range on a full tank of gas. GM is also offering a green mix of automotive choices with E85 vehicles, Hybrids and is working on Fuel Cell Cars for the future.

In a white paper presented at a joint ASME and ATI meeting in Milan last year titled "HYDROGEN ECONOMY OR ELECTRICITY ECONOMY?" R.L. Evans, Director Clean Energy Research Centre, the University of British Columbia offers his vision of the roads of the future in his Transportation Case Study.

Excerpt from Paper:

"The successful development and introduction into the marketplace of the 'Plug-in hybrid vehicle' would mark the beginnings of a significant new transportation Paradigm, eliminating the need for road vehicles to use petroleum fuels, at least for the Majority of miles traveled. If electricity were to be generated primarily from sustainable Primary energy sources, then road transportation would also become sustainable and would result in an 'Electricity Economy', rather than a 'Hydrogen Economy'.

"Much of the development work on batteries has been driven by the successful introduction in the last few years of hybrid electric vehicles (or HEV's). Hybrid vehicles have been very successfully introduced into the market, initially in compact cars, but the technology is now spreading to larger cars and sport utility vehicles where the benefit of much greater fuel economy will be particularly welcome."

Consumers can catch up on what is available in new Hybrids for 2007 by visiting the Government web site FuelEconomy.Gov -- http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/hybrid_news.shtml. The 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid currently being promoted offers additional features such as a 12 percent reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels inside the vehicle and has seating surfaces made from 100 percent post-industrial materials.

Luxury auto manufactures see the need to offer performance as well as address environmental concerns and there are several available and in the pipeline for brand conscious consumers. Mercedes-Benz's Bluetec system in a new line of diesel-engines reduces emissions but offer drivers 700+ miles on a single tank of gas. BMW has turned green with the new Hydrogen 7, but it is not currently available to the general public.

In addition to the work with ZAP and the electric cars, Lotus has entered the biofuels market with the Lotus Exige 265E running on E85 with a 264 horsepower with 0 to 60 mph in 3.9 seconds -- no compromise for going green. Biofuels, while offering a green alternative however are projected to never be able to meet the capacity of the growing global auto market.

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About ZAP

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics, like cell phones and laptops. For more product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp or http://www.zapworld.com/

ZAP is a featured Company on RenewableEnergyStocks.com, TechSectorStocks.com and EnvironmentStocks.com and compensates the portals as disclosed in disclaimer below.

InvestorIdeas.com Disclaimer: www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Our sites do not make recommendations, but offer information portals to research news, articles, stock lists and recent research. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. We attempt to research thoroughly, but we offer no guarantees as to the accuracy of information presented. All Information relating to featured companies is sourced from public documents and/ or the company and is not the opinion of our web sites. These sites are currently compensated by its "featured companies." ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) pays Two thousand five hundred per month equivalent in shares for one year commencing Nov 2006, discounted as a courtesy to previous sponsorship of the InvestorIdeas Greentech contest.

The Project Big Green

IBM Announces New Asset Recovery Offerings to Make It Easier for Data Center Owners to Turn In Old Technology and Go Green With New, More Energy-Efficient Solutions

ARMONK, NY- May 10, 2007 -- IBM Global Financing (IGF) (NYSE:IBM -) is announcing a new set of asset recovery offerings as part of "The Project Big Green" campaign to help clients with less energy efficient data centers step up to greener technologies. The new suite of packaged offerings provides a focused, no-hassle approach for data center owners to upgrade to more energy-efficient technology."IBM is making it easier for data center owners to go green with new, more energy efficient technology," said John Callies, general manager of IBM Global Financing. "Before a client can upgrade the business has to develop a plan to get rid of the older technology. IBM is providing the tools to help companies make that first step towards solving the energy crisis in their data centers."

The IGF "Go Green in my Data Center" Program includes: -- Free Data Center Server disposal for US customers upgrading to new IBM Energy Efficient servers through end of the second quarter. Disposal is compliant with applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations.

-- Disk wiping services utilizing DOD overwrite standards to help protect data on all Intel-based servers.

-- A Green Data Center Asset Recovery Hotline, 1-888 SHOP IBM Option 1, ext.7615, or our website http://www.ibm.com/financing/us/recovery where data center owners can get guidance on how to dispose of their data center equipment and potentially get value to fund their upgrade.

-- The Hotline can also put data center owners in touch with an IBM Project Financing™ for Data Centers qualified financing specialist aligned by industry, who can tailor a financing deal to free up working capital to fund a greener, more energy-efficient data center. Center owners simply have to say, "I want to Go Green in my Data Center."
For over 20 years IBM Global Financing, the financing business segment of IBM, has been helping enterprises free up cash flow to fund their future growth. IBM Global Financing is uniquely positioned as part of Project Big Green to provide a "green wrapper" of financing solutions to help data center owners access the hardware, software and services they need to build an energy-efficient data center. IGF's simple financing solutions to qualified customers will help alleviate some of the capital constraints and allow enterprises, the opportunity to align their upfront costs to anticipated project benefits. Easy lease and loan terms will also help facilitate the planning and tracking of project costs.

IBM Global Asset Recovery Services (GARS), a division of IGF, is a single, global, trusted source for IT asset disposal and buyback services, with asset take-back sites around the world. IBM GARS can help data center owners simply and efficiently deal with the proper environmental disposal of all of their old IT equipment consistent with local, state and federal regulations worldwide. In addition, IBM GARS can help enterprises protect and keep confidential the data stored on hard drives slated for disposal. In total, IGF invests $100 million a year in infrastructure, people and processes to help enterprises reduce the risks associated with asset disposal.

About IBM Global Financing

IBM Global Financing (IGF), the financing business segment of IBM and the world's premier single-source provider for multi-vendor IT financing solutions, serves commercial clients ranging from small businesses to more than 90% of the Global Fortune 100. With assets of $34 billion worldwide, IGF provides project financing, commercial financing and asset-recovery services to 125,000 clients in more than 50 countries. Additional information can be found at http://www-03.ibm.com/financing/us/

Wal- Mart goes Solar

Wal-Mart Announces Solar Power Pilot - major step toward its goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy


Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)'s news yesterday of going green with solar technology -
Wal-Mart announced a major purchase of solar power from three solar power providers, BP Solar, SunEdison LLC, and PowerLight, a subsidiary of SunPower Corporation, for 22 combined Wal-Mart stores, Sam's Clubs and a distribution center in Hawaii and California. As part of a pilot project to determine solar power viability for Wal-Mart, the total solar power production from the 22 sites is estimated to be as much as 20 million kWh (kilowatt- hours) per year. When fully implemented, the aggregate purchase could be one of the U.S., if not the world's, top-10 largest ever solar power initiatives.
...
The solar power pilot project is a major step toward Wal-Mart's goal of being supplied by 100 percent renewable energy. Each solar power generating system installed can provide up to 30 percent of the power for the store on which it is installed. By Wal-Mart's estimates, installing the solar power systems will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6,500-10,000 metric tons per year.

Green Skies - Fuel Efficient Planes

Green Skies - Fuel Efficient Planes -Virgin Atlantic Chairman Sir Richard Branson Pursues Green Agenda

Boeing and Virgin Atlantic Announce 787 Order, Environmental Partnership--

Order for 15 787-9s is Europe's largest order to date for fuel-efficient airplane -- Working together on biofuel demonstration and cutting aircraft fuel consumption at airports

CHICAGO, April 24 -- Boeing (NYSE: BA -) and Virgin Atlantic today announced an environmental partnership, which includes an order for 15 787-9 Dreamliners, marking the largest 787 order to date for Europe. The order, worth approximately $2.8 billion at list prices, was previously listed on Boeing's Orders and Deliveries Web site and attributed to an unidentified customer. The order also includes options for an additional eight 787-9s and purchase rights for an additional 20 787s.

"Virgin Atlantic is pleased to introduce the Boeing 787 Dreamliner as our aircraft of the future," said Steve Ridgway, chief executive officer, Virgin Atlantic. "This revolutionary aircraft will bring a step change to the industry, substantially reducing environmental impact and incorporating innovative design and advanced technology, while providing an enhanced flying experience for our passengers."

The environmental partnership includes a joint biofuel demonstration aimed at developing sustainable fuel sources suitable for commercial jet engines and the aviation industry. The demonstration, scheduled for 2008 using a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747-400, is being worked jointly with GE Aviation and Virgin Fuels. Further details will be announced later this year.

In addition, Boeing and Virgin Atlantic are working together on reducing fuel burn and cutting aircraft emissions on the ground by exploring alternatives to traditional aircraft operations at airports. For example, Boeing and Virgin Atlantic are partnering on trials of towing airplanes to "starting grids," areas close to the active runway to start engines preflight, with a goal of reducing fuel consumption and carbon emissions by up to 50 percent, as well as limiting community noise. Trials conducted thus far at London's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and San Francisco International Airport have produced positive results, and work continues to develop alternative operational procedures at the world's busiest airports.

"Virgin Atlantic has demonstrated extraordinary leadership within our industry on addressing environmental impact, and Boeing is proud that the 787 Dreamliner is such an important ingredient of the airline's plan for the future," said Scott Carson, president and chief executive officer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes. "Working together in partnership, Boeing and Virgin Atlantic will develop innovative, environmentally progressive solutions to provide greater fuel efficiency and lower aircraft emissions."

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner, scheduled for entry into service in 2008, provides passengers with a better flying experience, and operators with a more efficient commercial jetliner.

With the 787 Dreamliner, Boeing continues its leadership and innovation with a mostly composite airplane that uses 20 percent less fuel per passenger than similarly sized airplanes. The 787 is designed for the environment with lower carbon emissions and quieter takeoffs and landings. Inside the airplane, passengers will find cleaner air, bigger windows, more stowage space and improved lighting.

Since the 787 launch in April 2004, 44 customers worldwide have logged 544 orders worth more than $75 billion at current list prices, making the Dreamliner the most successful commercial airplane launch in history.

Oprah celebrates Earth Day and teaches consumers to make green choices

If anyone can change consumer habits - we know its Oprah. She has influenced the publishing industry in a significant way and today she is inciting her studio and at home audience to "Go Green".

As she tells us that each person creates 4.5 pounds of garbage each day- we can all start with changing our habits and begin recycling on a regular basis.

She also reminded us that as we go grocery shopping and we are asked if we want paper or plastic bags- respond with "neither" .She urges consumers to buy reusable material bags that can be washed ( with eco friendly detergent) .

Another tip- rather than buying bottled water over and over again - buy a re-usable water container for on the go. Some even come with a built in filter.

For light bulbs- spend the extra money up front for the energy efficient bulbs and save money and energy over the long run. Each consumer switching to buying and using just one energy efficient bulb would make a world of difference.

Eco friendly cleaning products can change the environment in and out of your house and even several cases , it has saved children with allergies . With allergies at epidemic rates- that should be an easy change .


For Starbucks addicts - and who isn't - bring in your fillable coffee containers and save money and help save a tree.


Bottom line - we can all make small differences in our daily lives without compromising or loosing to make a big difference.

Oprah just made a big impact on the growing trend of green and ethical consumerism

Yahoo Goes Green

Yahoo (YHOO) has been promoting green consumerism and info to Yahoo users for a while and reminds us of upcoming Earth Day April 22nd -

http://events.yahoo.com/earthday07/

Also- read about Yahoo' s committment to go carbon neutral
http://green.yahoo.com/carbonneutral

My personal favorite of Yahoo's info is the top 100 green car ratings for consumers to check out- http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-top100/

As we all look at making a green choice in our next vehicle it is intersting to know that not all of the top ten are hybrids - for example the 2007 MINI Cooper is number 8

The Green Rating measures vehicles environmental friendliness from 1 to 100. The higher a vehicle's Green Rating, the "greener" it is , The Green Rating was developed in consultation with Environmental Defense, a leading environmental nonprofit

Hedge Funds Back $79 Million Order for ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) Electric Cars

Hedge Funds Back $79 Million Order for ZAP (OTC BB: ZAAP) Electric Cars

ZAP is pleased to announce their largest order for consumer electric vehicles

SANTA ROSA, Calif., April 18 - Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has received an order for $79 Million from a Chicago-based start-up, The Electric Vehicle Company.

( Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070130/SFTU060LOGO )

( Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070418/AQW079 )

The Electric Vehicle Company (EVC) was founded with the goal of promoting economical non-polluting electric transportation. EVC is being funded by two hedge funds, Diversified Equity Funding, L.P. and Diversified Strategies Fund, LLC, which both have an investment interest in ZAP. EVC will focus on sales of electric vehicles to municipalities, distributors, university campuses, auto and recreational dealers, foreign countries and the military. Additionally, the company has the goal of developing the first retail chain committed to the sale of all electric vehicles. The two funds have committed the funding necessary to develop the marketing organization. The hedge funds will also provide financing for the purchase of ZAP vehicles by fleets and municipalities
ZAP CEO Steve Schneider said the order is for ZAP's electric cars, trucks and other vehicles. Schneider noted that EVC would receive an 8% discount if orders were filled within the next 12 months. The order is subject to meeting the performance criteria of EVC and certain terms of ZAP.

"We believe this order, which constitutes thousands of vehicles, is the largest order for consumer electric vehicles in history," said Steve Schneider, CEO of publicly owned ZAP. "Many municipalities have been talking recently about mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, so we are grateful to be involved in this historic effort."

Schneider noted that in March, large pension funds and business enterprises called for Congress to place limits on emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming, the latest among several business-oriented groups to call for a national climate policy.

ZAP, the only full-line electric vehicle company in the US, made news recently with the sale of its XEBRA electric cars and trucks, the first vehicles designed for the US market by a Chinese automobile manufacturer. ZAP also recently announced an automotive business plan to design a new generation of high performance electric vehicles designed by Lotus Engineering.

About ZAP

Disclosure:

Larry Spatz, of EVC, has entered into a consulting agreement with ZAP in which he will utilize his relationships and expertise to assist in the company's growth.

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics, like cell phones and laptops. For more product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com.

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the Company's products, increased levels of competition for the Company, new products and technological changes, the Company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ZAP is a featured Company on RenewableEnergyStocks.com, TechSectorStocks.com and EnvironmentStocks.com

For full details, click here: http://www.renewableenergystocks.com/CO/ZAAP/Default.asp

ZAP
Media
Alex Campbell
707-525-8658 ext. 241
acampbell@zapworld.com

or

Investors
Sherri Haskell
707-525-8658 ext. 232
shaskell@zapworld.com

Sonya Stay
The Electric Vehicle Co.
847-656-8100

Source: ZAP

New Hybrids for 2007

New Hybrids for 2007 - Brands and Prices from FuelEconomy.Gov

Lexus GS 450h Compact Car

EPA MPG Estimates
Price (MSRP)
$54,900

Toyota Camry HybridMidsize Car

EPA MPG Estimates
Price (MSRP)
$26,200

Saturn Vue HybridSport Utility Vehicle

EPA MPG Estimates
Price (MSRP)
$23,495


Nissan Altima HybridMidsize Car

EPA MPG Estimates
Price (MSRP)
$24,400
Saturn Aura HybridMidsize Car

EPA MPG Estimates
Price (MSRP)
$22,695
Five new hybrids will be available for 2007:
Lexus GS 450h - Compact car equipped with a 6-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission
Toyota Camry Hybrid - Midsize car equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT)
Saturn Vue Hybrid - Sport utility vehicle equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a Hydra-matic 4-speed automatic transmission
Saturn Aura Hybrid - Midsize car equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and an 4-speed automatic transmission
Nissan Altima Hybrid - Midsize car equipped with a 4-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT)
The GS 450h, Camry Hybrid, and Vue Hybrid vehicles are eligible for federal income tax credits. The Aura and Altima are not yet available for sale and have not been certified by IRS as eligible for the credit.
Consumers can now choose from eight hybrid cars, six hybrid SUVs, and two hybrid trucks. More hybrids may be released later in the model year.