Showing posts with label green cars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label green cars. Show all posts

Thursday, December 01, 2011

How China Direct Industries (NASDAQ:CDII) Plays Key Role in Green Metal of the 21st Century

How China Direct Industries (NASDAQ:CDII) Plays Key Role in Green Metal of the 21st Century

What’s Driving Magnesium Markets of the Future? Lighter Cars and Magnesium Batteries on the Roads of the Future


POINT ROBERTS, November 30, 2011 - www.InvestorIdeas.com, a global investor research portal for independent investors, reports on the future demands for magnesium with the green auto sector and how magnesium producer China Direct Industries Inc, (NASDAQ:CDII) plays a key role with the “ green metal of the 21st Century”.

China currently controls 80- 85 percent of the global magnesium market and China Direct Industries Inc, (NASDAQ:CDII) is one of the largest suppliers of pure magnesium in the world.

Recent short term global demand is down due to concerns over the debt crisis in the eurozone but domestic demand in China remains strong. Global demand can turn again as economies stabilize and new uses and applications also drive the overall market for magnesium.

According to a recent Forbes article “Fuel economy mandates will spur the development of lighter cars with materials like aluminum, magnesium and composites. EVs and hybrid vehicles will use materials such as lithium and rare earth metals like neodymium and lanthanum.”

But that may be changing as well and magnesium may be added to the mix in the battery market.

Pellion Technologies, funded by Khosla Ventures, is launching the world's first commercial magnesium battery. Pellion is developing a rechargeable magnesium-ion battery for electric and hybrid-electric vehicle applications

China Direct Industries Inc, (NASDAQ:CDII) is currently expanding the magnesium segment of it business, focusing operations on the management of facilities previously owned or controlled by Yulee Huang, a member of China Direct Industries’ board of directors and its executive vice president - magnesium.

“We currently operate four magnesium facilities in China within our Magnesium segment that produce and/or distribute magnesium products such as pure magnesium ingots, magnesium powders, granules and alloys. The current annual production capacity within our Magnesium segment is approximately 50,000 metric tons of pure magnesium ingots and 10,000 metric tons of magnesium powder. Our goal is to consolidate the fragmented industry and emerge as a global leader in the production and distribution of pure magnesium and magnesium related products.”

Benefits of Magnesium;

Stronger and lighter than steel and aluminum

33% lighter than aluminum, 60% lighter than titanium, and 75%
lighter than steel

*Magnesium is known as the green metal of the 21st century

Auto Industry and Magnesium;
(China Direct Industries Inc, (NASDAQ:CDII) PowerPoint
http://www.investorideas.com/CO/CDII/CDII-PPT-Oct%202011.pdf)


Auto industry is the greatest end user of magnesium specifically
magnesium alloying and die-casting

US Energy Law requires average fleet to increase MPG to 35 by
2020

EU Emissions Law requires automakers to cut CO2 emissions to 130
g/km by 2012 and 95 g/km by 2020

Automakers are looking to magnesium to reduce the weight of the
vehicle, increase MPG and reduce CO2; a 10% reduction in vehicle
weight leads to an estimated 6-8% savings in fuel consumption

Worldwide motor vehicle production at a rate of 77.6 million vehicles
in 2010 represents substantial potential market for magnesium and
its alloys

Forbes article source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2011/11/29/megabets-and-megarisks-remaking-the-auto-industry/
*Source: asianmetal.com

China Direct Industries Inc, Inc. (NASDAQ:CDII), is a U.S. based company that sources, produces and distributes industrial commodities in China and the Americas and provides business and financial consulting services. Headquartered in Deerfield Beach, Florida with corporate offices in Shanghai, China Direct Industries' unique infrastructure provides a platform to expand business opportunities globally while effectively and efficiently accessing the U.S. capital markets.

For more information about China Direct Industries, please visit http://www.cdii.net

Contact Information:
Pearl Group Advisors, Inc
954.232.5363
China Direct Industries, Inc.
Richard Galterio or Lillian Wong
Investor Relations
Phone: 1-877-China-57
Email: richard.galterio@cdii.net
lillian.wong@cdii.net

CDII on Facebook.com http://www.facebook.com/CDII.ChinaDirectIndustriesInc
CDII on Twitter .com https://twitter.com/#!/ChinaDirectCDII


China Direct Industries, Inc. (NasdaqGM: CDII) is a featured stock on Investorideas.com
Visit the company profile
http://www.investorideas.com/CO/CDII/


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Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Frost & Sullivan Sees China Heading Toward 'Green' Cars

Frost & Sullivan Sees China Heading Toward 'Green' Cars

SAN ANTONIO, TX UNITED STATES May 5 -- Shanghai - Held on April 22-28, the 13th International Automobile Industry Exhibition has become one of the most important global automotive industry events. 'Green' vehicles seem to be one of the highlights of the just-concluded show. In response to the alleviation of oil dependence and ever-increasing emission problem, the OEMs have been banking on 'green' cars as the long-term strategy for sustainable mobility. This trend does not only happen to global manufacturers, but especially holds true for domestic Chinese OEMs. This could be echoed by the fact that a couple of domestic OEMs like Chery, Geely, SAIC, and Changan took the wraps off of their green cars.
Frost & Sullivan, the growth partnership company will briefly discuss the development of 'green' cars and the future trends.
Which direction to go?

When referring to the words 'green' car, what pops up in your mind? Is it a hybrid or one of the numerous electric cars emerging these days? Perhaps a hydrogen car or a biofuel car? There are various technology options available.

From the geographic perspective, different countries go to different paths. Japan is the market leader in hybrids today, with cars like the Toyota Prius and Honda Insight. In Europe, diesels comprise a large amount of the cars driven. The United States has been a laggard in alternative vehicles. In South American countries, biofuel vehicles seem to have certain markets.

If we take a look at OEMs, the strategies are varied as well. Nissan oriented for battery electric vehicles and fuel cell vehicles and expect they can cover every market segment. Honda sees hydrogen as the long-term alternative to gasoline. Volkswagen originally focused more on diesel, but changing to hybrids now.

Apparently, car-makers tell us we have plenty of green vehicles to choose from. The question boils down to which way China should head toward and which technology Chinese OEMs will choose? In other words, what the technology roadmap looks like in terms of 'green' cars.
'Green' Cars Roadmap in China

Frost & Sullivan believes that there are three phases for the development of 'green' cars in China. The short term alternative solutions are LPG/CNG and hybrids. The market will gradually transit to Electric vehicles in the middle stage. Fuel cell vehicles will be the choice in the long run.
Hybrids Prevail in the Short Term

LPG/CNG vehicles have been used in China for many years. The development of LPG/CNG is hindered by the short of gas infrastructure and relatively unfavorable vehicle performance. Therefore, the application of LPG/CNG is limited to taxies and buses in several cities like Chengdu, Chongqing, Beijing and Shanghai. Hybrids running on both electricity and gasoline, on the other hand, seem to gain momentum in recent years. In 2009 Shanghai auto show, more than 20 hybrid vehicles are unveiled by Chinese domestic OEMs. Since their introduction in the US in late 1999, hybrid cars were considered as a short-lived second-rate technology that briefly serves a purpose until it can be substituted with something better and more enduring. Instead of being a 'bridge technology', however, Frost & Sullivan sees hybrids a necessary step for eventually heading toward battery electric vehicles or fuel cell vehicles and remain in the mainstream for quite some time in China. This is because the consumers are not fully aware of the advantages of battery electric vehicles and will slowly accept the technology. Hybrids especially plug-in hybrids will help the public to have confidence to transit from hybrids to completely battery powered cars in the future. Moreover, pure electric vehicles require an extensive public charging infrastructure. It may take decades to construct the charging stations and infrastructure in China.

Electric Cars, the Next Movement

According to Tristin Lin, Senior Consultant from Frost & Sullivan, electric cars will be the next step after hybrids in China. Chinese OEMs have every reason to develop electric vehicles. Frost & Sullivan gives the detailed explanations from the Government, OEM and customer's perspective.

Firstly, Chinese Government has determined to turn the country into one of the leading producers of all-electric vehicles within three years, and making it the world leader in electric cars and buses afterwards. As is known, electric cars by its very nature requires an integration of vastly different technologies like battery, motor and electronic controls. Successful electric car market requires integrated efforts of various market participants. Chinese Government is powerful in leveraging the resource from the very top in an efficient and effective way when it comes to support an industry development. The development of electric cars is put on the agenda of Government. According to government officials and Chinese auto executives, China is expected to raise its annual production capacity to 500,000 hybrid or all-electric cars and buses by the end of 2011.

Secondly, from OEM's perspective, Chinese OEMs would also like to make intensive efforts to develop electric cars. Opposite to making gas-powered vehicles which China lags far behind the United States, Japan and other countries, the development of electric cars makes it possible for Chinese firms to circumvent the current technology and get a leap to the next stage. The leap to a new technology can be less burdened by legacy issues for the long term.

Thirdly, from customer's perspective, electric cars have practical advantages in terms of Chinese customers' driving behavior. Under rare occasion that Chinese drive a long distance between cities. Commutes are fairly short and frequently at low speeds because of increasingly heavy traffic. So the limitations of all-electric cars, for instance, the limited distance range are not a big deal.

Based on the technology of electric cars, eventually, China is going to move toward fuel cell vehicles. The technologies of hybrid and electric cars are also applied to fuel cell vehicles.

The key Question: When?

"Green" is an emerging automotive marketing term which the public is beginning to see through. The golden age of "green" cars will eventually come, but the key question is how long it will take until hybrid, electric cars and fuel cell vehicles can see a certain penetration in Chinese passage car market. It's not a favorable thing if 'green' car just become another rhetoric put out by OEMs' public-relations departments or little green lipstick OEMs put on it. The first hybrid in China, Toyota Prius, was introduced in 2006. However, the total sales of hybrid in Chinese market only amounted to around 2,100 units with limited models availability. This is not just happening in China, but also worldwide. Globally, fuel cell cars have been hyped as the best solution for over ten years, now. Ten years ago the engineers said it would be "ten years" before the technology is practical for use. 5 years ago these same engineers said it would be another "ten years" to go. We heard again a "ten years" on this year's auto show. The question is often raised both in the automotive industry and customers when it will really happen.

Apparently, it's a hard question to answer. A lot of issues need to be addressed like battery technology, recharging infrastructure construction, and governmental subsidy, etc to realize the dream of 'green' cars. Frost & Sullivan forecast that hybrids for the masses will come true by 2011-2012 in China. The battery electric cars will start in 2010 and see gradual penetration in the next decade. For fuel cell vehicles, it will still be a long way to go in China market.



About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best practice models to drive the generation, evaluation and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from more than 35 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.frost.com.

Media Contact:

Riona Jin Corporate Communications - China P: +86 21 5407 5783 Ext 8652 M: +86 139 169 87828 E: riona.jin@frost.com SOURCE Frost & SullivanNews & Stories Published at Clean Energy Stocks Blog
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Monday, January 14, 2008

The Global Drive for Electric Vehicles; How ZAP, Tanfield Group Plc, GM, Zenn, Bolloré and Google are Driving a Global Shift

Renewable Energy Stocks Sector Close-Up on Electric Vehicles and Green Automotive Stocks

The Global Drive for Electric Vehicles; How ZAP, Tanfield Group Plc, GM, Zenn, Bolloré and Google are Driving a Global Shift

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – January 14, 2008 www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading investor news and research portal for the renewable energy sector within Investorideas.com, presents a sector close- up on Electric Vehicles and green automotive stocks. From the Consumer Electronics Show, where GM showcased electric vehicles, to the Detroit Auto Show, the color for cars this year is “green” and electric vehicles are getting their share of attention. The market for electric vehicles is going global, with the number of players on the rise.

Venture Beat just published an article looking at " 27 electric cars companies ready to take over the road' including ZAP’s (OTCBB: ZAAP) Xebra Sedan and Zenn Motor’s (News, Quote ) Zenn.
http://venturebeat.com/2008/01/10/27-electric-cars-companies-ready-to-take-over-the-road/

ZENN Motor Company, a Canadian based manufacturer of electric vehicles, announced in November that Transport Canada had confirmed that its 100% electric, “ZENN" vehicle met and/or exceeded all standards of Canada's low-speed vehicle class.

"The interest ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has been receiving for its electric car business has been global," said ZAP CEO Steve Schneider. "In the next two weeks ZAP has meetings with potential partners, technology companies, banks, investors, and distribution partners on four continents. There is so much interest we are discussing branching out of passenger cars into other vehicles like trucking and public transportation."

Schneider noted that he has meetings to further a new joint venture with Youngman Automotive, one of China's largest manufacturers of buses and trucks. He is also traveling to Dubai, where ZAP recently formalized a relationship with Al-Yousuf Automotive, one of the largest automotive distributors in The Middle East.

Dan Jenkins, Media Relations Manager of The Tanfield Group Plc (TAN.L), listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, provided global insight with the following commentary to Renewableenergystocks.com: “This market is very much demand driven, because major fleet operators are in a win-win situation – our vehicles reduce their carbon footprint and eliminate air pollutants, while also offering a benefit to the bottom line.

“In 2007 we launched the Newton and Edison vehicles, developed the market and sold seed vehicles into blue chip fleets, while internally we moved from effectively bespoke vehicle manufacture, to a volume automotive assembly model.”

“This has laid the groundwork for us to build up to 1,500 vehicles for the UK and Europe in 2008 and up to 1,000 for the North American market. Going forward, management’s vision is to reach 10,000 vehicles per annum by 2010. This jump in production provides the fleets of vehicles required by customers who have either recently completed or are going through the process of assessing our vehicles. “

“Winning repeat business from household names like TNT, DHL and Sainsbury’s Online, has helped move us to the next level, as new customers feel this validates our product and are happy to order fleets without first buying smaller numbers of trial vehicles.”
“The electric vehicle is ideal for the urban commercial fleet operators for a number of reasons. Firstly, fleet managers can achieve significant whole life cost savings over the equivalent diesel vans or trucks, providing a benefit to the bottom line.”

“The diesel-powered truck or van is designed for steady, constant speeds over medium to long distances and performs well in this field. “

“But the stop-start nature of city driving is precisely the worst environment for a diesel engine, both in terms of tailpipe or exhaust emissions and in terms of economic efficiency for miles per gallon.”

“Conversely, the electric van or truck actually benefits from these stop-start conditions, as the regenerative braking puts power back into the batteries every time the vehicle halts. And by being zero emission at the point of use, it also provides a 100% reduction in air pollution. “

Rick Wagoner, General Motors (News, Quote) Chairman and CEO, made headlines at the Consumer Electronics Show, as the first automotive CEO to present a keynote address, discussing their Cadillac fuel-cell concept and the range-extended electric Chevrolet Volt. According to a recent press release from the Company, “GM has a goal of reducing oil consumption and greenhouse gas emissions," said Tom Stephens, GM Group Vice President, Global Powertrain and Global Quality. "GM's commitment to improving fuel economy, reducing vehicle emissions, and developing electrically driven vehicles is not a short-term strategy. We're in this game for the long term. We see energy and environmental leadership as a critical element of GM's ongoing turnaround plan and a key part of our business strategy."

Bolloré (News, Quote ) and Pininfarina recently announced they are teaming up to create a 50/50 joint venture to produce a 100% electric vehicle. The vehicle will be marketed under the Pininfarina brand. The total capital investment is estimated at 150 million euros. The vehicle will be manufactured in Italy and will benefit from Pinninfarina?s extensive track record in design and the production of top-of-the range vehicles. It will be equipped with the revolutionary Lithium Metal Polymer battery developed by the Bolloré Group.

Google (News, Quote ) is helping promote interest in electric cars with RechargeIT, (http://www.google.org/recharge/) an initiative within Google.org's Climate Change Program with goals of accelerating the adoption of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and vehicle-to-grid applications.

For investors following alternative fuel and fuel efficient technologies, RenewableEnergyStocks.com features a directory of renewable energy stocks including biofuel, and Electric Vehicle (EV), battery technology and related stocks.

About Featured Showcase Company, Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP):
ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 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 has a joint venture to manufacture electric and hybrid vehicles with Youngman Automotive Group, one of China's leading manufacturers of buses and trucks. ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. ZAP is also developing a new generation of vehicles using advanced nanotech batteries with Advanced Battery Technologies. The Company recently announced a strategic partnership with Dubai-based Al Yousuf Group to expand its international vehicle distribution. ZAP also makes an innovative, new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops.

About Our Green Investor Portals:
www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com® is one of several green investor portals within Investorideas.com. The green investor portals are hosting the upcoming free online investor conference, “Insight into Global Green Investing Trends and Opportunities in Solar, Wind, Biofuel, Green Transportation, Water and More”, March 21, 2008. For more info:

Disclaimer: Our sites do not make recommendations. 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. This site is currently compensated by featured companies, news submissions and online advertising. Disclosure: ZAP currently pays the equivalent of two thousand five hundred in 144 shares and has provided promotional EV’s for the Greentech Investor Contest. www.InvestorIdeas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp

For more information contact:

Dawn Van Zant 800.665.0411
Email: dvanzant@investorideas.com,
Source: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, ZAP, Tanfield Group Plc

Friday, August 10, 2007

Driving Green in China Towards a New Generation of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Driving Green in China Towards a New Generation of Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Toyota, ZAP and Honda Bring Environmentally Friendly Cars to China

POINT ROBERTS, Wash., Delta B.C., August 10, 2007 - www.China-AsiaStocks.com, an investor and industry portal focused on the China-Asia sector, spotlights China as it plays a key role in the future success of electric and hybrid vehicles. As the number of cars is expected to grow significantly in China, eco-friendly choices are a must as China battles massive environmental and air quality concerns.

Capitalizing on the nation’s need for cleaner alternative transportation are several car manufacturers that are turning China’s challenges into lucrative business opportunities. Among the companies with their eyes on China as a key expansion market are Japan's Honda Motor Co., who recently announced they will start selling hybrid cars in China later this year; and Toyota, the first foreign car manufacturer to bring hybrid cars to market in China in late 2005 with its branded Prius model.

Electric car pioneer ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has also set its sights on this rapidly developing region, entering into a supply agreement to acquire $5.168 Million in lithium-polymer and nanotech batteries from China-based developer Advanced Battery Technologies, Inc. A joint development office in Beijing has been announced to focus on R&D, manufacturing and marketing of these advanced batteries for use in various electric cars, utilizing innovative nanotechnology to improve overall performance and radically shorten the charging time.

After a comprehensive feasibility study, ZAP has found that the only place to manufacture a commercially viable electric car is in China.

“We've compared the bill of materials to manufacture an automobile in the Western Hemisphere versus China, and nothing comes close. Not only is this the business opportunity of a lifetime, it's an opportunity to do the right thing. China has the potential to make the dream of electric cars a reality for the world, and in turn they can benefit from this new technology. So, it's a win-win,” describes ZAP CEO Steve Schneider.

Learn more about new technology, fuels and trends in the green transportation shift in the new "Driving Green" environmental podcast at InvestorIdeas.com: http://www.investorideas.com/dg/

Showcase Green Car Sponsor: ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) – Ride the Future!

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 100,000 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. Zap has also announced an affordable High Performance Electric Vehicle with a target price of $30,000 using many of the technologies of the ZAP-X. In addition, 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 or http://www.zapworld.com

ZAP is a Showcase Advertising Company on InvestorIdeas.com. Compensation is disclosed in disclaimer below.

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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.
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Web Site: www.InvestorIdeas.com

Source: China-AsiaStocks.com, ZAP

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Analysis Cites Curb in Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Potential for Improved Air Quality

news worth reading for green car followers


EPRI-NRDC Report Finds Environmental Benefits of Deploying PHEVs

Analysis Cites Curb in Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Potential for Improved Air Quality

PALO ALTO, Calif. – July 19, 2007 – The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) today released a comprehensive assessment that finds that widespread use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) in the United States could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and potential for improved ambient air quality.
The research measures the impact of increasing numbers of PHEVs between 2010 and 2050, including the nationwide environmental impact of potentially large fleets that would use electricity from the grid as their primary fuel source.
Among study’s key findings were:
Widespread adoption of PHEVs can reduce GHG emissions from vehicles by more than 450 million metric tons annually in 2050 -- equivalent to removing 82.5 million passenger cars from the road
There is an abundant supply of electricity for transportation; a 60 percent U.S. market share for PHEVs would use 7 percent to 8 percent of grid-supplied electricity in 2050
PHEVs can improve nationwide air quality and reduce petroleum consumption by 3 million to 4 million barrels per day in 2050
The analysis is the first to combine detailed models of the U.S. electric system and transportation sector with sophisticated atmospheric air quality models — accounting for the future evolution of both sectors in technological advances, electricity load growth and capacity expansion.
"This research accelerates our understanding of the interplay of emissions from various sources," said Steve Specker, EPRI President and Chief Executive Officer. "We now see that widespread use of PHEVs could expand the fuel options in our transportation sector and at the same time yield net benefits to our environment."
The EPRI-NRDC study represents the most comprehensive analysis of the potential reductions of global warming and other emissions from wide-scale introduction of PHEVs over time. The study addresses the impact that lower-emitting electricity generation can have for increasing these benefits.
"NRDC believes that a combination of more efficient vehicles, improved battery technology, and a lower-emitting electric power plant fleet can produce substantial reduction in global warming pollution from both the electric power and the transportation sectors, said David Hawkins, Director of NRDC’s Climate Center. "Our results show that PHEVs recharged from low- and non-emitting electricity sources can decrease the carbon footprint in the nation’s transportation sector."
Several benefits result from the use of grid electricity as a transportation fuel. PHEVs can reduce direct emissions at the vehicle tailpipe and indirect emissions at the fuel source when they recharge by electricity produced by a portfolio of efficient combustion, non-emitting or renewable generation. It is this linkage to a cleaner grid that could enable PHEVs to produce less GHG emissions than conventional or hybrid vehicles.
Using electricity produced from diverse domestic resources, PHEVs can reduce U.S. dependence on imported oil. The scale of the greenhouse gas benefit from PHEVs will depend on the efficiency of the vehicles, their range on a battery charge and the greenhouse gas emissions from the electric generation fleet.
"The EPRI-NRDC study demonstrates that plug-in hybrid electric vehicles can contribute significantly to the national effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said John E. Bryson, chairman and CEO of Edison International. "With public support, it is likely that someday millions of Americans will fill up their vehicles at the plug instead of the pump, saving money and protecting the environment."
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles combine operational aspects of both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and power assist hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). A PHEV, like a BEV, can be recharged from the electric grid, stores energy in an onboard battery and uses the energy while depleting the battery during daily driving.
Unlike a BEV, a PHEV can use its internal combustion engine for propulsion in highway driving or when the battery is depleted. Because of this versatility, a PHEV can serve as a direct replacement for a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle or HEV.
A joint EPRI-NRDC press conference will be held today at 10:30 a.m. in the Holeman Lounge at the National Press Club. Reporters may also dial into the conference by calling 1.800.926.9174. The entire PHEV environmental assessment will be posted online at www.epri-reports.org at 12 noon EDT, July 19, 2007.
About EPRI
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), with major locations in Palo Alto, Calif., Charlotte, N.C., and Knoxville, Tenn., was established in 1973 as an independent, nonprofit center for public interest energy and environmental research. EPRI brings together member organizations, the Institute's scientists and engineers, and other leading experts to work collaboratively on solutions to the challenges of electric power. These solutions span nearly every area of power generation, delivery, and use, including health, safety, and environment. EPRI's members represent over 90% of the electricity generated in the United States. International participation represents nearly 15% of EPRI's total R&D program.
About NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing. More information on NRDC is available at its Web site: www.nrdc.org.

Monday, July 02, 2007

How Yahoo! Google and MSN are helping to promote the Green Auto Shift

“Searching” for the Best in Green Cars

How Yahoo! Google and MSN are helping to promote the Green Auto Shift

POINT ROBERTS, WA and DELTA, BC – July 2, 2007 - www.RenewableEnergyStocks.com, a leading global investor and industry portal for the renewable energy sector, reports on developments in green cars and how the top three search engines, Yahoo!, Google and MSN are helping to educate consumers and promote change and innovation in the automotive sector. As Tech sector leaders Bill Gates and Google co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page play a leading role in investing in and deploying Greentech, they are also a driving force in changing the highways of the future.

As consumers browse the new MSN Autos Green Central they can utilize the green information center to read green car news, editorial reviews, fuel-saving ideas and see what autos are currently rated as the top 5 green vehicles. (http://editorial.autos.msn.com/specials/green/default.aspx)

Yahoo! Autos launched the Yahoo! Autos Green Center in November 2006 http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/ and has built a strong online following in the green space as consumers visit the site to view the top 100 Green Cars and research developments in hybrids, biofuel, electric and green autos. In announcing the launch, Yahoo! Autos reported, “According to a Yahoo! survey, one in every two people is interested in learning more about alternative fuel vehicles, which signals clear consumer demand for a product like the Green Center."

Yahoo! Autos, in partnership with Environmental Defense, developed a Green Rating determining the environmental impact of vehicles on a scale of 1-100. The Green Rating is based on tailpipe pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, fuel economy and the manufacturing process, giving consumers the overall environmental friendliness of the autos on the list.
“The Green Center on Yahoo! Autos provides our users with the most comprehensive expert and social media content covering alternative fuel vehicles,” said Michael Yang, Vice President and General Manager, Yahoo! Autos. He adds, “Whether you’re searching for the top green rated vehicles or you want to connect with an online community of like-minded vehicle shoppers, the Green Center is home to the most relevant information impacting consumers today.”
Google’s mantra “Do No Harm” has taken on new dimensions as Google proactively promotes green auto initiatives through Google.org, its philanthropic arm. Google.org recently announced its RechargeIT initiative (www.google.org/recharge/ ) dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and oil dependence by helping to fund and bring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to consumer markets.
Dr. Larry Brilliant, Executive Director of Google.org tells us, "Google is committed to using its resources to help solve the global climate challenge. Google.org is hybrid philanthropy, bringing together the active engagement of the broader Google Corporation, as well as investments in for-profits, traditional grants, policy work, and public information. RechargeIT brings together all of these elements to help accelerate progress on plug-ins. By demonstrating new clean energy technologies and how they can be connected to the grid, we hope to spur demand and encourage car manufacturers to make these vehicles commercially available on a large scale on an urgent basis."Kirsten Olsen, program lead for the RechargeIT project stated, "At Google.org, we are committed to finding solutions that can dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions and offer alternatives to fossil fuels. We see plug-in hybrids and vehicle-to-grid applications as a significant step in greening the transportation sector and helping to mitigate global warming."

As consumers turn to the online information highways to research choices in alternative fuels, green car news, technology developments and current green auto ratings, the “Big Three” in search engines are enabling and empowering online users to make informed environmentally conscious decisions.

Showcase Green Car Sponsor:
ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) – Ride the Future!
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. Zap has also announced an affordable High Performance Electric Vehicle with a target price of $30,000 using many of the technologies of the ZAP-X . More information about the New High Performance Electric Vehicle will be discussed later this month at the ZAP annual shareholder meeting. In addition, 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 Showcase Advertising Company on RenewableEnergyStocks.com, TechSectorStocks.com and EnvironmentStocks.com compensating the websites as disclosed in disclaimer below.

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.

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

Additionally, InvestorIdeas.com offers a service for renewable energy and cleantech news and press release submissions at: http://www.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/ as well as research and article submissions at: http://www.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Submit_Article/

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: RenewableEnergyStocks.com, ZAP

Monday, May 14, 2007

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.

About Our Green Investor Portals:

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 that look at the renewable energy, water and greentech sectors. The portals do not make stock recommendations, but feature industry and stock news, exclusive articles and financial columnists, audio interviews, investor conferences, Blogs, and a directory of stocks in the sector.

Additionally, the portals offer a service for Renewable and Greentech news and press release submission at: www.investorideas.com/NewsUploader as well as research and article submission at: www.investorideas.com/NewsUploader/Submit_Article

Visit our growing list of participating public companies in the environmental sector: www.environmentstocks.com/Enviro_Stocks/Stock_List.asp and the renewable energy industry: www.renewableenergystocks.com/Companies/RenewableEnergy/Stock_List.asp.

Featured Green Portal Sponsor:

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.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

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

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

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.