News
This page provides up to date relevant news in the fields of Global Climate Change, Electric Vehicles and Sustainable Energy Resources.
Rinspeed UC Electric Car Introduces New Mobility Concept
Monday 15th February, 2010 - For the first time in the long history of its concept cars the Swiss automobile and concept powerhouse has developed not just a vehicle but an entire mobility concept. The cute two-seater with electric drive is aptly called the "UC?" which stands for "Urban Commuter." But the biggest surprise is that the "UC?" was designed to be ready for future series production. The little speedster measures less than 2.60 meters in length and is intended to help avoid gridlock in the inner cities. At the same time an advanced railcar loading system will add the option to cover long distances by train, comfortable, without traffic jams and stress-free. More
Spanish want EU to take lead in electric cars
Wednesday 27th January, 2010 - A EUROPE-WIDE plan for an electric car will be launched as part of the Spanish presidency of the EU next month. Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, whose country holds the EU presidency, said there was a need for a pan-European strategy to produce viable electric cars. Mr Zapatero said he had met some of Europe’s biggest car manufacturers in recent months who impressed upon him that the EU should take a lead in developing electric vehicles. More
Cars Designed To Kill You
Tuesday 12th January, 2010 - Right from the first motor cars they have made designs that can kill you. Here are a few I know about, please fel free to comment and add any others. The first motor cars were called horseless carrages. The law require a person on foot to go before your vehicle carrying a lamp. The first vehicles backfired quite often and caused horses to jump and throw the rider. After most of the horses were replaced that happened less often. I guess they firgued the fix was to get ride of the horses. More
EV Distance Record Remains Unbroken
Sunday 6th December, 2009 - Japan EV Club founder Tadashi Tateuchi just drove from Tokyo to Osaka, a distance of 555.6 km (345 mi) on a single charge of their converted Daihatsu Mira mircovan's 240V Sanyo battery pack. That easily breaks the 501 km (313 mi) record set by Simmon Hackett and Emilis Prelgauskas driving a Tesla Roadster across Australia this past October. More
Government announces $500m for Auckland's electric trains
Tuesday 24th November, 2009 - The electrification of Auckland's rail system is one step closer today, with Cabinet approving funding of $500 million for the purchase of electric trains. More
Electric vehicles offer benefits for New Zealand
Wednesday 4th November, 2009 - Electric vehicles (EVs) are likely to play an important role in New Zealand’s future as consumers seek cleaner and cheaper options to petrol and diesel, according to a report released today. More
Frankfurt Motor Show 2009: Better Place Announcement
Tuesday 15th September, 2009 - Better Place founder & CEO, Shai Agassi announcing their newly expanded agreement with Renault that commits both companies to a volume of at least 100,000 electric cars in Israel and Denmark by 2016. More
Yike Bike: To Revolutionize Personal Transport
Wednesday 2nd September, 2009 - Designed and constructed in Christchurch - New Zealand, the Yike Bike an Electric Mini-Farthing is about to be launched on the world stage. More
Electric Cars: Charge up for the future
Saturday 29th August, 2009 - Fast forward to the future in a new suburb south of Auckland, a showcase environmental satellite. A family of four moves into the day. More
Better Place Signs Research MOU
Tuesday 25th August, 2009 - Better Place Australia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Melbourne (UoM). The agreement signed yesterday by Better Place chief, ex-pollie Evan Thornley and UoM Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis, will see the EV infrastructure candidate and the respected international research institution explore research opportunities related to electric vehicles and their impacts and infrastructure. More
The Cars of 2015
Tuesday 18th August, 2009 - In automotive skunk works around the globe, designers and engineers are already plotting the car that you'll drive in 2015. More
Early warnings for RUC changes, electric vehicles pay nothing
Thursday 6th August, 2009 - Future increases to road user charges (RUC) will be notified in advance with the Road User Charges Amendment Bill passing its third reading today. More
Government consults public on 2020 emissions target
Monday 6th July, 2009 - The Government today began a process of public consultation on New Zealand’s 2020 emissions target with a public meeting in Wellington tonight. More
Road User Charges Amendment Bill 2009
Thursday 2nd July, 2009 - The aim of the Bill is to amend the Road User Charges Act 1977 (the Act) to enable regulations to be made exempting light electric motor vehicles from road user charges, to provide for 42 days' notice of road user charges increases and for the expiration of heavy vehicle road user charges licences one month after an increase comes into effect. More
Electric vehicles to be exempt from road user charges
Wednesday 17th June, 2009 - Transport Minister Steven Joyce announced today that the government will exempt light electric vehicles from paying road user charges (RUC) for four years, as a first step towards encouraging their uptake. More
An Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan for London
May 2009 - The mayor of London reveals the Electric Vehicle Delivery Plan for the City of London. More
Environment minister puts plug before pump
Saturday 28th March, 2009 - Nelson MP Nick Smith's new car is green in more ways than one, and he's proud of it. More
Government welcomes arrival of electric cars
Tuesday 10th February, 2009 - Environment and Climate Change Issues Minister Nick Smith today welcomed the announcement that electric cars would be commercially available in New Zealand. More
