GreenGo Tek Electric Wins South Carolina EV Contract

GreenGo Tek's Electric Van

GreenGo Tek Electric of Michigan has won a contract to supply the state of South Carolina with ten all electric vans.  The E-Dyne passenger vans are LSVs.  The contract could potentially include the purchase of ten additional vans in an optional second year.

The E-Dyne van is powered by either a 6-kW (8-horsepower) or an optional 25-kW (33.5-hp) electric motor and comes packing a 72-volt or an optional 96-volt absorbed glass mat (AGM) battery pack. Top speed for the E-Dyne is listed at 25 miles per hour and total range is a quaint 40 miles. The E-Dyne can be configured as an eight-seat passenger van or a two-seat cargo van.

The vans will be used for a wide variety of applications from parking meter enforcement to  campus maintenance.  Learn more:  Green.autoblog.com

Think Looking At Three States For Electric Vehicle Plant

Indiana, Michigan and Oregon have made Think’s final list of states for their electric vehicle plant.  The company is also in the early stages of applying for loans from the US government under what is believed to be the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing loan program.

Indiana could be the front runner among the states since battery manufacturer Ener1, which is a battery supplier for Think and owns a 31% stake in the company, will be producing the batteries in Indiana.  Another Think battery supplier, A123 Systems, is located in Michigan.  The weight of the vehicle battery packs makes shipping distance and costs a significant issue when deciding plant location.  Learn more:  Earth2tech.com

ZENN To Build R&D Facility

ZENN Motor Co. is looking for sites to build a R&D facility that will focus on  developing their Zennergy Drive System. The facility will have an initial budget of $40 to $50 million over three years according to CEO Ian Clifford.  ZENN has applied to the governments of Ontario and Michigan for financial assistance.  Government funding will be a major factor in choosing where the facility is located.  Learn more:  Montrealgazette.com

TH!NK Planning US Based Production

In the near future Norwegian-based electric vehicle manufacturer TH!NK is expected to announce plans for manufacturing a two seat city vehicle in the US. The company is hoping to take advantage of government funding for electric and hybrid vehicles. The vehicle would be available in mid-2010 if all goes according to plan.

Recently in financial difficulty, the company received a $5.7 million loan from the Ener1 Group which holds a majority stake in the battery maker for the vehicle. Learn More

Update: Initial production plans for first year production of 2,500 units. The company will be applying for low-interest loans from the US Department of Energy’s $25-billion Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing (ATVMIP) program. Michigan is among eight states being considered for the facility. Learn more